“Sure, have a seat.” Senator Colette answered, but the Security Head was not in his usual demeanor.
“What do you want to talk?” Senator Colette asked again.
“You’re right.” The Security Head acknowledged as he looked beyond the window.
“About what?” Senator Colette got curious and stopped reading reports.
“Ariana. She’s been living in darkness.”
“What do you mean?”
“I heard her speaking to the President’s doctor. She wants him dead. She killed her husband, too.” The Security Head painfully said and he mentioned everything to the Senator. Senator Colette calmed the Security Head and praised him for sharing what he heard. Both of them agreed to keep it a secret because Vice President Ariana has all the power to kill them once she finds out that they know about it. Senator Colette wanted to help the Doctor’s daughter, but in return, the Doctor has to surrender himself to the crime that he had committed. They’d also try to identify those killers that the Vice President hired to kill her husband.
Senator Colette and the Security Head drew a plan, but they need trusted people to help them. They know that they can’t talk to anyone about it, or they’ll die. The Security Head suggested to do it by themselves, but Senator Colette was undecided because it might turn them to killers, too. Suddenly, Senator Forbes’ secretary opened the door, and they were both jumping on their seats. They nod at each other, and the Security Head went out of the office immediately.
Later that morning, Vice President Ariana Marie declared Martial Law to the suburbs because of the report the rioters have moved out of the cities. It was easy for her to convince her alliance because of the results that they received from the Army. However, her real purpose was to provide authority to the Military to confiscate citizen’s supplies, and force farmers to work day in and out.
At Southcrest Hospital, Doctor Johnson and his group have decided to leave the place a few days after the other part of the building got burned. Most of them died either because of the fire, or the intruders. The situation around the hospital was a little light, but the Marauder fighters have been in and out of the area. Erwin was one of the survivors, he escaped the burning portion of the hospital when the riot happened and hid in one of the restrooms in the West Building. He was aware of the groups of the medical staffs, but he decided to avoid them. It was because Erwin witnessed Dr. Johnson threatened Nurse Janette when they were hunting for supplies. Erwin was there hiding in the darkest part of the pantry, and that’s the time when he decided to live and die alone than be with traitors.
Leaving the place is Erwin’s top priority, but he has nothing to defend himself. He decided to gamble and go to the burned portion of the hospital with the thought that there must be weapons that he can use for protection. Soon as he reached the point of chaos, there were dead and burned bodies scattered. He continued walking and scanning the area when he heard a woman’s voice crying out for help. He wanted to run away, but his conscience stopped him. He carefully walked towards the backdoor exit and checked the woman through a small opening of the door. He saw a nurse sitting behind the garbage, but her uniform was full of blood.
Erwin walked back, but he stepped on the crashed and small stones that produced some sounds. He covered his face in disappointment, but the nurse was looking towards his direction and screamed for help.
“Help! Anyone there?” Nurse Janette tried to shout, but she was weak and hurt for days. Erwin went out of the broken door, and Nurse Janette somehow was relieved although she was unsure if Erwin was a friend or a foe.
“Please. Help me.” Nurse Janette pleaded.
“What happened to you?” Erwin asked.
“I’ve got two gunshots on my shoulder. I took dead bodies garments, and tied it on my back to stop the bleeding. Please help me remove the bullets. It’s making me weak.” Nurse Janette managed to explain everything to Erwin whom she didn’t even know.
“I don’t know how to help. I’m just a janitor of this hospital. Can you walk? I can bring you to the other side of the hospital. The surgery center is there maybe we can find something helpful.” Erwin tried to help Nurse Janette get on her feet.
They walked back to the West Building, but Nurse Janette was too slow, and she’s making noises. Erwin got concerned that someone might hear them, so he decided to carry Nurse Janette on his back. The path was dark and full of debris. None of them was talking because Nurse Janette was too weak while Erwin focused his eyes on their trail. Fortunately, they safely arrived at the Surgery Center, but there remained a few equipment and supplies. Erwin laid Nurse Janette on the operating bed.
“Nurse, are you still alive?” Erwin whispered soon as he saw Nurse Janette with closed eyes.
“Yea,” Nurse Janette tried to answer and opened her eyes.
“What should I do? How can I remove the bullet? There some equipment in here, but…”
“Who’s there?” Someone from the hallway shouted. Erwin and Janette can’t hide because there was a little sunlight beaming through the small window. Erwin covered Janette with a cloth then grabbed surgical scissors on the edge of the bed.
“Who are you?” The man holding a gun went inside the Surgery Center. He recognized Erwin’s uniform and knew that he’s working in Southcrest. Erwin slowly faced the man and raised his two hands in the air.
“I’m not an enemy,” Erwin answered in surprise as he saw the man’s gun, but he can see that the man was also in pain.
“Why are you in here?” The man questioned again trying to hide his pain. It was too late for the man to pretend that he’s still fit to fight, so Erwin took his chance and ran towards the man direction. The man was about to pull his gun, but Erwin already dodged him, and they both fell on the ground. Erwin was on top punching the man, then stole the gun and pointed it at the man’s head, but the man faked his laugh.
“What’s funny?” Erwin asked while catching his breath.
“It has no bullet.” The man answered then punched Erwin’s groin, and he shouted in pain. The man stood and was about to beat Erwin to death when he heard someone said his name.
“Steve?” Nurse Janette said in a very soft voice, but enough to hear inside the Surgery room. Steve was standing where the sunlight glittered through the window.
Steve was surprised yet delighted to see Janette alive. Erwin was confused with what was happening, but he saw Steve’s abdomen and arms were bleeding.
“You’re bleeding,” Erwin said to Steve, but it seemed that Steve heard nothing.
“Janette,” Steve whispered to himself as he walked closer to Janette.
“I thought you were dead,” Steve added as he almost broke down into tears.
“Do you know him?” Erwin asked Janette as he stood up and walked to the other side of the operating bed facing Steve.
“Yes, he’s a doctor at this hospital,” Janette answered, but Steve noticed the blood on her shoulders and forgot about his pain.
“What happened to you?” Steve was concerned.
“She has two bullets on her back for a couple of days now,” Erwin answered, and Steve looked at him sharply.
“Who’s this guy, again?” Steve sounded annoyed.
“I helped her get in here. You’re a doctor, can you help her?” Erwin asked arrogantly.
“Yes. But you have to help me first,” Steve replied and looked for surgery tools that he can use for him and Janette. Fortunately, there were a scalpel, tweezers, shears, and five rolls of gauze. He sat on the floor where there was a beam of sunlight. It was not what they practiced in medical school, but Steve was already out of options. Erwin followed him, and Steve handed the scalpel as he untied the bloody cloth off his right arm. Erwin unwillingly accepted that scalpel then Steve instructed him to slice his skin where the wound was visible.