154 DOOMSDAY

Everyone moved as quickly as lightning as they treated the ill patients with utmost care. 

Since the three young physicians were already lying down as one of the diseased, the only people that counted as the 'physicians' were Raigon, Zoe, Erin, Azra and the Xianghais who are not positive with the disease.

Raigon, Azra and the other men were the muscles who ran errands and lifted heavy loads like lifting the jars of water, or the people if they needed support. They were also the one who controlled some patients who were running amok in fear and anxiety of the outbreak.

Erin and the women replenished the patients' strength by making sure that they were eating and resting well.

Zoe was roaming around and checking the patients if they had complications or they needed further interventions.

They were all busy with their own effort to control the outbreak for hours when one of them shouted for help. "Lady Asha!"

Like a bat from hell, Zoe ran to her side. "What's wrong with her?"

"She's not moving anymore!"

In a fraction of a second, she checked on her pulse and breathing. She can't feel anything. 

Zoe immediately went up on the bed and knelt in front of her to do a cardiopulmonary resuscitation in hopes that she could revive her.

"Please don't die." She uttered under her breath.

Everyone in the area is now looking at them. Raigon was not around as he got some more salt and sugar together with Azra.

"What is she doing? Why is she hurting her chest?"

"Is she dead? I thought they could treat us!"

Five minutes have passed and there are still no signs of life.

Erin intercepted in and patted Zoe.

Zoe stopped and glanced at Erin, but her hands were still on the chest of the lady.

Her eyes are welling with tears.

Erin nodded his head and encouraged her to step back. "She's gone."

After pausing for a few seconds, Zoe finally let go and climbed down the bed. 

Zoe could only count in one hand the number of times that a patient died in her hands. And it took her weeks to move on every time. 

But those moments have a large timeframe in-between. In this situation, she didn't know if there would be other ones that would experience the same fate.

Some of the men took the body away from the area.

As they were doing so, one of the young physicians shouted out.

"I knew it! That lady is a fake physician! We should have stuck to the talismans! We are going to die!"

The whole area went wild as they heard his comment.

"The lady that has been treating us is a fake? Let us go back to our houses so we can die peacefully!"

One blurted out and tried to stand up. And so did the others. The men tried to control them but they were fierceful. 

"You shouldn't have given us false hopes, young lady. We could have stayed with our families and died in each other's arms!" 

To add to all of these, one of the well and able Xianghais who have been helping them treat the sick started vomiting and passed out.

All those who were alive and well started to panic. "We shouldn't have listened! We should have just left this cursed place!" 

They started to run away from the area.

Zoe was stricken. She was still feeling pitiful for the lady who died in her arms. And now another physically healthy person got sick because of her. 

She bowed down to everybody and apologized.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry everyone!"

She gathered her clothes and ran away.

"Lady Asha!" Erin ran after her.

Zoe was having a difficulty breathing and she wanted a breath of fresh air or she would lose her cool and break down.

She was expecting that a different scenario would help relieve her breaking heart. 

But her heart ache even more to the point that she almost collapsed as she saw more dead bodies sprawled on the ground.

"I-I can't believe this…It's Doomsday."

Erin also was flabbergasted that her fast pace slowed down, her eyes widened in horror at what she was seeing.

"A-are we going to die too, Zoe?" She uttered as she neared her.

"I-I don't know." Zoe cupped her face with her hands in remorse.

This time, Erin could not do anything for her as she was also terrorized by what she was witnessing. 

They were in this state when Raigon and Azra came back and halted their horses.

They brought down the heavy bags of salts and sugar. And after doing so, they walked toward Zoe and Erin.

"What are you doing out h-here…?"

Zoe swiveled and faced Raigon. She tried to hide the scenario from him but it was too late.

His jaw dropped and he froze for a few seconds before his jaw began to clenched as he balled up his fists.

"Let's go inside. We still have living people who need our help."

He commanded the three as he picked up a sack but as he caught a glimpse of Zoe, he noticed that she was just shaking her head.

Raigon put the sack back on the ground and glanced at Erin as if he's asking what just happened.

Erin obliged and let them know about the situation. 

"I see. Can you please leave us for a few minutes? Azra, call the remaining men and bring these sacks inside. Lady Selena, pls make the mixture with the women who are left and treat the patients who still trusted us."

Azra made a salute bow and so did Erin. 

He grabbed Zoe's hand and took her to a place where no one could see them. 

Then he pulled her close to him and enveloped his arms around her.

Tears started streaming down like waterfall in Zoe's cheeks. 

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People cry not because they're weak.

But because they've been strong for too long.