A Countdown on Camera

The next morning, the cold woke me up.

I was curled up on a park bench, newspapers my only blanket.

My phone would not stop buzzing.

Ethan was calling.

The phone rang, and before I could say hello, Ethan's grumpy voice burst through. "Nina, hurry to Metropolitan Medical Center! Winter fainted from not having enough blood. She needs a transfusion. You've got the same rare blood type, Rh-negative.

"You've got thirty minutes. If you're even a minute late, I'm cutting off paying your mom's medical bills!"

The line went dead. I stared at the blank screen and could not help but chuckle.

Same old Ethan. However, I had to keep going. My mom had to outlive me or my wish would not come true.

Dragging myself out the door, I caught a cab to the hospital. Right at the ER doors, Ethan's guys scooped me up and rushed me inside.

"What took you so long?" Ethan snapped. "If Winter gets worse, it's on you!" He massaged his temples as his men shoved me into a chair for the blood draw.

The nurse, with a big needle in hand, looked worriedly at me. "Mr. Larsen, she looks pale. Maybe we should check her first..."

"No checks!" Ethan cut her off. "She's fine. She was out dancing last night. Just draw the blood, 400cc, now!"

The nurse had no choice but to do as she was told.

As my blood started to flow into the bag, I felt my energy draining away with it. Ethan sat nearby, glued to his phone, too busy to even glance my way.

Once they took enough blood, I was so dizzy I almost fell, but Ethan caught me — only to quickly let go as if I had burned him. "Don't be so weak," he said calmly. "Go get Winter some food, she'll be hungry when she wakes up."

He tossed some money at me and disappeared into Winter's room.

Dollar bills danced in the wind, settling by my shoes.

I scooped up the cash and left the hospital behind.

I did not head for a snack.

Instead, I found myself in the lottery store, trading all the money for scratch-off tickets.

The viewers in the livestream were gobsmacked.

[Hey, what's the host up to? I thought you were getting food?]

[This makes no sense. You just gave blood and now you're buying scratch-off tickets?]

[Is this like, totally giving up or what?]

I just kept scratching and chuckling to myself.

"Food? Nah.

"I'm betting these 15 bucks on hitting it big."

However, all I got was a single dollar.

With that dollar, I bought a bottle of water.

Perched on the hospital's front steps, I took my time sipping it.

Then Ethan called again.

"Nina! Where's the food?

"Winter's awake and starving! Where'd you run off to?"

I twisted the cap back on and replied calmly, phone in hand, "Ethan, I don't owe you a thing. I gave blood already. Get your own food and don't bother me with this stuff anymore. It's just annoying."

With that, I hung up.

I got to my feet, ready to go, but a fierce pain in my belly stopped me cold. I doubled over, drenched in a cold sweat. The world blurred and spun.

As I teetered on the edge of consciousness, I saw Ethan, flanked by guards, striding out of the hospital.

He froze when he saw me by the flower bed, then hurried over.

"Nina! What's this act now?"

He tried to help me up.

I mustered all my strength to push his hand away.

"Go away..."

Blood spilled from my lips, trickling onto his crisp white shirt.

Ethan's eyes widened in shock.

He stared at the blood on his hands, his eyes wide with shock and his hands shaking uncontrollably.

"Nina... what's wrong, don't scare me..."

I saw the fear in his eyes and could not help but let out a sly grin.

"Ethan…

"This time... I'm really going to die…

"Are you... happy about it..."

With those words, darkness swallowed me whole.

The livestream froze on my blood-stained face.

The chat exploded with messages.

[Ah! Don't fall asleep, streamer!]

[Is that real blood? Props aren't that lifelike, are they?]

[Ethan, you jerk! You're going to regret this!]

Ethan held me as I grew colder.

For the first time, he cried out in agony for me.

"Doctor! Doctor! We need help!"

However, it was too late.