Tent City

Chapter 5

I woke up confused and disoriented. Panic set in as I tried to survey the room around me. Nothing seemed familiar. Curved cement walls, a hard bed, no windows, a set of drawers, and a TV fixed to the wall. There was a cannula in my hand and oxygen tubes in my nose.

My memory was foggy and missing chunks. Then my panic turned to fear. Where was I, and where was Ben?

I clawed at the oxygen tubes and removed them from my nose. The oxygen hissed like an angry snake as the tubes fell to the floor. I pulled the cannula from my hand and tried to get out of bed. Various alarms were going off from the machines. I could barely move. My legs felt as though they were made of lead.

The door to the room opened with an unbearable screech. What I assumed to be a doctor and nurse rushed in and stopped me from leaving the bed.

"Where am I? And where's Ben?" I asked desperately.

The nurse rested his hand on my shoulder.

"You're safe. You're currently in the medical bay of the headquarters of the Outcast Freedom troop. Ben is safe. He is currently being well looked after by others, and he has been given medical treatment, food, and water. He has been treated under the supervision of Dr Su, who, by the way, has saved your life." He motioned toward the Dr.

Doctor Su was looking over my charts. She was wearing a crisp white lab coat. Her salt-and-pepper hair looked as though it had been hurriedly affixed into a messy ponytail that left stray bits framing her face. After going over my chart, she started checking me over. Her tired, dark brown eyes were framed by thick glasses. She didn't say much but sighed and clicked her tongue as she inspected me.

"You don't know how lucky you are. If Andy and her group hadn't found you when they did, you'd be dead by now. You were severely dehydrated, malnourished, and ingested contaminated water from the Lake.

Luckily, we had the antidote for the poison and solution to hydrate you again. You've been in a coma for 10 days. Now that you're awake, you'll have to follow a strict diet of frequent small meals until I approve the change to normal-sized meals." She said.

"My legs feel like lead. I can't move them." I stated.

"Yes, that's completely normal. It'll subside after a few days. Now, nurse Travis will have to insert another cannula since you ripped the last one out. It will be removed whenever I deem it necessary, depending on my assessment of your health.

Now, for future reference, don't do that again, OK?

Andy could've left you out by that Lake to die. She had no responsibility to bring you, a civilian wanderer back here for medical treatment, but she did. Even though our medical supplies are at a critical low. Now get some rest, I'll be back tomorrow morning to assess you." She replied, her tone reflecting annoyance and frustration.

Doctor Su left without saying another word.

I looked to nurse Travis, and he chuckled to himself as he pulled on some gloves.

"I wouldn't worry too much about Doctor Su. Deep down, she is a very caring and warm person, despite her prickly cool exterior.

She is a very good doctor, one of the best. If any other doctor treated you, you'd be dead, and that's a fact. You were in a pretty bad way... Now, you'll feel a slight sting as I insert the new cannula."

Once the cannula was inserted, and I was once again attached to a drip, nurse Travis was about to leave.

"When can I see Ben?" I yelled after him.

He turned and smiled,

"I'll talk to Dr Su, but I think you will be able to see him tomorrow, ok? Now relax and get some rest. See you in a few hours."