It is now late at night, while looking for the alien DNA that was used to cure and alter the DNA of patients with mitochondrial disorder, Dr Hayley heard the voice of Dr Richards. "So, trying to save the poor kid, Roger Taylor, am I right?" The ghost of Dr Richards said. "What do you want from me? I thought you're dead, Edmund," Dr Hayley said. "Thanks to your father, he saved the kids' parents and those kids wouldn't have been here if it weren't for them," Dr Richards said. "Yeah, but Roger's dad was a failed experiment, he inherited the partially altered DNA so not only does he have powers but he has mito too, his digestive system and respiratory system shut down so I have to save him somehow," Dr Hayley said. "His friends, even his boyfriend were counting on me," she added as she scurried around her lab.
"Why did you pour all your heart into those kids, there are other kids you need to look after because you're a pediatrician," Dr Richards said. "Those kids aren't just any kids, they're special and they have a special place in my heart, unlike you," Dr Hayley said as she scurried through the drawers. "What's so special about those kids? They're just homosexual teenagers," Dr Richards asked. "Those are the kids I've never had, my girlfriend and I had failed pregnancies even after freezing our eggs, not even a single surrogate would work so the Wild Boys are practically my children while their parents stay in different counties, or countries as we have Americans," Dr Hayley said. "And plus, why am I even talking to you? You never listen to me," Dr Hayley asked.
"You have powers too, Anne, you can connect with spirits," Dr Richards said. "Wow, you're finally aware that altered DNA could cause powers and could be inherited as well, you believed this was all fake even with the kids" Dr Hayley said. "You know, you're really fascinating when it comes to alien research, this should all be a sci-fi film," Dr Richards said. "This alien research is top secret, I'm only carrying what my dad left off and I don't want anyone to know this, maybe I could release this cure for mito with this single vial," Dr Hayley said after finding a vial of alien DNA. "This little vial from over 40 years ago could save lives," Dr Hayley added. "And I wanted it to start with Roger who has an underlying mitochondrial disorder, he's very sick and his friends wanted him to be better," Dr Hayley said.
Dr Richard's ghost disappeared as Dr Hayley walked out of the lab with the vial in her pocket. She had to make sure nobody saw the hidden vial used to cure the Wild Boys' parents back in World War 2. "Anne!" Alex called out. "Alex, what's going on? Can't you see I'm busy?" Dr Hayley asked. "Is it about Roger? One of the Basildon Academy kids?" Alex asked. "Yes, the kid's very ill with mito, the anesthesia used for him turned off his organelle before his operation to remove his appendix," Dr Hayley said. "Tell me about it, I wanna help," Alex said. Dr Hayley grabbed her hand and headed to the medicine room to make sure nobody's heard of the vial. "You see this vial I found in my lab earlier? This is the one my father used to save the kids' parents," Dr Hayley said, showing Alex the vial.
"The alien DNA, wait, your father was Dr Arthur Hayley?" Alex asked. "Yeah, you think I was from a different Hayley family?" Dr Hayley asked. "Anyway, this alien DNA could save people with mitochondrial disorder so if this works on Roger within a few weeks, we could find a cure to this complex disease," Dr Hayley said. "Good point, but why Roger though? He's healthy," Alex asked, remembering that Roger was slightly muscular. "He had an underlying mitochondrial disorder, the anesthesia he was given must've flipped a switch when he needed an operation for his appendix," Dr Hayley said. "How do you even know he had a mitochondrial disorder? It might take him years to officially be diagnosed" Alex asked. "My dad specialised in mitochondrial disorders," Dr Hayley answered.
"So, how can I help?" Alex asked. "There are many doctors and nurses around the children's intensive care unit so we need to pretend that this vial is vasopressin when in reality, it's the alien DNA," Dr Hayley said. "Do mito patients have a drop in their blood pressure?" Alex asked. "Depends on the person, now let's execute this plan to save Roger, so that he could just be on oxygen instead of a ventilator," Dr Hayley said before going out of the medicine room. "Are you sure this will work?" Alex asked. "Trust me, I know what to do," Dr Hayley said as she walked out. Alex just followed her because she needed to know what's going on. They went to the lift to head to the children's intensive care unit where Roger is located. As soon as the lift arrived, there was already a patient who was going to be transferred to the patient's ward.
"Who was that?" Dr Hayley asked. "Oh, one patient was suffering from bronchitis due to asthma, she was just being transferred," Alex said. "Then we gotta be moving if we want Roger to get out of the intensive care unit," Dr Hayley said before jogging towards Roger's room. Once she reaches his room, Roger is still asleep with the trach attached to his neck. "Hey Roger, we're going to help you get better," Dr Hayley said as Roger woke up again, trying to process what's going on. "What?" Roger asked as he saw Alex next to Dr Hayley. "Hi Roger, remember me? Anne was right about you being very ill," Alex said. "Okay, this vial here is the alien DNA that my dad injected into your dad and your friends' parents," Dr Hayley said, being aware if anyone noticed her using a 40-year-old vial on a 17-year-old teenager.
"Your dad's DNA was partially mutated when this was injected and still had mito and you inherited it, that's why you have it right now so we're trying to do what my dad did to your friends' parents," Dr Hayley further explained. "Your dad? Dr Arthur Hayley?" Roger asked. "Yeah, he was in charge of this experiment because he specialised in mitochondrial disorders, now I'm trying to do right by him," Dr Hayley said as she inserted the syringe into the vial. "Okay, this will hurt a bit but don't worry, if you notice any improvements in your failed organs within 2 weeks, that means your DNA is being mutated," Dr Hayley explained. "However, if you don't notice any improvement, we dunno what to do now because there's no cure for mito," Alex said.
"Ready?" Dr Hayley asked. Roger hesitated at first before he agreed to Dr Hayley giving him the shot. After the shot, Roger fell asleep again, possibly knocked out from the alien DNA. "It might take a week or two for the alien DNA to kick in and alter his DNA with mito," Dr Hayley said. "So, what now?" Alex asked. "Next week, we'll start a trial where his trach is capped and he'll breathe in from the nasal cannula like Curt and John, and if it goes smoothly, we can take off the trach, if not, he'll be back on the ventilator," Dr Hayley said before sighing. "These kids really need a break," Dr Hayley added. "They do, what about the nasogastric tube?" Alex asked. "We'll keep it in until he's released, same for the IVs," Dr Hayley said, mentioning that Roger had multiple IVs attached to him. For nutrition, hydration and medication along with the feeding tube as his digestive system doesn't work anymore.
"The kids should come here after school, I need to give them updates," Dr Hayley said. "It's late at night and they're probably sleeping," Alex said. "That's why I said 'after school,'" Dr Hayley said before going back to her office leaving Alex with a very sick teenager.
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Stuck In The Box: A New Normal
Mystery / ThrillerA few days after John, Curt and Andy were released from the hospital, the Wild Boys had since continued their education. While catching suspicions of an alien invasion, Roger had fallen ill with appendicitis. After being rushed to the hospital and n...
