Ella & Vlad at the end

#10 - reconnaissance

Back to the earlier days' bedroom Ella waits for things further settle down. Changing into more suitable and warmer attire she notices patrols outside; Food, wolf or other they're searching for something.

Using the time she plans where to go, the hospital for possible supplies or pay Ida a visit. Hesitating the decision Ella's ears turn pink warming up enough she has touch them. Is that Vlad thinking about me?

Quiet outside Ella checks to see if the house is still quiet on the inside. I bet Vlad's all worried about me, alone in the city for the night. Too bad there's no place to go dancing. Causing the floor to creak ever so slightly she creeps along the second floor hallway, making the second floor noisier than the first.

The first floor clear of any danger, she scans outside where possible she glimpses a passing patrol, allowing her a chance to slip out the back.

Obscuring her face under an old Tilly safari hat Ella casually walks the streets; Ahead Ida's residence is easily seen.

Reaching a street corner Ella notices all windows of Ida's home are dark. Not wanting to knock and disturb anyone she decides best check the hospital for the needed supplies.

With people still on alert most of the men are scouring the edges of the city. Those still around take little notice of little old Ella strolling along.

Appearing to be the cleanest building around the hospital is dark. Even though the lights aren't on she knows there are sick and injured inside. A gut feeling suggests to her an on duty night nurse or two is likely.

What's sought isn't near patient beds so Ella goes around to the back of the building.

She grins spotting the shipping, receiving docks and doors of the hospital.

Her grin becomes a smile as the doors are not locked or manned.

Requiring illumination inside she draws out a FOB sized LED light from her pocket.

Scanning the walls of the shipping area she spies what's first sought in a small office; the building layouts.

The posted floor plans are complete with department listings. Making it easy she notes three possible locations to search. Starting with the safest and best bet the sub basement.

Following the first dark hall she travels to a stairwell that joins all floors.

Fine with the darkness of night, dark interior spaces with many doors she's fearful of.

In the stairwell faint moans echo down to her heightened hearing. Please let that just be someone suffering, and not the suffering dead.

In the dark damp sub basement Ella hears the occasional odd drip in between her heartbeats. Pausing to listen a chill runs down her spine hearing another moan. Holy that's creepy. Don't need to hear that while I'm down here.

Walking the hallway she observes a few emptied storage rooms. Looks like this level has been raided already. Maybe wasting my time here. Maybe scare myself to death. It's so dark down here. Feels like I'm being watched.

Halfway down the hallway she reaches an intersection of doubled doors.

Taking a moment to read room locations she can smell the way. Yuck, death mixed with refrigeration equipment, if it's to be anywhere it has to be here. Sure enough she reads morgue and cold storage on a set of doors before her.

Opening the doors sounds like a vacuum seal breaking to her, releasing spirits. A pungent wafting of old dead rolls over Ella escaping the room. Cold to the bone Ella shivers as if souls passed right through her.