Medicine: Book 1

Hospitals

She was barely breathing, suffering from an illness deadly to mankind:

Coronary Artery Disease.

She's dying from the inside out.

The father punched the wall, gritting his teeth as he stood outside her hospital room. Was there nothing he could do? Nothing anyone could do?

She was the only one who survived.

The only one who came out alive.

And she was his world.

He was trained to save lives.

As a doctor, he was trained to protect and try his best to help those who came through those doors.

How can he let her die-

He froze, that word sticking with him.

Die...

Why does she have to die?

He stuck his hands in his pockets, his white coat feeling a bit big on him.

"How is she today? I would've came...but their was a delivery in the emergency room." Said the father as the mother shut the door. She sighed, giving a weak smile before breaking down.

"...she isn't getting any better." She told him before breaking down into sobs. "I can't loose another one. I-I can't..."

"Hey, hey...it'll be okay. She's strong, like her dad and mom." He said, chuckling before squinting his eyes, holding in his tears. He wrapped his arms around her, squeezing her tightly.

They hugged each other, fearing for the future of their only child. The doctor walked over to the grieving couple, fixing his glasses before speaking.

"It seems to have spread throughout her body...she's too far gone." He said as the mother's eyes widened, her legs giving out as she fell to the floor, sobbing loudly. The husband kneeled beside her, lifting her and holding her tightly.

"...there's nothing we can do?" He asked the doctor.

Said doctor pushed up his glasses, pausing before giving a suggestion.

"...there is a way to save her." He said.
He directed his view to the three doctors standing in the corner talking amongst themselves. "They believe they've encountered a new way of life for the sick. They have a cure."

"A cure?"

"Yes... But they haven't completely tested it. Your daughter may be the second child test subject to ever try their new method." He told them.

"What is this cure?" He asked, giving the doctor a suspicious glare.

"...they'll change her from the inside out. They have a fifty percent chance of saving her. But she could die from the treatment-"

The father grabbed the doctor by the collar, his wife holding his arm and pleading for him to stop.

"What makes you think I'll turn my own daughter into a test dummy?!"

"It's her only chance at life." He stated.
"Will you take it away, just like that?"

The father slowly let go, trembling fingers turning into fists.

"...please. Do what you can. Save her...please." The mother cried.

Said doctor nodded, a small smile forming on his face.

"Of course. We begin tomorrow."

++++++

The small girl in the room opened her eyes, squinting them to see the room around her.

'...the hospital room.' She thought. 'I'm still here...?'

She looked to the window, seeing the dark blue sky, stars circling the night. The room was empty, the beeping of the heart monitor the only sound being heard.

The door slowly opened, a small boy walking in and shutting the door. He had golden eyes that shined in the dark room, and brown hair that reached his shoulders.

He looked at the small girl, scoffing. She was tiny, with tan skin and messy, curly black hair. Her eyes were sparkling green, but dull. 'She's weak. She won't make it. Just like the others...' He thought.

"Ah...so you're awake?" He asked, leaning on the door as she raised an eyebrow. He walked over to the bed, sitting on it before leaning over to her. "What's your name?"

She tried to speak, her mouth dry.

"...C...Cas..." Her voice was hoarse, and strained. The boy reached for a glass of water, helping her drink it before she spoke. "Casper..." She breathed out, smiling.

"What're you so happy for, Casper?" He asked, giving a sneer. "You can barely stand right now."

She pointed to him, speaking.

"What's yours?"

"...what? My name?" He asked as she nodded. He frowned before sighing. "Odette." He said before she gave a soft giggle.

"Like the swan?" She asked before he blushed, yelling.

"Shut up! It's a nice name!" He said before sitting criss cross (applesauce). "Anyways...you're going to probably see more of me. So, Casper, do you know what kind of treatment you will be exposed to starting tomorrow morning?"

She shook her head, and he gave a small laugh.

"It's called Project X. I've already started it..." He said solemnly, instinctively grabbing his wrist. He frowned, lost in thought.

"...what's it like?" She asked, sending a kick his way. He flinched, snapping out of his memory.

"It's terrible...they change you and put you through immense, intense tests to see if you've improved. If you haven't...they repeat the treatment all over again." He paused, gulping before hearing movement. He looked over to the small girl, eyes wide as she hugged him.

"That sounds really scary...but, we can do it. Treatment is always scary." He froze as she spoke, raising an eyebrow. He slowly leaned in before pushing her off, glaring daggers.

"You don't know anything! Idiot!" He yelled as she gave a small frown.

"...I know that you're scared."

He gave a frown before sighing.

"But you don't have to be." She said, taking off her necklace. She gave it to him. He held it, a confused look on his face. It had a thyme flower. She held up her wrist, showing the same flower on her bracelet. "My dad says the thyme flower means courage and strength." She told him. He frowned before sucking his teeth, pushing it deep into his pocket.
"Whatever. Your parents don't even know what's going to happen. If you survive, you won't even be able to see them." He told her. She raised an eyebrow.

"What do you mean?"

"When your parents signed those papers...you belonged to them." He said before he heard footsteps. He pushed her back in bed and climbed underneath it, leaving the girl dumbfounded. The door opened, a nurse stepping in.

"Oh, you're awake...are you hungry at all? Want to use the bathroom, sweetie?"

The girl looked at the floor before nodding. The doctor helped her up as the boy snuck out the room, holding the necklace in his pocket tightly.

'You belong to them? Who's them?'