Horror Game Developer: My games aren't that scary! Chapter 626: Surgery [4]

Initially, Zoey figured she'd get dispatched to a separate room. Yet, against what she anticipated, she ended up staying right next to Seth, helping him out and handling all tasks by his side.

The turn of events caught her off guard, but she snatched the chance anyway.

Sure, the fatigue remained intense, yet it beat scurrying about directionlessly and caring for assorted patients endlessly.

"Scalpel."

Zoey handed over the scalpel right away, also dabbing away the sweat beading on his forehead. While he stayed locked in concentration on the patient, she shoved her doubts about him to the back of her mind. She didn't wish to, but necessity demanded it. To survive this ordeal, their teamwork was essential.

Zoey sensed less drain on her energy, and Seth's state appeared to brighten too.

"Suction."

She followed through without delay.

As their collaboration deepened, harmony grew between them.

Zoey halted briefly, her heart thudding hard in her chest.

What if he turned out to be the Jester—what on earth would she do then?

"Suction."

Snapping her head up fast, Zoey met Seth’s eyes while hurrying to suck out the blood from the incision, a chill creeping down her spine that she fought to dismiss.

After repeating the task multiple times, her proficiency had surged; she placed the suction tool accurately, clearing the blood with firm, unwavering hands. When complete, she raised her head again, her eyes flicking up to note the clock.

"It’s 9:39. We’re almost done."

Relief tinged her whisper as she announced the time.

Just two and a half hours remained in her shift, signaling the end of this nightmare drew near. Earlier, survival had seemed doubtful, but reuniting with Seth had eased her weariness.

Energized afresh, Zoey aided Seth with heightened caution. She steadied her hands to wipe sweat from his brow, attentive to every command, executing them promptly.

"Scalpel."

"Suction."

"Water."

Zoey brushed off the nagging unease and aches, concentrating solely on avoiding any disruption to Seth’s efforts. Her actions stayed precise, paving his path and backing him seamlessly. Above all, preventing any errors in his surgery mattered most.

With that secured, success was assured.

This operation proved simpler than prior ones, and Seth wrapped it up swiftly in mere minutes, sealing the wound with expert stitches. His skill sharpened across procedures, easing the ordeal for both considerably.

Upon completion, Zoey uncapped the water bottle promptly and held it to his lips, tilting it gently to let him drink.

Her motions flowed as fluidly as passing tools earlier. Somehow, the dynamic felt identical.

"Good job."

Zoey murmured soft praise, spotting Seth's profound fatigue. She tossed in uplifting comments to ease the mood, but scrutinizing his pallid features revealed his deeper exhaustion.

Though he masked it well, his whole arm quivered from agony and fatigue. Even basic motions betrayed the toll. He seemed on the verge of collapse.

Considering the intense concentration required through the surgery, Zoey grasped that his burden outweighed hers by far.

That explained her silence—she simply fulfilled his every request.

Tilting her head up, Zoey scanned the area. No fresh patient appeared, so she parted her lips, figuring they could voice some suspicions. With her thoughts settled now, and after observing it all, clarity had returned.

This seemed the perfect moment to inquire.

Yet before even a second passed with her mouth agape, chaos erupted.

Clank—!

The door flew open abruptly, as a person shoved in a bed, appearing frenzied with a ashen, strained face, eyes wildly sweeping the space in desperate haste.

"Help...! Someone... help!"

His throat sounded raw, probably from endless yells, as he scanned desperately. The wild hunt persisted until spotting Seth and Zoey, his look stiffening momentarily before igniting with desperate hope.

"Seth! Zoey!"

As Zoey whipped her head around, recognition hit her too.

"Rowan...?"

Her eyes sparkled briefly before falling on the little girl sprawled on the bed, her face ashen pale while Rowan dashed inside with her. That’s—! Zoey instantly knew the girl, her mind halting abruptly as Rowan’s desperate shout echoed.

"No time for explanations! I need assistance! Please, help us!"

His gaze landed on Seth, noticing his attire right away.

"You’re a doctor, aren’t you? Save her, I beg you! She..."

"Sure, no issue. Lay her here."

Without hesitation, Zoey replied and began readying the tools. She figured Seth would join her, assuming their teamwork was seamless, yet as she prepped, Seth grabbed his latex gloves and peeled them away.

"Seth?"

He paid no heed to her call, standing up leisurely while shedding his robes. His unexpected moves shocked them, prompting Rowan to rush his sister nearer to the doctor.

"Seth, what’s going on...? I need your aid. I—"

"My shift’s done."

Seth cut across Rowan, his tone steady and detached, without sparing a look at the sister. Actually, it appeared he held zero concern for her from the start.

"W-what..."

Rowan stuttered, his eyes shaking as he stared at Seth.

"Wait... just hold on. My sister, I... you..."

"I won’t do it."

Seth replied again, his voice icier now. With those words, the room plunged into icy depths like the ocean floor, the atmosphere thickening oppressively as Zoey’s expression froze.

"You..."

"No, but... please. S-Seth... if not you, then..."

Zoey faltered briefly, her mouth flapping open and shut while she hunted for the right words.

"...Rowan... he... just assist him a bit. I understand it hurts, and you’re worn out, but she’s his sister. If you won’t—"

"Not my concern."

Seth’s frigid tone reverberated through the space again, freezing the hearts of Zoey and Rowan alike as he brushed past them both, with Rowan clutching his shoulder from behind while pleading, ’No, wait... please. Please. It’s my sister. You can’t...’

"So...?" Seth scowled, glancing at the hand on his shoulder before gripping it and shoving it off. "Not my issue. Shift’s over. Find another doctor."

Before Zoey or Rowan could utter a sound, he spun around and headed for the door, departing the room amid a stifling quiet that enveloped all.

Right then, their hearts turned to ice.

Particularly upon hearing his final remark.

"...Your sister isn’t my duty."