FireCacodemon: Welcome back to Trauma Center: A Pathogenic War. Back with a brand new book but not a future plan yet. As I've already started this book, I'm planning on finishing it before probably taking another break. I've been getting a lot of idea from various role-plays I've been doing with my friend. I just kinda hope that you'll enjoy the book none the less.

Derek: Trauma Center belongs to Atlus, the cover image belongs to Aileen-Rose~

Chapter 32:

A Trip Home

The plane journey back to America felt even longer and agitated Derek more. The telegram still clutched in one hand and the book containing data of GUILT in the other hand. Angie had done the best she could to settle Derek down but his mentor had fallen victim to GUILT and they didn't know what strain he had been infected with or how dangerous it was. Angie gently placed her hand on Derek's shoulder.

"I know this is hard for you. You've known him since you did your residency at Hope Hospital, but you can't let your emotions control you," Angie informed Derek. Derek let out a sigh.

"I know...but there's a part of me that's blaming itself...because of it."

"Why? What's there to blame yourself for?" Angie asked.

"That's what I don't understand. I've got no reason to blame myself for this. Anyone can get infected with GUILT, we can get infected by it...yet there's this nagging feeling in the back of my mind...telling me that it is my fault..."

"Well, just remember this. We've all got your back," she smiled at Derek which filled him with some confidence. "Besides, you're not as heartless as this Delphi organisation. You can still cry and you're clearly upset about this. Delphi probably won't give a damn."

"Right, well...I better get some sleep. Sleep often calms the nerves down."

"I'll wake you up if anything happens," Angie smiled as she watched Derek sort himself out to take a nap.

Trauma Center: The Dark Truth about GUILT – Chapter 32: A Trip Home

"Good news Dr. Kasal, Derek's on his way back now," Tyler smiled as he came into Greg's private room. Greg looked terrible, the skin on his body had started to change colour on different parts of the body indicating that there was something in his body which was slowly killing him. A chiral test had been completed and came back positive with the strain unknown.

"That's good...Can't wait...to see him again..." Greg smiled as he forced himself to sit up straight, pain coursed through his body as he moved but he did his best not to let it show.

"You're...his friend, right?" Greg asked Tyler.

"Yeah, been friends since med school."

"Then...you can answer...a few questions right...?"

"Ask away."

"What...was Derek like...during Med school...? Second, was he...strange to you...? Third...did he...have any conditions...? Like medical?"

"When I met him, we had teamed up to complete an assessment. We split the work up equally and completed that but we also did each other's parts too. When it came to putting together the work, we combined the information we gathered and it was an impressive essay. When I met Derek, we were both high on the class list; always had excellent grades but the difference between us was that I was more social while Derek kept himself to himself. He wasn't one for talking to others unless he needed to and he never talked to the teachers. After me and him worked together, we kinda bonded and Derek started to hang out with me. It was a little awkward at first but he opened up and joined in with the group conversations. To answer the second question, he became weird when something happened to him. Derek was goofy around me and my friends; he had come out of his shell until one day when he clammed up again. See, he was always excited about something...something about possible simulations but one day it just vanished. He clammed up and stopped talking...that excitement faded. If you're referring to the vitamin tablets he takes?" Tyler asked Greg.

"Vitamin tablets...?"

"Yeah, Med school was when it happened...the change. He started taking the tablets every morning and just before he goes to bed. The second day when he forgot to take one in the morning...he came to school looking like hell and swiftly vomited up his breakfast. Had to call his mother to pick him up and look after him. After that, there hasn't been a day when he didn't forget to table the tablets."

"Interesting..." Greg mumbled.

"Now, get some sleep. Derek'll be here as soon as possible."

"Thank you."

"Hey, anyone who Derek looks up to is a friend of mine~" Tyler smiled.

"What...?"

"You didn't know? He was your own student and you didn't know? I'll leave Derek to fill you in on that when he wants to. Don't push him, okay? Your brother pushes him enough." Tyler smiled before he left. Greg lay back and thought about what Tyler had told him.

"So...something happened to you...Derek..."

FireCacodemon: Hope you enjoyed the chapter~

Derek: RandomButLoved - I...as weird as it was, talking to Triti was creepily calming and relaxing. I'm pretty sure that FireCacodemon has more talking with GUILT in the future.

FireCacodemon: Derek won't know that until it gets to that time, I wouldn't spoil his future for him. *winks*

Derek: ?

FireCacodemon: Nothing~

Derek: Okay?

FireCacodemon: Well, we'll be back next chapter. I don't know how long it'll take me to write the second half of the book but the first half is done. The next chapter will be out on 13/12/2016. Thank you for reading!