CHAPTER 14: When Disaster Strikes

The morning air was filled with the usual hum of the city, but it was abruptly shattered by the blaring sound of sirens. News channels across the region interrupted their scheduled programs with breaking news, the same urgent message flashing across every screen: "BREAKING NEWS: A Tragic Collapse in Central Vaeloris – Multiple Casualties Feared!"

In the Elara Memorial Hospital, the staff in the emergency and neurosurgery departments were already preparing for the worst. The intercom crackled to life, announcing the imminent arrival of patients. The once calm and organized hallways erupted into a frenzy of activity.

"Everyone, get ready! We've got incoming casualties!" Dr. Marlow, the head of the ER, called out, his voice steady but commanding. "This is not a drill. Prepare for mass casualty protocol."

Gray was already suited up in her scrubs. She adjusted her mask, her eyes scanning the chaos unfolding around her. The air was thick with tension as medical personnel rushed to prepare stretchers, IV stands, and emergency kits.

The double doors of the emergency room burst open, revealing paramedics rushing in with stretchers. The first wave of patients arrived, covered in dust and debris, some moaning in pain, others eerily silent.

"Room 3, stat!" a nurse yelled as she guided a stretcher carrying a middle-aged man whose leg was mangled and bleeding profusely.

Gray quickly moved to intercept a paramedic wheeling in another victim. "What's the status?" she asked, her tone brisk.

"Female, late 20s, suspected spinal injury," the paramedic replied breathlessly. "Fell from the second floor of the building. BP dropping, pulse weak."

"Get her to radiology for an MRI. Prep for spinal stabilization surgery if needed," Gray ordered, her mind racing as she assessed the situation.

Another stretcher arrived, carrying a young boy with a severe head wound. Blood matted his hair, and his breathing was labored. Gray's heart clenched at the sight, but she quickly masked her emotions.

"Pediatric trauma room, now!" she called out to a junior resident, who nodded and quickly wheeled the boy away.

Dr. Marlow appeared beside her, his expression grim. "Dr. Gray, I need you in OR 1. We've got a ruptured spleen in a critical patient. Can you handle it?"

"I'm on it," Gray replied, already moving. "Dr. Reed, you take over triage!" she called to another doctor, who gave her a sharp nod.

The emergency room was now a symphony of organized chaos. Nurses barked orders, doctors shouted for equipment, and the air was filled with the beeping of monitors and the screams of the injured. Gray moved like a whirlwind, her focus unyielding as she worked to stabilize each patient.

In the operating room, Gray scrubbed in quickly, her eyes focused on the task ahead. The patient on the table was a man in his 50s, his abdomen distended with internal bleeding.

"Scalpel," she commanded, her voice steady. The nurse handed it to her with practiced efficiency.

"BP is dropping!" an anesthesiologist warned, his eyes glued to the monitor. "We're losing him, Doc."

"Not on my watch," Gray muttered under her breath. "Clamp," she instructed, reaching deep into the abdominal cavity to stop the bleeding. "We need to ligate this vessel now or we'll lose him."

The room was tense as the seconds ticked by. Gray's hands moved with the precision of a seasoned surgeon, her focus absolute. Finally, the bleeding stopped, and a collective sigh of relief filled the room.

"He's stable," the anesthesiologist confirmed.

"Close him up and send him to the ICU," Gray said, pulling off her gloves. She was already thinking of the next patient who needed her.

---

Meanwhile, back at the Vaeloris Palace, Prince Dale and his elder brother, Prince Lucian, were in the midst of a crisis meeting. The opulent conference room had been transformed into a command center, with large screens displaying live news feeds and maps of the affected area.

Dale stood at the head of the room, his expression taut with concern. "What's the latest report?" he demanded, turning to a military aide.

"The building was less than ten years old, Your Highness," the aide reported. "There's no reason it should have collapsed so suddenly. We're looking into the construction records, but initial investigations suggest a possible structural failure."

"Structural failure?" Dale scoffed, his instincts flaring. "I personally oversaw that project. The materials used were the highest grade, and the inspections were thorough. Something doesn't add up."

Lucian, who had been quietly observing, leaned forward. "You think there's more to this, don't you?"

Dale nodded, his jaw clenched. "I don't believe in coincidences, especially not after what I overheard between Gray and King Theodore. There's foul play here—I'm certain of it."

Lucian's eyes narrowed. "We need to act fast. I'll deploy our intelligence team to investigate potential sabotage. If someone's behind this, we'll find them."

As they spoke, another aide hurried in with an update. "Your Highnesses, the casualty count is rising. Over 50 injured, with several in critical condition. The hospitals are overwhelmed, especially Elara Memorial."

Dale felt a surge of frustration. "Ensure that all available resources are directed to the hospitals. Mobilize the National Guard to secure the area and prevent further panic. And find out if there were any unusual activities around that building prior to the collapse."

Lucian nodded in agreement, turning to issue orders to the communications team. "Contact the Ministry of Health and ensure they coordinate with the hospitals. No delays in treatment. Lives are at stake."

---

The flood of patients seemed endless. Gray found herself back in the ER, tending to a teenager with severe crush injuries. "I need a portable X-ray here, stat!" she called out, her voice cutting through the din.

A nurse rushed over, handing her a portable ultrasound. "We're out of X-rays at the moment, doctor. Can you make do with this?"

Gray nodded, quickly scanning the boy's abdomen. Her brow furrowed as she spotted internal bleeding. "Get him to OR 3 for an exploratory laparotomy. And call Dr. Patel for backup."

The next patient was wheeled in—a woman in her 30s with a large piece of glass embedded in her side. Gray crouched beside her, her voice gentle despite the urgency. "Ma'am, I'm Dr. Gray. We're going to take care of you, alright?"

The woman nodded weakly, her eyes filled with tears. "Please... my daughter... she was with me..."

"We'll find her," Gray promised, squeezing the woman's hand. "But first, let's get you stabilized."

The minutes turned into hours, with Gray moving from one critical case to the next. Every doctor was stretched to their limits, but they pushed on, driven by the will to save lives.

---

Back at the palace, Dale was in his office, pouring over construction documents, blueprints, and inspection reports. Lucian entered, looking grim. "I just received word from our intelligence team. They've found traces of explosives at the site."

Dale's head snapped up. "Explosives? Are you certain?"

Lucian nodded. "It's preliminary, but the evidence is pointing towards a deliberate act. We might be looking at an act of sabotage."

A cold fury settled over Dale. "Someone's targeting us, Lucian. First, the coup attempts, and now this. Whoever is behind this wants to destabilize Vaeloris."

Lucian crossed his arms, his expression thoughtful. "And if what you overheard between Gray and King Theodore is true, then Valyshire could be involved."

Dale's eyes darkened. "We need proof. And once we have it, we'll take action."

"Are you going to tell your wife?" Lucian asked. "She might be of help. Ang you need to ask her about her investigation regarding Elara's case and Queen Eleonora's involvement."

"I'll consult Dad and Mom first" Dale replied.

---

As the last wave of patients arrived, the hospital was at capacity. Gray was tending to a woman in her 60s who had a fractured skull when she heard a loud crash. She turned to see a stretcher slam into a supply cart, sending medical tools clattering to the floor.

"Careful!" Gray snapped, her nerves frayed.

"I'm sorry, Dr. Gray," the orderly stammered. "We're out of space, and the paramedics keep bringing more patients."

Gray took a deep breath, forcing herself to stay calm. "It's alright. Let's focus. We need to prioritize the most critical cases."

As she moved to the next patient, she felt a hand on her arm. It was Dr. Lara Ivanov her assistant in the OR Department "Dr. Gray, you've been going nonstop for hours. Take a break."

"I can't," Gray replied, her eyes flashing with determination. "These people need me."

Lara sighed but nodded, knowing better than to argue. "Just... don't forget to breathe. I think this is the last was the last wave of patients. Some victims are being treated in other hospitals."

Gray gave her a quick smile before rushing off to tend to another critical patient.

By the time the last patient was stabilized, the sun had long set, casting a deep orange glow over the city. The hospital was eerily quiet, the chaos finally subsiding. Gray sank into a chair, exhaustion weighing on her. She had saved lives today, but there were still many questions unanswered.

In the palace, Dale stared out the window, the city lights twinkling in the distance. The collapse was no accident, of that he was certain. But the question remained: Who is doing King Theodore's bidding in Vaeloris?

And more importantly, how far were they willing to go to achieve their goals?