“I’ll help you, Doctor. I’d do anything to repay Walter for saving my life.” The nurse said.
“We’ll monitor her for the next twenty-four hours. Give her antibiotics through her Intravenous until she’s awake. Let’s take turns?” Joseph ordered the nurse.
“Copy that, Doctor.” The nurse replied.
Joseph went upstairs to check on Denise. It was a relief to see her sleeping, but a few minutes after he opened the door Denise started crying while asleep. Joseph immediately ran towards her.
“Denise? Wake up.” Joseph shook Denise body.
“No!” Denise screamed and woke up catching her breath.
“Hush. It’s a dream.” Joseph hugged Denise, but she started crying.
“It’s alright, Denise. Hush.” Joseph tapped the back of her head.
“I had a dream. My parents, Nurse Janette and you. You were all dead. Please don’t leave me, too.” Denise continued crying.
“I won’t. I had a promise, remember? I’ll take you to our farm, and my family will meet you. Stop crying, please.” Joseph wiped Denise’s tears, and that calmed her.
“My dad and my mom… I miss them, Doctor.”
“I know. I miss my family, too. But let’s not make their sacrifice turn into nothing. We have to keep on fighting for our lives so that our sacrifices harvest its fruit.” Joseph tried to calm Denise.
“Is there anything left for me out there?” Denise answered in a sad voice.
“Of course. There’s hope for everyone, but you have to believe.” Joseph smiled at Denise. He knows that it’s too much for an eight-year-old kid to lose her parents and witness people die before her eyes.
Joseph read a book to Denise to help her back to sleep. He always did it for his kids when they were young. Joseph moved downstairs soon as Denise fell asleep, still in disbelief that surgery happened in his house. He checked on Victoria who’s, as well as Walter.
“Do you want to take a rest?” Joseph asked the nurse.
“I’m okay, Doctor. I can take over until morning.” The nurse replied.
“Are you sure?” The nurse nod and smiled.
Joseph tried to sleep, but he can see Steve and Jay whenever he closed his eyes. Anger and rage filled his heart. He decided to drink a cup of coffee, and breathe some fresh air. The rain hasn’t stopped, and the night was dark. There were no post lights, and the stars were hiding behind the rain clouds. Joseph looked at the sky as he sipped his coffee.
“Doctor Brave, why are you still awake? Aren’t you tired of your day?” Colonel Eaton stood beside him.
“I can’t sleep. I tried, but I can only see my friends dying of the fire, and the bullets.” Joseph replied dryly.
“Sorry to hear about your loss.” Colonel Eaton said in pity.
“Colonel, I wonder if it’s all worth it,” Joseph asked as if he’s about to lose hope.
“Of course, Joseph. Think about your family.” Joseph looked at Colonel’s group who were gathering rainwater.
“What are they doing?” Joseph asked Colonel Eaton.
“Grabbing supplies. We’ve run out of foods and water.” Colonel Eaton responded in dismay.
“I think we gotta move, Colonel.” Joseph proposed.
“Colonel!” A man at his mid-twenties was shouting as he ran towards Joseph and Colonel Eaton. They looked at the man who was pulling a big trolley covered with a canvas.
“Colonel! I’ve found something that might be very useful for us.” The man said.
“What is it?” Colonel Eaton replied.
“A generator. I found it to one of the abandoned houses. It’s not stealing, right?” The man said in humor.
“It’s resourcefulness.” Colonel Eaton laughed.
“Joseph, do you mind if we checked it in your garage?”
“Please do. In fact, it’s a better idea if we all stick together in one house.” Joseph replied.
Colonel Eaton and his group checked the generator immediately.
“The generator can hold as for a day or two. Depends on how we consume the Diesel on it.” Colonel Eaton announced.
“What if we use the Diesel of the car?” A young man suggested.
“We’ll be needing that to get away from this place.” Colonel Eaton replied as he looked at Joseph.
“We’re leaving?” The man who brought the generator asked.
“Yea. With what happened at the Southcrest Hospital, it’s possible that the criminals are on their way any time soon.” Joseph said.
“Let’s run this thing, and bring this house to life.” Colonel Eaton ordered his group.
They have successfully connected the generator to the house power. Joseph, Colonel Eaton, and other men gathered at the kitchen to watch the evening news. They didn’t want to disturb Victoria and Walter who was still sleeping. Joseph also charged his phone.
There was news about the current condition of the President. He’s still unconscious, but his body responds to his medicines. Footages of riots from Mississippi, Memphis, Los Angeles and other parts of the US played on the screen. The camera even recorded violence between the militia and the rebels.
“Nothing new.” Colonel Eaton muttered to himself.
“I was hoping for something good.” One man said.
“Maybe we should turn it off. Just a waste.” Joseph suggested, but there was a flash report on the screen that shocked everyone.
BREAKING NEWS! SENATOR FORBES, KIDNAPPED
“Senator Forbes has been missing for a couple of days after the Martial Law declaration. The Vice President thought that he took absence without notice, as he wasn’t attending their meetings nor reporting to his office. However, his family went looking for him after forty-eight hours that he’s gone. The decision is questionable for the Police as a person should be declared missing after twenty-four hours of no contact. The police have been doing further investigations and search operation for Senator Forbes. Meanwhile, the Government is willing to give rewards to anyone who can identify the current location of the Senator.” The news anchor reported.
“O, my God. What now?” The nurse said who was quietly watching.
“Is he hiding? Is it another play?” One man said.
“I’ve worked with him. He’s not that guy who’ll hide.” Colonel Eaton was worried. Joseph was quietly listening to everyone, as he decided to call Maxine.
Joseph went to his room and dialed Maxine’s number immediately.
“Joseph?” Maxine replied on the other line.
“Max!” Joseph almost cried.
“How are you? I’ve heard about the hospital on the news… Please tell me you’re fine.”
“I’m okay. A lot of people died, but I’m okay. Steve, he died. And others.” Joseph broke down and cried.
“Hush, sweetie. It’s not your fault. Please stop crying.” Maxine also whined on the other line, but she kept it quiet. She felt how painful it was for Joseph to lost his best friend and his other friends.
“I’m sorry. The burden is too heavy I have to let it out. I wish you were here.” Joseph wiped his tears.
“I wanted to be there soon I found out about the hospital. I thought you were dead.” Maxine burst into tears.
“A lot of them sacrificed their lives for me,”
Joseph, Maxine, and his two sons spoke on the phone for thirty minutes. They talked about everything that has happened on the hospital, Colonel Eaton, Denise, The Smiths, Tony and his family.
“I love you both, sons. Please always listen to your mom, and be good to your cousins. Can I speak to your mom again?” Joseph smiled. It was a relief to hear his family’s voice.
“We love you too dad. Yea, we will.” Bobby and his brother laughed then passed the phone to Maxine.
“Sweetie, we’re planning to leave the area. You think your dad will allow my group to stay there?” Joseph asked Maxine.