The Doctor

Chapter 12

The next day guilt followed Albina like a shadow and she carried her worries like a heavy backpack. Of course, there was a reason to worry! Albina left her room and came back too late, word was going to reach the ears of Smok and he would punish her more harshly this time. But what was she going to do? She shuddered at the thought of him ripping her skin off with his fang-like teeth; maybe he was going to do just that. What if he had a more gruesome thought on that sick head of his? Like the night before, she snuck out, pretended to be a paranormal spirit and headed over to the twins. Even though she managed to sneak out without anyone spotting her, and that she found out that the twins were alive the very next day, she felt like guilt as well as fear were spies for Smok.

Ames was still alive and for some unknown reason he was getting healthier; Thomas also looked well and alive as he was the day before. Life in the hospital continued normally and it was as if Albina's absence didn't affect anyone in any way. Surely Snynnister was loyal to Smok because she didn't seem to be the kind of woman to give anyone kindness. Every day Albina had coughs, colds, headaches and fevers that seemed to go away and come back again; also her scar was getting itchier but she didn't dare to scratch it for fear of causing an infection.

"Why are you so quiet today Albina?" asked Ames.

Albina snapped out of her trance and jerked as if she had been electrocuted by a little static.

"Oh, I am always quiet," she lied "I get that a lot from my classmates."

"Well, you have been acting differently today"

"It's nothing,"

"Stop worrying, if Smok wanted to punish you for not being in your room, he could have killed you by now."

"I am not worried about myself getting killed," she corrected "I am worried about you and your brother getting killed because of me."

Ames gave a deep sigh as Albina looked down on her white sneakers.

"Then tell me," he demanded "how and I and Thomas still alive and not vomiting blood, getting beaten or mentally tortured?"

"I don't know," she replied while still looking down.

"Exactly, maybe Snynnister fell asleep."

"Maybe"

"If you're so worried about us," he sighed "let me tell you that my stomach stopped hurting and my fever is gone; Thomas stole some of Snynnister's medicines today."

Albina finally looked up, she didn't smile but she didn't cry either. She didn't express any emotion or said anything about Thomas's health. She still wasn't convinced that nothing was going to happen to the twins. Maybe they were right and she was just worrying too much; just worrying made her lose sleep and made the symptoms worse. Snynnister was human too so she probably fell asleep on the job.

"Hey guys," interrupted Thomas "Glad to know that nothing has happened but I think we need to discuss our plan.

"Oh yes, that's right" said Albina automatically.

From the small hole, Albina and Ames could see that Thomas left, but not to leave the room. They heard cabinets opening and closing, the scribbling of a writing utensil and the sharpening of a pencil. For another couple minute, there were sounds of cabinets and rustling of papers. Thomas came back with a wooden board, a faded yellow pencil with a sharp point, a grayed eraser and crumpled papers. It was obvious from the ruckus that Thomas made that the wooden board came from the bottom of a drawer.