Chapter 228 Scene : Great Escape (1/2)

✿✿ Movie Scene : Hospital ✿✿

Zenith's condition was monitored closely for the next few weeks.

After a week, Zenith was more coherent but he still kept on drifting out of consciousness. The doctors were puzzled at this development, for his body heat was increasing. In fact, it was getting to be normal.

Was there something wrong internally?

Worse, was his mental capacity affected?

Zenith had not gone into cardiac arrest, thus the doctors had never considered the possibility of any brain damage. His heart hadn't stopped, so the brain was functioning despite the hypothermia. If he had suffered a heart attack, then his brain would have been deprived of oxygen.

That would have been a serious issue, more so since his body temperature had been so low.

Thus, during treatment, focus had been entirely on treating the hypothermia. Nothing else was looked at or thought of.

However, none of them could deny the possibility of something else now, since Zenith didn't seem to be waking up. He wasn't in a coma but he was drifting in and out of consciousness too much.

Thus, after intense discussion, the doctors felt that it was better for Zenith to undergo an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging). The MRI was known to be a good choice in detecting axonal injury,* small areas of contusion (bruise), and subtle neuronal damage.#

The doctors had not considered the MRI before since Zenith had not suffered any head injury. His head as 'off limits' during the punishment for this exact reason, but this rather state of unconsciousness was not normal.

Perhaps the torturers had not followed orders? Or were they careless? After all, they had caused Zenith to be in this state despite being told to merely make him suffer - not seriously injure him.

However, one particular discovery prior to the MRI testing made all of the doctor's heart skip a beat.

As per normal procedure, they would examine the head. Soft, gentle hands were touching and feeling the shape of Zenith's head when a slight bump could be felt. The moment that bump was felt, all manner of work stopped.

It looked like Zenith had indeed had suffered a head injury.

And they had missed it.

All the doctors looked at each other in fear and quickly sent Zenith for testing.

No one dared to inform the High Table as yet. The doctors were in great fear of their life, so they kept the need for the test quiet. They wanted the results first before informing the High Table. After all, if it was all in the clear, then they would be safe.

If it wasn't ...

The doctors didn't dare think of that yet. For now, the more urgent thing was to get the kid out for testing.

✿✿

The unconscious Zenith was left alone on the stretcher as everyone was busy getting the treatment room ready. Due to the fact that it was an unexpected treatment, not to mention one that they wanted to keep hidden, nothing was ready yet.

The doctors did everything themselves, not daring to trust anyone else to set up the equipment. Those people could tell the High Table before they had the results ready. Nothing must go wrong.

Of course, when you are too engrossed with worry and being busy with work, no one would notice that the stretcher that held the patient ... was now empty.

By the time they realised, it was too late.

The doctors, looked at each other and came to a unanimous decision.

The Head Doctor cleared his throat, smoothened his white coat and said, ”I will go first. We can't go out together for that would be too conspicuous.”

”Why should it be you first?” one doctor demanded, ”You're the Head. So you should be the last.”

The Head Doctor looked at him in disdain, ”This is not a sinking ship and I am not a captain. So that thought is faulty.”

”I don't care whether the analogy is apt or not,” another doctor snorted, ”You just want to be the first out as that is the one with the least danger. I refuse.”

”Well then, who should it be? You?” scoffed the Head Doctor, ”You're such a lowly one amongst us that the guards would certainly be suspicious. Why would you go out so early?”

”Why would the guards be suspicious?” the first doctor commented, ”He's like a lackey, as I. It's more suspicious if the Head went out first.”

And so, the arguments went from one doctor to another, each not wanting to give in. The argument got louder and louder, attracting more attention.

Meanwhile, just a few metres away and unnoticed by anyone, the door to an utility closet was slowly closing.

Inside, Zenith took his hand off the mouth of the doctor he had waylaid in the corridor and quickly twisted his neck. Hearing the satisfying crack of the bone, Zenith started undressing the doctor, leaving him only in his underwear.