Forced Marriage: Escaping Her Monster

Jerlina looked at her left hand. There was dark red blood on her hand. As the cold air blew, the blood dried and her hand started to shake.

She looked to the front and Charlie and the others were subduing one of their guys.

Why would someone from Joel's gang shoot him?

"Joel!"

Jerlina ran to his front and looked at his wound. Jeremy was placing his hand over the entry point and blood was oozing out. His big hand that caressed her head just now was now soaked in blood.

"I'm- fine...honey..." 

She heard him say and she looked up. His face had gone pale and there seemed to be blood in her mouth. Or she had gone crazy and seeing blood everywhere?

No! Now is not the time to be wondering this or that! He is hurt and he needs treatment!

"Joel, hold me," she wrapped his arm around her shoulders. "Lean on me," she walked towards the passenger seat of the car.

"I'm fine, Jerlina..."

She heard him say but the more they walked she could feel him leaning more on her and she started to stagger. That means his strength is leaving him.

No! But I can't give up! 

"What happened?" 

She heard Charlie's voice from behind her. "He's shot in the abdomen. Charlie, help me..." 

She couldn't handle his weight as they neared the passenger seat side and Charlie although got stunned for a moment, composed himself sooner and helped Jerlina.

"When I came back, you were already in the police station and I couldn't get to you... After Wyatt helped you out, I used another exit and brought some men with me..."

Charlie kept on speaking and helped Jeremy sit in the seat. He examined him while Jerlina, who couldn't hear a single word Charlie said, ran to the other side. 

"The bullet's still inside him. It has to be removed first. I know a doctor in the city. Let me take him-"

As Charlie was speaking, they heard a group of cars approaching them from behind them. 

"Sh*t! Those are Viper's men!" Charlie shouted." Jerlina! Get it! Get him to a doctor soon. I'll handle it here!"

  Jerlina, like a robot, started the car and stepped on the gas. It was an old car and after driving the Porsche a lot recently, she felt the car is taking forever to reach even 60.

"Be calm, honey... I am fine..." Jeremy held her hand that was on the stick. Jerlina sucked in her tears as she felt blood dripping from his hands, over hers.

  "I know," she turned to look at him with a smile; a smile that took every ounce of her strength to bring up to her face. It was very odd because lately, she found it was very easy for her to smile.

Now, her heart hurt. It was so unbearable, she wanted to faint. But she knew she cannot.

He is comforting me when he is in such great pain? There is a hole in his abdomen that bleeds profusely for God's sake!

"Just keep on speaking though, huh, lover? I might forget you're fine. Don't make me worry, alright?" she held his hand, slippery because of his blood. 

He's losing a lot of blood and it won't be good if he stops talking. 

She knew he cannot faint or fall asleep. 

Or it doesn't matter?

She didn't care. 

I'll die if he stops talking.

She just wanted to keep on hearing his voice to maintain her sanity. 

Her eyes reflexively ended up on his wound. He was holding it with his other hand.

"Lover..?" he chuckled with difficulty. She saw his other hand getting wetter as more blood oozed out.

"Don't try to chuckle, dummy!"

Jerlina's eyes clouded. 

This man... This man who loves her enough to take a bullet for her... this man who is still trying to make her heart ease up when he is in pain...

How can he love this much?

"When you bleed, it hurts me more... Does that make sense, Joel? I know you're the one in pain, but why does it feel like I am the one dying?" She squeezed his hand. 

"Ah..." his lips curved up. 

Jerlina wiped her hand using the back of her hand and concentrated on the road. There is a long road ahead to the city and she wasn't sure where she could go.

Which doctor would treat him without questions?

Should I call Charlie? I have a f*cking SAT phone. But he's fighting. And is his phone even working?

An ambulance is doubtful. Who knows who can be trusted now?

Mikhail!!

Mikhail can help! But will he answer a call from an unknown number?

She picked up the phone. Although she has a phone she has a habit of memorizing certain numbers by heart. Thankfully, she knew Mikhail's number.

"Joel," she called Jeremy now leaning on the back and his eyes were closed. "Joel..."

"Yes," he winced a bit and sat up straight. "I know..." he said.

"Yes?" Jerlina didn't know what he was talking about but said anyway to keep the conversation as she dialed Mikhail.

"I felt the same..." he took some shallow breaths as Jerlina tried to figure out what he means. "That day... You were bleeding... a lot...you fainted... I... almost died..." 

Jerlina's heart felt like it was squeezed dry and her chest felt heavy as if she was drowning. 

That day... That day I miscarried? Did he really felt the same way I am feeling?

"Hello?"

"Yes... Yes... It is me... Jerlina... Jerlina Hopk-"

"Ms. Hopkins?" Mikhail stood up from his seat. He was answering a lot of calls from a lot of people and he was not ignoring calls from any number fearing he might miss something. 

  Her voice is panicked. What is wrong?

"Please... Joel...My Joel is hurt... he's... doctor-" Jerlina started hyperventilating but she held her breath. She needs to get help. She cannot get emotional now. "He needs a doctor, immediately. Can you please..."

"Ms. Hopkins, where are you?" Mikhail's heart started ramming as his brain imagined various scenarios.

"I'm in on my way to the city on Voyager Freeway. I need a-"

"Ms. Hopkins," Mikhail interjected her. "Do you know Baroness Lucia Airport?" he asked.

"Yes, the private airport outside the city?"

"Yes, thank God!! Take your exit there and I'll send people to get you, alright? There is a Medevac aircraft on standby," Mikhail was about to end the call.

"Mikhail... he's bleeding a lot. I am scared. It's a bullet wound to his abdomen and he needs a doctor..."

Jerlina didn't want to lose his connection.

She didn't understand anything. She knew what a medevac aircraft is. It's an air ambulance kind of thing.

But why should Joel be taken using a plane to somewhere when there can be doctors nearby?

"He doesn't have much time... One of his men shot him," she added holding her breath. She wanted to cry and scream. She didn't know who she can trust or who she cannot. 

Why is he having a medevac aircraft on standby? Is Mikhail planning something nefarious?