Ally

After breakfast, Victor and Hiroshi set about preparing their weapons and bags for the journey ahead.

I handed Victor a detailed list of essential medicines and supplies, carefully explaining their purposes to ensure they wouldn’t miss anything crucial. Adelina’s deep wounds needed urgent and proper care, and every item on that list was non-negotiable.

The first priority was an antiseptic solution, such as povidone-iodine or chlorhexidine, to clean the wound and prevent bacterial infections. Sterile saline solution was also necessary to irrigate the wound and remove any debris.

I stressed the importance of an antibiotic ointment, like neomycin or bacitracin, to help combat infection and promote healing. Along with these, they needed oral antibiotics such as amoxicillin or clindamycin to treat or prevent systemic infections that could arise from the wound’s severity.

Pain management was also vital. I instructed them to find pain relievers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen to reduce inflammation and provide some relief for Adelina’s discomfort. I also need anesthesia and sedatives for the procedure.

Sterile gauze and bandages were essential to dress the wound and keep it protected from further contamination, while sutures or Steri-Strips would help close the deeper cuts, ensuring faster healing and reduced risk of infection.

Additionally, I reminded them to bring antiseptic wipes for cleaning the surrounding skin before applying treatment, along with medical tape and scissors to secure dressings.

If possible, they should also get hydrogen peroxide for cleaning wounds, though I cautioned its use, as it could damage tissue if overused. A lidocaine spray or gel was suggested to numb the area before cleaning or suturing the wounds.

To monitor Adelina’s condition, I added a thermometer to the list, as her fever was a critical sign of infection. An electrolyte solution, such as oral rehydration salts, was equally important to counteract dehydration caused by her fever and blood loss.

Finally, a tetanus vaccine was crucial since her injuries were caused by rusty or contaminated objects. Surgical gloves were also necessary to maintain sterility during treatment.

As I finished explaining, I handed the list to Victor and met his gaze. “These are essential,” I said firmly. “If you can’t find everything, prioritize the antibiotics, antiseptics, and suturing materials. Her recovery depends on it.”

Victor nodded in surprise, his expression resolute as he scanned the list. "Wow, love. I know you were a nurse, but how did you remember all of these?" He gasped.

I smirked in arrogance. "Maybe, I'm just a brilliant nurse. I might have topped in National Exam or something."

"Ah, I didn't recall that part tho," Victor scratched the back of his head, visibly teasing.

"Oh, just go there! Make sure to be very careful," I stressed every word. "If you won't be back by 12 PM, I'm getting out here and fetch the two of you back!"

"Alright, my love," he giggled and kissed me before turning to Hiroshi who's only looking us.

"We'll get everything,” he promised, his voice steady.

I watched them both, a flicker of hope mingling with the tension in the room, as they readied themselves for the vital task ahead.

I waved Victor and Hiroshi goodbye, watching as they disappeared down the path. I knew I should have stayed inside the house—safe, secure—but when I heard the grating noise of the barrel scraping against the ground, the one Hiroshi had used to block the entrance, I froze.

A strange unease gripped me, and before I knew it, an irrational urge to follow them swelled within me. I gasped and turned away, forcing myself to step back inside. But as I did, an onslaught of memories surged into my mind like a breaking dam.

They came so fast, so vivid, that my head throbbed with the pressure. I staggered and collapsed to the floor, clutching my temples as the fragmented images overwhelmed me.

Among the chaos of memories, one stood out sharply—a vivid vision of a cold, sterile laboratory. The air was heavy with an unplaceable hum, and in the center of the room stood three massive tanks. They were filled with something… or someone. What were those?

My breath hitched as the image burned itself into my mind, only to vanish as quickly as it had come. I blinked rapidly, desperate to recall it, but no matter how hard I tried, the memory slipped away like water through my fingers.

“W-What the h-hell,” I stammered, my voice trembling as I stared down at my hands. They were shaking uncontrollably, my entire body following suit.

It took a moment to regain my composure, my breathing ragged and uneven. Slowly, I pulled myself up from the floor, leaning against the wall for support. The vision still lingered in my thoughts, its eerie weight pressing on my chest.

Pushing it aside, I turned toward Adelina’s direction. She lay sideways, her wounds too severe to allow her to lie on her back. The sight of her, pale and fragile, grounded me slightly.

I had been convincing myself that the voices I heard yesterday weren’t fragments of my own memories but echoes of Hiroshi and Adelina’s. It had to be them—it made sense, didn’t it? But now, with these vivid recollections returning, I couldn’t deny the truth any longer.

This wasn’t imagination. These memories were mine, and they were far too real to ignore. I could hear them as clearly as if they were happening now, each sound and whisper etched into my mind with startling precision.

I moved quietly and sat near Adelina, watching her fragile form. She seemed so small, so vulnerable, but the storm in my mind made it hard to focus on her entirely. My thoughts swirled as I pieced together what I could.

I knew nurses participated in experiments—administering treatments, observing patients—but those tanks… those enormous, eerie tanks filled with something I couldn’t name… they couldn’t just be part of ordinary medical work. No, they felt like something else entirely.

“I must be more than just a nurse,” I muttered under my breath, the words almost tasting foreign on my tongue. The thought chilled me. If I had been involved in whatever those tanks were, then how much of my life—my identity—had I forgotten?

A grimace pulled at my lips as another thought struck me. “Does Victor know?” The question hung in the air like a weight.

I shook my head quickly. No, he couldn’t. He would’ve told me if he did… wouldn’t he? But even as I tried to reassure myself, doubts crept in.

Whatever those tanks were for, whatever was inside them, it had to be connected to what was happening now. It was the only explanation.

“Otherwise,” I murmured, my voice low and uncertain, “my theories… and these memories… won’t make sense.”

Adelina stirred faintly beside me, breaking my train of thought. I took a steadying breath and forced myself to focus. If my memories held the key to understanding this chaos, then I couldn’t afford to let fear paralyze me. Whatever this truth was, I had to uncover it.