DILEMMA [ THORN BETWEEN ]

Left with no option, Hansel spontaneously lifted his hand in surrender as he dropped down the gun in the process. With swift steady steps, the police surrounded him and led him out in cuffs. Nelly, Nina and Nelson, on noticing their father, rushed to him. He instinctively crunched down and bundled them in a hug~ their tears trekked down as they trembled in his bosom.

" Sshh....It's okay, dad is here now" Drake assured.

" Someone... Get the ambulance now, please!" Ben who had now been freed from the robes, howled amidst tears as he lifted Alixies onto his laps; her motionless body, resting on his chest. " Wake up, please~" He cried.

" Till when are they going to get here..... She's dying" Laura cried, shaking in tears.

The moment of her unfortunate day, suddenly replaying in her mind as she stared at Alixies. Just then, she felt weak and drowsy~ the body she'd possessed, Mya's body, slowly faint to the floor. She glanced at the body infront of her, Mya laid lifeless and she's finally out of her body.

" Laura!" Rubin stuttered and scrambled over to where Mya's body laid, thinking Laura was still in her sister's body. Laura stared at him and back to her sister's body with a creased brow, her confusion and worry written all over her face.

" Is she going to be okay~ Is she breathing?" Her voice finally drew Rubin's attention; making him glance up at the invisible person, standing a step away from him.

" Laura?....but...I mean, how..." He fumbled to which Laura snapped in amidst tears.

" I don't know, Rubin~ Is she alright? " She cried, devastation written all over her. With a quick check at her pulses, he nodded with a yes and added.

" Still breathing but I don't know how long she's gonna hung in there" He stated. Just then, a voice announced from the main entrance which brought their eager gazes on him.

" The ambulance is in."

Not hesitating for a minute, Ben carefully~ yet briskly scooped Alixies into his arms and sprung up; a grimace intuitively swept his face followed by a groan as he sucked in a breath. Involuntarily, he closed his eyes as if to suppress the pain but then flickered them open in the next second; his face became paler as the wound on his thigh arched which caused it to bleed even more due to the weight pressed on it.

" Let me do it" Drake opted but he bluntly refused, rounding him over as he sped out towards the entrance; hiding a wince with each step he made. Laura for once, noticed a different side of Ben she had never seen before as she watched his back faded out with Alixies in his arms. She thought it was a bit off and strange but then, Rubin's voice invaded her numerous thoughts.

" Hey, hurry~ are you still gonna stand there like that? " He called from a pace ahead, of which she snapped out~ racing off after them.

On carrying both Alixies and Mya on board, the ambulance veered off with it's siren on. They sped through the little busy streets with the speed of lightening~ First aid was administered to Alixies with tubes and drips, running through her nostrils as they tried to cut off the rate at which her blood level kept dropping.

HOSPITAL

After about 30minutes drive, the ambulance finally pulled up through the gates of Ryne hospital. With the car screeching to a halt, Alixies and Mya were hurriedly dragged out on their stretchers with nurses and doctors rushing to their aid.

" How is her blood level and the wound~ is it so deep?" A doctor queried as they rushed Alixies in.

" She's badly wounded and blood level keeps dropping ~ there's less chance of survival if the operation is delayed "

A nurse answered which spontaneously brought Laura, who was all along tailing, to a halt. She watched with eyes glistering with unshed tears as they faded into the operation room ; the door spontaneously shut behind their backs. She staggered, her knee suddenly feeling numb at the news. Rubin caught her midway just when he got to her side~ His arms gently wrapped around her as he held her safely in his bosom to which Laura glanced up him. She felt her eyes locked in his and his heart skipped.

" Hey, are you okay?"

Rubin finally asked after finding his voice and she slurred with a slight nod, her eyelids fluttering which told her embarrassment as she politely released herself from his arms.

" Yeah, I'm perfectly fine ~ How's Mya?" She asked and as if on an impluse, added. " Is she awake now?"

Rubin sighed. " Not yet and she keeps having cardiac arrest " He answered and Laura cried. " I think she needs you around her~ maybe you're the only person to bring her back."

Laura's gaze instinctively travelled from Rubin, back to the emergency ward of which he intuitively got grip of her dilemma. He spontaneously held her by the shoulders and she stared up at him. " Don't worry, Lau.... I'll take care of Alixies on your behalf,okay?" He assured. " I've already called her mother as well and she's on her way here.."

" Okay" She said, hesitating for awhile. " I'll go now" . With this, Laura rushed out through the corridors towards Mya's ward. Rubin glanced at her back and a faint smile explored his brooding gaze.

" You're doing just great, Laura" He intoned. Just then, he noticed Alixies and Laura's family at the entrance, approaching the reception; of which he sped towards them.

" Hi, aunty.... this way." He stated the moment Alixies' mum took notice of him. Mya's mother, Amy and Kelvin who looked a bit confused, stared critically at him, their nervous yet quizzical gazes finally hit him.

" Oh, sorry .... Aunty, I'm Rubin, a student at Miss Mya's school. I was the one who called" He opted an explanation.

" Where is my daughter~ where is Alixies" Lena snapped.

" Still in the emergency ward " He answered and added on an impulse, turning to Amy. " Miss Mya's ward, 302". With a thanks, Amy and Kelvin hurried off. At that instant, Rubin and Lena noticed Alixies being pulled out of the emergency room.

" Alixies !" Lena cried, dashing off~ Rubin instinctively followed.

***************

After a few walk, Laura finally found her sister's ward~ She gently pushed the door open and hubble in. With few soft steps, she took a stand beside Mya's bed. She sighed with joy and sorrow at the door of her heart, and they struggled to get the upper hand. The battle was fierce and finally, she smiled and the tears welled up in her eyes rolled down her cheeks. Neither of the strong emotions got the upper hand. At a point, she was happy she was able to finally stop her from getting mixed in the Hansel case but then, her heart ache , seeing her sister in such a condition because of her. As she stared at her, she suddenly noticed her line dropping and another cardiac arrest invaded.

" No...No, hung in there, please. You can't do this to me" She cried as Mya became even more restless. Soon, few doctors and nurses rushed in. She gazed at them as they tried to normalize the situation which seem hopeless now.

" If it keeps on for so long, we sure gonna lose her" A doctor announced. " Hurry, get the defibrillator " He instructed.

A cardiac defibrillator provides an electrical shock to the heart via 2 electrodes placed on the patient's torso and may restore the heart into a normal.

Frustrated and nervous, Laura took Mya's hand and wrapped it with her trembling hands. She sighed, closing her eyes in the process ~ with a deep breath, Laura opened her eyes and found herself in a dark tunnel.

" What's this place.." She intoned, taking careful steps as she took quick glances around. Just then, soft cries and voices caught her attention~ it was a familiar voice.

" Mya?....Mya! " She called.