Chapter 57
Nick swerved into the hospital’s parking lot, drawing several undead creatures to the sound of the motor.
He thrust the car into park and scooped Kate up from the backseat.
Her hue matched a sheet of paper. She fell limp in his arms, only uttering weak whimpers as he walked through the doors.
After taking a few steps, Nick’s arm was already coated in blood.
The descent on the elevator lasted a lifetime. When Nick and Loko finally hit the basement floor, Nick hardly let the doors open before he pushed his way through and sped down the hall. He fumbled to open the doctor’s headquarters. When Nick burst through, Dr. Chamberlain jumped from his seat.
“Nick!” the doctor greeted with pleasantry until his eyes landed on Kate. “Nick, what happened?”
“I don’t know what’s wrong with her. She’s been having stomach pains, and she’s bleeding.” The words raced out as Nick wanted to waste no time talking. “Please, doctor. Help her!”
“Bring her in here,” the doctor instructed, and led Nick to one of the exam rooms. Nick lay Kate on the hospital bed, straightening her out to allow the doctor full access. Dr. Chamberlain washed his hands and snapped on nitrile gloves.
Dr. Chamberlain hooked Kate up to machines that displayed her vitals. Her heart rate was elevated, and her blood pressure had dropped to severe levels. A cloud of ruby red spread across the sheet as Kate’s body bled profusely.
“She’s lost a lot of blood,” the doctor commented.
“Give her my blood. Now.” Nick rolled up his sleeves and tapped the inside of his elbow.
“We have to stop the bleeding before giving her more.” The doctor shook his head and retrieved packets of sterile gauze. “What I need to do will seem a bit crass, so I need you to trust me. I could use your help, but if it’s too much, you should leave and let me work.”
“You’re wasting time. What do I need to do?”
Nick followed the doctor’s orders to bend Kate’s legs at the knees and spread them apart. The doctor packed the bleeding cavity with gauze, the material soaking through faster than he could insert it.
“It’s not working. What now?” Nick growled.
“Do you know what her blood type is?” Dr. Chamberlain asked.
“What? I don’t know. Can’t you run a test or something?”
The doctor nodded and left the room. Nick gripped Kate’s hand in his, watching the shallow rises and falls of her chest.
“You’re going to be okay. You’re going to come back to me, baby.”
Kate’s eyelids fluttered, and Nick leaned in, hopeful that she would look at him.
Her breathing slowed from its rapid-fire pace to a steady cadence.
Nick glanced at the monitor displaying her vitals and confirmed that her heart rate had dropped.
This might have been a good sign. Perhaps she was stabilizing.
“That’s it, baby. Come back to me. I will give you every drop of blood in my body. I just need you to be okay.” Nick kissed the back of Kate’s hand.
“Nick.” The word tumbled from her lips. It was so soft that Nick would have missed the sound had anything else made a noise in the room. Upon hearing his name, tears clouded his vision.
“Yeah, baby. I’m here. I’m right here. Everything’s going to be okay.”
Kate’s eyes went still, no longer moving beneath her lids.
The steady intake of her breaths slowed further until her chest was nearly motionless.
The smallest rasp of an exhale passed across her lips.
Nick awaited the inhale that should have followed, yet none came.
Kate lay unmoving. The machine behind Nick sputtered a few final blips before falling into a steady, rhythmic sound.
Turning in horror, Nick discovered the vitals on the screen displayed all zeroes.