Delayed Diagnosis Episode 23

Delayed Diagnosis Episode 23
Written by Kingsley Olanrewaju Efughi

“The assassin? You mean that shadow person?”
“Yes”
He was silent. “Well let him come..I’ve lost the will to live”
“What do you mean?”
“Oba..I’m feeling like I could die in the next few minutes..this place is killing me!”
I switched off the torchlight and we stared into the darkness for some minutes.
“Andy..Andy?”
He didn’t answer but I could hear him breathing heavily.
“Andy..Mona died trying to pass information about this widows initiative..she died carrying your child” or Emenike’s..but I trust my man, he had strong swimmers.
He was quiet now..and his breathing wasn’t that heavy again. I knew he was listening to me.
“Mona died so that we could carry the baton, right the wrong that was done to her mother and also right the wrong that has been done to others and stop it from happening again!”
I felt him sit up, but he remained quiet.
“So Andy…we can’t die..it would be very selfish of you to die now..forget your fear of tight spaces..there is suitable oxygen to hold us till help arrives”
I knew he was looking at me like I was crazy, even in the dark I felt it.
“Help? But the assasin is coming for our heads now!”
“Wrong! He’s coming to open this door and let us out! We are going to kill him”
He was silent, then:
“Wait..put on that torch first”
I complied.
“Give it to me”
I handed it to him
He shone the light in my face
“Just wanted to make sure you’re okay…but that is the most motivational speech I’ve ever heard in my life”
He stood up.
“You know what Oba..I’m ready let him come”
I smiled and stood up. “So you’re not claustrophobic anymore?”
“Haba..must you remind me about it”
But he didn’t panic anymore, instead he brought out the dagger and positioned himself beside the door.
I also held my gun tightly. I took a kneeling stance and aimed the door.
Now we had to wait.

We waited and waited.
And waited.
“Are you sure this fool is coming?”
“Yes I think so”
“Although he’s a coward..all he knows how to do is send messages..you need to have seen-“
“Shhhh” Andy shushed me suddenly and we were quiet.
I heard some kind of noise, like a shuffling of feet outside.
This was it. I tried to calm my pulse.
Someone knocked on the door. I heard his voice.
“Target…don’t tell me you’re locked in there”
We didn’t reply. Just open the door so I can shoot you. I didn’t plan to miss this time.
I heard the bolt flip open. Then no sound at all. After some seconds he opened the door. But he must have stood to the side because I didn’t see him. In my haste I almost wasted a bullet but I stopped myself just in time.
“Show yourself you coward!” I called out. Still nothing.
For like 30 seconds the door just stood wide open. The breeze that rushed in was very welcome and the outside was very tempting but I didn’t plan on moving. Not yet.
Finally the shadow threw something into the container. As it landed it emitted gas. It was a canister. Not just one filled with fog to disable visibility, this was tear gas. I could feel it stinging my eyes and choking me. I had to leave the container before I fainted.
I rushed out and Andy had already exited and he was coughing with his hands on his knees.
I saw the shadow moving towards him from behind and I panicked….Oh God..not Andy.
I fired a shot, even though I wasn’t balanced and my eyes were half closed. I didn’t know were the bullet landed but it obviously didn’t touch the shadow because he continued rushing at Andy.
I shouted and alerted Andy to the presence and he turned at the last minute and swung his dagger to the shadow.
He slashed him on his face and the shadow shouted in pain but then I heard the gunshot.
I didn’t even know he had a gun.
He had shot Andy in the stomach at point blank range.
I saw Andy go on his knees in slow motion and I went mad.
I charged at the shadow and as he turned to me I wasted all the remaining shots in his direction. I kept on running as I fired and I also heard two gunshots that he fired in my direction but I didn’t feel any pain.
I caught up to him and took him down. Jumping on him and sending both of us to the ground, we rolled once but I came out on top. His fighting skills and reflexes were no match for my rage.
I sat on him, Punching and punching and punching his face while shouting like a mad man.
“You…you ..you..you bastard! You killed him you bastard!”
I must have punched him up to 50 times because suddenly strong arms hefted me up.
“He’s dead..you already shot him!”
I looked at the person who was speaking to me..my eyes were blurred from tears and I had trouble believing it.
It was doctor Rasheed, aka Carmicheal.
I saw that his handler the one that had been referred to as ‘Betran’ in the letter was bent over Andy.
“This man is still alive.. He can still be saved..quick! We need to hurry! Let’s take him to the car”
We hefted Andy or more accurately, they carried Andy. I was in such a daze. I kept on remembering everything we had gone through, since school, work and recently how he had always come through for me..thrown his comfort and basically his life away to stand by my side.
I followed Betran and Dr Rasheed as we ran through the containers.
“We need to stop the bleeding first…he’s losing a lot of blood! I’d call Mary at the hospital..they need to set up the operating room…we’ll need to check his vitals…”
His voice faded away and I spaced out again. Aware that I just kept on putting one foot in front of another.

After what felt like eternity, we got to the car. It seemed like a limo. I had no idea and I didn’t care. But it was quite long.
Dr Rasheed and i squeezed into the back seat with Andy stretched between us.
Andy’s head was in my lap.
“Keep him awake don’t let him drift away again..talk to him..don’t let his eyes close!” Dr. Rasheed urged me as the car sped away.
I looked at Andy, I couldn’t see his eye balls and blood was seeping from his mouth..
“Andy stay with me…remember what we talked about? You can’t die…Mona isn’t ready to receive you yet…stay with me bro” tears were flowing freely from my eyes and my voice was breaking.

“What do you mean you can’t see his body? He was shot just seconds ago! Find him then tie his legs to a block and throw him into the water!” A voice boomed from the front passenger seat. Betran was driving, someone was beside him making a call and Dr Rasheed was in the back seat with me trying his best to stop the blood flow.
“I need to apply pressure on the wound…the bullet passed through and I pray it didn’t hit any arteries”
“We’d be in the hospital in a minute..luckily its a stones throw from the port” Betran announced from the front.
“Andy remember that time when Ariyo’s wife was flirting with you and asking for your address? Remember? I tried to smile at the memory but the tears increased.
My bro’s eyes were closing and my heart was breaking.
“We’re here!” Betran aka Dr. Rasheed’s handler drifted into the hospital’s parking lot.
And doctors were already waiting with a stretcher. I didn’t know when Dr.rasheed had even placed the call and to be honest only my body was in that car..my mind had been acres away.
They whisked Andy away and as they went through the sliding glass I could see the female doctor leap onto Andy and begin pumping his chest with some kind of device.
“We need oxygen over here!” That was the last thing I heard as they disappeared into the hospital.
I was outside the car and I leaned on the bonnet and stared at the sky.”God why..why!” If Andy were to die I knew I would be too broken to continue…the guilt hadn’t even begun I knew the guilt alone could kill me. Just as I had called strange eyes and Mona had died, switched on the cylinder and Fome had been blown up, now I had called the shadow and Andy….my God Andy! Why not me! Why! Why!
“27 years ago..I looked to the sky and asked that same question…why?” The man who had been in the front had come to stand beside me. Betran still remained in the car. Dr Rasheed had gone with the doctors.
“That’s a very simple and complex question…why?..it can only be answered with another simple question..why not?”
I didnt even spare him a glance. I was to busy wrapped up in misery and praying for Andy to survive.
“I’m sorry about the shadow..but it seems he got away..I have men still searching the port for him as we speak”
I looked at him finally. Who was this? I saw his face was badly disfigured. I mean horrible and he was quite hideous to look at. I suddenly knew who he was.
“You..you’re Fome’s father”
“Exactly…you can call me Mr X however…as you can see my identity was burnt a long time ago”
He offered his hand but I ignored it.

“I understand that is my son in law fighting for his life now?”
I looked at him. I wondered how his features would have been when the burn wounds were fresh because 27 years later and he was still a pain to look at. His right eye was partially closed. Droopy in a way but the left was wide open. I could see the white of his left eye shining brightly and it was like he made an effort to keep it wide open. Probably to compensate for the half closed eye. I shook such silly thoughts out of my head.
“Yes sir…that’s your son in law…and I’m sure you know its the hitman you contracted that shot him tonight”
“Hmmm…so you were the one who stole the papers then?”
What papers? Then I remembered the briefcase I had snatched from Betran at the night club. It felt like ages ago.
“Yes it was me, I snatched it from him..and I’m not sorry. I went through emotional hell all because of your little doctor..playing me for a fool and telling me about Israeli secret agents and terrorists”
He was silent. He took a drink from a dark bottle in his hands and I wondered what the content was. The way he sipped it I knew it was definitely not water. “So if you look at it, its your fault in a way…after all you snatched the briefcase that contained the cash meant to call off the shadow”
“The cash is still intact I’d give you all of it”
“Don’t be silly..if I wanted it I would have gotten it back” he snapped impatiently.
“Look I don’t have time for this..my bro is in there fighting for his life and I need to be as close as possible”
I turned to leave but he held my hand, his grip was surprisingly strong.
“Believe me..any news from the operating room would reach us here first…Carmichael would see to that”
I studied him..I was never short of questions and I asked away.
“Where have you been all these years? Why didn’t you show yourself to your daughters? And what happened to you? What did the Chief do to you?”
He smiled and sat on the bonnet of the car. “So many questions…” He adjusted the chain on his neck, tucking it into the native he had on.Even in the dark I could see it was a very rich quality.
“I don’t talk about my past…not to anyone…however..” He drank from his bottle again. “I’d tell you a little story”
He had my attention. I forgot everything for a minute. I sat on the car beside him and tried not to let my features show how difficult it was for me to look at his face.
“Years ago, I was married to this woman..she was everything I could have hoped for. I met her when she was still but a child and her parents would never have let her marry someone not from their tribe”
“What tribe was that?”
“If you want to hear my story then you listen…you don’t talk!”
Who your story EPP self? Look at this man..with his chess board face 

 but I needed to hear it from his mouth..to listen to Fome’s father..a man she couldn’t remember anything about. So I was ready to play by his rules. “Okay..I’m sorry..continue”
He sipped again.
“Any way..once I was through with my youth service…yes I served in her village…I had planned with her and she willingly left everything behind and ran away with me..I told her to forget about school..I would take care of her, I would provide for her and she wouldn’t lack..this was back in ’84”
He was quiet and I knew he was back in ’84 he had a wistful look(if I read the expression right…cause his face ehn…) On his face and we were both quiet for about 30 seconds. He brought himself back. “Anyway..we got married immediately and a few ‘discreet’ handshakes was enough to convince the key people that she was above 18..and we got our marriage certificate”
Betran popped out of the car. “I’d be right back X, I need to-“
He cut him off waving him away and Betran rushed to the hospital. Probably to the loo judging by his speed.
“Married life was at first tough, my family wasn’t really well to do and I lacked the right connection to place me in a good job. I was quite content with the job I found however working packaging for a food spice company that was very popular in those days and it was there I met Amunike…we became fast friends and very soon we were inseparable”
“I was quite content with life and a year went by, and i was happily married, our love grew and Sara was pregnant. She put to bed and I worked harder but it was always like the output didn’t tally with the hard work I put in. It was when Mona came along that I knew I had to do something…baby food, baby diapers, baby medications..there was hardly nothing left to eat..Sara would never complain..she would always say for better or worse but deep down I hated myself..was this what I took her from her parents and family to face? was this life?” He shook his head and his voice was bitter “those years were not funny and I knew I had to find a way out..a better job or if not anything…I was not ready to go illegal but my mind was quickly changing.”
He sipped again. And I almost asked him what it was that he kept sipping all the time. He continued “then one day..I remember clearly…I was walking from work. I had missed the staff bus because I was getting tired of coming home to see my daughter crying because I couldn’t afford quality baby diapers for her and we kept on washing and rewashing towel napkins for her to use, Crying because I couldn’t afford quality baby food and we kept on mixing one satchet milk with about a litre of warm water (he laughed bitterly) it seems even poor Sara’s breasts had been sucked dry of all the milk…I was tired and searching for a way out…then one blessed day…I walked home with my shoulders down and my head bent…I saw young men pushing metal about in carts..condemned metal they told me..they would smash it and sell the scraps and parts…I saw it and I saw riches…I saw a way out of poverty…I saw an empire…..you know how?” He looked at me and I shook my head vigorously. “When..” He broke off and I followed his eyes, Dr. Rasheed was rushing to us. I stood up and my heart began hammering…he was bringing news about Andy.
“He’s still on the table…his chances are fifty fifty” he sounded out of breathe, like he had run the whole four legs of a relay.
“How is he? Is he responding?”
He looked at me. “Initial control of bleeding has been accomplished,the abdominal wall is retracted and the falciform ligament has been taken down.” He looked at Mr X as if for permission to continue and I sensed him nod in approval.
“Once anesthesia catches up with fluid resuscitation, and contamination is controlled, if he is stable enough to continue the operation, then reconstruction may be performed”
I didn’t understand 90% of what he said. But one thing I heard…’reconstruction’ what were they reconstructing??
“Reconstruction? Which reconstruction? What is wrong…what are they reconstructing?”
Mr X interrupted me “heey Carmichael…you can return…let us know how it goes”
“Yes sir!” He turned back and hurried into the hospital.
I looked at him. “What did he mean by reconstruction?”
He shrugged “I’m not a doctor…but your friend was shot in the stomach clean through…I’m guessing one of his organs was affected”
I put my head in my hands or my hands on my head…whichever one, I rubbed my bald middle (which had began growing back) “oh God..he was shot in the stomach..that would mean maybe his liver…Oh God or his kidney!! O!!! What have I done??”
“Look at me young man” he sipped again. I didn’t look at him but he continued “beating yourself mentally won’t accomplish anything..it would only weaken you physically…at least you have a good friend..mine set my house on fire and pushed me inside, locked me in and left me to die”
I wasn’t really interested in his tale again. Or to be honest my mind was on my friend fighting for his life in the hospital.
“All because I had a steel business that was rising and growing rapidly..I shared my idea with him..let’s run a partnership…but the greedy bastard needed to have all the glory! Well just a matter of time and I’d be bringing hell to his home..his sons..his daughter everybody! They would feel the heat and know what its like to be dead but still breathe!” The hatred in his voice had me raising my head and looking at him. “What do you plan to do? And your family thought you were dead? Why didn’t you show your self to them”
“Oh..young man..I did show myself…I can’t forget…a year later..when my face had healed somewhat..(I studied his face..it still didn’t look healed now not to talk of then..but I held my peace) Sara had gone back home with the two children but the reception wasn’t one that she deserved her mother had died and her father had about 3 other wives…they practically chased them out of the house…I managed to track them one faithful day. Imagine my family..my children…leaving in a car garage! From hand to mouth (his voice broke and I thought he would cry but I was wrong..this man was bitter..maybe sad.. But more like the angry type of sad) I tracked them one day and I saw Fome sitting in a corner, playing with dirt and sand and other rubbish that my daughter shouldn’t ever touch. I knelt beside her and for a minute I thought everything would be okay…here was my daughter..I’d take my wife and my two daughters and somehow I’d bounce back…I’d find a way..Amunike had taken over my business but I could fight him…I was filled with so much hope..but then Fome looked up at me and she screamed in horror…screamed in fright and started wailing as if she had seen a ghost. It was like a bucket of cold water on the face..but then I saw Sara get out from one abandoned bus….in her haste I saw she had failed to put on her clothes as she hurried out to see what made her daughter cry..I saw the furious mechanic that had followed her, angry that he hadn’t gotten his money’s worth

“I stood staring with my mouth open..my sweet Sara..who had been a sweet innocent virgin..who had never had an eye for anyone..she had taken to prostitution to feed her kids! I must have stood there for too long because she began shouting..’kidnapper! Gbó òmó gbó Omo!!!” He laughed bitterly and gulped the contents. It seemed this particular trip down memory lane was the most difficult! “Imagine! Me! Accused of trying to kidnapp my own daughter! I ran that day and only God saved me because they sure would have burnt me to death if they had caught me..I had only one thought then and that has been driving me all these years..to bring the same pain to Amunike..to let him feel my helplessness, my anger and most of all to let him know there is nothing he can do..his children his wife and everything! Gone! All Gone I tell you!” His voice had gotten loud and a couple of old people who had been walking and laughing probably enjoying the night breeze and excercising their old bones loooked at us strangely.
He finished whatever he had been sipping in one long drink and threw the bottle on the ground harshly.Only when it bounced that I was aware it was plastic.

“But..later on the Chief still sent your daughters to school through the wido-“
“Bleep that! I don’t care if he sent them to the moon! You know how that day keeps replaying in my head? No second goes by on this earth that I don’t see my Sara rushing out of a bus with a wrapper barely covering her nudity!”
“I understand..but do you know that that widows initiative is being used by the chief to smuggle out widows? To God knows where for God knows what?”
“So? What’s your point?”
“My point? Was that not the reason you wanted the coordinates soo badly? To help them?”
He shook his head. “I would have laughed at that but my smile was destroyed long ago…look here..I’m happy that my daughter was involved with you and also that Mona married your other friend, you seem like nice young men..but what I do I don’t do it for moral obligation..many times I held a gun to my mouth..waiting to bite the bullet…but the one thought that kept me going was Amunike…that bastard is still alive..living lavishly! I tell you revenge has been the sole purpose that kept me going…it made me wake up each morning..was the reason I slept at night so many times in my life..with one thought…to wake up and carry out revenge!”
“So what do you have planned?”
He laughed..a very scary sound. “No amount of syrup can make me tell you that one..you just need to watch like the rest of the world”
Ohoo…so it was syrup..no wonder..
“No problem..believe me when I say I have no issue with whatever you do with the chief but his kids…or more specifically his daughter (Emenike was an âsshole) she has nothing to do with any of this..please consider that”
“And my daughters? Did they have any say in the matter? They were taken from a comfortable life that was improving to a life of luxury and placed on the streets? Did they have any choice??”
With that he got down and rounded the car. He opened the back door and got in quietly.
My first reaction was to follow him. Although I felt nothing could change his mind, I still had to try. The double door to the hospital opened and I watched eagerly but it wasn’t Dr. Rasheed or Carmichael ( to me he would always be Dr Rasheed) instead it was a young couple with their little boy. The boy had a cast on his arm with the sling round his neck and as I watched them..I wondered about the shadow…I had shot him but somehow he hadn’t died. I knew he would need medical attention and I hoped he had bled to death somewhere..I hoped-
My phone rang.
“Hello Olivia”
“Rex..what’s going on?”
“Nothing much..why are you still up? You should be sleeping”
“Believe me I couldn’t sleep..your mom too it seems..she just left not long ago..she said she needed to make green tea( she always did that when she was stressed or upset) so I was browsing on the laptop, just checking and I have a mail from the initiative”
“Really? What did it say?”
“That I have a meeting with their excos on the 3rd..an address is listed also”
“Hmmm…no problem we’d tackle it together I promise”
“I’m scared..when are you coming home? And Andy too?”
(Damn! She sounded like my wife…but she just asked about Andy and the images replayed in my head)
My shirt was stained with blood…his blood. I closed my eyes as I replied her.
“To tell you the truth..we may not be coming home tonight…I’d call my parents..they may need to shift their journey till night maybe..or better still I’d book a flight for them for the 1st” Today was 30th, the day after tomorrow was 1st and we’d have two more days to prepare for the ‘meeting’ with the so called excos..hopefully with Andy by our side..but it felt like wishful thinking.
“Rex what’s wrong?..there’s something your’e not telling me…where is Andy?”

“Andy….Andy is in the operating room..he got shot”
She gasped on the line “Oh my God!”
I regretted telling her but I was sick of lying.
“But he’s pulling through I just saw the doctor now..he would be fine”(okay a small white lie but let’s call it faith)
“Oh my God..who shot him? Tosin?where? How did it happen? Where was he shot?”
“Olivia I’d be home by morning and we can talk well”
“Which hospital?”
“Who’s in the hospital?” I heard my mother’s voice clearly on the line.
“No..its my friend..she’s telling me of another hospital I should check out for another x ray”
Olivia was good on her feet..that was a fine recovery..my respect for her soared.
“Okay Stacy..talk to you later..” She ended the call.
I shook my head and smiled.
Betran returned to the car. He looked at me “My Pathfinder keys were attached to the case you snatched from me. I would like it back” he said stiffly.
“The case or just the keys”
“Just my keys. You are paying for the money now as you can see. Just pray your friend doesn’t die”
Men sit your condescending ass in the car! I felt like yelling at him but he was right.
“Betran!” Mr X called him.
“Yes sir!” He ran towards the open door.
“Keep an eye on the new patients brought in..this hospital is the closest to the port and there is every possibility that if the shadow survives he would need medical help”
Betran hurried off.
I stood where I was for some minutes not sure of what to do.
Mr X just remained in the car staring at me. Then he brought out another dark looking bottle.
“Sometimes you just need to slow life down..to think well..here have a sip” he gestured the bottle to me.
I shook my head “no thanks..I have a feather brain when it comes to things like this”
He smiled. “You’re a real straight arrow aren’t you?” Then he sobered up immediately. “Do you have any idea how my daughters died?”
Yes sir I was there..I even had a hand in their deaths although my intentions were good.
“You know what..I need to use the restroom..I’d be back Sir”
I hurried towards the hospital. I was not in the frame of mind to go down that memory lane. Not yet.

I ran into Dr Rasheed in the hallway. He was heading outside.
“Any news?”
“His condition is stable for now..what he needs is blood. He lost a lot of blood and a lot more blood is needed. They can only take as much from the blood bank for a single patient. More would be needed”
“I’m O positive..where can I stay..take as many litres as possible. As long as it would save his life”
“Okay come with me”
He wobbled off on his short legs and I followed him behind.
He motioned for a young nurse. A very pretty lady. “Ify get blood from this young man..please be quick..I’d be back”
He turned to leave.
“Dr- Carmichael!”
He turned surprised.
“Please how is he really doing? What’s the reconstruction you talked about?”
“His liver was affected, but it would be repaired..livers regenerate to some extent..and we have some of the best surgeons working on him now” He clapped his hands impatiently “we need blood! A severe liver lac requires as much as 40 units of blood during surgery!”
With that he stormed out and I held up my arm hurriedly for the needle.
The nurse applied the antiseptic with a cotton wool and I made a fist. I watched the needle as it got closer and I couldn’t stop thinking about shadow and the sodium pentothal he had almost injected me with barely hours ago.
That bastard has ruined me for needles completely..but this was matter of life and death..besides it was taking not injecting..still I held my breathe.

I watched the blood spill into a bag.
from my arm.
The nurse Ify was a cheerful type and she talked to me, asking me questions. My Mind was far away..so many things to do..there was Andy on my mind, my parents..I had to book their flight and assure them that I was fine and not in any life threatening debt, there was Olivia..I had to take her for her second day injections at the private hospital and there was the widows initiative not far away..about three days away. I had to tackle thqt one and think of a way to ensure Olivia’s safety And the car..I had left it at the port where Andy and I had parked it..so many things to do..and only me.
“I find what you’re doing very very nice of you..most people don’t ever disturb their selves with blood donations forgetting that it saves a lot of lives”
“Mmhhmm” I made the sound in my throat. My mind was far away.
“So is it your friend the blood is for?”
“Mmmhmm”
“Eeya…I wish him a speedy recovery”
“Mmmmhmmm”
She chattered away for some minutes then I felt her pulling away the needle.
“Heeey! Why are you stopping? That blood is too small now!”
“I can only take one unit at a time. That’s about 450ml this is all for now”
“But you heard the short doctor..he said they needed as much as 40 units!”
“Yes they do..maybe more..the hospital should be able to provide some amount of blood for him and isn’t there any other relative?”
“I’m all he’s got and its because of me he’s on that table .okay okay..please add another unit”
“That’s 900ml of whole blood loss..it would have the same effects as a class 2 hemorrhage! If taken over a longer time it would be okay in a healthy donor but-“
“Look at me I’m fucking healthy..I can’t let my friend die because of lack of blood!” I pleaded her with my eyes “he has a child waiting at home for him..please you need to do this”
“Hmm..okay….but I’d need to give you saline solution to replace body fluid” (saline solution is simply salt and water. It better be the solution in my case)

I urged her more and she took about 1200ml of blood. She did this grudgingly but the line about Andy’s kid must have gotten to her.
I was feeling a bit light headed but I still urged her to take more.
“No..this is the most I can go..if I take any more than this, the saline solution alone can’t replace it..you would need blood also..I fear I have overstepped as it is” she opened my eyes wide with her thumb and index finger. “Your eyeballs look dilapidated.. I need to check your blood pressure and your pulse rate”
She removed the needle and I saw the blood bag was almost full. But truth be told..I was getting confused…blood bag..what was the blood for again?
She placed the stethoscope on my chest. “Your respiratory rate is also slow..too slow. Are you in any way nervous? Confused? Restless?”
I shook my head and it felt like my head could fly off..this was what lightheadedness must mean.
I tried to get a grip. “I’m fine..please get the blood to Dr Rasheed..that short doctor..and get me the saline whatever”
She studied me worriedly “I need to check your blood pressure”

She strapped what looked like a digital watch to my arm.
“Your pressure shouldn’t be more than-“
“Please there is no time…where is…”
Dr Rasheed barged in right on cue.
He paid liitle attention to us just unhooked the plastic blood bag from the I.v stand. On his way out he stopped and turned.
“Mr Rex, when you go back outside inform Mr X….(he glanced at Ify, then probably decided to code it)X…Xavier that someone matching the Shadow’s identity was just brought in..gun shot to the diaphragm and he almost bled to death..infact his survival is not sure right now.There’s every possibility that he won’t pull through. That was some good shooting. It seems he’s the one with the delayed diagnosis now” with that he hurried out of the room.
My ears had perked up at the sound of the shadow. What? In this hospital? That man refused to die..well I needed to do something…
Ify was watching the digital numbers on the watch thingy frowning obviously not pleased with where the numbers were heading. She glanced at me.
“Who is this Xavier? Don’t tell me he’s in a wheelchair and who’s this shadow? Is this x men or what?” She asked playfully and if everything was normal I would have laughed with her.She had a good sense of humour But my mind was on one thing; shadow! If he survived this he would keep on coming for me. I had to end this now!
It took all my energy but I unstrapped the bp checker from my arm.
“What do you think you’re doing?” She asked me.
“I need to leave”
“You’re weak, let me check your bp and give you the saline solution!”
“Don’t bother” I staggered to the door and the floor danced underneath my feet. I needed to make sure somehow that the shadow didn’t leave the operating room alive. I had to make sure the bastard died.
Maybe I should tell Mr X, he would know what to do. He seemed like a powerful man and he should have some strings to pull. He would be able to handle the shadow. I only entertained this thoughts because I stumbled down the hallway, on the lookout for the operating room the shadow was in.
I saw a male nurse hurrying by with a basket containing some funny looking liquid In small bottles.
“Please, my brother was just brought in now..gunshot wound to his diaphragm”
“Ooh..I’m very sorry but- wait are you okay?”
He tried to hold my arm but the basket he held must have been really important because he couldn’t let go of it.
“Why? I’m fine…I’m fine” The floor was getting closer. “You didn’t answer…answer me doctor. What of the shado- I mean my friend..no my brother?”
I heard him shout “Nurse!”
The floor got too close.
Everything went black.

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