"Recording us?" A stranger's face entered Cole's vision. He leans over her, a gun in his grip as he studied the female patient. Looking over her from head to toe.
Faint breaths escape her lips. As she tried to resist the cold grip that crept up each of her limbs. The man lingering looked years older, with wild hair tousled on his head and a beard. His light hair appeared as red as the flashing lights, but Cole guessed it had to be silver. Strands of his beard dangle below his chin as he speaks. His voice is gentle at first, and slightly husky. The stranger’s eyes are a deep dark, like looking in a bottomless pit. They wander over her vulnerable figure, taking in the sight of her dying state.
In the corners of her vision, Cole vaguely spots four others. They wander the room in silence.
"Little girl. What were you recording? Uh? You doing that for your friend...? Can’t you see, she’s abandoned you? Just like the others. Just like my boy...” He says with a hint of pain and resentment in his tone. “That selfish bitch should’ve never been a doctor... Isla let people die just to save you!” He shouts, gripping a fistful of her hair. Cole cries out, as her scalp stings with pain. Cole was too weak to do anything. She sobs, as it added to the horrible pain; spreading through her body.
“Tell me where she is!” The stranger shouts in Cole’s face.
“Ah...” Cole gasped for air, her eyes pleading for him to stop as she reaches for his wrist. “Ah- n- Hahh” She can barely breathe and moving made it so much worse.
Cole grimaces, heat rushing to her head as she wanted to scream. The pain taking over as if impaled by the end of a spear made of hot steel.
"Cole!" Oliver's voice lures each of intruder’s eyes to where the phone had fallen. "Oh god, talk to me! Where are you!"
"Destroy it." The man ordered someone to his left.
"Ol..." Cole parts her lips to speak but choked on her words.
"Relax." The stranger suddenly smiles over her, as he sees pain glitter in her eyes. Cole's stomach turns as she realizes. He was pleased to see her in pain.
Thump!
A sudden noise distracts the group, and he releases her hair.
Tears spill from her eyes and disappear into her hair. "It's okay." Went the stranger. "Let the sleep take you… It will be easy. Don't fight it. I will find Isla..." He swears. “She’ll know what hell looks like when I do.”
The stranger eyed the door again. Cole couldn’t tell what was going on.
After a long moment, he turns to look at Cole’s weak state. “Pity...” He whispers. “All these years and this is how it ends for you... I always thought you meant something to her. I thought you were her daughter, but I see I was wrong.”
With a sigh, the stranger leaned closer and pressed his lips to her forehead, whispering, "Sleep well, little Diana."
Diana?
With that, the stranger disappeared, and the sound of footfalls crowded. Cole knew they were taking equipment... Her vision was filled with red flickers as the noises grow chaotic. They looted, executed other patients, stole equipment and medicine.
It was the end…
Cole knew they would leave nothing left. No one alive. It was over…
Cole shut her eyes and endured the pain.
Every infected patient, including Cole, had been mentally prepared for the end... Just not in this way... Not from violence...
Echoes of distant screams fill her ears. While her last moments of consciousness fade. Cole's mind slipped into a pleasant dream... It was bright and sunny. There were lush green surroundings with a flock of doves flying around. Cole smiled; she could feel the warmth of the sun. A feeling she'd forgotten during the years confined within hospital walls. She looked down, feeling cool water rush past her ankles. It was a stream. Crystal blue water flows, as Cole wiggles her toes on its sandy floor.
Crash!
Cole lifted her gaze, only to find panicked doves flying this way and that. Her heart ached seeing them all leave.
Eventually, they were all gone, the bright sun beamed; until her vision went white.
A face appeared close to hers, but Cole didn't flinch.
He was... angelic.
Eyes like morning frost on green leaves, glistening in the sun. Firm honey-glow skin, blond hair like spun silk, blonde eyelashes, pink lips shaped like cupid's bow, a Grecian nose, and a strong jaw to perfect the beauty of his heavenly face... Looking at him made her thoughts drift. Cole forgot the years of anguish as she became captivated with the stranger. She lost herself in the depths of his gaze. Until a serious look made her realize she was staring.
Even with a frown, Cole heart throbbed. All he was missing was a halo and a pair of wings.
"Hey." He snapped his fingers, unaware that he already had Cole's full attention. "Can you tell me your name?" He questioned.
"It's... Cole". She spoke slowly, curious about why he was so close... and... holding her hand?
"Can you spell it?"
"Yes..." She took a breath, ignoring the pain that came with it. "C-O-L-E... Cole.”
"That's really good." The angelic man suddenly smiled; his eyes watered slightly as he held her hand. A hint of relief in his gaze. "How about your birthday? Can you tell me?"
"It's... August... the seventh."
"Good, just keep talking to me alright? Don't fall asleep."
Cole blinked in confusion as the angelic stranger glanced beside the bed.
Wait… bed?
Cole lifted her head, realizing the white light wasn't the sun at all. It was just a light in the ceiling.
"Lie back." He gently pressed her forehead until her head relaxes. Cole glanced around and saw she was on oxygen. Three men in plain clothes were tampering with equipment; and behind the stranger there was a curtain of plastic, with shadows moving behind it. They looked like soldiers lingering in a separated part of the room. Some chatting, while others just exist.
"What's going on?" Cole's breathing grew heavy as she began to panic. "Where's R-Rue? Where's everyone?"
"Don't move." He warned as Cole was beginning to stir. She peeled away sticky pieces with wires attached to her temples. She tried to pull the ones on her chest; when her wrists were seized. "Cole stop moving. You will rip your stitches." He warned in a harder tone. However, Cole's gray eyes were staring at his hands. They were stained with… blood... so were his clothes.
She looks at everyone. The others had similar stains mixed with dirt and rips in their clothes. As if all of them fought a bear or something. Their empty looks were enough to make Cole wary. All of them appeared to have been through hell, and Cole could feel they would not hesitate to tie her up.
She screamed anyway.
“Rue! HELP! Rue!”
"Shh!" This time, the pretty man grew angry and held Cole down. She felt a sharp sting in her chest when he did. Cole moved her head and avoided his hand that was trying to cover her mouth. "Rue!"
"Stop screaming." The pretty man says in a snarl-like tone. "Or do you want to draw every fool within ten miles to find out there's more meds for them to steal?"
Cole froze, reminded of the chaos. Then she started fighting again, though weakly as he was much stronger. She pushed at his chest and arms. Eyes watering when he didn't budge. She gritted her teeth in frustration. "I don't know you! You're definitely not a doctor! RUE!" Cole screams for Rue again as she pushes.
"I AM a doctor." He argued, but Cole wasn't buying it. He was wearing tattered clothes, smelled like gunpowder, sweat and smoke. Though, a clear mask protecting his face was similar to a doctors.
Wait… His Mask!
Cole got an idea and reached for it. She held it and watched as the angelic stranger visibly shivered. His grip loosened as he spoke. "No. S-S-Stop… J-Just hold on a minute."
"Tell me everything or I break this!" Cole demanded. "Where's Rue? What have you done to her?"
"I- I don't know who you're talking about."
"We don't know anyone named Rue." Another stranger spoke from the left, making Cole tense. The others ceased their tampering and looked to the bed; holding up their hands with caution. The 'doctor' doing the same as Cole held a grip on his transparent mask. "Let him go… Please".
"No." Cole refused and questioned the pretty man. "Where am I?"
"Florida", He quickly answered. "I-It's just a house we modified. This room is clean."
Cole glanced around the room. Her gray eyes were less blurry with the white lights beaming on everything. She had no clue why a bunch of thieves would modify a room for a patient. All the equipment is intact and functional. Cole could hear the continuous beeps of the machine at her bedside. Confusion swirls in her mind.
⌁First, they shoot me, now they want to keep me?
"Let him go, girl." A man glared from the right. Cole froze as her gaze finds the end of a silver revolver. He leveled it at her head. "Unlike Vincent, I don't mind losing another patient." The man gave her a serious look and kept his finger on the trigger. Cole's heart raced, remembering the crashing sound of glass and how it rained over her head.
Red lights… shadows… glass rain… a cold smile… lips pressed to her forehead…
"For fuck's sake! ERIS put that away!" Vincent's voice was heavy and deep as thunder. Moving his hand in front of the gun. "She's just scared… hey". Cole flinched when his other hand grazed her cheek. Her grip grew tighter on the mask. Even though Vincent was gentle. "Just look at me. Ask me anything you want".
Cole's gray eyes lock with his earthy green ones. She visibly swallowed, trying to remember what she was going to ask.
"You…" Cole breathes in and out, calming her heart which was beating too fast for her to focus. "You said you were a doctor." She mentioned."Y-Yes." Vincent reaches into his back pocket. "I can show you."Cole tensed, but when Vincent took out his work badge and wallet her shoulders relaxed. "Look", Vincent spoke as he held up the badge. "That's me… Vincent Lance."She studied the badge with her eyes. His name and picture were on it. "Saint Hallman?" Cole read the top of the badge. "Saint Hallman's Hospital was destroyed four years ago." She looked at him curiously, remembering how the building glowed in the night. Like a torch against the night sky, Saint Hallman burned while Cole and Doctor Isla viewed the horror from the safety of a helicopter."You were there?" Cole wore a look of disbelief."Yes." Vincent pressed his lips together after admitting it."Then you knew a doctor…" Cole hesitated, then decided to describe the doctor. "She's not very tall… Brown hair, long, usually wit
"Cole?" A voice echoes in the darkness of her mind. Slowly luring her back to consciousness. Cole opens her eyes partway to see a worried young boy leaning over. A plastic rod in his hand, he pokes at her thigh as if checking to see if she was alive. "Hey. Can you hear me?"The patient tilts her head, looking through foggy vision to see there were others entering."What the fuck happened, Tuck?" Eris says when he sees the patient."I don't know, man. I just found her I swear." Tuck says."Fuck, I don’t need this right now." She hears Eris grumble while he steps away. Cole thought both of them were going to leave, when he re-entered the bathroom with a pink throw blanket. "Hey kid." Eris speaks softly, despite the clear annoyance in his gaze. "Let me help you up."Cole's gray eyes peek to see Eris extend his arm toward her. His tall frame shadows Cole's smaller form as her eyes fill with dread. Cole's heart beats harder the more he neared. Reeling to the surface, the memory of their fi
"She's asleep..." Vincent whispers to a curious Eris, who re-entered the room with a tray of food.“Great", Eris sighs, "An hour in the kitchen and two flights of stairs...""Guess there'll be leftovers". Vincent whispers as he tucks in the patient. Carefully gathering her long hair with his hands, before slipping on a hair tie. This allowed him more access to her neck as he wipes away the perspiration on her pale skin with a clean towel. "She's got a temperature of 110." He tells Eris, wiping away the sweat from her face as well."Infection?" Eris wonders."It's too early to tell. For now, let's let her sleep." Vincent decides.The pair exit the bedroom, turning off lights as they went, and washing up in an adjacent room. A single bedroom made into two… Modified to fit the living requirements of a fragile patient and prevent the risks of a domestic outbreak. Time passes as the pair vigorously clean and prep for the next day.Only when they part from the purgative room and enter the h
Cole sat up in bed, her pulse beating wildly as her gray eyes look around the pitch-black room. Sweat leaking down her forehead. Travelling down the curve of her neck and soaking into the collar of her gown. She lifts her right arm, trying to locate the bedside lamp when the noise comes again.Bang!She jolts in her spot, and immediately recognizes the noise as a gunshot. This time there was no mistaking it.Dread poured over her body, flooding down to the tips of her fingers and toes. She trembled uncontrollably, her gray eyes watering as she could not think of what to do.Cole stayed put for the duration of the silence that followed. Until a multitude of footfalls echo past her bedroom. She finally slipped from bed. Sliding off the side of the mattress and onto the cool tiled floor. Cole shifted her gaze toward the bedroom window. Observing the ray of pale moonlight that filled a spot on the floor. Then to the right of it. She could faintly see the pile of luggage in the corner of t
Eris's voice comes from Vincent's radio as he says something in his native language. Cole listened curiously as Vincent responded, chatting back and forth until Eris finished. Saying: "Entendi, obrigado." "You're so quiet…" Vincent observes, while he carefully wraps her shoulder with new bandages. "Are you in any pain?" He wondered. A look of concern surfacing in his green eyes again. Cole secretly thought his round eyes resembled a timid stray pup. How can a grown man look so… adorable? She stares senselessly into the pair of eyes, admiring the lush green of them. "Cole?" Vincent blinks nervously as he stops what he's doing to look at his patient. "I want to know what's going on", he whispers, "but… it's kinda hard when you don't talk." Cole shifted her gaze at last. Pretending to find the bathroom floor interesting, before she comes up with an answer. "I… It's just… you're so different from Isla… More…" Cole struggles when the heat rises to her cheeks. "More… what?" Vincent's
"I- I am wearing gl-gloves." Cole barely manages to get out. Rambling: "It's only cards. Tuck assured me they were sterile. He even brought me this bed-tray, so nothing touched the sheets…" Vincent looks at his patient in silence. Shifting his gaze to the cards, which were set on a firm bed table, and Cole was indeed wearing latex gloves too… With a deep breath, Vincent set the food aside. "Alright…" He speaks softly, the crease between his brows slowly disappears as he neared. "Let me take that so you can have your meal." Cole glanced one last time before setting the cards down. The doctor seemed calm… at least that's how he appeared now. "Leave the gloves too." Vincent points with his eyes, to which Cole understood and discarded them. She watched as Doctor Lance took the table and set it with the other items. Then he brought her the food, carefully putting it on the bed where she could reach. "It’s not a five-star meal so… if you don't like it, don't eat it." He says, turning to
Before the sun rose on the horizon, Eris was up. He sat in his office chair, eyes glued to the current document he was reading. With his free hand he took notes on a pad. Listing all of Cole's past symptoms and the recurrences of them. After, Eris researched the incident reports written by Rue. He listed those by date and a brief description of the incident. Next, Eris began sifting through the patient's lab results. And finally, he reviewed Cole's cognitive tests. Which were performed daily as Cole never seemed to suffer the more severe symptoms. "She's strong, she wants to live." Doctor Isla says on a recorded log. Which Eris played out of curiosity. The conference video showed Doctor Isla in plain clothes. She was sitting in her own living room, while talking to an interviewer. Other unnamed individuals were a part of the virtual conference, but only their names appeared below. "What was going through your head when you took her in as a child?" An interviewer asks. "She needs m
Vincent slipped outside. The morning breeze cooled his skin as he finally placed the dog bowl. Sitting on the porch while Audi gobbled his food. Vincent let his gaze drift over the many vehicles parked on the lawn. Some of them were in poor shape. Though, it’s still a better option than walking. Beyond the collection of vehicles, a long dirt driveway curves into the distance. Surrounded by trees, and poorly maintained grass. "Oh my god.” Vincent lifted his head as voices echoed, followed by the sound of laughter. "Again?" "Hahaha, Tuck you're so bad at this game". A small smile stretched on Vincent's lips when he realized they were up. Not only that but playing their card games. "Come on. Rematch." Cole spoke. "But this time, if I win, you have to get me some of Doctor Blonde's secret stash." What? Vincent could hardly believe his ears. "Deal." Tuck quickly agrees. This time Vincent stood up. Stepping off of the porch, he looked up at the open bedroom window. Placing one hand