Derricc’s POV 30 minutes after the system screens disappeared we had a team to go find Erik.
We get to the building and begin our work.
Thankfully, the camp leader found 4 men almost as tall and jacked as Erik is.
It has made moving the bigger debris so much quicker.
After about 2 hours of digging and moving the debris, one of the soldiers says he’s found something.
I rush over and I see Erik’s boot sticking out to the rubble here “Everyone, quick, we’ve found Erik’s boot, let’s search this area.” I yell as everyone quickly starting working the area.
Unfortunately, the debris here are heavier pieces but we have the manpower to make this work.
After another 30 minutes, we’ve finally uncovered him and honestly, I can’t be mad.
I finally see my brother again and I can’t remember the last time I saw him with a peaceful look on his face.
It seems like even the universe itself is protecting Ol Bessie at this point and there’s no sign of debris around the rifle.
It genuinely make he happy.
Until I see the rest of his body.
One leg is crushed, another one has burned to the point you can almost see the bones underneath one of his hands are broken in several places.
We, as carefully as we could, try to turn Erik over and his entire back and neck is covered in an explosion burn.
I have seen a lot of death and destruction but someone surviving this much burn damage and multiple broken and crushed limbs, it’s practically unheard off.
“Quickly”, I yell as I try to compose myself”, I need a stretcher, bandages, 4 strong men and an emergency vehicle to transport a giant of a man to the medic tent.” The girls have come around and to no one’s shock, the girls are all having panic attacks, meltdown, and just can’t handle seeing a loved one in this condition.
Hell I can’t say he’ll even survive at this point.
I’m amazed he’s held on this long.
45 minutes later, we have the vehicles and we’re on our way back to the tent.
I’m honestly at a loss for words at this point.
I have to ask him if he survives, how does a man nearly get burned alive yet seem so at peace.
There’s got to be something I’m missing.
….
Aurora’s POV Thankfully, due to the mission a small group undertook a while ago, I haven’t had any new patients in a while and can finally take a breather.
Ever since I agreed to come to Somalia to help Zuri, there’s been no shortage of patients.
I’ve seen burns, gunshot wounds, knife cuts.
I’ve also had to amputate limbs, perform organ restoration, and even occasional heart surgeries.
I don’t know what it is about the military but I can get so much more practice here than at a hospital.
I guess I should be thanking Erik for this.
I spent my late childhood and early adult life fighting my parents about my life.
They wanted me home to either be a contract wife to someone who could benefit the family, or continue the family line of work as lawyers.
I always wanted to be a doctor, someone who saves lives.
I forced myself to study in secret, away from everyone.
I ran away to join the military and completed boot camp.
However South Korea didn’t allow female doctors in the military anymore after the scandal a few years ago with another female doctor.
That’s when I met Erik and Derricc.
They were looking for people to help but would require people to be off grid.
I overheard this and jumped at the chance.
Derricc gave me a smile and then continued to talk to the head of the camp.
Erik though, he saw me, like actually took the time to see who I was.
He invited me to a nearby table and began to like half interview half make conversation with me and he truly tried to learn about me as a person.
He also challenged me as a medic.
He gave scenarios, asked to go through the process to fix the situation.
He’s ask me which bandages worked for what wounds.
He finally asked me one question that I’ve wanted to be asked for a long time.
“What do you need right this moment that would allow you to follow your dreams.” “A place to practice my craft.” “That’s it” “Yes” “Alright one final question.” He asks with a very serious tone.
“If I could make your dreams come true, at the cost of being erased from the world, would you chase those dreams.
I’m talking no media presence, no parties, minimal contact with the outside world.
A ghost, like me.” It blindsided me.
He essentially said he could give me exactly what I wanted.
And the cost was the world forgetting I existed.
Honestly it wasn’t a bad trade.
My parents didn’t care about my happiness.
The South Korean military refuses to give me an opportunity despite my skills.
Yet this man who looked like he ate bears for breakfast is telling me I can chase my dreams.
“Yes, I can come with you.” I said without hesitation.
“Derricc, we’re bringing her with us.” “You sure, she’s from a family of lawyer royalty.” “I’ll deal with that later.
She has a skill set or family needs.
I’ll take care of the rest.” “Alright, I’ll finish up here and we’ll go home.
The presidents waiting on us.” Oh my, I thought.
These guys are people who serve directly under the president.
No wonder Erik is a “ghost”.
It all makes sense, now i really can’t contain my happiness.
The next 15 years I could only describe as unreal.
Every mission we had, Erik was helping me set up a tent, helping me check equipment, even helping me with surgeries that required preside needlework.
This man has become the very reason I can live the life I want.
I don’t think I can ever give him anything compared to what he’s given me.
I just wish he wasn’t married.
For 15 years I’ve kept the feelings buried.
I’m not sure how much longer I can keep my feelings in check.
Yeah I know my feelings toward him.
We are ghosts, but when someone dedicates his time to ensure your happiness.
The feelings come naturally.
I only hope he’s happy right now.
“Boss, we have a patient, and it’s not looking good.
We’re bringing him to the stone room.” “The stone room?” I ask.
“Ma’am, this patient have severe burns and can’t be placed on anything that can stick to him.
The stone room is the only one that’s able to give the patient that necessity while also giving you enough room to treat him.” Before I can say anything, I see 4 of the head camp’s biggest bodyguards bring in an even bigger human into my facility and he’s face down on the stretcher.
I’m fixing to lose it with this poor patient treatment until I see his back and in 17 years of medical study, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a back this bad come into my workspace.
It’s clear this man got caught up in an explosion due to the tissue damage, and burn size.
I also see a similar but less severe burn on his leg.
The man who’s walking with the bodyguards explain the noticeable injuries and my first thought is how is this man still alive.
We reach the examination room where I see that his back and leg have such severe nerve damage that I’m going to have to completely redo his back and leg from scratch which isn’t easy by any means.
I hear people walking in and I’m about to yell at them for disrupting me before I see that it’s Zira and the other girls from the group.
I look at the lifeless pale looking man next to them and I see that to my surprise it’s Derricc.
I immediately put two and two together and realize that Derric was the one who led the operation to save Zira, because of course he would know about this and find a way.
But that would mean the man on my table….no it can’t be…..there’s no way right.
I contort myself to look at the face and despite the new facial hair and the aged look, I can see him.
The man I love.
The man who has given me a chance to live the life I want.
The man who has been by my side in a way that not even my parents were.
My Erik, lifeless in front of me.
My first instinct is to just completely lose myself and cry but I can’t do that if I want to save him.
All I can do is will myself to stay calm and make sure I examine him thoroughly and make sure I can heal him properly.