"Enough! Maxine, Rashida get your children to their rooms." Grandma Carmichael ordered.
"What are you saying?" Grandpa Carmichael didn't stop asking Tony.
"When I was young, you'd always push me to do things I didn't like. Did you ask me what I want? Did you care about my goals? You never cared about me then now you're feeding other people?" Tony said furiously.
"Tony, it's not true. I always want the best for you and Maxine." Grandpa Carmichael defended, but Tony smirked.
"I ran out of this farm because I wanted to get out of your shadow. I became a laughing stock at the Army. I wanted to have my life, but all you did was control me." Tony cried and walked out of the house.
Grandpa Carmichael sat on the kitchen chair and looked at his wife.
"Did I create a demon's heart?" He asked Grandma Carmichael.
"Talk to him. We're family. I'm sure he'll understand."
The sun was setting, and Tony was feeding the animals when Grandpa Carmichael approached him.
"Hey, can we talk?" Grandpa Carmichael asked Tony, but he pretended to hear nothing.
"I'm sorry, Tony. I'm sorry if I pushed you too much. I'm sorry if I wasn't a good father, but you and Maxine are my greatest gifts. Why didn't you tell me?" Grandpa Carmichael asked Tony, as Tony sigh.
"I tried, but you were always at the Military service. You were busy with a lot of things. " Tony said as he fed the animals.
"I'd understand if you're angry at me, but please forgive me, Tony. I made a lot of mistakes, but a father will always be a father. I wanted what's the best for you that I had no idea that I was hurting you. Our values are what we are. Please don't allow the dark past ruin your heart. We always have to do what is right for our family, and for other people." Grandpa Carmichael reached for Tony's shoulder and squeezed it.
"When was the last time we played soccer?" Grandpa Carmichael asked Tony as they wiped off their tears.
"It was like forever ago." Tony laughed.
"You think you can beat me now?" Grandpa Carmichael teased.
"You're too good at it, but I think my son can," Tony replied and they both laugh.
"Ross and Vicky. I can see you through them, Tony. A total carbon copy." Grandpa Carmichael and Tony smiled.
"Dad, I gotta admit. I spoiled them too much. I wanted to give them everything. All the love, support, and materials that I never had. But I didn't see I was creating brats. And now I can't even control them sometimes." Tony confessed to his dad.
"Tony, now is always the time to make changes, perhaps?" Grandpa responded and smiled at Tony.
"How?" Tony wondered.
"Through there." Grandpa Carmichael pointed on Tony's chest.
"It's always better to use our brain in making the right decisions, but don't forget to listen to your heart. They're your children, you should know them well. Every day is a chance for new beginnings." Grandpa Carmichael continued.
Grandma Carmichael was delighted to see her husband and his son get along again. They even went to the town to buy more supplies and made sure that there are enough for them, and some extras in case other people ask for their help. People at the farm made sure that they are ready if the war spread on the area.
"Dad, you think the war will end? I’m tired of it." Ross asked his dad, Tony.
"Of course, Ross. There's always hope for everyone." Tony replied to Ross and looked at Grandpa Carmichael who was already smiling at him.
Meanwhile, Joseph is driving to their house. The weather has gone wrong, and it started to rain heavy and sturdy winds blown. Walter sits at the back while assisting Victoria who's still in pain, and Denise hasn't talked yet.
"Hold on, Victoria. You'll be fine. Joseph, you think they'll follow us?" Walter asked Joseph.
"I don't think so. Not with this bad weather. How's Victoria?" Joseph knew he had to come back to his senses.
"She has a gunshot on her thigh. Can you operate her?" Walter asked desperately.
"How? I don't have any equipment?" Joseph was in wary.
"I don't know. Please help my wife." Walter cried in despair.
"I am fine, honey. Let's first arrive at Dr. Brave's house safely. Denise needs to rest." Victoria said in a weak voice, as they all looked at Denise who was looking out of nowhere.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Before the sun alights, Joseph and his group have arrived at the main gate of their subdivision. To their surprise there were barriers, and barb wires near the main entrance. Joseph was peeping if there were other people in the area. It has been just days since he last slept at his home, but there were broken houses, unparked cars, and their subdivision seemed like a ghost town.
Joseph tried to break in the barriers, but armed people stopped them. They all pointed their armors to Steve's car.
"Oh my God!" Victoria almost yelled.
Joseph turned off the engine and unlocked the car.
"What do you think you're doing?" Walter asked Joseph.
"I think I know them. Stay here." Joseph replied, then get off the car before Walter could even respond.
"I am Doctor Joseph Brave. I live here. I've got wounded friends, and we don't mean any harm." Joseph said as he raised his two hands in the air.
"Joseph? Put down your guns. He's with us." One of the armed men shouted and walked towards Joseph.
"Sorry, I didn't recognize you, and your car." Mr. Ashton Eaton, a retired colonel, said to Joseph. Joseph remembered Steve when he heard about the car. He sighed heavy before he could respond.
"Colonel Eaton, glad you’re there. Rioters attacked the hospital. Lots of my friends died. I've got a friend who's wounded and a kid. We need to go in our house." Joseph said in a gloomy tone.
"Go quickly. Please let us know if you need anything." Mr. Eaton responded.
"Thank you, Colonel. You can convoy us." Joseph immediately entered the car and drove to his house.
Joseph parked Steve's car outside their house. Mr. Eaton and their neighbors helped in carrying Victoria at the living area.
"Denise, how are you feeling?" Joseph asked, but there was no response from her.
"Will you please do me a favor?" Joseph continued, but Denise just looked at him.
"Can you please stay to one of the rooms upstairs and get some sleep?" Joseph tried to convince Denise because he doesn't want her to see any more issues with Victoria. Besides, Joseph knew that she’s traumatized, and needed some rest. Fortunately, Denise nodded, and Joseph immediately conveyed her to his sons' room.
Walter was shouting from the living area, and Joseph went downstairs right away.
"What happened?"
"She's ill and weak, Joseph. We need to operate her soon. Please." Walter pleaded with Joseph.
Joseph checked Victoria's wound, but it's difficult for him to verify what procedure to do because he has no tools or equipment with him.
"I know, Walter. But how can I remove the bullet if I don't have the tools?" Joseph was dispirited.
"Can we go back to the surgery center and operate my wife?" Walter desperately suggested.
"You know it's not safe. We almost died out there." Joseph responded with fear.
"Joseph... my wife. I just lost my son. Please, not my wife." Walter cried.
"You can't go back there. You can't risk your lives, again." Mr. Eaton strongly disagreed.
Walter felt weak as he sat beside Victoria. Joseph followed, and he felt powerless.
"We'll get what you need, instead." Mr. Colonel stated. Walter's eyes lighted.
"Are you sure?" Joseph asked.
"Yes. You're doctors, and we need you the most at times like this. My men and I will go back to the surgery center, and get everything that you need." Mr. Colonel answered, and his troops agreed.
"I'll go with you. I am familiar with the equipment and the place. It would make it easier and faster. Joseph, please look after my wife." Walter recommended.
Joseph knew he couldn't stop his friend, so he just agreed.
"Holy shit." One of the men muttered to himself.
"I didn't know it was this dangerous. Is that the Southcrest Hospital?" The other man replied. Mr. Eaton and his men saw the burned half portion of the hospital. It has stopped from burning because of the rain, but it was still smoking.
Colonel Eaton and his group checked the area before entering the hospital. Fortunately, there were no intruders because of the weather. Walter was still terrified seeing the hospital again as he remembered their friends, but he has to do it for his wife. They immediately went in the unburned portion of the hospital. One man waited inside the car, as four men covered outside.
It was dark inside, but Walter was familiar with the place, so they were able to get into the surgery center promptly. They both grabbed everything on the list with some extras with the use of their flashlights.
"Colonel! can you carry this bag of supplies?" Walter asked Colonel Eaton.
"Definitely." Colonel Eaton answered and smiled. Walter carried two large oxygen tanks.
"You know, I used to carry that kind of loads when I was young." Colonel Eaton said with humor as he can see how tense Walter was. Walter managed to smile a little but still focused on saving his wife.
They were about to leave the area when they heard footsteps inside the surgery center. Colonel Eaton and Walter were alarmed and immediately raised their guns where the sound came.
"Who's there?" Walter strongly asked.
"Please, don't shoot." A man appeared wearing a dirty hospital uniform and raised his hands on the air.
"I am an anesthetist. I've been here for days. No food and water. Please help me." The nurse added in a weak voice.
"Colonel, what should we do?" Walter was afraid to approve because he doesn't know who to trust anymore.
"He can help Joseph operate your wife, but make sure that you're not one of the intruders. Or I'll kill you." Colonel Eaton threatened the nurse.
"Joseph? Dr. Joseph Brave? I've heard of him." The nurse confirmed.
"Good. I am Mr. Ashton Eaton, a retired Colonel. He's Walter, a medical doctor of this hospital. We have to go now. We need to save his wife." Colonel Eaton ordered.
Walter gave the other oxygen tank to the nurse, and they hurried back to the car.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
They hurried back to Joseph's house with all the supplies. Everyone was wet because of the rain, but Walter didn't care.
"Joseph! We've got everything for the surgery." Steve announced soon as he entered the house.
"We've also got you an anesthetist. We found him hiding inside the surgery center. I've fed him along the way, so I'm sure he has the energy to help you. Right?" Colonel Eaton directed to the Nurse, and he agreed.
"Good. You're familiar, but we need to work right now. I need lights. Please hold these flashlights for me. Steady as you can." Joseph instructed Walter and the nurse.
"I also need everyone to get out of the room for the meantime," Joseph ordered. Everybody does as their told and patiently waited outside Joseph’s house.
Joseph and the nurse sterilized all the tools, and their hands immediately. He checked Victoria's heart, blood pressure, and put oxygen on her. Everything was stable, so he started the procedure. Joseph, Walter and the nurse wore face masks, nitrile gloves, and hospital uniforms. He injected anesthesia to Victoria veins who's still sleeping because of severe weakness. The nurse grabbed the scalpel, handed it to Joseph, and he opened Victoria's wound smoothly. Joseph looked for the bullet and checked if there are any arteries affected. Fortunately, the shot wasn't deep, but its powder causes infection and weakness to Victoria.
Joseph grasped the tweezers, as he successfully removed the bullet. He rechecked the arteries to make sure that nothing got broke. Joseph then quilted and cleaned the wound properly. The nurse grabbed the roll of gauze, wrapped Victoria's thigh and cut it with shears.
Joseph sighed deeply.
"She's safe, but she has to rest." Joseph declared as Walter smiled in relief.
"Thank you, Joseph." Walter almost cried again.
"Good job, Doctor." The nurse greeted Joseph.
"You've cried a thousand today, Walter. Go on, and take some rest. Let me handle my patient's situation for tonight." Joseph teased Walter, and they both smiled.
"I'll help you, Doctor. I'd do anything to repay Walter for saving my life." The nurse said.
"We'll monitor her for the next twenty-four hours. Give her antibiotics through her Intravenous until she's awake. Let’s take turns?" Joseph ordered the nurse.
"Copy that, Doctor." The nurse replied.
Joseph went upstairs to check on Denise. It was a relief to see her sleeping, but a few minutes after he opened the door Denise started crying while asleep. Joseph immediately ran towards her.
"Denise? Wake up." Joseph shook Denise body.
"No!" Denise screamed and woke up catching her breath.
"Hush. It's a dream." Joseph hugged Denise, but she started crying.
"It's alright, Denise. Hush." Joseph tapped the back of her head.
"I had a dream. My parents, Nurse Janette and you. You were all dead. Please don't leave me, too." Denise continued crying.
"I won't. I had a promise, remember? I'll take you to our farm, and my family will meet you. Stop crying, please."Joseph wiped Denise's tears, and that calmed her.
"My dad and my mom... I miss them, Doctor."
"I know. I miss my family, too. But let's not make their sacrifice turn into nothing. We have to keep on fighting for our lives so that our sacrifices harvest its fruit." Joseph tried to calm Denise.
"Is there anything left for me out there?" Denise answered in a sad voice.
"Of course. There's hope for everyone, but you have to believe. " Joseph smiled at Denise. He knows that it’s too much for an eight-year-old kid to lose her parents and witness people die before her eyes.
Joseph read a book to Denise to help her back to sleep. He always did it for his kids when they were young. Joseph moved downstairs soon as Denise fell asleep, still in disbelief that surgery happened in his house. He checked on Victoria who's, as well as Walter.
"Do you want to take a rest?" Joseph asked the nurse.
"I'm okay, Doctor. I can take over until morning." The nurse replied.
"Are you sure?" The nurse nod and smiled.
Joseph tried to sleep, but he can see Steve and Jay whenever he closed his eyes. Anger and rage filled his heart. He decided to drink a cup of coffee, and breathe some fresh air. The rain hasn't stopped, and the night was dark. There were no post lights, and the stars were hiding behind the rain clouds. Joseph looked at the sky as he sipped his coffee.
"Doctor Brave, why are you still awake? Aren't you tired of your day?" Colonel Eaton stood beside him.
"I can't sleep. I tried, but I can only see my friends dying of the fire, and the bullets." Joseph replied dryly.
"Sorry to hear about your loss." Colonel Eaton said in pity.
"Colonel, I wonder if it's all worth it," Joseph asked as if he's about to lose hope.
"Of course, Joseph. Think about your family." Joseph looked at Colonel's group who were gathering rainwater.
"What are they doing?" Joseph asked Colonel Eaton.
"Grabbing supplies. We've run out of foods and water." Colonel Eaton responded in dismay.
"I think we gotta move, Colonel." Joseph proposed.
“Colonel!” A man at his mid-twenties was shouting as he ran towards Joseph and Colonel Eaton. They looked at the man who was pulling a big trolley covered with a canvas.
“Colonel! I've found something that might be ve
ry useful for us." The man said.
"What is it?" Colonel Eaton replied.
"A generator. I found it to one of the abandoned houses. It's not stealing, right?" The man said in humor.
"It's resourcefulness." Colonel Eaton laughed.
"Joseph, do you mind if we checked it in your garage?"
"Please do. In fact, it's a better idea if we all stick together in one house." Joseph replied.
Colonel Eaton and his group checked the generator immediately.
"The generator can hold as for a day or two. Depends on how we consume the Diesel on it." Colonel Eaton announced.
"What if we use the Diesel of the car?" A young man suggested.
"We'll be needing that to get away from this place." Colonel Eaton replied as he looked at Joseph.
"We're leaving?" The man who brought the generator asked.
"Yea. With what happened at the Southcrest Hospital, it's possible that the criminals are on their way any time soon." Joseph said.
"Let's run this thing, and bring this house to life." Colonel Eaton ordered his group.
They have successfully connected the generator to the house power. Joseph, Colonel Eaton, and other men gathered at the kitchen to watch the evening news. They didn't want to disturb Victoria and Walter who was still sleeping. Joseph also charged his phone.
There was news about the current condition of the President. He's still unconscious, but his body responds to his medicines. Footages of riots from Mississippi, Memphis, Los Angeles and other parts of the US played on the screen. The camera even recorded violence between the militia and the rebels.
"Nothing new." Colonel Eaton muttered to himself.
"I was hoping for something good." One man said.
"Maybe we should turn it off. Just a waste." Joseph suggested, but there was a flash report on the screen that shocked everyone.
Calls To Arms_A Story of the Imminent Collapse Page 9
