The Ranch

Miscalculation 2x (6)

The bodyguards run out of the store, fleeing the scene in fear. Squeals of a pig can still be heard coming from inside the house. A crowd surrounds the store, looking for juicy gossip. Most of them watched as the man brought Tih into the store and the newcomer's that didn't know were quickly filled in on the details.

The two bodyguards blocking Kai ran to the store, pushing their way through. If they didn't protect their boss properly, they wouldn't get paid. The only reason they're working for such a vulgar man is their empty bank accounts.

Kai closely follows behind the bodyguards and enter the shop with them. The scene in front of his eyes shock all three of them. Their boss is already on the floor, unconscious and bleeding out.

While the bodyguards are more focused on their income-I mean boss, Kai's attention is immediately grasped by Tih. Standing like a puppet on a string, Tih's eyes are more empty than usual. No light is able to reflective off of them. But contrary to its emptiness, the blue water is rippling with a hint of red. The weird state of Tih gives Kai a combination of shivers and goosebumps.

Finding its next target, the knife in Tih's hand rushes to one of the bodyguards. Caught off guard, the soldier hurriedly dodges, losing his balance along the way. He knocks into Kai and lands on top of him when they fall. Kai cries in pain, which pauses Tih's movements. The ripples in his eyes swirls around the drop of blood, trying to separate and extinguish it.

Tih grip loosens as the dagger falls to the floor. The other bodyguard sees this as a chance and takes it, he slams into Tih, taking him to the floor and knocking him unconscious.

A silence permeates the air as the group tries to organize their thoughts and take in everything that just occurred. The noisy crowd brings them back to reality.

The bodyguard that knocked Tih unconscious carefully picks his body up. The other bodyguard helps Kai stand up before inspecting the bleeding man's body. "...still alive." Although he didn't like this man, he would never let a child be the cause of someone's death, if he could help it. He dragged the man's body out to get a doctor.

Kai is currently coping with the feeling of pain every time he breaths, he should probably go find a doctor as well. The bodyguard say," Sorry about everything that happened. We're just trying to earn a living..."

"...yeah, I got it." Although Kai has a bad opinion of the bodyguards, he truly did understand.

The bodyguards looks at Kai with a sort expression," Let's get you two to a doctor." He carries Tih and walks to the weaponry district, Mai follows from behind. The bodyguard slows his pace for Kai who's injured.

The bodyguard leads them to a branch of the district that specializes in medicines and treatments. He carries Tih into the side office of a shop. Kai sees that the room is a doctor's office.

Placing Tih on a side couch, he says,"I'll go get the doctor. You should stay and rest." Kai nods. After the bodyguard leaves, he has time to think for himself.

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A doctor's bill...will be expensive. I don't think we can afford it. It'll probably put us in debt, but Tih's condition...

I look at the small, pale, and unconscious child. He looks so weak right now, but when I looked into his eyes earlier, I saw...I'm not sure what I saw. I don't know what that was and I don't think I can describe it with any word in a dictionary.

This island is worse than I originally guessed. Sigh, I thought I'd finally be able to-

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The bodyguard comes back with a doctor. The doctor looks to be in his mid-thirties. Putting on his glasses, he inspects Kai and Tih," So it's you two? Hmm... let's see." He looks over Kai's body, pressing the injuries. Kai responds by hissing in pain, but he lets the doctor continue," There doesn't seem to be any bone fractures and you don't have a hematoma. It should be a minor soft tissue contusion. A couple days of rest and you should be fine. Ice and compression should be used."

Finishing his diagnosis for Kai, he moves onto Tih. Kai watches at the side as the doctor performs multiple tests on Tih. Looking in his eyes with a light, testing his muscle reflex, checking breathing patterns, and checking for any internal or external injuries, just to name a few.

The longer the doctor checks Tih, the deeper his frown becomes. He sighs," Tut tut, looks like he's in a coma."

"...what?" Kai blanks out.

"He's completely unresponsive. He's not reacting to any of the muscle reflex tests and his breathing patterns are all over the place."

The bodyguard starts to form a guilty conscience," How...How long will it take him to wake up?"

"Could be a few days, weeks, or maybe he'll never wake up." The doctor leaves and comes back with a feeding tube. "Since you're newbies, I'll give you a deal. I'll give you this for a discounted price, but the nutrient packs and liquids will be full-priced. I'm not kind enough to give everything away for free.

Kai looks at the doctor in shock, not saying anything. He turns to Tih, staring at the unconscious boy for a while. He bends down, rubbing his own face with his hands and combing through his dirty blond hair in frustration. Taking a deep breath, he stands up," Does he have to stay here, or can I take him back to the dormitories?"

"Hmm, taking him to the dormitories should be fine."

"Okay, can you help take him back to the dorms for me?" He asks the bodyguard that's still in a stupor. A feeling of guilt has already risen in him. Although he's already completely used to seeing death because of his job, he was never the direct cause of it.

He turns to the doctor,"I'll pay for the nutrients and whatever else."

"Can you afford it?" Kai raises an eyebrow.

"I'll manage..."