NOVEL NEXT Chapter 22: Death
Ryan came out of the hospital, giving support to Daniel. They reached the parking lot in front of the hospital building. Luckily, the bomb blast was not large enough to destroy the hospital. It destroyed one segment, which was not as crowded as the other departments.
Nurses, doctors, and four police officers were standing in the parking lot. There were about 60 people. Patients had been evacuated safely, but unfortunately, Ava was in the room where the bomb was planted. Was it a coincidence?
Ryan and Daniel reached Aiden, who was standing in front of the crowd alone, at a small distance. He had a disappointed look. "What happened?" Ryan asked, his eyebrows raised. "Why did we retreat?" he bit out from between his teeth.
"Not we, sir. You," Ryan said in a teasing tone. "It's human instinct, sir. We leave the ones in trouble. Just ask Palestine, kashmir, western Sahara, Yemen, Syria, Myanmar, Ukraine, Somalia and south Sudan." he continued. "Don't be dramatic, Ryan," Aiden said. "Dramatic, sir?" Ryan maintained his voice tone. "Sir, you are heartless. I am quitting right here and now," he joked. "I don't know what you are talking about," Aiden said in a dry tone. "That's even worse!" Ryan raised his voice a little. "You are discussing a very sensitive topic right now." Aiden said in the same dry tone.
Daniel stood straight, releasing Ryan's support. "Shut up, Ryan. Come back to the topic."
"You could stand?!Then why did you need my support?" Ryan questioned. "I didn't, you offered, and I took it," Daniel said, a sly smile forming on the side of his lip.
"Anyway, I called the EOD experts and firefighters. They will be here any second. Once they check if it's safe to go inside, then we will all go. Paramedics will treat the ones who are injured, and we will check on Ava," Aiden spoke in a serious tone. "You mean ashes?" Ryan said. "No jokes. Back to work," Aiden spoke again. "Yes, sir," they both replied.
After a minute or two, the EOD experts arrived. After they finished their work, they came out of the hospital. "You all are allowed to go inside. It's completely safe now," their leader said. The crowd started to move inside. "No one is allowed to go into the room where Ava is, and nobody can leave yet," Aiden said, without shouting, but his voice was heard by everyone. "Thanks," Aiden said, shaking the hand of the leader. "I am Adam," the leader said. "Adam...?" Aiden replied. "Adam Millen, and you might be?" Adam asked. "I am Aiden Theodore," he answered. "Let's go inside. I'm sure you would want to know where the bomb was," Adam said. Aiden nodded. They started walking toward the main door. "Follow me," Aiden said to Ryan and Daniel.
After some time, they were inside the room where Ava was. The room had a large window on the right side, big enough to fit a person. The room was made of white marble with blue designs. It was now black. The bed was in the center. The body was completely turned into ashes. "The bomb was under the bed"