Chapter 77 — Blood and Fear
The hospital had become strangely quiet.
Not peaceful.
Just… heavy.
The kind of silence that comes when everyone is waiting for news that could change everything.
Cole had been in surgery for three hours already.
Inside the operating theater, bright white lights burned above the surgical table while machines beeped steadily around him.
Outside the ICU corridor—
The group waited.
No one had moved much from the chairs.
No one wanted to leave.
Because the moment they left might be the moment something happened.
---
The Blood
Suddenly the surgery doors opened.
A young hospital doctor rushed out, speaking quickly.
"We need O-negative blood immediately."
Everyone looked up.
The doctor continued urgently.
"Patient has severe internal bleeding. His blood type is extremely rare."
The hallway fell silent.
Nova stepped forward.
"What type?"
"O-negative."
A pause.
Several people looked at each other.
Then—
Keifer quietly stood up.
"I have it."
The doctor immediately turned to him.
"You're a match?"
Keifer nodded once.
Without hesitation.
"Take whatever you need."
JJ immediately walked beside him.
"You sure?"
Keifer gave a faint half-smile.
"It's Cole."
That was enough explanation.
The nurse quickly guided him down the hall.
JJ watched him disappear through the medical doors.
For the first time since the rescue—
Fear truly settled in the room.
Because if they needed emergency blood…
Cole's condition was worse than anyone had hoped.
---
Care Awakens
Two hours later—
Care's ICU room remained dim and quiet.
Soft machines monitored her breathing.
Her body was still recovering from severe hypothermia.
A nurse quietly checked her vitals and stepped outside.
The room became silent again.
Then—
Care's fingers moved slightly.
Her eyes slowly opened.
The ceiling lights felt painfully bright.
Her throat felt dry.
Her body felt heavy.
For a moment—
She didn't understand where she was.
Then the memories came back.
The truck.
The cold.
Cole's voice telling her to stay awake.
Her heart suddenly raced.
She pushed herself up slightly.
The IV lines pulled painfully against her arm.
"Cole…?"
Her voice came out weak.
No one answered.
She tried sitting up further.
The dizziness hit immediately.
But she forced herself to stand.
Her legs shook violently as she reached the door.
The moment she stepped into the hallway—
She saw them.
Everyone was there.
JJ.
Percy.
Aries.
Ash.
Lyra.
Alex.
All of them.
But Care's eyes searched for only one person.
"Where is Cole?"
Her voice cracked.
No one answered immediately.
That silence said everything.
Her breathing suddenly became uneven.
"What happened to him?"
JJ stepped forward gently.
"He's in surgery."
Care froze.
"Surgery…?"
Her vision blurred.
"How long?"
Percy answered quietly.
"Five hours."
Care's knees suddenly weakened.
"No…"
She took one step forward.
Then another.
"I need to see him."
Her voice was breaking.
She tried walking toward the surgical wing—
But the world suddenly tilted.
Her body collapsed.
Before she hit the floor—
Strong arms caught her.
Keifer.
He had just returned from the blood donation room.
He held her steady as she went limp against him.
"Easy," he murmured.
JJ rushed forward.
"She just woke up!"
Keifer carefully carried her back to the ICU room.
Doctors quickly checked her vitals again.
"She needs rest," the nurse said firmly.
"Her body cannot handle stress right now."
The group reluctantly stepped outside again.
---
The Second Awakening
Hours later—
Night had fallen over the island.
Care slowly woke again.
The room was darker now.
Soft lights glowed near the machines.
For a moment she lay still.
Then she remembered.
Cole.
Her chest tightened painfully.
She sat up again.
This time more carefully.
The door opened quietly.
JJ stepped inside first.
Keifer followed behind her.
Percy and Aries were right behind them.
Care looked at their faces.
Fear filled her eyes.
"Tell me."
No one spoke immediately.
"Please," she whispered.
"Tell me if he's okay."
Her voice broke completely.
JJ moved closer.
"He's still in surgery."
Care covered her mouth.
Tears spilled down her face instantly.
"How long?"
"Eight hours."
That was when she broke.
The tears came violently now.
Uncontrollable.
"I shouldn't have taken that boat," she sobbed.
"He tried to keep me alive the whole night…"
Her voice shook harder.
"He was freezing too…"
Keifer gently placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Care—"
But she shook her head violently.
"No."
Her breathing became uneven again.
"It's my fault."
Percy stepped closer.
"It's not."
"Yes it is!" she cried.
"If I didn't go—"
Her voice collapsed into sobs.
JJ sat beside her on the bed and wrapped her arms around her gently.
"Listen to me."
Care's shoulders shook with silent crying.
JJ spoke softly.
"He jumped into that truck because he wanted to protect you."
"He stayed awake all night because he chose to."
"That's who Cole is."
Care pressed her hands against her eyes.
Trying to stop crying.
But the tears wouldn't stop.
Finally exhaustion took over.
Her breathing slowly calmed.
Her eyes slowly closed.
And eventually—
She fell asleep again.