Heartstrings on Fire novel Chapter 915

Ryder had arrived as a volunteer medic, his heart set on making a difference amidst the chaos.

No sooner had he touched ground than he was thrust into the fray, attending to the injured with the skill and precision that only a top-tier neurosurgeon could muster. In the face of disaster, his expertise shone.

The evening of his arrival, sleep was a luxury Ryder couldn’t afford. He spent the night in the makeshift clinic, a beacon of hope in the darkest hours.

Agnes, though exhausted beyond measure, managed a mere two hours of fitful rest in the tent before joining him. The first 36 hours were critical, and time was slipping through their fingers.

Patient after patient was brought in, a relentless tide of suffering. The clinic was overrun. The earthquake had taken its toll, leaving them in a precarious shelter with sporadic electricity and damaged equipment, exacerbating an already dire situation. Medicines were scarce, adding insult to injury.

Blocked mountain roads kept additional aid at bay, the uncertainty of their arrival hanging heavy in the air. With communications down, Agnes could no longer broadcast live updates, instead documenting every harrowing moment for posterity.

Despite the devastation, Agnes and her companions joined the ranks of the volunteers, determined to make a difference. Bronzetown Borough was shaken to its core, aftershocks threatening the little stability they had, homes reduced to rubble, with many still trapped beneath.

As the death toll rose, the stark reality hit them; they could only save so many. Agnes witnessed too many farewells, the town a veritable inferno of human suffering. The fear of nature's wrath, the agony of loss, and the uncertainty of the future—such scenes eclipsed all else. Lifelong grievances and heartaches paled in comparison to the catastrophe at hand.

Day in, day out, it was a race against death itself, leaving them with nothing but their spent bodies and numbed spirits.

Then, in a twist of cruel irony, Agnes herself succumbed to exhaustion while caring for others. Luckily, Ryder was there to catch her, cradling her to a room set aside for rest. She was merely spent, her body weakened by the ordeal and lack of nourishment.

The rescue teams from outside were still nowhere in sight, the aftershocks relentless. Isolated from the world, Bronzetown Borough had become a battleground for survival, even clean water a precious commodity, let alone food.

Ryder had brought supplies with him, stashing away a few cans and loaves of bread. He offered it all to Agnes, who, in turn, gave every last morsel to the children in need.

Watching her, Ryder realized how much she had withered in just three days. It was uncertain how much longer they could endure.

As Agnes lay on a cot, an IV drip of glucose her lifeline, she slipped into a deep, recuperative slumber. Ryder sat by her side, watching over her as he allowed himself a moment of rest.

Everyone was on edge, not just Agnes. Ryder felt it too—his spirit taut as a wire, the devastation around him threatening to snap his resolve at any moment.

The world seemed too cruel, too unforgiving.

But as Ryder gazed at Agnes' peaceful face, even in this hellish place, he found a reason to keep fighting. With her by his side, he felt he could face even death without fear.