Chapter 13: The dead and the dying

I’ve returned, master.

Crimson red blood flowed slowly down his forehead. It was as if everything lapsed into a dreary time continuum. A grin started to form on his face; a grin of satisfaction. Just before the drop of life could hit the floor, the doctor fell backwards and landed in a resounding thud. The sound produced broke the deafening silence and rippled into the ears of the onlookers. They stared in dismay and utter shock, with their jaws dropped wide open. Gabriel Cristo reeled backwards in the direction of the crowd. He could not believe what he had just seen.

“Pe-people, please stay calm. Help is on its way.” The surgeon uttered in an unconvincing tone.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Could you please hurry up. I need to get to the hospital now.”

“I’m driving as fast as I am allowed to. Sorry boy, but you just have to wait a little longer.”

Damien was in a taxi, strapped to the front seat as he watched the driver stepping on the brakes with no sense of urgency. The car was barely moving at 75km/h, with the meter constantly shifting from left to right and vice versa. The speed of the car was sucking the life out of Damien. He could not endure it any longer.

“Stop, I’m getting out. Here’s the cash. Keep the change.” Damien spoke in quick succession before unhinging the door and dashing out.

Hilda should be out by now. I’ve got to see her. I need to speak with her, and Gabriel. I need to run, faster. Faster.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The surgeon started to walk towards the lifeless body of the doctor. He could barely muster the courage to look at his bloodied face, let alone touch the corpse.

One step at a time. I can do this.

He took another step forward. The surgeon was a mere 2 steps to horror. A chill went down his spine and caused his whole upper body to tremble in fear. He turned to look at Gabriel, hoping to comfort himself. The surgeon’s expectations were completely diminished as he saw Gabriel’s eyes shut, his face a sheet of white.

Another step forward. Just one more.

The surgeon started to feel wobbly, he could almost feel what his legs were trying to tell him. They were giving way. But still, the surgeon pressed on. He took his final step forward and all hell broke loose.

A wide and wry grin was spread across the doctor’s face, with a few of his teeth missing. His gums were bleeding profusely and his tongue had a gruesome gash on it. Apparently, before killing himself with a gunshot to the head, the doctor had already devised another method of suicide. He had attached a needle to his jaw and was about to clamp it down on his tongue until Gabriel came. The pupils of his eyes were completely white and extinguished of life. Suddenly, a shout shattered the tense atmosphere. Gabriel and the surgeon turned to look.

About time, you bastard.

“Gabriel! Where’s Hilda? And what’s that doctor doing on the floor for?” shouted Damien.

“He’s dead, killed himself. As for Hilda…” Gabriel turned to look at the surgeon who was a few feet ahead of him.

“She, We can’t enter her room without the doctor’s card.” Replied the surgeon.

“Aren’t you going to save him? Where’s the help you were saying about getting?”

“Oh right, come on NURSES. Take Jones to the operation room now!” the surgeon shouted. Apparently, he was still very much oblivious to what he had to do. Without wasting any more time, the nurses who had arrived at the scene lifted the body of the doctor onto a wheeled table and rushed into the operation room. The surgeon quickly picked himself up and followed suit.

“So what happened here, Gabriel?” asked Damien, who was expectedly confused.

“Long story. Ask the surgeon later. What took you so long? And WHAT happened between you and Hilda on the car?” Gabriel returned the question.

Damien gave a silent reply.

Gabriel stared at Damien intently and asked again, “What happened between you and Hilda on the car?”

I can’t tell him. But it couldn’t have happened like it had. It was impossible. I couldn’t have been unscathed.

“I-I-I can’t remember much. All I can recall is a flash of white light and the ambulance siren.” Damien lied.

“Tell me the truth!” shouted Gabriel heatedly.

“I-I-I told you already. I can’t remember.” Damien lied again.

A tinge of anger started to surge through Gabriel. He could no longer control his emotions and punched Damien on the face, sending him flying. Gabriel stood over Damien and screamed.

“You know what the medics told me?! They said she was already dead before the accident occurred!”