The last thing Edna hears is the loud bang as the bullet leaves the gun and comes at her with full blast.
From the angle he shut from, it's obvious that he was aiming for her head. In confusion, she took a few steps backward and that's what saved her life.
The bullet goes through her abdomen, knocking her to the floor as her eyes begin to shut.
She faintly hears the screams of people and from under the table, she sees many feet running around in confusion.
She doesn't know what she feels right now. The pain is too much that she is too weak to feel the real impact of it.
Blood is gushing out her side and the warm liquid is soaking up her dress. Her first instinct is to try to stop the blood with her hand, but she is too weak to lift it up.
She hears her own exhale as her eyes blink very slowly, waiting for death, or whatever is coming for her.
"Edna?" Someone shouts her name.
She feels herself levitating off the ground and she thinks that it's her spirit leaving her body, but it's just Dimore rescuing her.
He takes her up and makes for the back door. Her half-open eyes catch at least ten people with guns in their hands and more people lying on the ground.
They get noticed and yells are heard. Bullets go after them, but Dimore doesn't drop her or stop.
He continues paving through the panicking people till he gets her out. He rushes and runs towards safety.
Her weak fingers clutch his jacket as she tries to call out his name, but it just seems like a Herculean task right now.
Dimore keeps going until he bumps into someone. It's Malik and he is horrified when he sees that Edna is bleeding.
"Hey, Edna." He takes her away from Dimore's hand into his and she groans as the movement causes her pain.
"It's a hostage situation, Mister Malik. " Dimore runs his bloodstained hand on his chin, accidentally smearing it with his boss' blood.
"Oh my God. " Malik says, but he is looking at Edna.
" I just called the police. " Malik looks up at Dimore. " I am going to take her to the hospital, find somewhere safe. "
"I'm going with her." Dimore bravely says. " She might need me."
Malik looks at him for some time and walks away, but he knows that Dimore is behind him.
With that, Malik is heading towards the nearest exit. He finds a car at the entrance and he rushes towards it.
"Get out!" He yells before getting to it. " I need the fucking car!"
Thankfully it's a security officer, an employee of the company. He raises his hands up in surrender and Malik puts Edna into the backseat.
Her head falls back and her lips are slightly parted as her hand is over her injury, she has passed out. Dimore joins her in the back seat and supports her head.
Malik gets into the driver's seat, thanking God that the engine is still running. He steps on the gas and leaves behind dirt and smoke as he speeds to the nearest hospital.
His hands are shaking, but his spirit is yelling at him, telling him to put himself together because Edna can't die.
He doesn't have the heart to look into the mirror because he doesn't want to see her like that. It seems that death is holding her and about to give her an embrace.
He steps on the gas harder and the tires don't even seem to be touching the ground, he is at a very dangerous speed right now.
"Boss, I think you should slow it down, otherwise we are all going to be dead. " Dimore voices out.
Malik ignores him and doesn't slow down, not even for one bit. Edna's life is on the line and he doesn't care if he loses his in the process of saving hers.
They get to the hospital and as soon as the car gets to the entrance, Dimore takes her out and rushes her toward the hospital.
Malik is screaming for help at top of his voice and it's not long before they are surrounded by nurses and doctors.
Edna is transferred to a stretcher and she is being wheeled away, Malik and Dimore are right behind them.
"What happened to her?" A doctor asks as they start to check her vitals.
" She got shot, obviously. " Malik has lost his patience.
" Are you her husband?"
"Seriously?!" Malik asks fuming. " How does who she fucks matter in saving her life?"
They begin to tear off her clothes with scissors as she is being taken into a room, Dimore and Malik are at the window.
" Ruptured liver, she has a ruptured liver. " A nurse declares loudly.
" What does that mean?" Malik's eyes widen. " Is she going to be okay?"
"Yes, if you let us do our job. " The doctor says. " Please go and have a seat in the reception, we can get back to you. "
The door is shut in their faces and curtains are drawn, their hearts are left tense. Dimore and Malik are standing with their shoulders touching. They are not going to move an inch and don't say a word to each other.
After about twenty minutes, a doctor comes out, taking off his gloves. The sight of blood on his gloves and the fact that it belongs to Edna makes Malik feel sick in his stomach.
He musters up braveness and keeps calm. He must keep calm because she will need him.
"Is she okay, doctor?" Malik asks.
" She will need surgery to get part of her liver out, but we are hoping that she is going to be fine. " The doctor says. " She needs some pints of blood, but due to an earlier emergency, we don't have her blood type available.
"Well, she is an O and so am I. " Malik widens his hand.
"I'm an O. I will give her mine. " Dimore steps forward.
Malik looks at him with annoyance, he has never found the guy to be more annoying than he is right now.
"Will you just shut up?" Malik tells him. " This has nothing to do with you. "
"Well, she is my boss and I don't want her to die. " Dimore has his eyes on the doctor.
"Well, it's great to see you both are eager to donate, but we have to carry out some tests to make sure that you both won't lose your life in the process of saving hers. " The doctor rubs the nape of his neck. " Like Anemia, heart conditions, hepatitis...."
"Wait, anemia?" Dimore stops the doctor. " I...I have that. "
" That means you can't donate, sir. I'm sorry. " The doctor sadly says. " It has to be you... Mister Jackson?"
"It's Malik." He corrects.
"Alright, follow me. "
Malik doesn't go after him, he is looking at Dimore, he has just found out that he has anemia.
Dimore sighs and looks away uncomfortably. He shoves his hands into his pockets and out again.
" That's why I don't tell people. "Dimore murmurs. " I don't want pity from all of you. "
" I wasn't pitying you. " Malik shakes his head. " I was just thinking how loyal you are to Edna that you are willing to give your blood to her. "
Malik places his hand against his shoulder and walks away. Dimore's eyes are fixed on the ground.
*****
Malik has his sleeve rolled up and his head is dropped into his hands.
It's quiet in the waiting room and he is just trying to get his head straight. The television is on and all they are talking about is the attack.
He shuts his eyes and tries to block out all the noise, but it's not working.
He has donated blood and now he is getting a little bit dizzy and weak. Beside him is the cup of water that Dimore got him, he hasn't drunk out of it.
His phone keeps ringing in his pocket and he is trying to ignore it, but the noise keeps irking the hell out of him.
When he cannot take it anymore, he takes out the phone and throws it against the wall, it falls to the ground in debris.
The door opens slightly, but he doesn't bother to look up.
"Do me a favor. " He groans as his hand runs through his hair. " Turn down the fucking TV. "
The sound goes down until not even a sound is coming out of the TV.
"Um, it's Edna's Dad. "
Malik lets go of his head and looks up. Dimore is thrusting out a phone to him.
" Kim just called me to tell me that he has been calling. He is worried about his daughter. " Dimore explains.
If it's someone else, but not Mister Taylor, Malik wouldn't have bothered.
He takes the phone from Dimore and walks to the window, he hears Dimore leave.
"Hi, Mister Taylor. " Malik composes himself.
" Malik, son. " Mister Taylor sounds sad. " I don't mean to bother you, but I have been watching the news. It's being reported that Edna was shot so I just wanted to know if my daughter is fine. "
Malik draws a long breath. He is relieved that Edna has been operated on and is fine now, she is out of danger. He is wondering what would have happened if she died, how he would have had to tell her father that.
"Edna was shot and she had to get operated on, but she is going to be fine. " Malik says.
He hears a sigh and sob from the other end of the phone. He hates to hear this man cry.
He patiently listens to the silent cut through the phone, not doing more than breathing.
" Malik?" He finally says again.
"Yes, sir. "
"Please take care of her, don't let my angel die. " He begs. " She is my only daughter and I can't lose her. "
Malik bows his head.
" I will sir, I promise. "