The Time Leaper (Chapter 7)

Chapter 7: Lifeline

After our date, I insisted on driving Yue home. She lived alone, and the thought of her commuting at night unsettled me. I wanted to make sure she was safe.

"I'll see you tomorrow?" I said, handing her bag to her.

She nodded, smiling softly. "Yeah. Take care, okay? Drive safely."

Before I could respond, she leaned in and pressed a quick kiss to my cheek. My lips curled into a smile at the familiar warmth of her presence.

"Yeah," I murmured. "I'll call when I get home."

As I drove away, I stole a glance at the rearview mirror, watching as Yue stood at her doorstep, waving before disappearing inside. The image lingered in my mind even as I reached my apartment.

The moment I stepped inside, I dialed her number, knowing she'd be waiting.

["Hey, you home yet?"] she asked as soon as she picked up.

"Yeah, just got in," I said, kicking off my shoes. "You should rest early, okay? I don't want you getting sick."

["I will. You too, get some rest. I'll call you tomorrow."]

"Okay. I'll wait for your call. Love you."

["Love you too, Race."]

With that, the call ended. I threw myself onto the bed, covering my eyes with my arm, unable to stop the grin forming on my lips. The thought of waking up to her call made my heart lighter. The exhaustion from the day washed over me, and before I knew it, I was asleep.

A dull ache throbbed in my head as I blinked awake. My body felt sluggish, but the first thing I did was reach for my phone, expecting a message from Yue. But there was nothing.

Strange.

She always woke up earlier than me, always sent a good morning text. Maybe she was just busy? I tried to push away the unease creeping into my chest, convincing myself she must be caught up with something. Still, something gnawed at the back of my mind. I checked my social media, but there were no messages there either.

I hesitated before calling her. Maybe I was overreacting. But as the seconds stretched into minutes with no reply, that nagging worry became harder to ignore.

Brushing off the unease, I forced myself to focus on the day ahead. I had interviews lined up, resumes to check. I sent Yue a quick message, letting her know I'd be out for work, expecting her to reply soon.

But hours passed.

Still, nothing.

The worry I had tried to suppress came rushing back in full force. I called her again. No answer. I tried again. Still nothing.

My grip on my phone tightened. This wasn't like her. Even when she was busy, she always sent a quick reply-just a simple "good luck" or "I'll call later." But now, silence.

Something's wrong.

I shot up from my chair, pacing around the room. My heart pounded against my ribs as worst-case scenarios flooded my mind. Maybe she lost her phone. Maybe she overslept. Maybe-

I exhaled sharply, shaking my head. No, I needed to stop assuming the worst. But the longer this went on, the harder it became to stay calm.

Gripping my phone tightly, I hailed a cab and dialed Shawn's number. I don't have time to take my car out of the parking lot.

["Yo bro, what's up?"]

"I'm heading to Yue's place. Something's off. She's not answering her phone."

["Maybe she's just busy, man. You're overthinking-"]

"No, Shawn, you don't get it. She always texts back. Always."

My voice came out sharper than I intended, but I couldn't help it. I was spiraling. My hands were already shaking, and the panic sitting heavy in my chest refused to be ignored.

Shawn must have picked up on it because his tone shifted. ["Alright, alright. I'll check her office and see if she showed up. You head to her apartment and let me know what you find."]

"I can't go to work today," I muttered, barely able to think straight. "Just tell them I have an emergency."

["Got it. Keep me posted."]

As I ended the call, I looked at my phone screen again, hoping-praying-for a message from Yue.

But my inbox remained empty.

The cab arrived, and I climbed in, my pulse pounding in my ears. The whole ride, my fingers hovered over my phone, dialing and redialing Yue's number, desperate for her to pick up.

But all I got was silence.

I kept calling. No answer.

"Sir, are you okay? You look worried," the driver asked, glancing at me through the mirror.

I took a shaky breath, realizing my hands were trembling. "I'm fine... I just think something bad happened to my girlfriend."

The driver's expression shifted. He nodded firmly. "I understand, sir. Fasten your seatbelt."

Before I could process his words, he floored the gas. My body slammed against the seat as he weaved through traffic like a man possessed. Horns blared, tires screeched, and my heart pounded against my ribs. My mind was racing with worst-case scenarios.

"Bro, slow down! We might get into an accident!" I yelled, gripping the door handle for dear life.

"If this is an emergency, then this is necessary!" he shouted back, pushing the car even faster.

I squeezed my eyes shut, gripping my phone as I tried calling Yue again. No answer. My gut twisted. Something was wrong.

By some miracle, we arrived at Yue's place in record time. I barely had time to thank the driver before sprinting to her door. My hands were trembling as I knocked. No answer. I pounded harder, calling her name.

Nothing.

Panic clawed at my chest. I took a step back, inhaled sharply, and kicked the door open. The lock snapped with a crack, and the door swung wide.

The sight before me knocked the air from my lungs.

Yue lay sprawled on the floor outside her bedroom, motionless. Her dark hair fanned around her pale face, her lips parted slightly as if she had tried to say something. Her phone was still clutched in her hand, the screen illuminated with an unsent message.

I swallowed thickly and hesitated before looking at the message.

"Race... it hurts. I don't know what's happening, but I feel... so tired. If I don't wake up, please don't be sad. I love you."

My chest tightened, and the world blurred around me.

"YUE!"

I dropped to my knees, shaking her shoulders. "Wake up! Yue, please!" My voice cracked, desperation lacing every word. "Come on, open your eyes! Please, just look at me!"

Her skin was cold. Too cold.

Tears blurred my vision as I pressed my fingers to her neck, searching for a pulse. It was faint-barely there. My entire body trembled.

"No, no, no! Stay with me!" My hands shook as I scooped her up, her body limp in my arms. "Hold on, please hold on!"

"SIR! Open the door!" The driver's voice snapped me out of my haze. He must have followed me inside. Without hesitation, I bolted past him, Yue cradled in my arms. The driver had already flung the car door open.

"Drive!" I barked, barely able to breathe. "Hurry!"

The car sped through the streets, the city lights blurring past us. I clutched Yue closer, pressing my forehead against hers. "Hang in there, Yue. I'm here. I'm right here. Just hold on..."

Her shallow breaths were the only sign that she was still with me. Each second felt like an eternity. The hospital finally came into view, and before the car had even stopped completely, I was already out, sprinting towards the entrance.

"SOMEBODY HELP US! PLEASE!"

Doctors and nurses rushed toward us. Hands pulled Yue from my arms, but I refused to let go. "Please... Please save her!"

"We'll take it from here," one of the doctors said, prying her from my grasp. "Wait outside."

I stumbled back as the doors shut in front of me, separating me from her. My legs gave out, and I sank to the floor, staring blankly at the closed doors. My hands trembled, my mind raced, but I couldn't do anything. I was powerless.

The driver crouched beside me, placing a firm hand on my shoulder. "Sir, calm down... I believe your girlfriend will be okay."

I nodded numbly. "I hope so..."

I tried handing him some cash, but he pushed it back into my hands. "At times like these, money isn't what matters. What's important is that I was able to help. Here's my number-call me if you need anything."

I gripped the small card he handed me, blinking rapidly as my vision blurred. "Thank you..."

Minutes stretched into an eternity before the doctor finally emerged. I jumped to my feet, my heart hammering against my ribs.

"Doc, how is she? Is she okay?"

The doctor sighed. "Let's talk in my office."

Dread settled in my stomach as I followed him inside. The sterile white walls felt suffocating.

"Let me be honest with you, Mr...?"

"Horace. Horace Fibel."

"Mr. Fibel... Ms. Shino's health has been deteriorating for a while. We've advised her to take care, to take her medication, but... this is as far as she can go."

My entire body went cold. "What... What do you mean?"

The doctor's eyes were heavy with sympathy. "Ms. Shino has a hole in her heart. And right now... she only has three weeks to live."