Sometimes watering the fields is not as good as timely rain.
Just when Ian was stuck here not knowing where to go or how to get out, the man who is the highest authority in this place came out of the confidential lab.
The man had changed out of his previously wet and white-dyed clothes and into a new set of doctor outfit.
The man strode down the path and turned into an inconspicuous corner.
Ian raised an eyebrow and quickly followed after, not wanting to miss the man and his next set of actions.
The man turned the corner and touched around the wall on the right. Finding the thing he was looking for, the man pressed it.
A secret elevator revealed itself.
The man stepped in. Ian also entered.
The elevator was large enough to fit 5 people at most.
On the car operating panel, there was only one option.
—Surface.
The man pressed the only option on the car operating panel.
The elevator doors closed.
The elevator began to rise.
Thankfully Ian's clothes had long dried, so no suspicious and unnatural traces could be found on the ground he walked on. The man still had no idea that someone was right next to him.
The dark purple glow in Ian's eyes never faded.
Ding!
With a crisp and mechanical sound, the elevator stabilized and stopped moving. The doors opened soundlessly.
The people inside stepped out.
They have arrived at the surface hospital, in the employees-only section.
The man wearing the doctor overcoat went on his way and this time, Ian did not follow him.
Ian waited for the sound of footsteps to fade into the distance before he called out in a low voice, "Shade."
As if summoned by magic, Shade soon appeared in front of Ian.
"Master." Shade called out, his face seemingly calm but the slight tremor in his voice showed his inner anxiety.
Shade had gone to cause a distraction and when he came back, he didn't see Ian. He searched the entire hospital, nearing turning it upside and down but still couldn't see even the shadow of Ian.
Shade had been extremely nervous and on edge, terrified that something might have happened to Ian while he was gone.
"Don't worry, nothing happened to me. Let's leave," Ian said and left the area.
Shade could only put aside his worries and nod, then followed after Ian.
Ian's eyes flashed darkly as he took the time to recall the tattoo he had seen today on the forearm of the leader man when the other had been drenched and his clothes became transparent.
Two slithering snakes twisted together, one black and one white.
It was the symbol of their organization.
Ian was certain of it. Hospital A belongs to them.
And now, he has obtained evidence of their wrongdoings.
There must be more than just the secret laboratory and drugs research going on behind the scenes.
Ian plans on digging up all the dirt they are hiding in this place.
Ian does not plan on using his powers to interrogate those scientists and minions of that organization. Countless times in his past life, he had used his powers on the ones he could get his hands on, but he never gained any valuable intel from them. The minions on the lower rung of that organization's ladder are basically replaceable items; their organization does not value them and thus do not tell them anything, except the orders the minions are to carry out.
Controlling them to give him information will only add more things to do on his plate rather than help in his grand scheme.
Kari, on the other hand, is different. Although, as a spy, she is privy to more information sources than the low-status minions, in essence, she is similar to all those other minions—disposable.
Ian had a plan in mind when he decided to control her; he did not do that out of mere anger.
She's not just there to be a double agent.
Ian smirked. His face half lit and half covered in darkness. The corridor lights flickered. Evil spirits seemed to come out of his soul, sending chills down the spine.
'I'm another step closer to finding out who you are and bringing you down.'
A red madness burst out in the light purple haired teenager's innocent but gloomy light purple eyes.
***
A few days later.
Hospital A is back in operation.
Due to the unexpected bombing at the hospital, Hospital A had to temporarily close down. No new patients were accepted and all the current patients were sent out to other hospitals if possible. For those who did not and could not leave, Hospital A's remaining manpower was left to take care of them during the shutdown period. In a way, Hospital A was semi-operating and semi-closed.
Only until the police confirmed that there were no other bombs present in the hospital and that the hospital can open up for patients again, did Hospital A reopen.
The bombing case itself did not go anyway as there were no witnesses and evidence to point to the culprit. The case was left unresolved and shelved.
Police cars left the hospital's premises.
At first, people were still worried that the hospital might be a dangerous zone. But seeing how smoothly it was operating after days of reopening and that no other incidents happened, patients started trickling back in.
At that point, Hospital A has completely resumed all paused and ongoing operations. Some of the patients who were sent away to other hospitals came back, while some decided to stay in their new hospital to avoid the trouble of going back and forth.
Geo's mother was one of the patients who chose to transfer back to Hospital A.
On this day, Geo was helping her unpack her luggage so that she could settle down in Hospital A again.
During this period of time, Geo put together their family savings, his part-time jobs' earnings, and his scholarship money and barely got enough for his mother to undergo the first stage of the treatment plan.
Now, they were just waiting for the day of the operation.
Thinking about the remaining stages of the treatment his mother will have to undergo in the future, Geo could not help but feel his heart sink. Just the first part of the treatment plan's payment depleted all their current assets. What should they do in the future? How will he pay for his mother's continual treatment?
He knows he must make more money, but how? Should he quit his part-time job at the construction site and make commissions as a car salesman or a real estate agent?
But will they take him? He's only a high school student. He can't even work full-time.
Geo was entangled in his own thoughts and worries as he put away his mother's clothes and daily necessities.
Even in his thoughts, his hands and feet didn't stop moving. Each piece of clothing was folded neatly and stacked perfectly on top of each other, showing his expertise and experience.
He placed the neatly folded clothes into a large bag.
Just then.
"Mom! Don't move! I'll get a cup of water for you. Don't move." Geo hurriedly stopped what he was doing when he noticed his bedridden mother slowly getting out of bed to get a drink of water. Geo rushed to his mother's side and swiftly poured her a cup of water using the disposable cups handed out by the hospital. Even the water he was pouring from the kettle he took from home was taken from the hot water dispenser belonging to the hospital.
Geo was trying to save as much money as possible.
The majority of the day, he spends either in school, at work, or at the hospital. He finds no reason to go home except for occasionally taking some of his or his mother's stuff to use at the hospital.
In which case, his house is practically empty all day long. He wanted to save on his bills so he stopped paying their utility bills, such as electricity, water, and gas.
If he needs to charge his phone, he'll either charge it at school or in the hospital.
If he needs to eat, he'll buy a few pieces of cheap bread on the side of the road.
If he needs to drink water, he'll drink from the water foundations at school or from the water dispensers in the hospital. Filling up his water bottle by the way so that he can take it to drink during his job.
Wherever he could save, he saved.
All so that there would be less expenses and that more money can be saved for his mother's treatment fees.
Geo handed the cup of water to his mother, carefully holding her up so that she can drink the water.
"Thank you, Geo." Geo's mom smiled as she handed the cup back to Geo.
"You're welcome, mom." Geo smiled back. He took the disposable cup and threw it into the trash bin on the side of the hospital bed.
Looking at the clock on the wall, Geo saw that it was time for lunch. He turned to his mom and said, "Mom, the hospital lunch meal should be arriving soon. You eat, I'll go out and get something to eat."
Geo's mom nodded. ""Be careful out there."
Remembering something, her gentle expression suddenly turned stern.
"And remember to eat well. Don't just devour bread, buy more nutritious meals. Just because I'm in the hospital doesn't mean I can't monitor your diet. Isn't there still time before you have to pay for the second stage of the treatment? Mom doesn't want you to work so hard and yet eat so poorly. You're still in your growing phase. Most importantly, if mom gets better and then you fall sick, wouldn't all your hard work be in vain? Mom will be worried." Geo's mom admonished him with heartfelt concern.
Maybe other children would find their mother's nagging annoying, but Geo certainly wouldn't think so.
His mother's words full of blatant love and care warmed his heart.
He swallowed down the bitterness rising in his throat, his eyes moist. Geo grinned to hide his shaky emotions.
"Mom, don't worry. I know what I'm doing. I'm going now. I'll be back soon." He hurriedly left like the wind before he even finished speaking, his words floating behind him.
"You…!" Geo's mom wanted to say some more, but her son had already run off. She could only give up for now.
"This kid." Geo's mom sighed with a smile on her lips. Deep down, she was really worried about the mental state of her son who had to shoulder everything at his young age.
If only her husband were still here.
Geo's mom sighed again.
She laid back down in her bed, closing her eyes to rest.