NOVEL NEXT Chapter 32: Inside the Hospital
Inside, the hospital was dimly lit and eerily quiet. A handful of staff members—doctors, nurses, and a technician or two—sat in a break room, their faces gaunt from exhaustion. Callie quickly introduced everyone, but one figure stood out: a tall man with a calm demeanor and piercing blue eyes. He introduced himself as Dr. Adrian Hayes.
"Perkatory City," Adrian mused. "It sounds almost too good to be true. But if what you're saying is real… it's worth the risk."
"It's real," Matthew assured him. We've built something sustainable, but we need your help to make it thrive."
At that moment, one of the nurses—a petite woman with curly auburn hair—gasped softly. "Perkatory City? Wait… I know that name." She stepped forward, her expression a mix of surprise and guilt. "I… I reached out to you on the survivors' forum. I suggested that we come to you for help."
Callie turned sharply to the nurse. "You what? Why didn't you tell us?"
The nurse, whose name tag read Megan, looked down, fidgeting with her hands. "I was going to, but things got chaotic here. The infected… the barricades… I didn't think we'd ever leave the city, so I… I forgot. I'm sorry."
Matthew exchanged a look with Jake. "Well, we're here now," he said firmly. "And if you've been considering leaving, this is your chance."
Callie sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Alright. Let's not dwell on what's done. Megan, you should have told us, but at least now we know why they're here."
Megan nodded, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. "I… I'm glad you came. Perkatory sounds like exactly what we need."
Matthew and Jake exchanged glances, and Jake leaned forward slightly. "Callie mentioned survivors with unique abilities. Is there anyone here who can help in… unconventional ways?"
Matthew's brows furrowed as he studied the doctor. "You?"
Adrian folded his arms. "I've been keeping it quiet for obvious reasons. But if this is a real opportunity to help a community thrive, you should know what I can do."
Jake tilted his head. "Go on, then."
Adrian gestured for them to follow him into the hallway, away from the others. When they were alone, he spoke in a low voice: "I have a healing ability. It's complete and instantaneous. If I see the person, I can heal any injury, illness, or condition. It's how most of us here survived."
Matthew's eyes widened slightly, but he forced himself to stay composed. "That's… incredible. However, abilities like that usually come with limits. What's the catch?"
Adrian nodded, appreciating the question. "The biggest limitation is timing. I can't bring someone back if they've already died, and I can't heal someone who's killed instantly in combat. If they're bleeding out, crushed, or burned, I can save them—but if the injury is fatal on the spot, there's nothing I can do."
Jake's face darkened as he processed the information. "So, if someone's throat is slit, or they take a bullet to the head, it's over?"
"Exactly," Adrian confirmed. He hesitated for a moment, his expression tightening. "There's one instance that still haunts me. A few weeks ago, Peter volunteered to help me scavenge supplies from a nearby pharmacy. He didn't have any abilities, but he was strong and determined. I thought I could keep him alive."
Adrian's voice began to tremble, and his gaze fell to the floor. "When we got cornered by the infected, Peter fought like hell. He was swinging a crowbar, holding them off. I was ready—watching him, focused, knowing I could heal him if anything went wrong." He paused, his breathing uneven. "But then one of them got behind him. It grabbed him and twisted his neck… snapped it."
Adrian's hands balled into fists, his knuckles turning white. "I saw it happen. I was looking right at him, ready to heal him, and it didn't matter. He was gone before I could do anything." His voice broke, and he pressed a hand to his temple, his anguish palpable. "I've saved so many people, but in that moment, my ability was useless. I couldn't save Peter. I failed him."
Matthew's jaw tightened as he absorbed the doctor's grief. "That wasn't your fault," he said softly. "You did everything you could."
Adrian shook his head, his eyes glistening. "It doesn't feel like enough. Every time I close my eyes, I see his face, hear the sound of his neck snapping… I have this power, and it still wasn't enough." He leaned against the wall, his shoulders slumping. "That's why I've kept it quiet. I didn't want to give anyone false hope. And I didn't want anyone else to rely on me like Peter did."
Jake exhaled, his tone softer now. "That's a heavy burden to carry. But if you come with us, you won't have to bear it alone."
Matthew nodded, his expression resolute. "You can still help people, Adrian. You can make a difference. But we'll make sure you're not put in that position again. That's a promise."
Adrian looked up at them, his gaze searching as if trying to measure the sincerity of their words. Finally, he straightened, though the weight in his eyes remained. "If what you're building is real… maybe I can make up for the lives I've failed to save. I'll come with you. But don't make promises you can't keep."
Matthew extended a hand. "We'll get you there. Together."
Adrian hesitated before clasping Matthew's hand firmly. "Alright. Let's make it happen."
Callie approached as the group dispersed to collect their belongings, her expression grave.
"There's one problem: getting out of the city. The streets are a death trap."
"What do you suggest?" Jake asked, crossing his arms.
Callie hesitated, then spoke quietly. "My fiancé worked for the train company before all this happened. I know a bit about how to operate the trains. We could use one to get out if we can reach the station."
Jake noticed the flicker of pain in her eyes as she mentioned her fiancé. He glanced around and saw that the other staff members exchanged uneasy looks but said nothing. He decided to hold his tongue, suspecting there was more to her story.
Matthew's sense of urgency deepened as he glanced at Jake. "Then we'll do whatever it takes to make it happen. Zoe… she's counting on us. We can't afford to fail."
Adrian folded his arms, considering. "If we're doing this, we need to move fast. The longer we wait, the more dangerous it gets."
Callie nodded. "We'll gather what supplies we can. Give us a moment to prepare."
Matthew leaned against the wall as the group prepared, clenching his fists. His mind raced with thoughts of Zoe lying helpless, time slipping away. "We've got to pull this off," he muttered.
Jake placed a hand on his shoulder. "We will. For her. Let's make sure everyone's ready."