Chapter 7 | Zoe

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"What is it?" Zoe asked quietly.

The doctor looked to them pitifully, and whispered, "something I've never seen in a long time."

Zoe had to clench her hands to refrain from punching Dr. Hayward in the face. She was busy scribbling away on her clipboard, and didn't bother telling them anything.

Finally, Dr. Hayward looked at them and handed them the clipboard. "It's called the Dragon Flu, and it struck hundreds of years ago. It devastated the whole island and beyond," she explained.

"And beyond?" Zoe said doubtfully.

Dr. Hayward shared a look with her father which was met with an almost imperceptible nod. "A metaphor," she explained.

"Right, well how did you cure it?"

"Do you want the good news or the bad news?"

"Save the best for last. Bad news first." Zoe said trying to act strong.

"Right then. Well the bad news is that we don't have the main ingredient needed here."

As if she were punched in the gut, Zoe fell back into her chair. "The good news?" She asked weakly.

Embarrassed, Dr. Hayward said, "Well, the good news is that there is a cure, but that's not very helpful right now. I had assumed you would say good news first."

Right. Of course, I should have known better. Zoe thought helplessly.

"So we just wait for her to die then? Is she going to stay unconscious?"

"That depends. She will stay unconscious, but you have a whole month to attempt to save her." Dr. Hayward said carefully. As if one slip up would make the world end.

"How?! Why didn't you tell us this sooner?! We're wasting time!" Zoe exploded leaping out of her chair. If there was a chance to save her mother, she would take it, and cherish it.

"Because it's dangerous, and extremely difficult," Dr. Hayward exclaimed.

"I'll be the judge of that," Zoe said defiantly, "now tell me how I can save my mother."

Zoe had a way of intimidating even people much older and stronger than her, and you could tell Dr. Hayward was very uncomfortable. "Right then. Well, you need to collect a key from each kingdom on the island. Once you do that you go to Paradise Springs, and throw them all in the water. After you do that they will all merge into one golden key, and that key is the key to Exile. Then you get the last and final key from there and get into Majestia."

"Lots of keys," Zoe said, "but I'm still going."

"Miss um-"

"Cruz or just Zoe,"

"Right then, Miss Cruz, you must understand. It is not a job for one person, and neither is caring for your mother. If we are to keep her alive for a whole month she will need constant care, so you cannot all go. Even if you all went it would be a death sentence!" Dr. Hayward said desperately trying to deflate this plan.

Zoe scowled at Dr. Hayward and showed her out. "Have a good rest of your day, doctor," Zoe said coating her voice with sugar. Not normal sugar. Sugar that is sweet and delicious, but is poisonous to all who eat it. Some imagination you got there, Miss. Zoe thought to herself.

Shutting the door Zoe finally turned to her father.

"I know that you'll go no matter what I do to stop you," her dad said softly, "so I'll let you go. But you get rest today, and you can leave after lunch tomorrow. I also know your friends will be more than willing to help you. You don't have to ask, because I know you'll hate that. Just fill them in on the situation and they'll be filing in at the many.

"You should go now. Call them and meet them for dinner. Explain it all them while you eat. I'll take care of your mother and sister, and you can change out of your school uniform-"

Zoe suddenly ran over to her dad and enveloped him in a bear hug. Squeezing him tight she said, "thank you so much. I won't let you down. I promise I will save her."

"You could never let me down, my little queen," he whispered back to her, "go save her. I believe in you."

"Of course I can do this. It's just a small task, and I'll be back before you know it."

She said letting go. Zoe gave a playful salute to her dad, and then ran upstairs to change.

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