Chapter 1813
chapter1813
Vivian returned to the subway restroom and immediately dashed out. She didn't go to find Harvey. Instead, she called him, explaining that a classmate had an emergency and she needed to return to campus. She added that she might not visit Janine tonight and promised to go the following day.
After ending the call, she went straight to a pharmacy and grabbed a blanket from a nearby store. There wasn't time to buy anything else; the priority was to get medicine to treat Manfred's injuries.
When she returned to the storage shed, Manfred's breathing was even fainter than before.
"Manfred, I don't know if you can hear me, but you have to hold on! You have to, no matter what!" she pleaded.
Without hesitation, she took off Manfred's tattered clothes. The whip marks on his back stood out starkly under her flashlight. Some wounds were so deep that raw, torn flesh lay exposed.
The sight was enough to make her stomach churn. She had never dealt with injuries of this severity. From childhood, Vivian had been sheltered by her parents and those around her.
Her worst injuries had been scraped knees or small cuts that bled a little-nothing that left scars. But this... Manfred's wounds were horrifying.
In addition to the fresh whip marks, his body was a canvas of old scars, a testament to past suffering. Her chest tightened painfully at the sight.
The medicine she brought could only treat the fresh wounds, not the old scars. Even with the best treatments, those scars would never fully disappear. The damage was far too extensive.
Tears welled up in her eyes as she carefully cleaned and dressed his wounds. Once she was finished, she glanced at Manfred again.
His face was as pale as a sheet.
She hoped the treatment would ease his pain. With the IV drip administering medicine, he might recover faster.
She wasn't sure whether it was her increasing familiarity with him or mere chance, but her time in this place seemed to drag on with every visit. Yet, lingering too long brought with it a strange, unsettling feeling.
She realized she had been there for over an hour and a half-far longer than usual. Yet, Manfred still hadn't woken up.
Vivian glanced at the empty IV bottle. She quickly cleaned up, packed her supplies, and prepared to leave.
Just as she was about to step out, his eyes fluttered open.
Seeing him awake, her face lit up
with relief "You're awake! I've cleaned and dressed your wounds. These are medicines for you to take one in the morning and one at night. They'll help prevent infection.
"I know you can't apply the medicine yourself in your current state, so I'll try to come back tomorrow. If I can't make it, be here the morning.
after. Also, I left some food net
water in your sleeve. Eat when you're hungry."
"You..." he began, but she was gone before he could finish his thought.
Manfred stared at the spot where she had stood moments ago, the light in his eyes dimming. He could feel the careful attention given to his wounds.
For years, his injuries had always healed on their own, neglected and ignored. This was the first time someone had cared enough to treat him.
And yet...
His expression suddenly darkened. He knew better than anyone how severe the injuries on his back were and how hideous.
Layers of old scars crisscrossed with fresh, gruesome wounds. The sight of them was enough to make anyone recoil in disgust.
The thought of Vivian seeing those scars made his jaw tighten.
For the first time, fear crept into his heart-not from pain or beatings but from the possibility that Vivian might never come back.