The Decoder - Chapter 14

Edith

Edith wrote her report in the logbook, a smile plastered on her face. The ward was empty, the last patient had been discharged yesterday and allowed to return to duty. As she sat at the corner entrance of the ward, she couldn’t wipe off the silly smile from her face, recalling the events last night. What would Dr. Maia say if she caught Edith smiling like a fool the whole morning? But she couldn’t help it, not when it involved Avery Kainz lying his head on her lap and had held her hand. His winks and playful smiles had made her stomach aflutter with butterflies. Edith had always found Avery charming during their childhood years, but it had increased tenfold now. He was no longer a boy, but a man. She blushed at the thought and quickly refocused her thoughts and attention at the task at hand. “What’s wrong with you, Edith? You’re acting like a lovesick fool.”

“Good morning, Edith.” Merille’s calm voice filled the doorway and Edith looked up, surprised to see her at the Health Department. It was not lunch hour, yet.

“Good morning, Merille. How can I help you?” Edith stood and walked over to her. Merille’s face was pale and she looked as if she was in pain.

“I’m having trouble with my fingers. The wounds have reopened, and it stings each time I try to write. As you know, you’re the only one I trust in the Health Department.” Merille said and chewed on her bottom lip.

Edith noted the few glares coming from the group of nurses whom she had come to refer to as “The Nasty Group” at a corner of the hallway. Don’t they have duties to attend to?

“Of course, Merille. I will help you. Please help yourself at the table at the end of the ward while I fetch some bandages and iodine.” Edith smiled at Merille and went to gather the necessary medications and a washbasin with a cloth hanging at the side of the washbasin. She set them on the table and began cleaning the wound on Merille’s fingers. Edith nearly cringed at the wound, but quickly reverted to her professional composure. The cut wounds were worse than she had thought. Thought the cuts were less than two centimetres long, but they still looked painful when they are several of them. The Nasty Group was taking it too far.

“You need to take a break from your duties today, Merille.” Edith said, trying to control her boiling nerves.

“I can’t. I’m the only person at the department.”

It was true. It would be difficult for Merille to take a break. Not when there was a pile of messages to be decoded and encoded daily.

“Then, let me help you. I could request for a leave today.” Edith said as she applied some iodine on the cut wounds. Merille winced but remained steady.

“You can’t. Not when there are some Elites and intelligence officers who frequented the department during the day. If they discover you are there, you will be in trouble.”

Edith sighed. That was true as well. But she couldn’t allow Merille to work when her hands were in such a state.

“Is there any way I can help at the very least?” Edith asked. She proceeded to bandage Merille’s hands.

“You are already helping now. By tending to my wounds.” Merille smiled, a pretty one. No wonder Caden was smitten with her.

“But it will take a longer time for these cut wounds to completely heal.” Edith said with concern.

“It’s fine. I’m used to this kind of injuries.”

“Used?” Her brows drew together. The word implied that Merille had been some way ‘abused’ in the past.

“I will leave that for another time. Right now, I will need to return to my department. Thank you, Edith.” Merille stood, but Edith grabbed her left arm.

“Let me walk with you.” Edith smiled. God knows what The Nasty Group will do to her on her way back to the Administration Building. She wasn’t taking any chances even if there were other employees around. Caden was out on the field and it would be an hour before he return for lunch.

“But—"

“Stop objecting, Merille. I have more flexibility than you. I could say I’m escorting my patient back to her office.” Edith quickly cut in.

“Well…If you insist. I’m grateful.” Merille grinned.

They stepped out into the hallway and Edith eyed The Nasty Group who had moved a few metres away from Ward A. They were lounging close to the main intersection of the Main Building, which connects the Administration Building and the cafeteria. Turning right would lead them to the main compound and the open field.

The Nasty Group cast a glare and a scowl at their direction, but Edith told Merille to ignore them and keep walking. She hoped they will not dare to do anything in the company of a few employees who lingered about, but she was terribly wrong.

In a heartbeat, the nurse whom Edith recalled whose name was Jen, stuck out her right foot and Merille tripped over, bringing Edith down along with her. They sprawled on the cold floor, their bellies pressed to the cold hard floor, hot searing pain coursed all over their body, especially at their knees and arms. Edith throbbed all over and she swore, humiliated and embarrassed at the same time. She heard a collective gasps and murmurs all around them and she swore she heard faint laughter as well. Her blood began to boil at a very dangerous temperature, and she started seeing red. She pushed herself up from the floor and helped Merille to a sitting position. Tears welled in her eyes and she was shaking all over.

The Nasty Group had crossed the boundaries and there was no way Edith was going to sit quiet now. Several nurses and soldiers were watching them, whispering to one another instead of helping Edith and Merille. Where are their common sense and courtesy? Edith fisted her hands in hot blazing anger. She had never felt this angry in her life before and The Nasty Group had done a good job of it. All rationality and diplomatic reasoning had fled out of the window.

She rose to her feet and without hesitation, she whirled around and approached Jen. She doesn’t care if she looked like a mess or an enraged bear for all to watch, all she cared was putting Jen in her place. But before she could grab her by the collar and plant a fist into her face, Jen pulled out a cutter, which Edith suspected was used to inflict the cut wounds on Merille’s fingers. She thrust the tip of the blade at Edith’s direction, halting her steps.

“Don’t come any closer.” Jen warned. Edith scowled at her.

“That woman deserves it.”

“And why does she deserve it?” Edith asked darkly.

“Because she has been toying with Caden.”

“And where is your proof in that?” Edith countered.

Jen remained silent for a moment, lost for words.

“Your jealousy is disgusting. Just because Caden doesn’t pay attention to you, you decide to inflict harm on the lady of his choosing.” Edith seethed before continuing her words. “Your behaviour is pathetic.” She raised her voice a notch.

“You bitch!” Jen shouted and raised the cutter. She brought it down and Edith caught the blade with her bare hand, holding it a few inches away from her face. She winced in pain when the blade bit into her left palm, blood oozed and trickled to the ground. The pain intensified when Jen wiggled the blade in an attempt to shake away Edith’s hand.

“Let go!” Jen yelled.

Edith wanted to let go, but the burning rage in her refused to do so. She was not stepping back from the pathetic human being before her. She will not show her weakness and for Merille’s sake, she will continue to fight on. Her father had taught her to be kind and to help others in need. The Nasty Group needed to be taught a lesson.

“Stop your pathetic behaviour and don’t you lots dare to come near Merille ever again.”

“I said let—"

“What is going on here?!” A deep voice boomed, startling both Edith and Jen and everyone around them. They turned at the source of the voice. Avery stood few inches away from them, he stood tall, just like a captain he was, confident and authoritative. His eyes widened in horror at the sight of blood that was beginning to pool at Edith’s ankle boots. Caden was by Merille’s side, helping her to her feet.

“Stop all this at once and release that cutter.” Avery commanded, his expression hard and stern. He took a few steps forward, closing the gap between them when Jen released the handle of the cutter and took a step back. Her expression a mask of fear. Edith held on because she knew it will hurt tremendously if she were to release it. The blade was deep in her flesh. She had tightened her grip in anger, refusing to back away.

“Release the cutter, Edith.” Avery was now standing beside her, his hand on her left arm.

“I can’t. It will hurt.” She said weakly, feeling faint now. The amount of blood loss was making her weak to her knees.

Dr. Maia was suddenly at her side. “I will dress that wound immediately.” She guided Edith away from the crowd and into Ward A. Edith glanced over her shoulder and saw Avery watched her for a moment longer before turning to Jen. He said a few words, which were inaudible to Edith as Dr. Maia drew her further away from the crowd. Before she knew it, her consciousness began to waver, her vision blurring and the last thing she remembered was stepping into Ward A.

* * *

Night had fallen when Edith regained her consciousness. She glanced around and found there was not a single soul in the ward. A candle burned at her bedside table and the drapes pulled shut. A faint throb at her left hand reminded her of the scene this morning. Edith lifted her left hand; the cutter had been extracted, and a bandage was wrapped neatly around her palm. She closed her eyes for a short moment before opening them again and pulled herself to a sitting position, her bare feet touching the cold hard ground. She located her ankle boots and put them on before heading out to the compound.

Edith felt weak and dizzy, but she needed some fresh air, albeit a cold freezing one in the quiet of the night. She stood at the intersection, devoid of people, and before she could take another step, a familiar voice called out to her. She turned and Avery was approaching, his expression dark and foreboding.

“Edith, what are you doing out here? You’re supposed to be resting in the ward.” He demanded, his brows drew together, frustration and concern etched his expression.

“I wanted some fresh air.” She answered nonchalantly, too weak to argue with him.

“And what’s with your behaviour this morning?” Avery’s voice was stern and cold, as if a parent was mad at their child. His piercing gaze bored into hers.

“Jen and her minions were bullying Merille and I can’t bat an eye to that.” Edith averted her gaze from him.

“It’s rash of you to behave that way. It’s dangerous and could endanger your life.” Avery raised his voice, obviously agitated by her reply.

“But—"

“Please, don’t.” Avery held up a hand, silencing her. Now, she was annoyed, but forced herself to bit back a retort. It was safer to tread on safe waters when Avery was in a bad mood. One does not mess with his temper. She had learned it the hard way when they were kids. Edith remained silent and looked away, though she tried her best not to argue with him, she still felt slightly hurt. He did not give her a chance to explain her reasoning. Maybe he already knew everything that happened when she was unconscious, but it didn’t feel pleasant to be cut off like that. She knew it was reckless behaviour on her part. Instead of solving manners in a diplomatic way, she had chosen the hard way that involved physical injuries.

Avery sighed and took her bandaged hand in his, his big and strong hand gently wrapping around hers. His thumb gently stroking her wrist.

“I’m worried, Edie. It scares me to see that cutter biting into your palm, scares me to see that amount of blood you’ve lost, and it scares me to see you might never wake again. Promise me you won’t do that again, please?” Avery said softly, the coldness in his voice no longer present, replaced by fear. He was worried for her. The thought made her feel warm and gave the gentle feeling of flutters in her stomach.

“I promise.” Edith fixed her gaze on his hand, hoping he would not notice the blush that was slowly turning her pale cheeks pink. Suddenly, catching her off guard, he closed the gap between them and pulled her into his arms, gently pulling her head against his chest, his other arm went around her waist. Her body stiffened at first, but the feel of his arms around her gave warmth, and she slowly begin to relax in his embrace.

Avery remained silent as he lay his chin atop her head while Edith rested hers against his solid chest, savouring the moment and listening to the rhythm of his heartbeat.

“How is Merille?” She asked quietly.

“She’s doing fine. Caden is with her. How are you feeling?”

“I’m feeling a little weak, but otherwise I’m doing good. Thank you, Avery.”

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