The Alpha

Thirteen

“She’s waking up.” A woman’s voice pierced through the silence ringing in my ears. Not long after that my other senses start to kick into drive.

Smell the chemicals and cleaning products in the air.

Feel the soft cotton lightweight blanket.

The sound of people shuffling, and saying words that I can’t quite hear over a rhythmic machine beeping.

The heaviness of my body and limbs as I try to move. Try to open my eyes.

Feeling a tight pressure on the tip of my right index finger.

“All her vitals are looking good.” A more masculine voice came from my right. Louder and clearer. Must be closer to me.

Pain engulfed my body once more as if someone just flipped a switch. It all come crashing back down on me.

Edric …

I guess I didn’t die. Must be in a hospital.

Feeling a cold hand on my cheek.

“It’s okay, you’re okay.” That woman’s voice again.

Trying again to open my eyes. This time I succeed.

Bright white cold light blinding me, making me squint my eyes. Only for the light to be blocked by a figure of a head.

A woman looking down at me. Bright unnatural like blue eyes, pale skin and brown hair.

Half her face covered by a medical mask and her hair tied back into a bun.

“Hello.” She spoke so softly and kindly.

“He…hello …” I croak out my throat raw and burning.

“Rishi water.” Her voice turned cold as she snapped at the man on the swivel chair.

“Oh yes” he rolls over on the chair and back to me now with a cup in hand. “Sorry.” He says with a little smile on his face.

“Good. Now you drink.” The woman said as she took the cup off the man, who I guess is called Rishi, and pressed a button making my bed move into a sitting upright position.

Once done she gives me the cup. “Drink up I bet you need it.”

Greedily I took it off her and gulled down nearly the entire cup. I stop when I catch eyes with the woman. She hasn’t taken her eye’s off me since I woke up or maybe before.

Noticing this I put the cup down from my lips and held it in my lap.

“Why did you stop?”

“Sorry, what do you mean?”

“Drinking.”

“Oh well I’ve had a drink. I am okay of now.”

“Mm okay.” She walks back, crossing her arms over her chest, still with her piercing eyes not leaving me.

“How long have I been here?” I ask

“Long enough that you are stable now.” Rishi answers.

“Does that mean I can go home now then?”

“No.” The woman spoke bluntly. “We will be back soon.” She said as she ushered Rishi out the room, still without taking her eyes off me. Even when they leave, as the full wall of the room where the door is, the right hand wall has windows running along as well as open blinds.

And just like that I am alone.

I wonder how I got here? Did they find Edric?

Next time they come in I’ll ask them.

Getting more feeling in my body and muscles and less pain thanks to the drip and whatever is in it. I take the covers off and decide to explore my room. Out of pure curiosity and boredom. First operation of business closing the blinds to the windows looking out into the corridor.

The whole room white, clean and medical.

Walking over pulling the drip next to me and leaning on it for support I reach the windows. As I reach up to close the blinds my eyes catch that I am not wearing a hospital band patient wristband. And close to the window I can hear someone, maybe more than one shouting or screaming coming from further down the corridor.

After closing the blinds I decide to go and see what’s behind door number one, as there are three doors one leading to the corridor, one on the same wall as my bed and the third far left on the wall opposite my bed. Also on that wall opposed my bed is a window but instead of see through glass it is a mirror. Opening the door on the same wall as my bed to reveal a toilet or more like a were room. Floor to ceiling white tiles and a drain in the centre of the floor, a loose shower head lay on the sink with its cord attaching to the wall, and a toilet opposite the sink. Funny thing the room hasn’t got a mirror but I guess that is fine as there is a big one in the main room.

After closing the door I start to walk over to the other door on the far left. Only for the door to the corridor to swing open.

Turning around I am greeted to see a girl around my age maybe older wearing white hospital scrubs and a medical mask. Carrying a tray with a white plate, bowl and a cup.

The plate is home to a wrap and the bowl ginger cake with a cup of what looks to be water.

“Oh! Miss I am not sure if you should be out of bed. Please get back into bed.” She says as her eyes go wide as she sees me walking and standing.

Compiling I walk back over to the bed with her watchful gaze burning into me. Once in she places the tray on to a clear table then tucks me in with the blacket me before pushing the wheel table that is attached to my bed over my lap. “There you go miss. eat up.” She smiles and walks out again like the woman her eyes don’t leave me only for a split second when she is about to leave and notices the blinds are closed.

“Who closed these?” She asks.

“Oh I did. Sorry I didn’t know I was meant to ask first.”

“No it’s okay, but in future please keep them open. Okay?”

“Okay.”

“Good.” She smiles again then leaves the room. “Eat up.”

Picking up the wrap that sits on the plate with a plastic metallic knife and fork on the right hand side. I gently unwrap it to see what’s inside.

Grey mushy sauce, what looks to be circle slices of turkey and some green beans.

“Well I guess it's true what they say about hospital food.” I say as I reassemble the wrap. Pushing it away and picking up the cup of water, having a little bit, leaving a weird feeling of a coating of something in my mouth, before moving onto the ginger cake. Just my lucky day.

After scoffing the whole cake down I can’t help feeling that it's not sitting right. Picking up the cup of water again I finish it off, hoping it would help. But my efforts were in vain.

It started with a tickle in my throat, then a cough, turning into a coughing fit. My breathing comes out in raspy breaths. My heart was pounding so fast and hard to then suddenly slow.

“What?”

Sweat pooled on my skin, dampening the hospital gown. My muscles tighting then relaxing on their own accord.

My eyes roll back. My body going into a shock, a fit.

The door bursts open.

“What’s going on?” I try my best to speak for it to only come out as a breathy groan.

“What did you give her?” The woman’s voice reached my ears.

“Just what you told me to.” The girl's voice who delivered my food spoke out over the violent beeping.

“Rishi fix it!” The woman commanded.

“Yes.” Rishi’s voice came closer as his blurry figure came into view.

“All is going to be alright.” He said. As tears escaped my eyes.

“Help me.” I croak out.

What the hell is going on?

Not long after, my body became light and peaceful and my eyes closed.

Plugged into darkness.

“This wasn’t meant to happen.” Rishi’s voice spoke. “This wasn’t part of the plan.”

Plan? What plan?

“I know. I know.” the woman’s voice was more empty than before. “What could have caused this?”

“Maybe it was her.” Rishi spoke.

“What? What do you mean?”

“That maybe it was her …”

The voices become faint then I hear the door close.

***

Waking up, I flit my hand to my face removing the oxygen mask. Sitting up I flinch a little when I see the woman sitting in a chair at the foot of my bed.

This time not in her scrubs. In place of them is a black power suit, white open shirt and bright red high heels.

No face mask. Now I am able to see her face, a few little shallow creases, and red lipstick matching her shoes.

Her brown straight hair hung loose around her face.

A sweet smile on her face.

“It’s nice of you to join us again.”

My brow creased.

“This isn’t a hospital is it?” I ask the woman.

“Oh such a smart girl.” The woman smiled in response. Standing from the seat and walking over to me. Reaching a hand to stroke my cheek but before her hand could touch me I moved away.

“I mean I did guess that you would find out but ooh I didn’t think you would find out so fast.” Her smile widens as she steps closer to me. “This just confirms that you are the one, you are special.” Once in reach she stretches out her arm again and strokes my hair. “Perfect.”

“Perfect?” I play the word in my mouth.

“Yes child, perfect.”