What needs to be done for a better world

Chapter 8

As Ray came to, he found himself near the box where he had left Julie, with no idea how he had managed to get there. He expected to be at the bottom of the stairs, writhing in pain from the fall, but instead, he was surprisingly intact. Well, except for his multiple bullet wounds.

He shook his head to clear the fog still crowding his mind. Despite feeling light-headed from the blood loss, he checked his arm. The bullet had gone all the way through, and to his relief, the bleeding had completely stopped.

After assessing his condition, he got to his feet and opened the lid of the box where he had left Julie. She still hadn't woken up. He gently lifted her out and laid her on the floor. Noticing the considerable amount of blood inside the box, his fear for her life intensified. Checking for a pulse, he was relieved to find it, though it was weak.

It was now time to properly tend to her wound. Every soldier received basic medical training. It was a measure, one that was taken in case the group's medic was taken out or incapacitated, proving useful here. He started to cut the bandage he had made before, along with the fabric of her pants to get a clearer view of her injury. There was still a little bit of blood seeping through her wound and he knew it would continue to bleed as long as the metal fragment that was lodged on her leg wasn't removed.

With practiced hands and a heart steadied by training, Ray swiftly assessed the injury. He applied a tourniquet above the wound to control bleeding, then meticulously cleaned the area with antiseptic wipes from his medic kit.

Carefully, Ray probed the wound with a sterile instrument, locating the embedded shrapnel. With precise movements, he grasped the fragment with forceps and gently extracted it, ensuring not to exacerbate the damage. The fragment emerged, slick with blood, and Ray quickly applied hemostatic forceps to control the bleeding once more.

Working methodically, Ray sutured the wound, meticulously aligning the edges for optimal healing. He applied sterile dressings and administered antibiotics and pain relief, monitoring Julie's vital signs closely as he worked.

"You're in good hands, Julie," Ray murmured, his voice a calm reassurance in the lingering aftermath of battle. He remained focused, knowing their survival hinged on swift evacuation and continued medical care.

Taking her pulse once more, Ray felt a wave of relief wash over him as he noted it was stronger than before. The metal fragment lay beside him, a grim reminder of how close he had come to losing her. Finally, he leaned back and sighed deeply, feeling a mix of exhaustion and relief. The weight of the situation lifted slightly, and he allowed himself a moment of gratitude that he had managed to remember everything he had been taught.

Now that the immediate crisis had been addressed, Ray noticed rays of sunlight filtering through the dirty windows of the building. At least an hour or two had passed since their encounter with the squad from Eden. The soft, warm light contrasted sharply with the cold, grim reality of their situation, but it also provided a small measure of comfort and hope.

With that in mind, he knew that no one would be waiting for them. They might return to take down this base later on, but it wouldn't be for at least a few days. For now, he was left alone to bring Julie back to their base on foot. Based on the time it took them to ascend the mountain, it would take him a bit more than six hours to get back down. The base was around eighty kilometers away. This mountain, along with their base, was pretty much isolated. Encountering a passing car was unlikely, so he could only resort to walking.

After some quick calculations, he estimated it would take approximately twenty-one hours to reach the base while carrying Julie, a task that would significantly slow him down. Each step weighed heavily on him, not just physically but emotionally, knowing Julie's life depended on his endurance.