The OutCasts

Chapter 21: Years Ago

Draven Ines:

I put down my cup of coffee and return to reading the new proposal.

"This can't be right," I think as I keep reading. "If this is passed, then medical clinics all over the city will lose funding and hospital will be overflowing with patients. No."

I slam the proposal close and throw it into my trashcan. Grabbing my cup of coffee, I practically swallow the whole thing before also throwing the empty cup into my trashcan.

Once I do, I get up and leave my office. Entering the hallway, I nod my head toward my friends and colleagues.

"Hello, Councilman Draven," one of my friends says as he passes me.

"Hello, Gavin," I say with a nod of my head. I walk past him and toward Councilman Dolon's office. I enter his office and slam the door shut.

"Councilman Draven," Councilman Dolon says, smiling as he spreads out his arms and lends back. "How can I help you today?"

Noticing piles of papers in front of him, I start sifting through all of them. Councilman Dolon didn't even try to stop me. Eventually, I find what I'm looking for.

"What is this," I yell, holding up the same proposal I threw away. "Why would you even propose this? Are you serious?"

"I am," Councilman Dolon says. He lends forward, still smiling. "It's not bad, right?"

"Wrong. This is bad. This is horrible. What is wrong with you?"

"Excuse me?"

Councilman Dolon's smile finally disappears. He gets up from his desk and stares me down.

"Excuse me," he repeats.

I place my own two hands on Dolon's desk and stare right back at him.

"I asked what is wrong with you."

I bring the proposal up between the two of us.

"What you're asking for is to shut down medical clinics all over the city. Why? Why would you ask for something so irrational?"

Councilman Dolon shakes his head and snatches the proposal out of my hand. He gently places it back on his desk.

"Do you know how many medicinal clinics there are all over this city?"

Councilman Dolon turns around and points out toward his window.

"There's one less than five miles from city hall and one less than three miles from that one. There are too many clinics around here. They're a drain on the taxpayers' money. I'm not suggesting we shut down all of them. Just a few."

"How many is a few," I ask.

It's subtle. It's easy to miss. If I wasn't me, then anyone else would have missed it, but for a brief second, for only a brief second, I see Councilman Dolon's flinches. He recovered fast but I know what I saw.

"Councilman Draven," Councilman Dolon says, pulling back and adjusting his suit. "Excuse me but I'm afraid I need to leave now. I have a meeting with someone."

He walks around the desk but when he reaches for the door, I grab his arm and pull him close.

"This isn't over," I whisper.

"Oh, I think it is," Councilman Dolon replies, snapping out of my grip. "Please get out of my office."

Dolon grabs the door and holds it open. He points toward the hallway, and I leave. I look back at Dolon as he leaves his own office and locks the door.