A few more turns in the alleys and over speeding on the barely used roads later, they reached the hospital.
Edmund quickly got out and opened the door to let Oliver out.
Oliver stepped out of the car holding Mai tightly against his chest.
It was then that Edmund noticed how soaked Oliver's black coat and slacks were. If they weren't black, he was sure it was all a shade of red at that moment.
Florence, Edmund, and Lin ran to follow Oliver into the hospital.
The nurses quickly prepared a gurney for Mai.
Everyone in the hospital looked panic-stricken at the sight of Mai's limp and bloody body.
Oliver laid her down the gurney – the blood-stained gold key on Mai's necklace glinting in the light of the hospital.
It was under that bright white light that they all realized how wounded Mai was.
On her chest was what seemed to be, a hole in a shade of deep scarlet. It was covered by the towel Oliver had been holding against her chest.
One of her shoulders looked deformed.
On her arms and legs were long deep cuts that were still bleeding, gashes and huge bruises. Her face though bloody had only small scratches. Her chin was probably the only part on her face that was wounded badly.
They also noticed how the part of the gurney cradling Mai's head turned red the moment her locks hit the cloth cover.
The nurses quickly covered her nose and mouth with an oxygen mask while they began to push the gurney toward the emergency room.
Florence, Lin and Edmund followed Oliver, who at that moment still held Mai's purple hand while the gurney was being wheeled to the ER.
Lin immediately held Oliver from behind the moment they reached the emergency room door. He knew Oliver would insist that he go in with Mai.
He decided to hold Oliver back before he threw a fit.
Lin was right. Oliver struggled to get away from his grip as they watched the doors of the emergency room shut close after the nurses who were wheeling Mai inside.
Luckily Oliver was too weak to exert enough strength to push Lin away. He could even barely speak.
Edmund held Florence tight in his arms. She was crying loudly against his chest.
"It's okay," he said. "Mai's a strong girl. She'll make it," he continued trying to convince himself that what he was telling her was true. He kissed Florence's forehead.
Lin watched Oliver look anxiously at the emergency room doors. He could see nothing but longing and fear in his eyes.
"Let's sit down, Noll," he told Oliver pulling him toward the nearest bench.
Oliver dropped limp on the bench – his eyes fixed at nowhere. Florence and Edmund sat with him.
"Madoka," Luella said walking toward Madoka in the crowd.
The program for the banquet had begun and the guests were having their dinner. Luella and Martin were still attending to the guests.
After being asked by one of the guests about Oliver's whereabouts, Luella noticed that his son wasn't around. She also couldn't find Lin so she decided to look for Madoka.
Madoka turned to look at Luella with a cheerful smile pasted firmly on her face. "Yes, Luella?"
"Have you seen Noll?" Luella asked.
Madoka tried her best to keep the composed expression on her face. "Yes," she answered. "He's with Koujo. They said they were just going to get something that Noll forgot in the SPR office."
"Oh," Luella said. "It must be his book," she sighed. "I told him not to keep it with him tonight for a change. I even made an effort to hide it in his office in SPR so he won't be able to see it in his bedroom. I guess he figured it out. I should've told Lin that he shouldn't let Noll get it."
Madoka chuckled. "The banquet is going smoothly anyway," she said. "I don't think it won't do any harm if Noll would focus his attention to his book now."
"You're right," Luella said. "At least the guests have had enough of good impressions about him at the start of the banquet."
Madoka nodded.
"You should also start dinner, Madoka," Luella said. "The guests seem to love the food. I have a feeling that we'll run out of food for ourselves in no time."
Madoka chuckled. "I will Luella, thank you."
Luella turned away and looked for Martin.
Madoka sighed in relief. She honestly had no idea how to answer Luella's question.
She hadn't received a word from Koujo since he and Noll left the hotel. She was also worried about what made Noll upset enough to leave in such a short notice.
It was then that she felt her mobile phone vibrate in the hidden pocket of her cerulean evening gown.
Madoka quickly walked toward the loo and made sure that no one else was there. She then pulled out her phone and answered the call.
"Madoka," Lin said upon hearing the click on the other line.
"Koujo!" Madoka said. "Where are you? Luella's looking for Noll."
"We're in the hospital," Lin answered.
"WHAT!" Madoka exclaimed.
"Calm down," Lin said sighing at Madoka's reaction. He knew she would act that way. "Noll's alright...at least for now. It's Taniyama-san. She...got involved in an accident and Noll and I helped her."
Madoka sighed in relief. "You gave me a fright there, Koujo," she said. "Don't do that again. Luella and Martin will kill me if something bad happened to Noll."
"You're not exactly the only one who'll get murdered," Lin said. "Listen, I don't think it would be good to have Noll back in the banquet after this," he said eyeing Oliver who was staring lifelessly at the white tiles of the hospital floor.
Oliver had been that way since Lin made him sit on the bench with Florence and Edmund. It had been a while or so since they wheeled Mai into the emergency room. After all, it took Lin some time to fill up the forms and pay for Mai's admittance in the hospital.
Oliver didn't speak the whole time. He didn't move. He didn't even seem to be fidgeting the way an average human did.
If Lin didn't know better, he would think that Oliver was dreaming or doing a psychometric reading.
Lin froze.
The whole time that Oliver cradled Mai in the car...the whole time Oliver held the towel against her chest...the blood on the gold key... No. There was a finger print on the gold key – a print made using blood.
Lin saw the blood on Oliver's hands.
"Oh no," Lin said realizing why Oliver seemed dead. It wasn't only caused by the strain of his PK in his body.
"What is it, Koujo?" Madoka asked from the other line. "What's happening?"
"Madoka, I need to go," Lin said. "I'm going to take Noll back there to support whatever alibi you gave Luella. But we need to convince them that Noll should go home."
"Okay," Madoka said. "Promise me you'll tell me everything."
"I doubt I would forget that," Lin said.
"I'll see you and Noll later then."
Lin heard the click on the other line that cut the call. He quickly walked to Oliver.
"Noll," he said as calm as he could. "We need to go back."
Oliver didn't move.