New Paths

Rosalind laid on the floor, fast asleep. Vincent is snoring, leaning against the foot of the bed and Louis is asleep in the corner, back against the wall. The rest of the nurses had gone off to their rooms, some were still looking after the patients but it isn't as serious as that night.

Ralph and Adena stood in front of the window, drinking steaming hot tea.

It is still very early in the morning, the sun isn't even close to rising yet.

"Man! That was some night." Ralph took a sip of his tea, looking at Adena. "You're amazing, Adena. You don't look tired at all."

Adena smiled, "I could say the same for you. You're still with so much energy. You all did great, all the patients that need to be treated are stabilized."

Ralph nodded. "Yeah. The thing that is left to do is bury the bodies. Should we ask some of the survivors to help?"

"If they're able to, some even helped in dressing and cleaning the patients."

"That's right! Some were taking care of making dinner and feeding the less severe patients."

After they arrived at the bombed village, Adriel went to work immediately. Pulling people out of the wreckages and carrying the wounded back to the vehicles they brought with them.

Adriel drove the vehicle with the most critically wounded back first. He drove as fast as he could, maybe manipulating the time so that they would arrive sooner arrive, but maybe not.

"How did you get here so fast though?" Ralph asked, curious. "The village you went is at least two hours away, four if you count only coming and going, yet it feels like you took just thirty minutes to arrive. Not just that, you went back and forth several times."

"Everything was so chaotic, did you have the chance to keep track of time? It must have felt like it flew by." Adena took a sip.

"Yeah. That could be it." Ralph stared at the patients around them, and the nurses and doctors asleep on the floor.

"That can't be hygienic." Adena pointed out.

"I'm sure it's not, but if we move them now, they'll wake up. They only fell asleep for an hour or two ago. Let's leave them be."

"Don't you want to rest up too? You've been working for as long as they have."

"Na. I can go on like this for another day or two. With the work I do back in my hometown, I have to stay awake for days at a time."

"What work do you do?"

Ralph placed a finger to his lips. "That would be a secret. What about you Adena? How do you know Rosalind?"

"We are family friends."

"That would explain why you two are so close. I have a question though, why does Rosalind always cover all her head in cloth? Is it a tradition or something?"

"She has extremely long hair. Maybe to prevent it from getting caught anywhere."

"Oh, that's a smart move then. I was just curious because I keep seeing strands of her hair shine in the sunlight sometimes, almost giving off a golden glow." He shrugged. "Must have been a trick of the light."

"Yeah." Adena took a sip of his lukewarm tea.

"What are you guys talking about?" Rosalind stood behind them, rubbing her eyes.

"Rosalind! Good morning! Would you like some tea?" Ralph beamed at her.

"Sure. If that's not a problem." She turned to Adena, smiling brightly. "Morning."

"One tea for the lady, coming right up!" Ralph made his way to the kitchen. "You can sit on my chair, Rosalind."

"Good morning, Rosalind. How was your sleep?" Adena pulled up the chair for Rosalind.

"Sleepy." She chuckled, sitting down.

"Sugar?" Ralph called from the kitchen.

"Sure. I'll need all the energy I can get." She rubbed her hands, massaging it.

"How are you doing, Rosalind?" Adena asked, looking extremely concerned.

"I'm fine, Adriel. In fact, I feel better than before." She declared, stretching her arms.

"You used the magic yesterday, didn't you?"

"How did you know?" Rosalind's eyes widened.

"Give me your hand." He took her hand, taking off the glove.

All her fingers had blackened, twitching every once in a while.

"Rosalind."

She pulled her hands back. "I used it just once. I promise. The little girl would have died otherwise."

"Rosalind." He sighed. "I know you want to help, but you can't save everyone not even with this power."

"I know, Adriel. But I need to do whatever I can to help. If there is something I can do then I have to do it."

"Rosalind." Adena ran his hands through his hair infuriated.

"If you were in my shoes, you would have done the same." Rosalind quickly wore her gloves again, hearing Ralph come out of the kitchen.

"Here's your tea!" Ralph handed the cup to Rosalind. "Why not remove your gloves while you drink, Rosalind? Isn't uncomfortable?"

"No. I like wearing my gloves." She smiled at him.

"You're full of secrets aren't you?" He grinned. "Oh well. All of us are, anyway."

"You're not tired, Ralph?"

"Nope. Still as strong as a bull." He pulled up his sleeves, showing her his muscles.

"Oh. So you work out?"

"He's crazy about physical fitness. Just 'working out' is not enough to describe it." Vincent sat up for his position on the floor.

"Hey, Vincent! Tea?" Ralph held up his cup.

"No. A cup of coffee would be great though." He stood up, brushing the dust off of his pants.

"Sorry. No new supply of coffee."

"Sh**." He gripped the edge of a patient's bed, clutching his head. "Headache."

"Front or back?" Rosalind asked.

"Forehead."

"Tension headache. Come. I'll take care of it." Rosalind drunk all her tea and got off the chair, patting the seat.

Vincent walked unsteadily to the chair. Seating there he leans his head back, Adena gave his seat for him to lay down on.

"Close your eyes and relax." Rosalind began massaging his neck and temples. "Ralph, could I ask for a towel and warm water?"

"Of course. I'll be right back, again." He took the cups and dumped them in the kitchen sink. Not a minute later he comes back with hot water in a kettle and a towel.

Taking a basin, he filled it up then dipped the towel in. Taking the towel out, he gave it a thorough squeeze and handed it to Rosalind.

Rosalind placed it at the back his neck.

"I could get used to this you know? I should get headaches more often." Vincent joked.

"What's going on here?" Louis mumbled, still half asleep.

"Oh, Louis! Vincent is now a patient." Ralph declared.

"Uh-huh. . . That's great. Is it still dark outside?" Louis asked.

"The sun's yet to come over the horizon."

"Wake me up the moment you see the sun." With that, she promptly fell asleep again.

"She must be tired," Rosalind remarked.

"She was the busiest of us last night, people kept calling to her everywhere she went."

"Out of all of us, she is the most known, well, her name at least. So it is understandable that they would call for her more." Vincent groaned as Rosalind massaged his temples.

"I don't understand why she still has to hide her gender then. People respect her for her work, right?" Rosalind asked.

"It's a lot more complicated than that," Ralph said as Vincent continued to groan in pain. "Damnit! Rosalind, I have to be next! Please. My shoulders are killing me."

Adena shot him a glare.

"Or maybe not, if you can't then it's not a problem. You must be tired."

"I don't mind, Ralph. I'll just be done here then it'll be your turn."

Ralph's eyes sparkled, "Sure. I'll wait here." He looked like a kid in a candy store.

Rosalind pulled Vincent up and let him lean his head over the window stilt. Towel on his head.

"Done."

"I feel like I just gained back the ten years of my life that I lost. Thank you, Rosalind." Vincent shook her hand, peaking from the towel.

"It's no problem. Come and sit here, Ralph." Rosalind indicated to the empty seat.

Ralph skipped to the chair, settling in. He unbuttoned his shirt and took it off.

Rosalind felt along his shoulders, they were incredibly stiff and with swollen nerves.

"How are you able to live like this?" Rosalind asked, horrified. "Adena, could you give me another towel?"

Adena handed her another towel dipped in the hot water and she put that on his back. He almost jumped out of the seat because of the heat.

"Sit still." Rosalind scolded. "This is going to take some work."

"Sorry, sorry."

"And relax."

Ralph released a deep breath as Rosalind began messaging. Occasionally, his muscles would tense up from a sudden sharp pain but he remains rooted in his seat.

Vincent and Adena were having fun seeing his face scrunch up in pain every now and then. Their amused faces did nothing to Ralph though, he couldn't be less bothered about them.

"Done."

"This is amazing." Ralph swung his arms and stretched his shoulders. "Where did you learn to do this, Rosalind? I need to learn from your teacher."

Rosalind stared down at her gloved hands.

"I . . . I don't know." She whispered.

"What?"

"Oh. That teacher was a wandering vagabond. I don't know where he is now." Rosalind quickly said.

"Aw, that's a bummer," Ralph said. "Still, you can teach us right?"

"Yeah, sure."

"Promise?"

"Yes."

"I'll hold you to it then." Ralph gave a broad smile.

"Thank you again, Rosalind." Vincent smiled at her. "Now I have to go and wake Louis up. Wish me luck."

"Good luck. I'll go and check up on some of the patients in the other rooms, relieve the rest of the nurses of their duties. Call me if you need me, alright?"

"Sure."

Rosalind walked out of the room as the sun begun to shine into the rooms, Adena following behind. Some nurses were walking around, looking exhausted.

"Hello. We're here to exchange shifts. You can go rest up."

"Thank you so much." The nurses scurried out of the room, eager to wash up and get some rest.

Rosalind snuffed out the lanterns' fires and opened the windows, letting the fresh air enter the room.

"Are you just going to stand there and stare at me?" Rosalind teased.

Adriel's face was downcast. His white hair blowing in the wind as the sun's rays fell on him. He looked like he wanted to say something.

"A-angel?"

A man's feeble voice caught their attention. Adriel walked to him and took his outstretched hands into his own.

"A-Are you an Angel? If you are before you take me, could you tell my family something?"

"You're not going to die, sir." Rosalind walked over to him, reassuring him. "We're going to take care of you and you'll recover. You'll be able to tell them whatever you want, don't worry."

The man shook his head. With trembling hands, he reached into his blood-soaked pocket and pulled out a picture.

"This is my son." He handed the picture to Rosalind. "He is in the frontline. We exchanged not very pleasant words with each other before he left."

Tears spilt out of his tired eyes.

"If I could go back, change my words. I would give anything to do it. But it is too late now."

"No. It's not too late." Rosalind kept insisting.

"Tell him how much I love him and how sorry I am for everything. Also-"

"It's not too late!"

Adriel was even startled by Rosalind's outburst. This was the first time she ever raised her voice or looked so frustrated.

"Listen to me, you're going to get better and you're going to see your son. You're going to reconcile with him and the both of you will laugh about this one day."

"Rosalind-"

"No. Unless you have something to contribute on making him, don't say a word."

Adriel clamps his mouth shut, still holding onto the man whose grip was getting weaker.

Rosalind took off her gloves and held his other hand, trying to heal him. But nothing happened, no magic flowed out of her.

"Rosalind . . . You can't cure people at death's door."

"I'll be able to. I just need to try harder." Rosalind untied the cloth wrapped around her hair and untied her hair from the bun, letting her hair loose.

Her hair fell like a waterfall to the ground. The golden strands reflecting the sunlight, basking the room in light.

The man gasped as she approached him, taking his hand in hers again.

"You'll get better. I promise. And you'll see your son too. If I try hard enough, you'll be fine."

"Rose."

"There's got to be something I'm missing. That must be why he isn't healing. What am I doing wrong? Think, think."

She inspected his body but didn't find any signs of an open wound.

"So he isn't bleeding out. Are you in pain anywhere?"

The man feebly shook his head. "I don't feel any pain. Maybe it's because there are two angels with me." He gave a weak smile.

"I'm missing something. I definitely am." Rosalind touched her hair, getting more agitated as the man grew weaker and weaker.

Her blackened fingers trembled as she gripped on her hair, her other hand on the man. Tears welling up.

"Adriel. What am I missing? What am I doing wrong? Why isn't he healing!?"

"Rosalind." He looked at her sadly. "Enough."

"Don't give me that look. You can't give up now. We have to-"

She felt a tug, the man was pulling on her. She crouched down, looking at the man in the eyes. Her vision getting blurred with her tears.

"It's ok." He said.

"Let me find a way to heal you. Don't you want to meet your son and talk to him again?" She sobbed.

"I do want to meet him again, one day. Tell him that he's the light of my life."

"Then let me try again. Maybe if you desire it enough, I'll be able to heal you." Rosalind begged, trying to pour out her magic as much as possible. Her already trembling hands, shook even harder.

The man took his hand out and patted her head. "It's ok. It's enough. It's enough."

His hand fell from her head to his side, eyes close shut.

"Hey. Hey! Wake up!" Rosalind shouted and begged.

"What happened?"

Louis, Ralph and Vincent burst into the room.

They saw Rosalind on the floor, staring at nothing.

"Someone died?" Vincent asked.

Adena nodded.

"Rosa." Louis walked up to her and took her in her arms.

The other patients are beginning to wake up. Panic evident in their faces.

"What's going on?"

"What's happening?"

"Louis, take Rosalind to the room. We'll take care of this." Ralph entered the room. "It's ok everyone. Did you all sleep well?" He grinned broadly.

Louis gathered Rosalind in her arms and carried her away, princess style. Adena helped to gather all her hair up and used a pen to secure it in a bun.

"Take care of her."

"I promise I will," Louis reassured him. "She's strong, she'll be fine."

---------------------------------------------

"Rosa, are you ok? Talk to me."

Rosalind and Louis are seated on the bed. Rosalind's hands were hidden under the blanket. She looked up at Louis and burst into tears.

"I c-couldn't d-d-do a-any t-thing."

"It's not your fault, Rosa." Louis comforted her. "You tried all you could."

"It wasn't enough. It wasn't good enough!" She bawled.

"Rosalind. Look at me." She looked at her tear-stained face, taking out a handkerchief and wiped it.

"Everyone will die someday and that is a natural part of life. No matter how much you beg or cry, it's not going to change. What matters is that you tried."

"No one should have died on my watch. I had the means to do something."

Louis sighed. "Ok. So did you neglect to use any of those means?"

"No. I tried everything." Rosalind hung her head, tears dripping down.

"Then what more could you have done? Rosa, we'll always try our best. But sometimes our best isn't going to be enough and you're gonna have to accept that."

Rosalind didn't move or say a word.

"Did the man die in agony?"

" . . . No."

"Then, that's the best and most you could do. I'm sure he's grateful that you tried so hard for him."

Rosalind looked up at her and nodded. "Yeah. Thank you, Louis."

"It's no problem, Rosa. I understand how you're feeling so don't worry." She hesitated. "How are you feeling now?"

"Better. Thanks to you."

"Don't worry about it." She patted her head, smiling.

"Doctor Louis." A nurse entered the room. " I'm so sorry if I disturbed you but a patient is asking for you. She is adamant and refuses all treatment unless it's from you."

"Go on." Rosalind smiled. "I'll be ok."

"Ok. Rest up all you need ok? We'll handle everything." Louis walked out the door with the nurse.

Rosalind walked to the window and saw the bright blue sky. She still held the picture of the man's son in her hands.

"What's the point?" Rosalind stared past the picture, at her blackened fingers. She undid the bun Adriel made and she stared at the golden strands, sparkling in the sun's light. Reflecting on the walls and floor.

"All these and what did that accomplish?"

She stared up at the sky again, her heart heavy.

"Titus, you have to be safe. If you're at least safe, I can go on." She sighed. "I want a hug from him, everything feels right with the world in his arms. I miss him so much."

Looking back at the picture she said, "I'll deliver your words to him and I'll make sure that NO ONE will die on my watch, ever again."

----------------------------------------

"I'm worried about, Rosa." Louis looked up from her notes. This was the first time she couldn't concentrate on it, her mind kept wondering.

Even Ralph and Vincent could not eat their dinner properly, so much that Vincent had to go out for a walk and Adena is all spaced out.

"I agree. She's too young to be seeing all these. Wait, how old is she again?" Ralph asked.

"Twenty-two," Rosalind answered.

"Rosa!"

"Rosalind!"

"Twenty-two!"

They exclaimed in unison. Though Ralph got the judgemental look of disapproval from the other two.

"How are you?" Adena asked.

"I'm fine. I apologise for worrying you all and thank you for taking care of me." Rosalind smiled at them, her eyes swollen.

"Hey, it's no problem. I love what you did to your hair." Ralph grinned.

Rosalind is not covering her hair in a cloth anymore but it's still in a bun. The golden strands peeked through her black hair.

"Your hair is pretty." Adena complimented.

"Thank you." Rosalind tipped her head to him. "So, what's for dinner?"

Adena scoot over and gave his plate to Rosalind. "Mash potatoes with a side of vegetable gravy and bread."

"Wow. It smells delicious. Thank you, Ralph."

"Oh, it's no problem, Rosalind. But are you only going to say 'thank you' in all your sentences from now on?" He teased.

"That's what I was about to ask," Louis said. "Sure, your ok, Rosa?"

"Yes. I'm fine."

"Guys!" Vincent burst into their table, stopping when he saw Rosalind. "Oh, hello, Rosalind. How are you feeling?"

"Much better, thank you."

Louis and Ralph laughed with Rosalind when she realised what she just said.

"What's so funny? Did I miss a joke?"

"It's nothing," Louis said. "What did you have to tell us?"

"Major is calling us to meet him in his cabin when we're done eating."

"What for?" Adena asked.

"He got a message from the frontline."

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Preview for tomorrow:

Special Chapter: Titus's Birthday.

BANG!

"What was that sound?" Titus sat up from his bed. He felt the space beside him, dread seized him when he felt that it was empty and cold. Rosalind isn't here.

"Rosalind?"

No answer.

Please, please be another nightmare.

He took the gun from below his bed, making his way down the stairs. He was extremely nervous and he couldn't understand why.

Where is she?