Racing Heart/Chapter 2

***Spoiler warning:** Spoilers ahead. Proceed at your own discretion.*

## Chapter

**DISCLAIMER.**
Do not read the following if you are sensitive to blood, gore, and scenes of major injury. Viewer discretion is advised.

The next morning I was getting ready for work when I got a call from Courtney. “Claudia here, what’s up?” I greeted her as I accepted the call.

“Claudia! You’re never going to believe what happened!” She yelled through the phone.

“What?”

A fire broke out in a nearby neighborhood and there’s an overflow of patients coming in. We’re going to need your help,” she explained.

I grimaced. “On my way,” I said, hanging up and grabbing my backpack.

Jeremy entered the kitchen. “Leaving so soon?”

“Emergency at work,” I told him, throwing on my backpack. “They need me there ASAP.”

“Stay safe, and I love you,” Jeremy said, kissing my cheek.

“Love you too!” I called back, already out the door.

That morning the hospital was alive and bustling. I saw a few firefighters here and there assessing the aftermath of the fire and checking in on the survivors.

Finding Courtney at the reception desk, I threw my mask on and beckoned to her. “Where to go?” I asked.

“Room 9,” she told me. “It’s not pretty.” I swallowed.

I approached Room 9, my stomach filling with dread. My head was spinning, conjuring up the worst scenarios of what could’ve happened.

I entered the room, and one look at the patient erupted a feeling of intense nausea.

The patient in question was a young boy around 10 or 11, covered from head to toe in soot. Part of his face, left arm and shoulders were burnt, exposing flesh and bone. There were patches of hair missing and the little boy was dressed in scrubs. His mother was sobbing next to his hospital bed. She also wasn’t looking the best either.

I knelt down next to the mother. “We’re going to take care of him and make him better, I promise. That’s our job,” I said gently, placing my hand on her knee.

“I hope so,” the mother’s voice cracked. “My little boy didn’t deserve this…” She continued to cry.

My heart broke. “None of the victims did, especially him. He’s a fighter. We’re gonna do our best and keep you posted on his recovery. We won’t stop until he reaches full recovery, and we’ll call you in as soon as that happens,” I explained, trying to be as soft and gentle as I could for the grieving mother.

The mother tried to speak through her tears. “It’s just, my husband…” She looked away. “Didn’t make it. I don’t want to lose him too…” She burst into tears once more, uncontrollable sobs wracking her body.

My heart broke over and over again for this woman. Poor lady. I can’t imagine if I lost Jeremy. And it must be extra tough on her since her son barely survived.

“Oh my god,” I said as I tried to sympathize as best I could with the mother. “I’m so sorry…”

“I’m trying to hang in there,” the lady cried. “But it’s a hard time right now.”

“I completely understand. As for right now, we’re going to run some tests on your son for now, so can I escort you to the waiting room?” I asked.

The lady nodded sadly, and got up and left as I led her to the waiting room, and then returned to Room 9.

“How’s the patient?” I asked the nurse tending to him, whose name was Mila.

“He’s in critical condition,” Mila replied grimly. “We’re running tests, and his lungs appear to be extremely damaged due to smoke inhalation. We’ve patched him up, but he’s still unconscious.”

I sighed and observed the little boy. Gazing up at the clipboard stapled to the wall, I read off his personal information. Peter. His name is Peter.

I glanced back at the little boy while Mila was checking his vitals. “The mother was pretty distraught earlier,” I commented.

Mila shot me a look. “Of course she is, idiot. Can you blame her? Her husband died, and now her son is injured and his life will never be the same after this either.”

“Yeah,” I said, looking away.

“Also, tell Courtney Peter’s status,” she ordered.

Nodding, I left the room and headed off to the front desk where Courtney was managing files. “Any news?” She asked pointedly.

“He’s stabilized,” I began. “Severe lung damage. But we got him patched up. His mom is inconsolable though.”

“Bet she is.”

She looked up to me, her eyes glazed. “It was a pretty gnarly accident,” she commented, returning her attention to the files, her blonde hair guarding her expression.

“Oh yeah… and I meant to ask…” I began, leaning my elbow against the edge of the desk, “How did the fire start?” I queried.

Courtney thought for a moment. “I’m not totally sure, but I heard a rumor that it may have been a gang lurking close to the neighborhood,” she said.

“What neighborhood?”

“Sunflower Hill,” She swallowed. “Not far from you.”

My blood chilled as I remembered the incident with Kato last night, recalling his threat. “Jesus.”

“I know, right?” She replied, but looked up to me worriedly with her piercing blue eyes. “But seriously Claudia, be safe. Okay?” She told me, searching my gaze.

I sighed. “I promise.”

She patted my shoulder. “Good.”