𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐌𝐞 𝐀𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞 ❦ (𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐝)

Chapter 1

I really don't want to be here, but I need to if I want to keep my job and get to stay in New York. If it doesn't go well, I'll have to went back to my parents and my brother, and work in the fields.

I enter the Metropolitan Hospital. How can a place like this exist in New York? The contrast with the busy streets is striking. The area is shut down by heavy doors. The only glance one can get at the outside world is through a bay window.

"Please let me in, I will only take a few pictures," I bargain with the nurse at the entry. She became so much colder when I told her I was a journalist.

"Shoo, go away! You so-called journalists only come her for your morbid curiosity," she says.

"Why, is there anything morbid in there?" I talk back, narrowing my eyes.

The middle-aged nurse frowns. "If you got no other business here then you might as well leave immediately because you are not welcome here."

She leaves, ignoring my pleas. What now? I didn't even manage to get in. I leave the hospital, discouraged and thinking about the excuses I will have to tell my parents to justify my return to the farm.

Walking in a near street, I notice a very visible sign on which I read 'employees only'. Maybe I can go in through this way... Without thinking twice, I push the metallic door and sneak in. I arrive in a quite dark, warm, and humid room and manage to turn the lights on.

There are sheets and uniforms. It must be the hospital's laundry room! I find a recently washed uniform. How convenient. It would make it so much easier for me to get in...

It's a dress meant for women, but I don't mind putting it on that much. There is something thrilling about being undercover, especially with disguises involved. This is how committed I am. I slide on the long dress, the white stockings, and the low heels.

As soon as I'm done putting on my outfit, I hear some women get closer. I take a deep breath and leave the laundry room. The women notice me immediately.

"Hey, do you need help?" one of them asks.

I try to look down, betting all I have on my androgyny to make me look feminine enough. Women these days all wear their hair truly short so that plays in my favor.

"Yeah, um, the weather was terrible these last few days. The chief nurse wants to make sure that there's no lack of material and all." I try to invent an excuse. I'm pretty good at lying.

"No need to worry about supplying. The sheets and uniforms are dried in advance," one of the women explains.

"Good idea. I will recommend you in my report."

I notice a door behind the laundry employees, I salute them and walk by that door. I can't believe it! I'm in the hospital! I'm excited, but also a little lost. This place is vast, where should I begin?

"Hey, what are you doing here? We must go to bloc B!" A nurse calls.

"A-are you talking to me?" I point at myself in surprise. At least my disguise is working, or the nurse is simply way too busy to take the time to properly look at me.

"Who else? Come on, let's go!"

"O-okay, let's go..." say I shyly. What the hell am I getting into?

"Where are you going? Bloc B is this way!" She grabs my arm. Damnit, the nurse is going to understand that I don't know the place...

I roll up my sleeve and glance at the nurse walking behind me. She is looking at me with suspicion. I must do something before she calls security.

"Somebody help!" I hear someone yell which startles me. "They're going to hurt me, help!"