Chapter 235
“Callie, stop messing around! This is serious–someone’s life is on the line! You could make things worse!” Horatio sat in his wheelchair, his brows furrowed as he watched Calliope.
But Calliope ignored the protests around her. She had already checked the unconscious man’s condition, and her expression turned grim.
“It’s his heart. He collapsed before he fell, didn’t he?”
As she spoke, she was already reaching into her bag, pulling out a small case.
“Yes! What should we do? Is it bad?” the girl asked, almost choked on the words. “I can’t let something happen to him. Please, you have to help him! You’re right. He’s had heart problems for a while–we were supposed to go to the doctor in a couple of days!”
“Lay him flat,” Calliope instructed. “His condition is complicated. I’ll try to stabilize him, but he still needs to go to the hospital as soon as the ambulance gets here.”
“Okay!” the girl sniffled as she gazed at Calliope, her eyes reddening, totally lost.
Calliope pulled out a thin needle, rolling it between her fingers for a moment.
The gathered crowd murmured among themselves, exchanging uneasy glances.
“Wait, is this traditional medicine? Is she even qualified to do this?”
“I thought those doctors were supposed to be old guys with decades of experience.”
“Yeah, she looks way too young! Doesn’t seem to have much experience. What if she messes up?”
“Kid, are you sure you know what you’re doing? You can’t just poke someone randomly if you aren’t not. What if you hit the wrong spot and make it worse?”
The skepticism in their voices was clear. People shifted uncomfortably, whispering their doubts.
Horatio and the others scowled. They only thought Calliope was biting something more than she could chew, taking her as someone insane, who actually searched trouble herself.
“Calliope, you don’t know the first thing about medicine! What the hell are you doing?” Valerian snapped at Calliope. “Stop this right now! If you make things worse, how are you going to take responsibility?”
“Calliope, enough!” Ulysses shouted.
They thought she was being reckless – trying to play the hero, acting like she knew better than actual doctors. And where the hell had she even gotten those needles?
Meanwhile, Calliope turned to the girl. “There’s no time. I need to do this now, or he won’t make it. If you give me assent, I’ll start right away.”
The girl hesitated. She had heard the whispers, the doubts. She wasn’t sure if Calliope knew what she was doing either.
But there was no other option as she looked at her boyfriend. His face was getting paler, his breathing more shallow.
Taking a shaky breath, she met Calliope’s gaze. There was something unwavering in her eyes.
“Please, do whatever you can. No matter what happens, I won’t blame you.”
They were running out of time, and she had to clutch at straws.
Calliope nodded and, without hesitation, inserted the first needle.
The man’s body tensed. His already pale complexion seemed to drain of even more color.
“Did she even aim at the correct position? Why is his face paler than earlier?”
“Oh god, did she just kill him?”
