9. Because of Poison

The two girls were still walking around the refugee area. There were many residents, children playing, parents gathering and chatting. The atmosphere seemed so relaxed, but they tried to divert their fear of something approaching.

"When did you get here?" Victoria asked Bella who accompanied her walking.

"This morning. But I was assigned to the camp, so I couldn't go to the field and see the situation. So I asked you," Bella replied.

Victoria nodded her head.

"I saw on the way here, the place is not as good as before, not like a beautiful village. Everything is messy and chaotic," Bella continued with a sad expression on her beautiful face.

"Out there, it's bad," Victoria replied.

Bella stared at her for a moment.

"It's like a disaster, chaotic. I went to the field earlier on duty, those strange creatures moved quickly and preyed on human and animal blood. Life here seems threatened," Victoria explained.

They stopped at a place overlooking the school field. There were many army trucks there, as well as people on guard.

"It must be terrible. I wanted to know what the creature looked like. I only saw it in pictures, I didn't believe it. Do these strange creatures exist? Do they interfere with human life? I didn't believe it, but when I came and heard the horrors told by the residents, I knew how terrible it was," Bella said.

Victoria didn't respond except to be silent because it was more than that. Victoria was very lucky to have escaped this far from the creature after being attacked directly several times.

"Aren't you going to be deployed to the battlefield?" Victoria asked.

"No. My job here is to treat the wounded, some are critical, and some are getting special care. It's really sad, people are crying, and some are acting like everything will be fine. We know what refugee camps are like," Bella said again.

They had experience in the field as medical soldiers. However, Victoria preferred to be active on the battlefield, going directly and treating the wounded there. But besides that, Victoria was brave, someone who didn't like to be restrained.

"I heard your military camp isn't here?" Bella asked.

"No, no. We came to deliver the residents. My military camp is in Soophi, but my search area is in Zor,” Victoria replied again.

“How are things there? I heard that the area was badly attacked.”

“Yes. So bad that it seems like there is no life at all.” Victoria sighed, looking at the dark sky.

The two girls no longer spoke, both of them looked at the sky which showed no stars, only darkness covering it. However, would life return to normal after night turned to day or would more victims fall? They had to find the cause immediately and stop the attack.

“Are you here, Vic? I was looking for you,” the deep voice was heard reprimanding.

Victoria and Bella turned to the source of the voice.

Sean came with a sigh. But a few seconds later his facial expression changed when he saw Bella. Victoria’s eyes moved around.

“Why are you looking for me?” Victoria asked while waking Sean who was still staring at Bella.

“Oh yes. I have reported it. Our team will rest here, tomorrow we will continue the search north of Zor, then return to base,” Sean explained to Victoria.

“Is that so? Okay. At least you can enjoy your time.”

Whether it was sarcasm or what, Victoria just looked away after saying that, making Sean and Bella look at each other, not understanding Victoria’s attitude.

Bella chuckled.

“It seems Victoria misunderstood,” Bella said.

Sean looked at her, pulling the corners of his lips into a small smile.

“So you’re on the same team as Victoria?” Bella asked after both of them were silent.

“Yes, I’m the commander assigned to that team,” Sean replied.

“So that’s how it is. Since you’re with her, I’ll feel relieved. Even though you two don’t get along, I’m sure you’ll take care of her,” Bella said.

Sean nodded his head.

“You know my principles,” Sean added.

Bella chuckled again.

“Long time no see, you haven’t changed much. Even so, I’m glad to see you again, Sean.” Bella looked at the man who was now directing his gaze forward.

“I didn’t expect to meet you in a military camp. I thought you went abroad to continue your medical studies,” Sean said.

Bella paused for a moment, standing next to Sean made her a little awkward, but they did know each other before something happened and they parted ways.

“I didn’t expect it either. Maybe, I wanted to broaden my experience, who would have thought we would meet again? However, thank you for not being cold to me,” Bella said.

Sean didn’t say anything, but it was clear that the man was keeping his distance between them. No one knew that they were both ex-lovers, which even Victoria didn’t know. That was why Bella said that the girl misunderstood.

“At least, before you left, you explained our relationship clearly. There’s nothing to worry about, at least you know where your boundaries are, and you know me well,” Sean said.

Bella nodded her head, understanding what the man was saying.

“You won’t give a second chance,” Bella replied.

There was no rejection from Sean.

“Many are interested in you, and among them, there are some I know well. You can open your heart and accept one of them,” Sean said.

Bella chuckled again, typical of the girl.

“You know, your attention makes others comfortable. However, you only do it to certain girls, otherwise you act indifferent and cold. I see you—“

“Sorry to bother you, Captain Bella,” said someone who had just arrived in a panic.

The girl turned her head, and so did Sean.

“What’s wrong?” Bella asked.

A male soldier approached the two of them.

“There’s an emergency in the ward. The residents are panicking,” the man reported.

Sean and Bella looked at each other and then immediately left the place, running towards the ward where the victim of the attack was.

Everyone seemed to be gathered there, including Victoria who had also just arrived. Bella immediately went into the room to check on a patient who had a wound on his arm and was having severe convulsions. The team of doctors treated him with all their might. However, it was all in vain, the patient could not be saved.

Outside the room, Victoria watched, then joined Bella who announced the patient’s death. The patient’s family cried hysterically, but they could not enter the room.

“What happened?” Victoria asked.

Bella was gasping for breath, sweat pouring down her face after trying so hard to save the patient.

“Before coming here, this male patient had a scratch wound. According to his family, the wound was caused by a strange creature out there,” Bella answered.

“Because of the wound?” Victoria frowned, suddenly remembering what Marcelia’s family had said. “It’s poisonous,” the girl said.

Bella looked at her.

“The strange creature is poisonous.” Victoria looked at Bella. “There’s no way to save him,” she continued. The two girls looked at each other.