The Isdïra Complex

Desert

A strong wind blew and caused sand to be carried from one place to the other if it werent there to slam into Brittas face. She cursed. In the distance some dunes caught her eyes. The sun shone and it was so steamingly hot that Britta didnt even know how she could have enough energy to keep walking.

That wasnt a miracle anymore compared to what else she had suffered from in the past two months when she had entered the desert: Apparently, people died when they didnt drink water for a few days and didnt eat anything for weeks. She hadnt done neither of which since she strolled around in the desert – and survived nonetheless. It didnt feel good to her, but if that was the price she had to pay to leave the desert once and for all, it was worth it, she believed somewhere in the back of her mind.

It felt like half an eternity had passed when Britta reached the dune. At the top of it a man waved at her who didnt exist

Or did he?

Whenever Britta thought she had found something to drink in the desert it ended up to be nothing more but a mirage. Probably it was the same with the man.

When he proved her the opposite by actually calling something at her, Britta still didnt believe that he was real. She probably hallucinated again, like she had done for three weeks now.

She had even seen paradise before her eyes: a place with flowers blossoming around her, lots of other people smiling at her and living together in eternal peace.

But hallucinations didnt make the world a better place.

Where are you going? I want to help you!

Dont listen, Britta told herself and walked past the man.

Shed only seen his black robe, heard his light voice, but ignored it as good as she could.

Come on, you need to go to the hospital! the man kept talking to her from behind, speaking as loud as he could without screaming at her.

I dont need help, Britta murmured and wasnt aware that the man couldnt hear her. After all, he didnt exist.

You certainly do. By now the man stood right behind her and her voice was audible enough that she actually questioned whether or not the man did exist. He put his hand on her shoulder, trying to turn her around, to make her listen to him

Britta wanted this nightmare to end, but no one had helped her in the past few weeks, so why should someone be there for her now?

Half an hour later the man convinced her to come with him. In the meantime hed introduced himself, said that his name was Eduardo and he knew where the next hospital was.

When Britta finally told him about her story, he had his difficulties to believe it.

If Eduardo said that Britta probably lied to him, she would ignore him like before, he believed. So he just listened, asked some questions and waited for the other person to answer.

The desert survivor couldnt immediately answer any of the questions she was asked. It seemed her memory needed time to completely restore itself.

Meanwhile the two of them continuously walked through the desert until they came to a small forest. They crossed it and had to walk a few more miles through a small town, Eduardo once in a while promising that theyd be at the hospital soon.

Britta managed to tell him about her family, how her husband and her had raised their three children, but had this huge problem which crossed their way more than once: poverty.

Theyd lived in a small village where medicine and wealth were foreign words. When she thought about it, no one in the village shed come from didnt had enough to eat and to drink most of the time.

Eduardo told her he had similar problems because as a baker he seldomly had enough money so that his wife and daughter could live a happy life.

At the hospital, there was a woman called Terra who could help Britta. Thats what Eduardo had told her on their way through those few villages they crossed.

Were almost there, the man baker said for the fifth time now and this was the time when he told the truth.

Britta could have heard it in his voice, too, if she werent that exhausted.

Why was she still alive?

She didnt know.

She also didnt have enough energy to reply to anything Eduardo said and so he walked into a shed constructed of wood planks. Terra, are you here?

Youre already back? Didnt you plan to return from your trip in the evening? Terras voice was relatively deep and she wasnt older than thirty. Her light blue eyes stood out from her dark complexion and black, curly hair.

They heard a small child cry and Britta – with every piece of conscience she had left in the moment - figured the sound must come from another shed which was nearby the one they were at.

This is Britta, Eduardo told Terra without directly answering her questions. Shed been in the desert for at least two months, but as you see shes still alive.

The doctor shook her head. Two weeks would already be hardly possible, but two months

The point is, Eduardo interrupted, you could take care of her so that shes healthy again.

Terra looked at the desert survivor who barely looked like she actually was alive. Ill try my best, the doctor said. But I have my doubts that itll help, she added in her thoughts, then smiled at Britta and lay her on one of the three beds in the shed.

On her way to the bed a necklace Britta had worn fell to the floor and as it did, Charles woke up.