Chapter 53
Chapter 53
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 53
Chapter Title: Juni
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As the stretcher carrying Doyoung vanished from the hospital's rooftop helipad, the remaining doctor turned around and spoke.
"As you know, there's not much we can do for an infected subject. Everything comes down to God's will—or the Major's resolve."
"Just make sure his neck heals straight."
A sergeant replied. His tone betrayed no doubt that Doyoung would rise again.
The doctor gazed at the blood-soaked pad clutched in his hands.
"Even with the infection underway, he's lost far too much blood. There's scarcely any left in his body. He needs a transfusion, but the Major's Project Donor is..."
His eyes froze as he checked the cartel.
Moments later, the doctor looked up.
"Ivanov."
His bloodstained gown fluttered as he turned away.
"Summon as many Ivanov clan members as you can. We'll need a lot of blood."
***
Gamal looked at Yeonha.
"So... Doyoung already had the virus in his body? Ivanov's virus?"
Yeonha nodded.
"I tried to talk the Major out of joining the project, you know. But he just said..."
"You're the only one trying to live forever?"
Doyoung had sounded incredulous. Yeonha found his words even more outrageous.
"Even if the project succeeds, he could end up as an immortal cripple vampire. There's no guarantee of a normal infection."
"Look—even if I took a bullet to the chest right now..."
Doyoung pointed to his own chest.
"I'd die 100% of the time. But if my body were carrying the virus, the odds would be 50-50. It could take, or it could fail."
"That's true, but..."
"This is our chance. A shot at a second chance. How could we pass that up?"
"We couldn't..."
Yeonha had to admit it, though reluctantly. Doyoung waved her off.
"Then quit nagging and get lost."
Yeonha let out a long sigh.
"The Major's the Major, alright."
Gamal sat still for a long moment before dunking her head fully underwater. Her black hair swayed like seaweed before her eyes.
Gamal closed her eyes beneath the surface. Yeonha watched her with pity.
But even after a while, Gamal didn't come up. Her long hair rippled in the tub, hiding her face.
Yeonha reached out toward her.
"Gamal, don't stay under too long..."
Gamal opened her eyes. A shadow flickered beyond the water's surface. Through the clear liquid, she saw Yeonha's worried face—but for a split second, the images overlapped.
The black shadow undulating beyond the dark swamp water, littered with floating debris...
Back then, with her breath nearly gone, Gamal had no choice but to sink limply. The moonlight trembling on the surface grew ever more distant.
Like wraiths trapped at the swamp's bottom clutching her ankles and dragging her down.
Darkness closed in. The light beyond the surface vanished. Gamal shut her fading eyes.
Her soul drifted away as everything blurred.
Thud.
But suddenly, consciousness slammed back like a shock. Gamal gulped in air desperately.
She couldn't breathe through the water. She couldn't think straight. She knew nothing. Only pain.
Help me, Kunis.
She flailed her limbs, pleading for aid from the very killer who'd just drowned her.
Kunis.
Splash.
A hand burst through the surface and seized Yeonha. Caught off guard by the immense strength, she was yanked in before she could steady herself.
A massive spray erupted.
"Lieutenant!"
The female soldier, thinking Gamal was attacking Yeonha, instantly drew her sidearm and aimed.
"Wait!"
Yeonha shouted sharply.
Water droplets fell from the tips of her hair. Lying in the tub, Yeonha looked up at Gamal straddling her.
Water had splashed everywhere in the chaos, leaving barely half in the tub.
Her red eyes, shadowed by the light behind her, gleamed with an unknowable shimmer—tears or luster.
"I dragged Kunis into the swamp."
In that instant of surging from the swamp, survival instinct had seized Gamal. She'd grabbed Kunis blindly.
Startled, he'd instinctively braced his hands to hold on. But it was futile; Gamal's pull dragged him into the swamp with her.
That sharp cry as they both plunged in still echoed in her ears.
She'd lost him in the dark water. And for a time after, she'd known nothing.
Then suddenly, the swamp had spat her out, and she'd crawled ashore. Alone.
Gazing at Yeonha, Gamal exhaled shakily.
"It was all me. All my fault."
Yeonha sat up at once and gripped Gamal's arm. The strength dug into her skin like a blade.
"The Major risked his life to protect you. Don't diminish what he did."
Gamal wanted to burst into tears. But she couldn't. She didn't even deserve to cry. So she just asked blankly.
"Then what should I do?"
Yeonha's expression was quiet yet firm.
"Don't break."
***
"Need a hand?"
A team member offered his hand, seeing how hard it was for Tora to rise from his chair.
"Thank you."
With the help, Tora stepped off the helicopter and onto the rooftop.
He hadn't imagined MCTC would come to his rescue. He hadn't hoped for it or expected it. He figured they'd just use him as a disposable pawn and toss him aside.
But this...
"Tora!"
Hearing the loud cry, Tora turned.
Far across the rooftop, Jain was running toward him in the same outfit from when they'd last parted. She wore only a single T-shirt over it.
"You okay...?"
Before Jain could finish as she approached, Tora pulled her into an embrace.
Jain was startled. But the voice rumbling in her ear sounded choked, holding back surging emotion.
"You're safe."
So Jain closed her eyes tightly.
"I'm safe."
Having lived as a soldier who protected rather than being protected, it felt foreign to have someone worry about her well-being. She hadn't even wanted it—it felt like admitting weakness.
But that concern, that sincerity melting into her skin where they touched, left Jain feeling at ease for the first time about someone fretting over her.
Jain pulled back and scanned Tora.
"You okay?"
Fortunately, the stab wound had received emergency treatment en route.
Tora nodded.
"He's still breathing. What about Mattie?"
"Ms. Gamal's safe."
"'Ms.'?"
Tora keenly grasped the implication of that honorific. Jain's face grew somber.
"The Major..."
Tora didn't press for details.
"Where is he?"
"In surgery."
"Take me to him."
Jain tried to stop him.
"Tora, your wound..."
"Take me."
Jain couldn't argue further.
It was a look she'd never seen in Tora before. Like a volcano on the verge of eruption, or a cup brimming and sloshing over.
***
Fresh from a shower and changed into a T-shirt and jeans, Gamal sat before the operating room where the "In Surgery" panel glowed.
Footsteps approached.
"Mattie."
Gamal turned slowly, her face alive with awareness once more.
"Tora."
She shot to her feet.
"Tora's hurt."
Tora ignored it and stared at the OR door.
"What the hell is this?"
He ground his teeth.
"That bastard did this, right?"
Gamal shook her head. Her face was that of a child confessing her own fault.
"I did it. It was me."
"Why would you do this, Mattie!"
His thunderous voice shook the air.
Gamal flinched. Tears welled in her eyes, glinting under the fluorescent lights. But this time, even Tora's heart didn't soften at the tears of his precious partner.
"Mattie, are you really that stupid? Blame that bastard! Hate him, want him dead! I just can't understand you. How can you call that brotherhood?"
Tora's face burned with genuine fury. Gamal could only blink back tears, speechless. Then Yeonha stepped forward from beside her.
"I get how you feel, but get your wound treated first."
Tora had received field treatment on the chopper, but his condition was still serious without proper care.
"Don't think like that. There's a limit to playing the fool."
When Gamal didn't respond, Tora spoke like a parent scolding a child.
"Got it?"
Gamal nodded at once.
"Yeah."
Then she asked.
"Want me to come treat your wound?"
"Nah. I don't cry about it hurting anymore, even without you holding my hand."
Tora turned away with a tone that sounded a bit cold. As Gamal reflexively took a few steps after him, he waved her off.
"Stay."
As he walked, Tora asked Jain.
"Has she ever made me cry about pain?"
"She liked it when you did."
"What a dutiful daughter."
Tora gave a bitter smile.
"Playing the good kid's tough work."
***
"Yeonha."
Ivan approached. Spotting her husband, Yeonha asked.
"Where's the commander?"
"Busy, no doubt."
Legion's island hideout had been discovered, after all.
Ivan nodded toward Gamal as if inquiring about her condition. Expecting her to be out of it, he was surprised when Gamal said.
"I'm fine."
Her gaze toward them was clear. Ivan exhaled in relief.
"You're keeping it together, then."
"Thanks to Yeonha."
Ivan glanced at his wife, but Yeonha shook her head as if she'd done nothing special. Ivan turned back to Gamal.
"You heard about the TASIL Project."
Gamal gave a wry smile. Then, switching to the Latin she spoke more fluently, she said.
"I've wanted to say it for ages, but it's incredible, Ivan. I could only think of hiding on the island, but you came up with building it into a flower. And the idea of carrying the virus..."
"I just toss out ideas. Turning them into reality is someone else's job."
Gamal looked at the OR door.
"Doyoung must have figured it out. That in that situation, there was only one way out."
By dying.
Doyoung had probably thought: My body carries the Luas Virus. Though it never activated, the potential was there.
That situation had no escape—unless someone sacrificed themselves. And Doyoung had offered his life. As if it were obvious.
Ivan spoke as if he understood well.
"There was one path, and the Major took it."
"Yeah. That's Doyoung for you."
Gamal murmured in a calmer tone than expected.
Ding.
The OR doors slid open, and a nurse in scrubs emerged.
Gamal jumped up. The nurse scanned the group and said.
"Any Ivanov clan members here? We need more blood."