chapter 5

Lewis sat inside the parked ambulance, his elbow resting against the open window. The afternoon sun filtered through the wide branches of the tall tree above them, casting slow-moving shadows over the windshield.

The air was warm, the place was quiet and people didn't really pass that route. That was the best place to rest when he was on duty but not working.

Lewis is one of the kindest paramedics. He attended to patients with concern and respect, irrespective of their status or condition. This trait made him win the state award for ‘selfless medical personnel.’

Some said it was his passion, others said he was reciprocating the love he had as a kid. Whatever the conclusion might be, Lewis is kind and selfless, always ready to go out of his way to help others.

As he enjoyed the serenity of the environment, he held his phone between his shoulder and ear, rubbing his forehead with one hand.

“I told you I would send it,” he said softly.

On the other end, Barbie, his materialistic girlfriend sighed loudly.

“You always say that, Lewis. My rent is due, and those shoes I told you about are almost sold out.”

Lewis closed his eyes briefly. “I've told you to move in with me.”

“What did I say about cohabiting before marriage?” Barbie whined. “I told you I don't like it.”

Lewis signed. He didn't like arguing with his girlfriend because he knows he can't win, not even once.

Nevertheless, he replied. “Fine, but shoes are not more important than rent.”

“They’re important to me,” she replied sharply. “And you promised to get them for me.”

“No, I didn't,” Lewis said calmly.

He remembered the day she showed me the shoes online. She asked if they would look good on her and he said yes. That was how she said he would buy it for her and he didn't argue afterwards.

“Yes, you did,” Barbie replied sharply.

He exhaled slowly, trying to keep his voice calm. “I’m on duty now, Barbie. I’ll call you back when I get home.”

“You better,” she said. “And don’t forget about the shoes.”

The call ended before he could reply. Lewis stared at the screen for a moment before lowering the phone. His reflection looked back at him.

From the driver’s seat, his colleague chuckled.

“Long distance relationship and you’re still getting stressed,” the driver said, shaking his head. “That girl doesn’t play with your life.”

Lewis forced a small smile. “It is not what you think.”

“I think it is,” the driver teased. “You’re too broke to be paying her house rent and yours. You still got shoes to buy.”

Lewis couldn't believe his colleague was listening to his conversation with his girlfriend. Even if he heard, he wasn't supposed to listen. What happened to minding his business.

Lewis leaned back in his seat. “At least I have a girlfriend.”

The driver laughed. “I’m grateful I don't get to worry about paying another person's bills.”

Before Lewis could respond, the radio crackled. Both men straightened immediately.

“Emergency dispatch. An elderly female is reported unconscious with the possibility that she fainted. Address incoming.”

The joking vanished immediately. The driver started the engine and Lewis grabbed his medical bag.

As the voice behind the radio read the address, the driver already started the engine.

“Let’s go,” he said.

****

The ambulance pulled up in front of a large gated house. Lewis noticed immediately that it wasn’t an ordinary house. The building stood tall and quiet, security cameras placed carefully along the walls. It looked controlled.

Inside, an elderly woman lay on the floor, her silver hair spread gently around her head. A woman stood nearby, her body still trembling slightly.

Lewis knelt beside the woman immediately.

“Ma’am? Can you hear me?” he asked gently.

No response.

He checked her pulse. It was steady, but weak.

“She fainted,” the woman man said, her voice trembling.

“We’re taking her to the hospital,” Lewis said.

Something in her face changed but Lewis didn't notice. The old woman was his priority.

Meticulously, he attached monitors, checked her breathing again, asked questions calmly as he and his colleague lifted her onto the stretcher.

The woman asked questions like which hospital? Can't they attend to her at home?

Lewis was surprised that the woman could ask questions like this when her mother or grandmother is unconscious. But Lewis didn't say anything.

****

The ambulance doors slammed shut. Lewis sat beside the elderly woman, monitoring her vitals as the vehicle moved.

“She’ll be okay,” he muttered softly, mostly to himself.

Halfway down the road, the driver frowned.

“There’s a car following us.”

Lewis didn’t think much of it at first. Not until another vehicle pulled in from the side street, blocking the road.

The ambulance stopped abruptly.

“What’s happening?” Lewis asked.

Before the driver could answer, two men stepped out of the cars ahead. Another approached from behind.

Lewis felt something tighten in his chest as the back doors were forcefully pulled open.

A man stood there in front of him. Black shirt, black suits, no tie, no facial expression.

Lewis recognized the vibe immediately. Although it has never happened to him but he understood what it meant to be stopped abruptly in the middle of a quiet road.

Paulo took another closer. “We’ll take over from here,” Paulo said.

Lewis blinked in disbelief. “What? Are you a doctor?

“No,” Paulo replied flatly.

“If you're not, you can't take her,” Lewis said, shaking his head. “She needs to get to the hospital.”

“She will not go to the hospital,” Paulo replied calmly.

“That’s not how this works,” Lewis insisted, stepping protectively in front of the stretcher. “She fainted. We don’t know the cause yet.”

Two men moved inside the ambulance and carefully lifted the elderly woman.

Lewis’s heart began to pound, but he didn't fight to stop them.

“You can’t just take her,” he said firmly. “It’s dangerous.”

Paulo's expression remained stoic as his eyes locked onto Lewis.

“She won’t go to the hospital,” he repeated, quietly.

Lewis held his ground. “Sir, with all due respect, you’re risking her life.”

“Her life,” he said slowly, “is our concern. You don't have to worry about her anymore.”

Lewis felt anger rise in him. Why would they hinder the old woman's treatment? He could tell they were dangerous people because he saw guns in their hands.

The elderly woman was already being transferred to another vehicle. He knew he couldn't go physical with them but that didn't mean he won't talk sense into their heads.

“This is illegal,” he said. “You can’t just…”

Before he could finish, Paulo grabbed his arm firmly.

“Hey!” Lewis tried to pull back.

“Relax,” Paulo muttered.

Lewis struggled. “She needs medical attention, not violence!”

“That’s why you’re coming,” Paulo said flatly.

Lewis froze.

“What?”

Paulo’s grip tightened.

“You seem concerned,” he continued. “So you’ll make sure she’s fine.”

“No,” Lewis said firmly. “I have to report this. I’m on duty.”

Paulo pulled him forward. “You’re coming and that's final.”

Lewis tried to resist, but the men were stronger. His medical bag fell to the ground as he was dragged from the ambulance.

“Wait…” Lewis started.

His colleague stood frozen, clearly outnumbered.

“Stay out of this,” Paulo warned the driver calmly.

Lewis’s heart pounded in his ears as he was forced toward a black car.

“This is kidnapping,” he said, voice shaking now.

Paulo opened the door and pushed him inside.

“Think of it as a house call,” Paulo replied.

The door slammed shut.

Lewis turned to look through the window, hoping his colleague would do something to save him. He did nothing. In fact, he was still glued to the same spot, looking like a statue.

Lewis turned back to his kidnappers as the engine started.

“You’re making a mistake,” he said quietly.

“No,” Paulo replied calmly. “You made a mistake.”