Bloody Mary - An Epidemic (Book 1 of the "Bloody Mary" Series) #Wattys2014

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Carol's First Patient

June 30th 2030

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Carol was informed that a fifteen year old boy was waiting in the waiting room's 'sick bay' with a rash, and a fever. She walked out and called his name; Dustin W. Dustin had dirty blonde hair, and a sculpted face that would really woo the girls at his school.

"How are you today Dustin?" She asked with a happy smile.

"I'm alright, could be better, but I'm okay. How are you?"

"I'm good, thanks for asking. Right this way." she said gesturing through the door.

Carol led him to the scale, and asked him to step on. He was 138 pounds. Then she took his temperature. It was 100.1. Soon there after she took his height measurements. His height was 5 feet 7 inches. "Good. Now follow me please to room four, and sit on the table." Carol said walking to room four.

Dustin sat on the table as he was instructed, and Carol went to the computer that was in the small room. She logged in, and started an application that was to input the data measurements that she got from Dustin. "Okay Dustin. Where is your rash?" Carol said, standing close to Dustin.

"It's on my right side, from my shoulder blade to the bottom of my rib cage. It was there yesterday when I changed for P.E class. I got laughed at, it was awful, so I asked to go to the nurse, and she called my mom because she didn't have anything for it. No ointment or anything. My mom looked at it, and then she decided to call you all to see if you all could do anything. Then before I went to bed I got the fever. Something was wrong and we didn't know what it was. We went to medical websites, and we didn't find anything. She gave me something for the fever and that was it. She told me to get some rest and we'll figure it out in the morning."

"Okay, I'm sorry to hear that you were laughed at. Could you take your shirt off so I can see it. We'll see if we can do something about it. "

"Okay." he said taking off his shirt. He had a caramel skin complexion and brilliant six pack abs that were in incredible condition. The girls would really like those. The rash was there but it wasn't in its original position. It still went from the shoulder blade to the rib cage, but it stretched to the middle of his back.

"Do you play any sports?" Carol asked politely.

"Yes, I play Lacrosse for Amazon High School, and I do track. I really enjoy it. It's fun and I have many friends on my team. We're winning our games ten three."

"That's great! Okay, now getting back to your situation. The rash is covering more area than it was yesterday, and your fever is lower than it was. So the fever could be gone tomorrow or so, and the rash, I'll give you a cream for that, if that doesn't work then go visit a dermatologist, and see if anything can be done for it. If you want we can withdraw some blood, and see what viruses are in your system."

"Okay. Do you want to do it now, or do we need to schedule another appointment tomorrow?" Dustin asked.

"We can do it today if you want."

"Sure. Now is fine, I don't need to go anywhere."

"Okay, let me get it ready." Carol said, smiling as she walked out of the room.

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Carol went to the cabinet, and gathered the supplies she would need. It was going to be simple. Wipe the injection point with antiseptic, make sure the arm was loose, and withdraw the blood with the syringe, then send the sample to get analyzed. Easy as pie.

She walked back into the room and sat the items on the counter. "Dustin, I'll withdraw some blood, and it'll be over very quickly."

"Okay." is all he said.

Carol wiped the injection point with an antiseptic wipe, made sure his arm was limp like a spaghetti noodle, and withdrew the blood. The crimson red blood shone in the light. "Are we done?" Dustin asked, still smiling like nothing happened.

"Yes sir, we sure are. We're done, and you can leave now."

"Thank you very much. You were a great help." Dustin said, shaking Carol's hand.

"You're welcome. I hope you get better." Carol smiled. She walked him out to the lobby where his mom was waiting.

"Hi honey, are you all set?" Dustin's mom asked.

"Yes mom. She gave me a cream for the rash, and she said if it didn't work then we were to go to the dermatologist."

"Great, great. Thank you very much Carol. I appreciate what you've done here." Dustin's mom smiled, shaking her hand.

"Anytime. Come back if something else is bothering you."

"Okay. We will." Dustin smiled, saying goodbye, and walking out of the building with his mom. Once they were out of the building they got into their Self-Driving Mercedes-Benz. "Well, what do you think it is mom?" Dustin asked.

"I really have no clue, I'm sorry. We'll watch it and if anything else happens to you then, we'll go a hospital, or we can go to the CDC and see if they can test you." Dustin's mom answered.

"Okay.... If anything more happens then what do I do?"

"We'll figure that out when the time comes."

The end of the conversation was now in a veil of radio music. It was quiet the rest of the way to the house.