Colided

Chapter 5

Alyssa woke up and had breakfast. She used the last of water they had to wash up and took a cube to refill it later. The first thing she did immediately was hurry to her father's lab without being seen. She fed the healthy plants he's been growing for food and wrapped some to bring to their food market later. Dr. Adler kept them in the lab and studied them to ensure they didn't catch the virus. They had been giving him money to grow them healthily.

After grabbing a big pile of tinctures, she went to every sick's home and gave each tincture that would last them a few days to their caretakers. She came back to the lab to pick up her things and the food plants and hurry to get some food, wanting to avoid being seen in public and having people question where her father was.

On her way, there is her friend Tinker's home. It had been a while since she had missed her, so she decided to stop by.

Tinker was so happy to see her. She made the most delicious sweet mix drink, knowing Alyssa loved it, and served Alyssa a cup. She loved the taste of it.

"How is Dr. Adler."

She paused for a moment before speaking, remembering she can't tell anyone about her father's recent expedition choices.

"He's fine. Experimenting. Giving tinctures to the sick, working on the lab. Nothing new."

"He's worked hard. We all have faith in him."

"Yeah." She looked annoyed with her answer.

"You're like a sister to me, and Dr. Adler like a second father to me too. Everyone just wants this to stop. We've all lost loved ones too. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to sound unsensible."

Alyssa sighed. "I just feel like I'm losing him. Lately, he's getting closer to a cure and farther away from me. I don't see him as much as I used to or would like to. I worry about him. I feel like he's wasting away his life just working all the time. I know this is important, but everyone has such high expectations for my father. Working day and night is affecting his health."

"It'll be alright, Alyssa. He's a strong man. If anyone can do this is him."

Alyssa nodded and changed the subject. "I need to go get some water from the river. Wanna come with?"

"Yes, I'm going that way too. I actually have to feed the livestock, get chicken and more water from the river to eat soup tonight."

"Great! Let's go!"

After feeding the animals and stopping by the market, they went to the river, they saw a man's back. He was naked.

"Now that's a man's bottom." Tinker grinned.

"Hush. He'll hear us."

Tinker only giggled in response, and she did too.

They didn't recognize who he was but were in a daze seeing him start to get dressed. They didn't want to be seen looking at him, so they went around him and headed to a side of the river away from him.

After filling up the cube of water, they picked up a cart of wood with wheels to take their things back home. There were a few carts for everyone to use, and they'd have to bring them back.

They bumped into the Sultan on their way. He was shirtless only had pants on. It was normal for men to walk shirtless sometimes, but it didn't make Alyssa less comfortable.

"Where were you two just now?" He raised an eyebrow.

"The river," Tinker answered, smiling.

"Were you the ones giggling behind me?"

They looked at each other and realized the Sultan was the naked man from before.

"Guilty as charged!" Tinker exclaimed.

Alyssa threw a glare narrowing her eyes.

"It's an invasion of privacy to walk behind someone naked without them being aware."

"It's a public river. We needed to come to get water."

"Everyone knows I shower here at this hour some days and then bring water with me."

"You do that on random days. We weren't sure that today was that day."

"Did you like my bottoms in display then?"

Alyssa only grinned slightly but kept her mouth shut.

"We didn't look, Sultan. We didn't know you were here." Alyssa explained with her cheeks heating up.

"Mmm. I've been looking for your father all day. The townspeople told me they haven't seen him."

"He's working, Sultan. I was with him this morning. He's doing what you asked of him. Leave him be for a few days. Your nagging is also a distraction, you know?"

Tinker squeezed her hand and looked at him like she was crazy to call their leader out.

"Distraction? Interesting. Do you think I distract you too?"

"Is there a point to this conversation of yours? Because otherwise, I'm heading back home."

"Alyssa!"

The Sultan looked amused, which surprised Tinker at her words.

"Forgive her, Sultan. She hasn't eaten yet, and we should be heading home."

"I'm actually about to head back to have a feast. I would like you both to be my guests of honor."

"Not interested." It angered her that he was thinking about feasting with them and looking so normal while her father was on the verge of madness because of him and his demands.

"Of course we are," Tinker said between gritted teeth.

"We got this chicken, and it will go bad if We don't cook it tonight." She lied, she already had something to eat back home.

"How about tomorrow then?"

"I'm busy."

The Sultan's expression turned cold.

"No one says no to my hospitality. You should think again twice before you answer next, or I will have a talk with your father about your disrespectful behavior."

"There's no need for that. He's busy in the lab, and we mustn't disturb him."

"You would be kind to remember I am your superior and leader, and you will respect me. I've let this go on because I understand the predicament you're going through with him. But don't mistake it for weakness or letting you talk and behave like you are above me. You are not."

"Sultan, she didn't mean it." Tinker barged in.

"I am sorry, Sultan."

"Leave."

They both nodded and left. Their walk back was silent. Tinker went inside her home without talking to her, and she headed back home to have her meal. She prayed for her father to be alright. To have the strength to endure this while it lasted. It's the only way she could make it through.

Meanwhile, her father already arrived in Somalia city. What his eyes were seeing, or rather not seeing, made him cry. Everyone was sick, falling to the floor, dying. There were not many people where there used to be millions of citizens. He remembered the streets used to feel claustrophobic before, but now it's just a shadow of what it used to be.

He expected to meet more doctors that had come to their aid. He went into the Commonwealth Center building and registered his name in a paper book he was given. Then, he was checked through their security point.

He turned up to look at the officer in the registry. "I'm here to see Doctor Darren and his team. My name is Doctor Adler. I'm here to help."

"Thank the heavens for you being here. Not many doctors have come, but there is a group gathered already." The officer looked at him hopefully.

Dr. Adler smiled sadly. "There aren't many of us left alive, is for sure."

"We are desperate for more nowadays. Did you come because of the announcement?"

"Yes. I've come all the way from Barawa to see him, well them."

"Everyone gathered is down that hall," The officer said, pointing at it—"Last frosted glass door at the right. You'll need this key pass. Swipe it in the door. And clip that end to your clothes."

"Thank you." He said as he grabbed the key card that labeled him as a doctor, and walked towards where he was told. Staring at the door and thought to himself there was no backing out now, to be strong. No matter what he found out, or if this meeting doesn't help at all, this trip will not be in vain. It had to be better than the current known, and he was willing to give it his all for his country, his people, and his daughter. She is all he could think about.

Not giving his thoughts the power to pause his actions any longer, he swiped the card and walked inside into the unknown.