Yesterday was indeed a long day, and so was the day before that and the one before that as well.
It's been three weeks since the broadcast on the radio, and each shift has been increasingly more tiresome. There are more 'flu' cases pouring in each day, so much so that I've started falling asleep mid meals. Fatigue and stress are now a part of my uniform; I never leave home without them on the days that I do get to leave work.
Luckily as soon as I pulled in this morning, I was pulled into a meeting with Dr. Brans.
"I'll make this brief Dr. Azurine because quite frankly we don't have the luxury of staying in this office while there is an overflow of patients in the hospital lobby. Here's a briefing on the new virus," she dropped a small file on my lap and continued.
"There is a virus going around, that much is obvious. In order to not upset the public and cause panic, we've decided to just list it as just another variant of the flu until we are clearer on what exactly it is. What we do know is that it's spreading fast and the mortality rate is increasing, we need to work faster and more hours if possible to keep the situation under control. So far nothing has turned up positive in terms of a cure because each test we've done shows another unexplained aspect of the virus that had yet to be discovered. For now, that's all we have on it, and we've decided to call it 1013."
After info dumping everything that was in the booklet, I finally glanced up at her to see her hawk-like gaze fixed on me. I could see the bags under her eyes and even with her polished expression I could see how tired she was. We all were.
After clearing my throat, I finally asked, "How long do you think we can last like this?" Her mouth opened and closed, probably not expecting that specific question.
I interjected, "Reports aren't adding up. I've been running checks and the storage is short, more nurses are sick, equipment is failing and patients are asking questions. So, I ask again, how long can we last like this?"
A weighted sigh rested on her chest as she finally spoke, "Quite the curious mind you have their Dr. Azurine. If you want my honest opinion, don't." Just like that she walked out of the room leaving me there with my thoughts, the door ajar much like my mind with a sea of questions flooding through. In the background another broadcast played the same smooth way of talking coming through, implying it was the same speaker I heard that night. \
'Citizens you have no reason to fear; we have been through similar instances before and that has never stopped us from pushing through and coming out stronger. We are committed to making a breakthrough for you the people, so always remember, The Concord stands with you.'
The irony of that speech was not lost on me. Keep the actual truth from the people but tell them a truth that they actually want to hear to 'keep the peace.' The information being presented as a prettily wrapped lie to make it more digestible to the netizens.
What an absolute load of horseshit this entire thing was.
Did they expect me to come here every day and just lie to the people who were sick and possibly dying?
Now the notes started making sense. In the last three weeks I had tried inquiring more about Dr. Stoner and searching up more about him. I happened to find a few notes in odd places as if they were being hidden from everyone except him, which may have explained why no one found them if they were never looking in the first place. There wasn't much new information but more a series of patients dating back to nearly two years ago listing the same symptoms and abnormalities that I noticed in the hospital were all the same.
The scariest part of all this was that his bio mentioned him dying from natural causes, but every time I tried to question what the natural cause was no one knew or wanted to know. Every inquisition made about the man was met with an 'he was always too curious' or 'there wasn't much to know about him in the first place.'
An air of secrecy around the name that attracted strange looks and tight lips. Realizing that I had been sitting for a few minutes lost in thought I decided to journal anything new from the pamphlet I was provided before going back into a fray.
Everything titled under 'District 17 anomalies' listed everything from symptoms to side effects, timelines, major figures involved, its origins, other areas included and just about anything that I could find.
I was about 3 pages into what can only be described as my newfound obsession before I heard my name being shouted down the hall and with an air of resignation, I mentally prepared myself for another 15-20 hours of pure chaos.
The time never slowed as patient after patient rolled in with coughs and spots of blood on tissues, the pressure increasing with each patient. Following 10 grueling hours a moment of respite was had while I strolled through the less occupied part of the hospital. I had never intended to walk so far to the other side of the wing where the sick patients were actually resting and was even more surprised when I realized there was a partition there for construction being done.
This took me by surprise as the rest of the hospital was in perfect condition and I hadn't heard any equipment recently to indicate that there was any type of work being done.
Not thinking much of it, I walked away a bit faster than snail's pace, still munching on my third energy bar for the day when I heard it… so faint I thought that I was hearing things but my entire body halted. Then I heard it again, a faint cough, I spun around so fast I nearly flew out of slippers and I had to grip my half eaten bar just a bit tighter, the wrapper crinkling under my fingers.
*ehem*
Another faint cough softly echoes behind the closed doors. Why in the world was a cough coming from an area marked 'under restriction,' but so clearly void of human life?
Who was back there and how on earth did they get there? Millions of thoughts ran through my head as I slowly approached the door. Pressing my ear to the door I listened intently for another sign of life, but nothing came, not a whisper, not a cough, not even a breath.
I don't know how long I was there for before I heard footsteps approaching from around the corner. I hurriedly moved away continuing my stroll as if nothing happened moving past, to my surprise, nurse Joyce.
As I rounded a corner, peeking around it, Nurse Joyce had completely disappeared from the hall, gone in an area where the only door led to a construction site. How peculiar, no footsteps, no sound, not even the sweeping of the door.
A shrill, pointed voice drew her away from her sneaking, "and what… Do you think you're doing this?"
Barely catching myself from nearly falling over I look around to see none other than Dr. Brans, arm folded in all her condescending glory.
"Fuck, you scared me." My breath coming out in short bursts.
"You're right to be scared but mind your language Dr. Azurine you are still in a professional setting. On another note, what are you doing?"
"I…I thought I heard something but I swear the hall was empty, but I swore I heard something, so I was frightened... and I was just… you know looking around the corner?" The last bit came out more a question than a statement.
Seeing that she wasn't impressed I excused myself and as I was walking away, I heard her barely above a whisper behind me "I've already warned you once Dr. Azurine and I'll say it again, if you're curious, don't be."
I kept my answer to myself and simply walked away, heart in mouth and head bursting with questions, on top of it all, for the umpteenth time wondering, what the hell did I just stumble on?
I wasn't just curious anymore, this was pure obsession, and I was ready to feed it.