The Badass Protector

Iris

MAX WAS inside the room with his mask on.

“I’m getting inside the room, and I want you to come outside that door once it’s locked. I need your help.”

“Okay.”

A single light in the hallway illuminated around in a white glow. Max must have flicked it on.

The operating room has a surgical bed at the center, a lamp, medical equipment, machines, stainless tables covered with green sheets, drawers, cabinets, and a stroller.This belongs © NôvelDra/ma.Org.

So far, this has been great.

I gulped. My brain suddenly shut down, and I didn’t know what to do. What should I do next? I berated myself for not following my parents’ path.

Jesus! Breathe, Iris. Breathe.

He did not bleed from a gunshot wound, and I wasn’t even sure if my idea would work on him. Just great.

I’m keeping my hopes up, even though this is impossible.

I swallowed the lump forming in my throat.

“Max?” I banged on the door.

He rushed toward me and peeped through the small glass window right away.

“How can I transfuse blood to another person?”

“Transfuse blood?” his mouth gaped, then swallowed. He blinked and stared at me as if I was insane, and I was actually insane with this idea in my head, but it was worth a try. Otherwise, I would regret not trying.

“Yes. I want to give him my blood.”

“You need to check your blood type and your recipient.”

“I don’t have time for that.”

“If your blood doesn’t match with his, the antigen in his body will reject it, and it will cause a reaction that might lead to death.”

“I need it right now, or else…” I gulped. “He will die, and I can’t let that happen.”

“Is he…” He gulped. Horror flashed on his already pale face. “… infected?”

“Yes. He’s already deteriorating, Max. And in an hour or less, he will die anyway. So, I will give him my blood, even if it seems inhumane.” My eyes were burning with tears, and I felt like someone had stabbed my chest again and again. “Now you have to tell me how to transfer my blood to him. Directly.”

“Jesus! I don’t know if it works. First, you need an empty bag to fill with your blood, and once you’re done, you need to hook it to him. I don’t think you can do it alone.”

“I need to do it, Max. Is it possible that I will hose my blood directly to him?”

His dark eyes widened. “It’s not the 18th century, miss-”

“Iris. Call me Iris.”

“Iris, if you want to save his life, you have to do as I say. Wait here, and let me go to the lab to find an empty bag. I’ll show you how to do it.”

“Thank you! Please, be quick.”

I dragged myself down against the door and rubbed my bloody hands against my face. I started to shake to cry as I watched Colt shaking. He was getting worse but still breathing.

Quickly, I stood up and found a clean cloth and IV fluid. I wiped the blood away from his face, but it still continued bleeding.

“Hang on tight, Colton.” My tears wouldn’t stop streaming down my face. “We’re almost done.” I placed the sheet on his forehead, as my mom used to when I had a fever.

“I’m so sorry, but I can’t give up on you. Not now. Forgive me if this won’t work, but I have to try it; otherwise, I will forever regret it if I didn’t even do my best to save you.”

Max came back quickly. He explained what to do after I got the blood into the bag. “But you can’t give the blood if he has a fever. How can a blood transfusion even help him if he’s bleeding out fast? A plasma could stop the bleeding, but you know there’s no cure for a case like this, right?”

“I have faith and hope in him, Max. Thanks for the help.”

A half-hour later, or maybe less, my vision blurred. I was sweating profusely. I was utterly exhausted.

That was not the right time, but everything flashed back to me-why Otis wanted me alive and what they did to me back in the colony. Still, it didn’t make any sense.

If it wasn’t for that experience, though, I might give up and watched Colt as he drew his last breath.

I squeezed my eyes shut and breathed deeply.

“Iris, are you okay?” A loud banged from the door echoed, but I could barely stand on my own feet to continue giving Colton my blood.

Use a tourniquet to spot the vein, then insert the needle. When there’s a backflow you’re in, remove the tourniquet. Apply adhesive to secure it, but the bag should be ready; connect the set to the bag, then let the blood flow until it reaches the end of the set. Use the regulator to adjust the blood drip, then connect it to him. Good luck!

I could barely see the needle-it was blurry, but this time I didn’t have the luxury of waiting until I would be okay.

“Iris, I have something here for you to drink. I’ll open the door and throw it inside, okay? You need to drink this, or else you will collapse!” Max was still telling me something, and somehow I managed to block his voice out of my head.

I need to focus on the matter at hand.

My fingers were trembling. My sweat dripped down my eyes, making me unable to see clearly.

Ican do this.

I need to do this.

Colt. I need to do this for him.

Untie the tourniquet and pull out the needle. I saw the blood flow. I shook to cry and laugh like an insane person. I realized I should have done that for him before I drew my blood, but I successfully did it anyway.

I grabbed the tip of the tube, pulled the cover with my teeth, and blindly connected it to the cannula.

Adjust the drip and look at the flow. When the drop continues, it means you did it right.

I lifted my gaze to the bag of blood hanging above my head.

My world spun and blurred, and I lost my strength to fight as the blackness fell over my vision. Completely.