Chapter 423
“A helicopter!” Elissa gasped.
So, that was where the noise had been coming from!
Everyone stood motionless, caught off guard and unsure of what to make of the situation.
The helicopter touched down in the middle of the square, its powerful blades kicking up sheets of rain. As the cabin door swung open, two men stepped out. Dressed in dark green flight suits and goggles, they carried an air of authority with every measured stride.
Leading the way was Eric, with Phillips following close behind.
Through his goggles, Eric immediately spotted Hadley, slumped against the young man carrying her.
Her face was drained of color, her eyes barely open, and she looked as if she was slipping in and out of consciousness.
A tight knot formed in Eric’s chest, and he closed the distance in an instant.
Without hesitation, he held out his arms. “Give her to me.”
Blanche was momentarily stunned. Of all people, she hadn’t expected Eric to show up. How did he even know?
But this wasn’t the time for questions. She quickly turned to the young man.
“Hurry!”
“Yes, ma’am!”
Eric took Hadley from the young man’s arms with ease.
As soon as the pressure on her stomach eased, Hadley instinctively shifted, settling into a position that brought her the slightest relief.
A sharp pang shot through Eric’s chest.
How much pain was she enduring? Cold sweat clung to her pale face, and her damp hair stuck to her skin.
Without hesitation, Phillips stepped forward, spreading a rain cover over her, shielding her from the harsh wind and rain.
There was no time to waste. Moving as if they had done this a hundred times before, Eric and Phillips carried Hadley onto the helicopter with swift precision.
The cabin door sealed shut.
“I’ll take the controls,” Phillips said.
Eric nodded. “Go ahead.”
He had piloted the helicopter here, but with Hadley in his arms, flying was no longer an option.
As the helicopter ascended, cutting through the storm, it raced toward the city. Eric glanced down at Hadley, brushing her damp hair away from her face. His voice softened. “Just hold on. We’re almost at the hospital.”
That night, even the emergency room felt unnervingly still.
The automatic glass doors slid open with a soft hiss.
“Doctor! Hurry!”
“Nurse!”