Steve quickly pushed Janette, so she's lying on her front. Then he checked Janette's wound on the back of her shoulders. The bullet wasn't that deep, but the shockwave sent trauma that shut her brain for days. Steve was still feeling the pain in his open wound, but he pushed himself to do the surgery.
"We'll do the same. Could you hold Janette in that position while giving me an extra hand? " Steve asked, and Erwin agreed. Then Steve sliced Janette's skin, but she suddenly woke up in pain.
"Shhh. It's Steve. Please bear the pain, and try to be still." Steve said as he cupped Janette's face. He continued slicing then he slightly opened the wound and saw the first bullet. Steve pulled it with tweezers, as Janette yelled in pain then Erwin tried to hold her position. The second shot was farther than the first but on the same location. Steve had to cut another layer of the tissue to remove the bullet. It was difficult to see the second one as blood was already flowing, but Steve immediately pulled it and asked Erwin to wrap the wound because his other arm can't give enough pressure.
"Let's move out of here. I know a place." Erwin suggested, and they left the Surgery Center.
It was already evening when they moved Janette to one of the recovery rooms on the third floor of the West Building. It’s been Erwin’s new hideout. There were a few bottled water and canned foods on the table, his remaining supplies. They were both standing behind the door while talking. Steve mentioned everything that has happened to him and his group. When they met the intruders at the parking area, he played dead when one of them shot him in the arm. The intruders' attention diverted when Joseph drove his car. Steve chose to continue pretending because he wanted to find Janette's body. The other survivors forgot about him and followed Joseph afterward. Steve stayed in the parking lot for a day then searched inside the hospital, but he didn't find Janette because she hid behind the big garbage metal dump. Then his wound started to make him weak, so he decided to go to the Surgery Center with the hope that there are tools that can save him.Erwin also told his story of how he survived. He was so afraid to fight for his life, so stayed inside the hospital then moved from one place to another.
"By the way. I haven't thanked you yet for bringing Janette in here. And I'm Doctor Steve." Steve said and offered his hand.
"I'm Erwin. I work here as a janitor." Erwin replied, and they shake their hands.
"So what's your plan?" Steve asked again.
"I want to get out of here," Erwin replied.
"Likewise. Do you have a family?"
"They're all dead." Erwin is in his mid-twenties. He didn’t finish his education because his parents died, so he decided to work to live. Steve recognized the similarities between him and Erwin that's why they got along well. They apologized for beating one another earlier.
"Why did you carry a gun without a bullet?" Erwin asked Steve sarcastically.
"It was for protection. You know, to threaten people. Unfortunately, you weren't scared. You hit me hard, by the way." Steve answered, and they both laughed.
"Both of you are too loud," Janette spoke in a muffled voice then Steve hurried to her side.
"How are you feeling?" Steve asked full of concern.
"I'm fine. Thanks to the both of you." Janette smiled at Steve and Erwin.
Nurse Janette introduced herself to Erwin, and Erwin did the same. She asked why Steve wasn't on the farm, and he told her everything that had happened in the parking area and went after her. Nurse Janette blushed while Steve smiled back at her.
"Okay, enough with your love story. What's the plan?" Erwin asked awkwardly.
"First, we get out of here. Then we follow Joseph and others to their farm." Steve suggested.
"How do we get out of here?" Nurse Janette asked.
"Through this." Steve showed the remaining two-way radio that his group gathered before. Steve and Erwin started to search for channels on the radio, and they requested for help, but there was no response on their first try. After attempting several times, a man finally answered on the other radio.
"Milington Naval Air Station, may I know who's this? Over." The man.
"Doctor Steve. We are survivors at the Southcrest Community Hospital, and there are Marauders nearby. We can't go out. We need help. Over." Steve reported.
"Hold your positions. We'll provide support. Over."
At nine in the evening, a chopper was flying around the hospital, and the station also called the Army. Milington Naval Air Station notified their presence, so Erwin, Steve, and Janette hurried at the entrance. They entered the Army truck, and the medical team attended to their wounds immediately. The Army brought them to the base office, but the General was still on his way. Colonel Eaton talked to them instead.
"You're all from Southcrest? Do you know Joseph?" Colonel Eaton asked.
"He's my best friend, Colonel. Do you have news about him?" Steve replied.
"We're neighbors. They're on the farm in Humvees, and he brought your car. He mentioned about saving his best friend’s precious toy." Colonel Eaton answered and Steve smiled.
"We wanted to go there. Can you help us?" Steve eagerly questioned.
"I wanted to help, but it would be difficult with the General. He wanted to summon you back at service." Colonel Eaton explained and advised the survivors to avoid mentioning about the farm because it means more trouble for Joseph and his group.
“That’s why he helped us? For the show?” Erwin angrily asked, but The General entered his office, and he saw the survivors talking to Colonel Eaton.
"Good evening, everyone. You’re you the survivors?" The General greeted.
"Yes, General," Steve answered calmly.
"I assume you’re all aware of the Vice President's order to recall all public servants back in service?" The General smiled at them. Steve and his group just nodded.
"General, can we give them some days of rest? It might not be helpful for them to work with their current situation. Besides, they've just been in a riot and got trapped inside the hospital. It must be traumatizing." Colonel Eaton interrupted the General as he tried to protect the survivors, but the truth was that he wants them to be on the farm. The General got disappointed at the Colonel for interfering his decisions. In the end, the General allowed Steve, Nurse Janette, and Erwin to stay in the base camp while they are healing.
Steve felt relieved that they escaped the hospital, but he knew that they would eventually need to pay the price of asking for help with the Military. They were lucky to be in a room with three beds, food, water and security in the whole area. However, he was still unsure about their relocation. He looked at Erwin and Nurse Janette who were peacefully sleeping. Drowsiness hit Steve, so he decided to get some rest. Instead of going to his couch, he went to Nurse Janette's bed and hugged her tight from behind.
Nurse Janette was dreaming of her past relationship with Steve. They were exclusively dating when Steve broke up with Janette. It was the time when Steve's parents and brother died. Loneliness became his friend as he tried to be distant from Janette and other friends. She was so hurt, but half-heartedly accepted Steve's decision, until one day they accidentally saw each other at Southcrest Community Hospital. Steve was in his first year working, while Nurse Janette just got hired. All of a sudden, the background changed, and there were Marauders behind Steve making shots at him. Steve fell to the ground full of blood then Janette shouted and burst into tears. Janette instantly woke up from her dream and felt Steve's arms around her waist. Janette thought that it was still a dream when she heard Steve murmured,
"I thought I’d lost you, too," Steve whispered and kissed her hair. Janette grabbed his hand and entwined it with her. There were unspoken words, but they both knew that the feeling was mutual.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
It was five in the afternoon at the farm, but it was already getting dark. Maxine and Rashida were preparing the ingredients while Grandma Carmichael was getting ready to cook their meal. Victoria had finally healed, so she decided to help other two wome
n of Southcrest Village wash the dishes. Grandpa Carmichael, Tony, Walter, and Joseph were feeding the farm animals while the Nurse and the rest of the Southcrest survivors just finished fixing the exterior of the farmhouse after the shooting incident against the Marauders a few days ago. Denise had also recovered from the trauma, and she's playing with the children of the farm in the front yard. Captain Ellis and the rest of his Army scattered around the farm as they build higher and sharper barb wires.
Everyone was busy with their assigned tasks when they heard gunshots from the front yard. Without the knowledge of the people in the farm, three Marauders from the previous attack was still alive, and they've been spying their every action. It seemed that the farm was too big for the eight-man Army to watch it efficiently. Denise and Vicky shouted when they saw the dead bodies of other children from Southcrest. They immediately ran together with Bobby, his younger brother, and Ross. Joseph and Tony immediately rushed to carry them inside the house.
"Stay here," Joseph told to Maxine and his kids. Grandpa Carmichael, Tony, Walter, and Joseph ran towards the barn to get some weapons. As Tony opened the oak door, the remaining intruder fired at him. Tony fell to the ground as the Marauder continued shooting the wooden door.
"Come on!" Walter shouted at Joseph.
"No! Tony!" Joseph replied.
"We have to move! We'll all die if we don't! Give me a lift, and I'll climb through the window!" Walter answered.
"Go on! I'll take care of Tony!" Grandpa Carmichael stated as he quickly lifted, and put Tony's arm around his neck. They were all shouting because of the gunshots from the intruder inside the barn, and the others.
The Army was quick enough to fire back, as they captured the two Marauders hiding on the grass. However, as soon as the Army carried them, other gunshots were fired near the fence. Two small trucks parked outside, but with more Marauders. Everybody went down, as bullets came everywhere. The Marauders launched a grenade at the farm fencing, and they freely entered the farm spontaneously, and behind the trees. Joseph and Walter paused when they heard the explosion.
"Let's go. Hurry! On three." Walter stepped on Joseph's entwined hand, and he jumped in full strength then grabbed the edge of the window. Walter opened the awning window upward and lifted himself up. The intruder was just below him, so he immediately attacked the Marauder to death. Joseph and Grandpa Carmichael followed inside the barn, but Tony looked pale. He had a gunshot between his left shoulder, and chest.
"Let's get you inside the house. I'll remove the bullet." Joseph said to Tony.
"We'll cover you," Walter answered, then they hurried back inside the house. Grandpa Carmichael, Walter, Captain Ellis and the rest of the Army tried to hold their position and protect the farmhouse. However, there were just too many of them trying to invade their house and take away all of their supplies.
Rashida shouted soon as Joseph and Tony entered the house. Tony was still awake, but couldn't speak because of weakness.
"Why are you here? You should all be upstairs." Joseph was upset to the ladies because they were all waiting in the kitchen instead of hiding.
"What happened?" Maxine asked.
"There was a Marauder inside the barn. He fired soon as Tony opened the door. Where are the medical supplies?" Joseph asked the nurse.
"Where are you going?!" Joseph suddenly shouted at Rashida who was about to go to the barn.
"Enough of hiding. Just because we're women doesn't mean that we can't fight." Rashida stated with ignited emotions when she saw her wounded husband.
"I'm coming with you," Maxine announced and Rashida nodded.
“So am I,” Victoria announced her arrival, too. Joseph couldn't believe what he heard, but the ladies went to the barn before he can speak.
"Maxine!" Joseph tried to stop her wife, but he can't just leave Tony behind.
"Women problems?" Tony uttered and smirked at Joseph while Grandma Carmichael took the children inside her room.
Joseph immediately laid down Tony on the sofa, while the nurse gathered the medical supplies from the Southcrest Surgery Center. They were about to start the operation when another gunshot shaken the house then the Nurse dropped down on the floor with blood on his head.
"Hi, Doctor." A marauder greeted Joseph then aimed a gun at his head. The intruder entered from the kitchen when the ladies left the door unlocked. He walked behind Joseph to see his face, but Tony grabbed the surgical scissors and planted on the Marauder's thigh. The intruder shouted in pain and Joseph immediately grabbed the gun, but the intruder still had the strength to refuse. They fought over the gun's possession then Joseph kicked the surgical scissors to penetrate further, but the Marauder kicked his face using the other leg. Joseph fell and got dizzy, but his legs were long enough to boot the gun. He tried to stand up, but the intruder dodged and punched him in all angles. Joseph reached for the surgical scissors, pulled it and the intruder stopped hitting him as he felt the burning discomfort. Joseph hurriedly struck the marauder's neck, and throat then pushed him away. Joseph was still dizzy and hurt, but he continued the surgery. He checked Tony, and his wound then grabbed the scalpel.
"This will hurt, Tony." Joseph cut the skin between Tony's left shoulder and his chest without anesthesia because there was nothing left. Tony cried in pain, but Joseph ignored it. He opened the wound, took the tweezers and searched for the bullet. Joseph had to cut another layer of the skin, but blood was flowing out rapidly. He grasped the longer tweezers and pulled the bolt immediately. The shot was too shallow, so he had to suture the wound.
Walter got surprised to see Rashida firing behind the barn, but it was too late to stop her. The Marauders overpowered the farm men as they penetrated almost half of the front yard. It was already getting dark, but the war continued. Suddenly, a group of bikers headed down the road of the farm. Everyone stopped firing as they looked at the eleven horning motorcycles, they were clueless who was coming. The leader upfront held an RPG on his other hand while maneuvering his big bike. He aimed the two small trucks and fired the shot. Explosion circulated the area as more marauders thrown in the air. Wounded Marauders ran away from the farm, as the bikers parked their motorcycles ten feet from the fence then Walter immediately recognized the Militia flag along with the US colors.
"They're here! My friends from the Militia are here!" Walter screamed at the top of his lung. The Militia covered and fired the remaining Marauders inside the farm, and the battle resumed. With the help of Walter's friends at the Militia, they defeated the other Marauder fighters again.
After the combat, The Militia went inside the farm to meet Walter and his group. The Army regrouped outside the farmhouse along with Grandpa Carmichael, Walter, Victoria, Rashida, Maxine, and Joseph.
"Sorry, we are late. Captain Finley of the Militia." Finley went straight at Captain Ellis assuming that he was Walter.
"Thank you for the help. I'm Captain Ellis of the Army."
"I heard from my men that a guy named Walter was asking for backup."
"I am that guy." Walter raised his hand he smiled at his friends. Walter introduced his friends to the Militia. He knows each one of them except for Finley. With his unfamiliarity, Walter asked his friends about him. One of the members of the militia said that Finley insisted to lead the group after he heard the conversation with Walter, and he knew that there were enough supplies in the area.
Walter had a bad feeling about Finley, but he waived the idea shortly. The people of the farm decided to bury the dead bodies, again. However, as per Captain Finley's order, he wanted to burn the Marauders remains because that's what they deserve. No one tried to oppose Finley's suggestion because everyone got tired of the battle. Walter remembered his conversation with his Militia friends earlier. One of them mentioned that Captain Finley was arrogant, and he wants to be always in-charge of everything.
Tony was resting in one of the rooms upstairs while Rashida and his kids monitored his condition. Joseph, on the other hand, was in the living area as Maxin
e aided his wounds on his face.
"Didn't you get hurt?" Joseph asked Maxine as he remembered her heroic stunt earlier.
"Nope," Maxine replied.
"You almost gave me a heart attack. What if something bad happened to you?" Joseph expressed his disappointment.
"Now you know how it feels," Maxine replied plainly.
"Are you giving tit for tat?" Joseph got annoyed.
"No, Joseph. I also want to let you know that I can defend my family, too." Maxine answered.
"Is this about Bobby's training with the military again?" Joseph questioned, but Maxine pressed Joseph's bruise as her response.
"Look, I was protecting..."
"Joseph, you don't have to be that superhero. You wanted Bobby to join that training, why can't I kill those criminals? I know your purpose, but we're all in a battle now. Whether we like it or not, everyone is involved. I think I'm on the right age to decide my own." Maxine stated as he cut Joseph's sentence.
"Now I know where Bobby got his attitude," Joseph replied trying to break the tension. He didn't want to argue with his wife amidst the war.
"I just thought that you hated guns?" He teased Maxine.
"Not anymore after Bobby saved me twice," Maxine answered, and they both giggled.
At the White House, Vice President headed out later that evening. The Head of the Security was surprised that she didn't want anyone to come with her, so he immediately called Senator Colette and asked him if they can follow the Vice President. They agreed and met at the parking lot then waited for the Vice President's car outside the White House. Senator Colette drove carefully and kept their distance.
Calls To Arms_A Story of the Imminent Collapse Page 14