Death Among the Stars

Chapter 1: FATE

It was a normal day for Archer. Performing the operations, saving his patients as his occupation. Bullets of sweat was forming on his forehead as he slowly removed the bullet planted on the right side of the patient's chest. He glanced at the ECG Monitor and became pale as he saw and heard the slowing of the patient's heartbeat. He concentrated despite of the adrenaline rush.

He and his team-mates were relieved when the patient's heartbeat became constant. The nurse told him that he should atleast get food and rest, but he insisted even if he is at the operating room for eight hours. The patient is alive and the vital signs are already stable and is already at the Intensive Care Unit. It was a big relief for him. He thanked his team and went out from the Operation Room.

His smile instantly faded when he saw a girl being rushed to the Emergency Room. He pumped the patient's chest. When they arrived at the ER he commanded the nurses to ready the surgical tools needed. He heard from the nurses that the patient was stabbed but he has this feeling that it is not only that because the stabbed part is not that deep but the patient's body is very pale like out of blood and ready for death.

"Check the vital signs" Archer said as he opened the eyes of the patient and checked it using the medical pen light.

The nurse informed Archer that the OR is ready. The patient was already transferred from the stretcher to the Operating Room bed. He prayed and immediately went inside, wore his surgical mask and gloves, hair cap and his surgical headlight. He fixed the Mayfield Clamp, release and secured the head. He briskly removed the instrumentation and the loose implants.

Archer performed the Cardiac Tamponade with surgical gauzes. Cold sweat is forming in his body while he's closing the wound in the left chest of the patient. He applied the large sterile adhesive bandage and was relieved because the operation was successful.

His team congratulated him and his co-doctors. After a long day he went outside the hospital and went in his penthouse at Bonifacio Global Center. He went to his CR, took his clothes off and turned the cold shower on. As the water flowed in his body, his personal problems flashed on his mind. He ran his fingers through his hair and put his arms on the wall while over-thinking.

He cannot get over his past. After a while, he grabbed his towel and dried his body. He wore the robe and went out. Archer checked his phone and saw a message from his co-workers that they are throwing a party at the Revel at the Palace, a bar near his unit.

He agreed to his colleagues' invitation, he chose a white Hawaiian polo shirt and dark blue faded jeans and partnered it with a Gucci Brown Leather Moccasins topsider. He locked his penthouse and rode the elevator going at the parking lot. Archer unlocked his black DB11 Aston Martin and drove it going to the bar. When he went outside, thousands of eyes were locked at him. The bouncers immediately greeted him as a sign of respect.

He easily found his colleagues on the VIP couch, so he walked towards them. Archer greeted his girl colleagues, cheek to cheek and the boys fist bumping. They started a conversation about their love life. Leandro, his friend shared that his already engaged. They asked who the lucky girl, which Leandro loves is.

"Her name is Chelsea Collins, my beloved fiancée" Leandro said with a huge smile plastered on his face. All their friends congratulated Leandro for his upcoming marriage.

"Good for you, someone will still love you even though your hair falls out." Michael, their colleague, said jokingly. They all laughed hoarsely at his meaningful joke.

"Well what about your love life, Michael?" Stan asked. All their eyes went to Michael who's busily pouring a Bacardi on his glass.

"You look wrecked." Stan added while smirking. Michael scowled at Stan's opinion.

"Don't ask me that. I just went through a tough and traumatic experience." Michael stated. Everybody went silent. No one dared to break the silence that's build within their table.

"Would you like to share that 'tough and traumatic experience' of yours?" Stan, trying to break the heavy atmosphere.

"After my shift, I immediately called Dominica to inform her that we will be having a dinner date. But then, she didn't answer after I called her 8 times. So, I got worried. And then I received a text message from her saying that she's sorry because she cannot go with me. I still went to the restaurant because I already reserved it. But then, my eyes were glued to my woman in front of me being held by another man. Tears began forming at the sides of my eyes and my vision became blurry. Despite of me being hurt, I still managed ask her who's the man beside her. When she mouthed 'sorry', I already knew it that she replaced me because I didn't have the time allotted for her. But I did afford to smile, marking the end of us. What I don't understand is why did she did not tell me that I was the only one fighting for 'us' without my knowledge."

"So it was a very traumatic experience for me until now. How about you, Archer?" Michael asked.

"No, no, don't ask me. I don't have time for that. I don't believe in love."
He immediately drifted the topic and said

"C'mon guys, you're no fun. Let's dance!" He went at the dance floor and then danced wildly. He felt that someone's dancing behind her.

So he turned his face at his back and found that there's this woman dancing behind her earlier. The woman is wearing a skimpy dress but her features were soft. They danced wildly. The girl grinded her butt and pass her hands through her booty to her waist, up to her neck and her hair, and then walked away. He was infatuated with the girl so he was stunned for a minute.

"Earth to Archer!" Michael said as he snapped his fingers to Archer's face. Archer was startled by Michael's action. Archer immediately went back to the couch without looking at Michael. He straightly downed 3 shots of Bloody Mary. He glanced at his wristwatch and found out that it was already 2:00 in the morning.

He and his friends decided to go home because their shift is at 8:00 in the morning.

When Archer returned to his penthouse, he took a shower and wore his pajamas but he can't fall asleep because the girl in the Operating Room occupying his mind.

"Damn it!" he whispered to himself. He fell asleep from the girl occupying his mind. At the wee hours of the morning, he fluttered his eyes open as he heard peculiar noises at his penthouse.