Chapter 14: The Bulls of Reapers

warning: description of the wounded and bloody scene

Stacy woke up to the sound of engines. She blinked a few times before getting out of bed. As she moved closer to the window, she saw the men entering Reaper’s ground.

The sun was high up in the sky, showing that it was almost noon. She hadn't heard any engines or motions after they left somewhere during midnight, leaving those on duty at the base. She believed they must’ve spent their night somewhere else. She’s a light sleeper. Any movements could easily wake her from her slumber.

She’s heard them leaving and returning many times during her short stay in the clubhouse. Sometimes, there’d be some wounded men. This time, however, felt different. She had a bad feeling, like something was wrong.

Quickly, she grabbed her clutches and headed downstairs. The men were gathered in the common area. There were more wounded men this time round. Her eyes zeroed in on a man sitting in a corner. His complexion was pale. He clutched his abdomen, pressing his wound with a big piece of cloth she presumed was a comrade’s shirt. His blood soaked the shirt, dying it in red.

A howl from the other room caught her attention. She limped to the room. Standing at the door, she observed the scene inside. Chad was kneeling on the ground beside a man. The man was lying on the wooden floor. There was lots of blood. His scream of agony echoed in the space. Stacy moved to the side to get a better view. It turned out, Chad was stitching his wound. Judging from the sounds he made, there wasn’t any anesthesia involved. His cry of agony was enough to make anyone wince.

Stacy turned her attention back to the man with the blood-soaked shirt in the common area. His wound needed handling urgently. The men around him were dressing their own wounds. It was obvious he needed help. The only help he got from his friends around him was moral support. “Hang in there, buddy!” “Just a little longer.. Chad’s almost done.” “You alright, bud?”

Stacy felt a strong urge to roll her eyes in this situation. Without wasting another moment, she limped to Chad. “Can I have those?” She pointed to the medical kit beside him. Chad took a quick peek before continuing his actions. “This is a trauma kit. The first-aid is over there,” he said without showing her the exact location mentioned.

“I need a trauma kit,” she said. For the first time, Chad stopped his action and looked up. “What for?”

“There’s another patient as severe outside.” Chad furrowed his brows before looking her right in the eyes. It seemed like he knew who she was referring to. “Can you do it?” She gave him a firm nod. Chad gave her a nod in return and immediately went back to stitching.

Stacy snatched the kit and limped, half hopped towards the wounded man. “Let me take a look,” she said as she kneeled beside him, wincing a little at the impact of her clumsiness on her own wound.

“What are you doing?” Someone jumped out to block her from reaching the man.

“That wound needs to be handled quickly. It’s been way too long. Let me take a look at it,” she said, her voice urgent. “What does a little girl know? His injury is severe. It’s not easy. Stay out!” Another man at the side chimed in, standing up to block her. “He’s right! Chad will handle it. Stay out, don’t cause trouble. We don’t need your performance,” another man chimed in.

“I’ve handled such injuries before. We need to..” Her words fell on deaf ears. “Even we couldn’t handle it and you think you could?”

“He’d bleed dry at this stage!” She cried, trying to make them realize the severity of the situation.

While they were struggling, the wounded man breathed out weakly, “I don’t want.. a girl.. to treat me. I’ll.. wait.. for Chad.”

Stacy stopped struggling against them. She felt the strong urge to do something but couldn’t proceed. It made her anxious. Once the skin was cut open, or when the bullet penetrated one’s body, they were racing against time. ‘These strong-headed bulls,’ she scolded in her mind. She took a deep breath to calm herself down. ‘It has nothing to do with me. I barely know him. It’s not like they’ll thank me for it. Let it go. Let it go..,’ she told herself repeatedly.

At that moment, a few men barged in through the door with a lady around her age. She seemed a little anxious, clutching the hem of her dress.

“James!” Jack rushed past her and checked the wounded man. “God, you’re worse than I thought,” he said, his face contorted in worry. James forced a weak smile. “If.. I.. die..,” he breathed out with great difficulty. “Shut up! You’ll live,” Jack didn’t let him finish. He turned to look at the girl. “Nelly, can you patch him up?”

All eyes fell on the girl. Her lips were pressed into a thin line. She nodded and stepped forward, reaching to inspect the wound.

Those at the side immediately stepped out. They tried to stop her. She froze on the spot, eyes turning to Jack.

“What are you thinking, Jack?” One of the men voiced out. “You’re letting a girl temper with such a severe injury?” Voices of dissatisfaction started showing up.

“My sister can handle such wounds. She’s performed simple surgeries before,” Neil stepped out.

“I..’ll.. wait,” James continued his protest amidst his injury. Before he could finish his sentence, he doubled over and passed out. The shirt fell to the ground and blood oozed out of his wound. Everyone started fusing over him. Jack laid him down quickly while Neil kneeled down beside him and pressed the shirt back to the wound.

Nelly looked very troubled. She’s already holding the tools she needed. She looked like she’s ready to rush forward the moment they let her pass.

Stacy winced as she put her weight on her wounded leg. She rushed out to block the men. “Nelly, go!” She exclaimed. Nelly, who’s already in a ready stance since the beginning of time, rushed out to James.