Chapter 103: Silent Escape
Pierre pressed the print button on the computer at the corner of the lab. The sound of the printer whirred softly amidst the oppressive silence of the room.
Sreeek. Sreeek.
The medical referral emerged from the machine. Pierre immediately grabbed it and applied his official stamp. His hands still shook slightly as he slid the document into a clear plastic folder.
"This is our ticket out. I have included a level one emergency code," Pierre said. His voice was low, barely a whisper.
Xavier stood by the door. He wore a loose black shirt to hide the bandages on his stomach. "Agatha, are you ready?"
Agatha nodded. She had replaced her nightgown with casual clothes she found in the lab’s spare closet. She purposefully left her face pale, without a trace of makeup. She sat in the wheelchair Pierre had prepared. "I am ready. Let’s finish this before Grandfather changes his mind."
"Ugh," Xavier groaned softly as he tried to take a deep breath. The pain in his abdomen still felt like the prick of a needle.
"Hold on for a moment, sir. We only need to make it to the ambulance," Pierre said as he positioned himself behind Agatha’s wheelchair.
They left the laboratory with steps timed perfectly to avoid making any noise. The cold porcelain floor seemed to freeze as they passed through the main corridor toward the back exit. Dim wall lamps cast long shadows that danced along the walls.
"Tap. Tap. Tap."
Their footsteps stopped directly in front of the medical exit guard post. Two broad shouldered men in black uniforms stood in their way. One of them held a digital clipboard.
"Stop. No one leaves without Don Cardios’s permission," the guard said in a flat tone.
Pierre took a step forward. He held out the plastic folder. "This is a medical emergency order. Mrs. Agatha is experiencing serious complications from an antitoxin reaction. Her hemoglobin levels have dropped drastically. She must be moved to a specialized medical center within ten minutes or her heart will stop."
The guard squinted. He examined the document in his hand with scrutiny. His gaze shifted from the paper to Agatha’s face, which appeared limp as she leaned back in the wheelchair.
"Akh," Agatha let out a small groan. She squeezed her eyes shut. Her forehead was beaded with cold sweat that she had induced by holding her breath for a moment.
"Why is Mr. Xavier coming along?" the guard asked, pointing at Xavier who stood beside the wheelchair.
"Mr. Xavier is the only compatible blood donor for a direct transfusion if a critical situation occurs on the road. Do you want to be responsible if the Lady loses her life because you held us here?" Pierre asked with a sharp, commanding tone.
The guard swallowed hard. He glanced at his partner, who looked hesitant. Pressure from the primary doctor of the Volskey family was not something to be ignored.
"Cklek."
The guard pressed his access card against the sensor. The steel door behind them opened slowly. "Hurry. I will report this transfer to the command center."
"Just do your job. Your lady’s life is more important right now," Xavier snapped as he helped push Agatha’s wheelchair through the door.
Outside, the cold night air immediately bit at their skin. The scent of wet earth from the afternoon rain was heavy in the air. A black ambulance waited in the emergency parking area. Its engine hummed softly, emitting a low vibration.
"Brak."
The rear doors of the ambulance were opened by a driver Pierre had confirmed was a trusted man. Xavier helped Agatha onto the ambulance gurney. Pierre followed them inside and closed the door firmly.
"Go now. Do not use the sirens until we pass the main gate," Xavier commanded the driver through the small window to the front cabin.
The ambulance wheels began to roll over the gravel. Kriieet. The sound of tires scrubbing the ground was clear in their ears. They passed the final checkpoint at the great gate of the Volskey estate. The gatekeeper only spared a glance at the ambulance before lifting the iron bar.
"We are out," Pierre whispered, letting out a long breath. He leaned his back against the cold wall of the ambulance.
"Not entirely. We have to make sure no escort cars are following us," Xavier said. He peeked through the slit of the small window curtain.
The road toward the outskirts of the city appeared deserted. There were only a few streetlights flickering in the distance. The ambulance drove at a steady speed, moving away from the grandeur of the villa that had become a prison to them.
"Agatha, are you alright?" Xavier asked. He sat on the floor of the ambulance, right next to his wife’s gurney. He squeezed Agatha’s hand, which felt very cold.
"I just feel a little nauseous. It might be the vibration of the car," Agatha answered. She tried to sit up, but Xavier held her down.
"Keep lying down. The trip to the old villa takes thirty minutes. You need your strength for the procedure tomorrow morning," Xavier said.
"Mmhh," Agatha replied softly. She stared at the ceiling of the ambulance, which was filled with medical equipment. "Do you think Grandfather truly believed the medical referral?"
"He might not believe it a hundred percent. But he won't take the risk of letting you die just to satisfy his suspicion. At least not tonight," Xavier said, rubbing the back of Agatha’s hand with his thumb.
Pierre was busy checking his medical bag. He took out several small vials of clear liquid. "Sir, I have brought all the necessary chemicals. But I realized something while checking the final inventory in the lab earlier."
Xavier turned toward Pierre. "What is it?"
"The neutralizing agent I created. There is only enough for a single attempt. If the fetus reacts poorly during the process, I have no backup to stabilize Mrs. Agatha’s condition again without endangering the child," Pierre explained with a grim face.
"You mean we only have one chance?" Xavier asked.
"Correct, sir. If it fails, I must choose one of them instantly. There is no time to think twice," Pierre said, looking at Xavier and Agatha back and forth.
Agatha went silent. She felt a throb in her stomach. She knew the risk was immense. However, she had no other choice. The toxin had to be removed from her body before it was too late.
"Do whatever needs to be done, Pierre. But remember one thing. Prioritize the child's safety," Xavier said, pointing toward Agatha’s stomach.
"Xavier, we talked about this," Agatha protested.
"And I have decided, Agatha. Do not argue with me on this one," Xavier said in a tone that allowed no room for refusal.
The ambulance suddenly made a sharp right turn. Their bodies swayed with the motion. They began to enter a rocky road surrounded by large trees. This was the path to the old villa belonging to the Morezz family that had not been visited in a long time.
"Gruk. Gruk."
The sound of tires hitting potholes echoed repeatedly. Pierre held onto the medicine cabinet so the bottles inside would not shatter. The atmosphere inside the ambulance returned to a heavy silence. There was only the sound of their breathing mingling together.
"We have arrived," the driver said from the front.
The ambulance stopped in front of an old building with classic architecture that looked dull. Creepers covered most of the stone walls. No lights were on, making it look like a haunted house in the middle of the woods.
Xavier stepped out first. He scanned the surroundings with vigilance. He gripped the handle of the pistol tucked beneath his shirt. After ensuring there was no threat, he signaled Pierre to bring Agatha out.
"Cklek."
The rear door was opened again. The air here felt more humid and smelled of moss. Pierre pushed Agatha’s gurney toward the entrance. Xavier followed from behind, carrying a bag of additional supplies.
They stood in the dusty living room of the old villa. Moonlight streamed through large, cracked windows, creating strange patterns on the dull wooden floor.
"Brak!"
The front door suddenly slammed shut on its own from a sharp gust of wind. Agatha jumped in surprise.
"It is just the wind, Agatha. Calm down," Xavier said.
Pierre turned on the emergency lamp he carried. A bright white light illuminated the room. He began to arrange his medical equipment on a large wooden dining table. "I will set up a temporary operating room here. We must start before sunrise."
Agatha sat on the edge of the gurney. She looked toward the wooden stairs leading to the upper floor. Something was bothering her. She felt as if they were not truly alone in this place.
"Xavier," Agatha called.
"What is it?"
"Are you sure no one else knows about this villa besides us?" Agatha asked. Her voice shook slightly.
Xavier knit his brows. "This place was removed from the active asset list ten years ago. Why do you ask?"