CHAPTER 4: LINKING ISOLATIONS
The wreckage sang a hollow horror to Regina as she shifted her side in bed. The pain resonated in her mind after seeing a natural course of amputations on people at the hospital. There she stood feeble in the hallway, as robotic beds hovered in a hurry across the building to their designated routes.
Suddenly, her eyes fixed on one holding the signboard, Alex Stark. She blindly looked above and away and started chasing it while bumping into people recklessly. As she stepped into the ward, she saw the doors of the operation table close her out. She burst into tears as her nose started pouring them out hot. She walked flaccidly to the door and slowly slid down to sit with criss cross legs and rested her head onto the wall. What condition was Dad in? Will he make it? She stayed deaf in that loud ward, listening to the turmoil inside her. After a while, she rose up as Alex was brought out nearly covered in bandages and was assigned a corner window place now. She rushed along his stretcher bed and was relieved when the leads were giving stable green signals even though her Dad was unconscious. Weary, she slid down to the floor by his side and fell asleep.
She woke up seeing a doctor telling them good news about Alex' condition and there were not many fractures but the bruises were harsh all over his body. She saw her mom stand aside, hurt badly on the face and a bandage tied around her head. Her beautiful silky blonde curls were now magenta and brown with blood and mud sticking on to make an untidy look. They had survived.
But then, a sight took her away and left her stunned. As they were leaving she saw Simon. He was being taken away to the department of expiries. Her eyes were left open, but she faded into a drunken stupor. His face looked stuck. And then as usual, it raised up towards her and held out his hand in a quaver, "save me". Regina woke up with a cry. No matter how hard she tried to move on childishly, Simon kept visiting her every night. She woke up drenched in sweat and struggled in breath. She needed salvation. But how and at the cost of what?
She went to her father's room in the next morning. Alex saw her gloomy face again. He knew she never wanted him to worry and was not easy to open up but something had to be done. Someday, her masks would tear open and she would not be able to handle herself. He just wished she would settle for a talk with someone. At once, John appeared into his mind. After their friendliness and John's struggle of taking her out for a walk everyday was bound to work someday.
"Dad, did you forward that idea up ahead?", asked Regina.
"My dear, I did call a close colleague and he assured he would look into the matter. Rest of it, I am in no condition to walk there myself". He took a pause and this time started seriously, "the problem is those people are in a clash with the government. They do not want our help". "But have you even seen the city? Our people? We need them. We are in desperate need of land. There is no place to handle the injuries. We need instant allocation of new temporary health facilities", debated Regina.
Alex took a sigh and whispered out of love, "my lovely daughter! When you first mentioned the idea, I thought you were trying...