Chapter 30 John Jumps off the Building

Wednesday.
Sebastian came to pick up Eleanor for the trial.
After a week of recuperation in the hospital,Eleanor was able to sit up and her stomach no longer hurt as much,but she still felt weak. Knowing that Eleanor had to go to court,the nurse prepared a wheelchair and hung two bags of medicine on it. When Eleanor saw them,her hand began to ache.
"Can I skip today's IV drip? It's inconvenient for me to go to court like this..."
"No," said the nurse firmly interrupting her words. "Dr. Miller personally said that you cannot stop taking your medication. After listening to the trial,you have to come back and continue staying in the hospital."
Eleanor glanced at the corridor and asked: "Where is David?"
"He's doing rounds right now. Oh yes,Dr. Miller also told me to tell you that if you don't take your IV seriously he won't let you leave."
What else could she do? Whatever David said would never be taken back once spoken out loud; coupled with his mother's personality,if she dared not listen then she might be tied down in bed listening to him nagging endlessly.
Helplessly nodding her head,Eleanor watched as the nurse hung up her medicine bag for intravenous infusion.
Her phone vibrated twice; Eleanor picked it up with her left hand and saw Sebastian’s text message saying he had arrived at the hospital entrance.
"Go get my temporary discharge procedures done," pointed out by Eleanor towards a drawer under the bedside table where all documents were kept inside.
The nurse took a bag and stuffed various forms into it before pushing Eleanor towards the payment counter at one corner because many patients in City Hospital might bump into them along their way.
"Ms Stone please wait here for a moment while I go get everything sorted." The nurse instructed politely.
"Thank you," Eleanor nodded.
As soon as the nurse left,Eleanor took out her phone and sent a text message to Sebastian telling him where she was. Just as she finished sending it,her phone rang with an unfamiliar number displayed on the screen.
Eleanor hesitated for a moment before answering: "Hello?"
Various chaotic noises came from inside the phone but no one answered. Eleanor thought someone had dialed the wrong number and was about to hang up when suddenly John's voice came through.
"Eleanor,it's your father."
"Dad?" Eleanor frowned and asked,"Aren't you on your way to court? And whose phone are you using? Where are you?"
An ominous feeling rose in her heart; various doubts crowded into her mind. She couldn't help but grip tightly onto her cell phone while looking serious.
"Eleanor,I'm sorry for not being a good father these years. When I'm gone,your brother will be handed over to you." John spoke tremblingly.
"I owe you this sentence... You're excellent - so outstanding that I am proud of you...I’m sorry,Eleanor,you have to be careful of Sebastian..."
"Where are you going? Dad! John answer me!" Eleanor anxiously called his name; if it were any other time then John would have started scolding at her already but this time he didn’t...
Suddenly loud rumbling sounds were coming from inside the phone like wind or some kind of vibration followed by sharp and fearful screams: "Someone is jumping off!"
Who was jumping off?
"Dad don't stay silent! Answer me where are you?! I'll come to find you! I promise to give The Stone Family back to both of you and my brother,I won't ask for anything else. Just speak up..."
John’s voice wasn’t heard anymore amidst all kinds of noise coming from within the mobile device. Eleanor's breathing became rapid and her voice trembled as she tried to call out to him.
"If you guys come over here,I'll jump off from here!" John's voice sounded like thunder.
Before Eleanor could say anything,there was a sudden piercing scream coming from inside the phone that seemed to shatter her eardrums. Then she heard what sounded like a stone falling on the ground - it was like muffled thunder with an enormous sound that made one’s heart stop beating and their breath hold still.
Suddenly everything around her became very quiet; a kind of despairing collapse enveloped her surroundings.
Eleanor's mind went blank; she quivered while moving her lips carefully calling out: "Dad?"
No one answered back.
Eleanor called out several more times but received no response. She put down the phone which had already turned black and didn't know when the call ended. She quickly dialed again but only got a cold prompt tone saying: "Sorry,the number you have dialed is switched off..."
Eleanor's tears fell one by one onto her phone,blurring the screen. She trembled as she reached out to wipe it,but no matter how hard she tried,she couldn't clean it. It was like that call that no matter how many times she dialed,just wouldn't go through.