Dead Horses

There was chaos in the barn when Darryl came in together with Manager Song and Farmer Su. As soon as their presence were noticed, the once noisy crowd turned silent in an instant. Every laborer made way and dropped their head to the ground not daring to give the newcomers a straight look. Although not everyone knew Darryl in this place, his aura seemed to have given everyone on sight a warning that he was not something someone should dare to cross at the moment.

Of course, everyone was afraid. Even Doctor Halsey was in there walking to and fro waiting for what doctor Piper had to say. The female doctor was just few meters away from him checking on the last horse in the place that was breathing.

"Young Master" Dr. Halsey greeted as soon as he noticed Darryl together with his companions. He was still on his business suit and although the boy's face looked tired, his composure and expression still made Dr. Halsey tremble.

When she heard the word young master, Dr. Piper Xu frowned as she pushed her glasses up her nose. The young master was out for a couple of days and she didn't expect he would be back soon and on time when she was having this dilemma. For sure, all the blame will be on her but she already had a back up plan to clear her name and escape from this tragedy.

"The horses came in too late" Doctor Piper stated as she stood from her knees. She tugged her lab gown back to place and give her curls a few combs before she turned to the bosses "They came in too late that my cure will not be able to help them. If they had arrived earlier then my cure could have worked perfectly"

"They came in too late?" Darryl repeated what Piper said unbelievably.

"Yes" She gathered her courage to face him in a swift glance and dawdled over her vet kit pretending to do something doctor-like.

"But they were not that sick compared to the horses that were healed" Farmer Su interjected "In fact, in my analysis they should have still lasted for few weeks"

"In your analysis, not mine…" Piper snorted her eyes brimming with defiance "I made the cure, I should know this"

Knowing that it was very impolite of him to question Doctor Piper's abilities Farmer Su apologized "I'm sorry Dr. Xu, of course you should know these things better"

"Right…. and young master…." Piper Xu turned to Darryl now "I had checked the horses yesterday when they came, and I am very sure even they looked healthy they were far worse than what everyone sees. This disease is very complicated that's why it took me long to discover the cure. So, I'm sorry but the horses you brought in yesterday had no hope at all…"

"Dr. Halsey how about my horse?" Darryl turned to Dr. Halsey completely ignoring Dr. Piper. The female doctor was of course annoyed, this complete lack of acknowledgement from the Lagdameo heir was a huge breach of ethical conduct. She deserves better treatment than this from him.

"Young Master, your horse is still alive but I'm afraid it will not survive the day" He admitted shamefully and added "If only the horses were brought in earlier, we could have done something to save them"

"Where is my horse now?"

"Over the last pen young master" The doctor paused and continued "I'm sorry young master. We could do nothing to save it"

Darryl held a deep sigh and stayed silent after that. No one knew what he was thinking, and his expression failed to let loose of any hint whether he was mad or feeling sad. His face was blank and hard, and it made everyone confused on how they would act in front of him. Even Piper Xu never said a word after and felt her knees tremble a good deal that made her almost fall from her heels.

The beast went further to the barn and only Farmer Su followed him. Manager Song himself didn't dared to follow and was feeling very tensed up. As soon as Darryl reached the edge of the barn, he stopped to gaze at his Morgan stallion horse.

It was his grandmother's gift on his tenth birthday. He remembered that time pretty well when she handed him that gift—how he was so eager to grab onto the rope and jumped on its back; How their grandma taught him and his sisters how to ride and how she smiled proudly the first time he made a horse gallop without falling.

His grandmother used to own this place and all her memories stick around right here which was probably the reason why his grandfather never once stepped in this place after she died. This place reminded him of her and the pain that goes with her demise.

Darryl saw his horse lying idly on the bed of hay. The stallion was breathing weakly and it exhaustedly neighs to acknowledge Darryl's presence. It's sparkling black eyes gazed upon him as if telling him just to let it pass and not to be sorry for its coming goodbye. It made Darryl shivered and a cold feeling rose within him and stroke to his heart. He didn't like the feeling but seems that he had to go through it at all.

The feeling made him very sentimental at the time and if only there was a way to save it— but as they said—it was too late.

With that, Darryl left the barn with no words and everyone could do nothing but sight a deep relief when he was gone.