Riverbank Hospital, a mid-sized hospital with an emergency department of the Northern District, was quite busy today, even considering its being two or three hours past midnight, a time where most people would be asleep.

  Marcus grabbed Mick and shot into the front door of the ER department the moment the van stood still. “We need a doctor!” He barked at the nurses sitting behind the front desk.

  “Okay, what is the matter?” One nurse answered Marcus, with an intentionally calm tone, even though she was perturbed by Marcus’ demeanor.

  “My colleague is possibly suffering from a concussion. And I think he might have inhaled some chemicals as well.” Marcus decided to throw out the first excuse he could think of: “Please, we need a doctor to take a look at him.”

  “Okay. Take this, fill it out and wait your turn.” The nurse took out a clipboard with a form attached to it and handed it to Marcus: “And we’ll call you.”

  “No, you don’t understand. He needs medical attention NOW!” Marcus raised his voice: “He was hit with some heavy objects while we were inside of a building with - with harmful chemical fumes.”

  “I understand. But you should still fill this out - ”

  “He’s a police officer! And he’s injured in the line of duty!” Marcus had to pull out the most risky card - if anyone in here decided to check their badge numbers they would be in immediate danger.

  The nurse was speechless for a brief moment, before signalling to another nurse beside her: “Come, take this officer in and call Doctor Greene. ”

  “Thank you very much.” Marcus let out a breath of relief.

  A doctor came out from behind the door with a wheelchair and helped Mick go in. The doctor began checking the reaction to light of Mick’s pupils even while they were in the walkway. Mick was able to respond, yet he was much more sensitive to light and sound than normal.

  “I’m terribly sorry about the tone.” Marcus took a few deep breaths before apologizing to the nurse: “He’s my partner and - you know.”

  “No problem. Officer.” The nurse nodded back at Marcus with a smile: “We still need you to fill the form though.”

  The rest of the group came in, though none of them requested a form.

  “How is it?” Gloria sat beside Marcus and asked.

  “I don’t know.” Marcus sighed as he filled a fake name on the form, with as much correct information as he could remember about Mick: “Did you see anything actually hitting him? Or is it just - symptom from being inside the building? Or the bagua mirror?”

  “I haven’t seen anything.” Tae Kuo answered: “Though - ever since he began hearing those sounds, he’s been more and more off. I think the injuries he sustained from the Bagua Mirror was amplified by the environment back there.”

  “Okay.” Marcus nodded: “Do you know if there’s any way we can help him, Sifu? Or do we need to seek help from the community collective?”

  “To be honest, I don’t know. Having the doctors treat him is good, at least they can deal with things on a physical level. But as for - the damages on his soul or spirit,I’ll try to connect with someone I know - as long as I can find a phone.” Tae Kuo sighed: “And - uh - we probably also need a pn if they come for us. This is a hospital, there are a lot of patients here - ”

  “Yeah, I know, Sifu.” Marcus took a deep breath, then he thought for a moment: “Tell you what, take him outta here immediately after - after two hours had passed or you see them coming. If they caught up to you, tell them I went to the - ” Marcus pulled out the scroll handed to him by Master Liaoran before they departed on this quest: “ - tell them I went to the unnamed cemetery at the Southern end of the city, near the train station and city customs.”

  “What? What are you going to do?” Gloria held Marcus’ left hand: “Did - did the master tell you something?”

  “Yes. And I’m afraid I must go alone. ” Marcus took a deep breath then looked Gloria in her eyes: “Can you stay here? Rest, get some treatment if you can, and stay alert in case those guys come. I’ll be more at ease if you are here to - to protect everyone.”

  “Tell me where you’re going.” Gloria did not make the promise nor deny him.

  “I must head to an unnamed but guarded cemetery at the South-most spot of the city, it’s a pce near the train station.” Marcus sighed: “It’s guarded by a watcher. And I expect a fight there. I’d love it if some of you can come with me, but we can’t risk it all on this. Someone needs to stay behind and regroup with everyone.”

  “I understand.” Gloria thought for a moment: “Okay. But you have to contact us as soon as you’re done.”

  “Can I come with you?” Kelvin asked from the side: “I - at least I can be of SOME help, right?”

  “No, dad.” Marcus shook his head: “If I’m correct, that pce will be more than foul. You cannot go there. Even if you stay far away I’ll be distracted because I’d be worried about you. You must stay here, where it’s safe - ER. Safer.”

  Kelvin sighed and gave Marcus a hug: “Alright. But be safe, my son.”

  “Kevin, Keryn.” Marcus stood up and turned to his two colleagues, who were sitting on a waiting bench by the window, side by side: “I have to go do something. Can you find a safe house somewhere around here if possible? So that if anything were to happen, you’d have a pce to hide?”

  “Where are you going? ” “What are you gonna do?” Keryn and Kevin asked almost at the same time.

  “An unnamed cemetery near the city customs on the south.” Marcus nodded: “And - just in case they’re here and you cannot make it out in time - tell them where I am going. They should be armed. I am going to destroy a gravestone or seal of some kind, or a few of those, depending on how everything looks.”

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