In the dreams of Barrett Walker, he found himself in the midst of an ocean, but this ocean was entirely made of blood. He stood on a solitary island, the strong smell of blood assaulting his senses, and memories of his mother's death flooding his mind. As everything disappeared, Barrett Walker awoke from the nightmare.
In the luxurious hospital room, the faint scent of flowers masked the smell of blood, but Barrett Walker couldn't smell anything. Wrapped up like a dumpling, with an oxygen mask, lying in the hospital bed, a gastric tube in his nose, a clip on his thumb, and IV fluids running, the faint heartbeat on the monitor next to him.
Barrett Walker felt parched, his mind slowly recalling recent events. Instead of fear, he felt worry, worrying about causing trouble for others. How expensive was this hospital room! When would he be able to repay the favor to that person? There was nothing major wrong with him, he needed to get back quickly or else he would miss his exam.
Barrett Walker desperately wanted to get out of bed, but his body was weak and moving caused pain.
"Thirsty! I want water!" Barrett Walker lay in the hospital bed, his body full of wounds, feeling little pain as long as he didn't move too much. The thirst, however, was the most tormenting sensation. He wanted water badly but was too weak to move.
Seeing someone enter, he couldn't help but speak. "Thank goodness you survived. Our best doctor said you only had a 20% chance of survival. You don't know how slim a 20% chance is. You're incredibly lucky!"
Baron looked at Barrett Walker, who had woken up, and exclaimed in surprise.
"I want to drink water!" Barrett Walker croaked through the oxygen mask, finding it unbearable.
"Dr. Hughes ordered that you can't drink water because of all your injuries. You just had a tracheotomy, and most of your muscles are torn, and your throat is blocked by phlegm. It needs to be cleared for you to breathe normally! If you're thirsty, you can only moisten your lips with a cotton swab!" Baron approached Barrett Walker and gently patted his hand for comfort.
Barrett Walker rolled his eyes, feeling incredibly thirsty but unable to move due to Baron's resolute expression. It seemed there was no hope.
"What happened to me?" The gastric tube in his nose was unbearable, and he almost wanted to pull it out.
"Don't move! All the equipment attached to you is necessary and can't be disturbed," Baron said, feeling uneasy seeing Barrett Walker in such discomfort during his two days of unconsciousness.
Baron was also upset, having seen many classmates come to visit Barrett Walker during the past two days, all feeling guilty and distressed. Especially his sister.
"You still don't know! You're a famous person in several schools now. Many people don't believe that you can lift 620 pounds for over ten minutes," Baron said with great joy. His best friend's fame was his own pride.
"What? Ten minutes? Wasn't it just five minutes?" Barrett Walker widened his eyes, incredulous. "You're kidding me!"
"Haha! I don't have a sister, just a sister!" Thinking of his sister's dumbfounded look and her anxious run to the hospital carrying Barrett Walker, Baron found it very strange. But he deliberately avoided the issue; all three of them knew it was impossible.
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"Who came to see me? Did Danny come to visit?" Vague images of Ross came to mind, but the most vivid and clear was him biting Ross's neck, savoring the sweetness, making Barrett Walker feel even thirstier.
"Ah! That guy, you know he's just a coward. He didn't dare to defy Grandpa's will, sneaked in a few times, but went back to class as the college entrance exam approached. Not a good friend. I was thinking of forming a trio with him, but I don't want to see this disloyal person again!" Baron turned away, refusing to look Barrett Walker in the eye, looking rather guilty.
"I don't want you to brush me off. You know who I'm asking about? And I'm well aware of Danny's character. If he came to see me, I'd feel better. I want to know if anyone from the Walk family has come to see me!" Barrett Walker's emotions were getting stirred up, causing the waves on the ECG to fluctuate rapidly.
"Don't get agitated! You can't move around with all these instruments attached to you," Baron said, looking uncomfortable seeing Barrett Walker so distressed. He went to his side and gently patted Barrett Walker's hand to offer comfort.
After getting the answer, Barrett Walker slumped on the hospital bed, his eyes staring blankly at the IV drip. He felt completely dazed, murmuring to himself, "He only came once? Just once? What am I? I'm just trash. Even after proving myself at the risk of my life, all I get is a visit to see if this once-trash has any value."
Thrown out of his family home at the age of fourteen after fainting from blood loss, it had been four long years. The Walk family had not provided any help, not even once. At the age of fourteen, living on the streets, he had no skills other than fighting, but he fainted from blood loss even in fights. That year, he could only beg to survive. From the age of fifteen, he entered the orphanage and, after a year of hardships, he seemed mature for his age, but was still timid. He found some work at a few shady places and managed to stop begging. At seventeen, he achieved the rank of lieutenant and finally gained his freedom, leaving his family to find Barrett Walker and attend the high school together.
Seeing Barrett Walker in such a despondent state, Baron knew this was the inevitable result. He still hoped for that family!
"What did he say when he came?" Barrett Walker asked expressionlessly.
"Don't ask. Just rest," Baron said, taking a deep breath and getting up, wanting to leave. He didn't want to see his childhood friend so heartbroken.
Sobbing, he couldn't help but redden his eyes, feeling the sorrow in his heart.
"What did that person say?" Barrett Walker asked, still unwilling to let go.
"Don't cry! With such a weak father, there's no need to worry about them anymore," Baron said, forcing a smile to comfort him.
"I want to know!" Barrett Walker's tone left no room for doubt.
"Alright, alright. You're in charge now. He said both the War God and him love you and hope for your speedy recovery. He also asked if you still faint at the sight of blood, and if not, the War God is willing to let you return to the Walk family for the 80th birthday celebration, and he also wants to know if you can be trained at the best education and training facilities."
Baron tried to downplay the latter part, clearly not wanting to further agitate him in the current depressive atmosphere.
"I understand. Tell him I will definitely return for his 80th birthday. And can you leave me alone to calm down?" Barrett Walker had stopped crying by now, speaking with a firm and steady voice, only his eyes were red.
"Alright, I'll leave now. But don't think too much! Without them, you still have me," Baron said, afraid that Barrett Walker might do something rash, and hurriedly left to make a phone call.
The hospital room fell silent, with the gentle hum of the air conditioner. Barrett Walker's body was far from unscathed, but he found his heart unusually calm. He didn't know if he still fainted at the sight of blood, and he no longer cared. He vowed that this would be the last tear he shed for the Walk family.
From this day on, I will be a true man! I, Barrett Walker, swear to never look back again. The Walk family! No matter how powerful you are, I, Barrett Walker, will never owe you anything again. On the 80th birthday, I will go and take back what's mine! Barrett Walker thought of the shame he suffered at the 80th birthday in his previous life, and the Green family! You can't escape, and neither can Richard Smith.