Diseased | #wattys2016

Chapter 9

"We've got an emergency! Move out the way people! Patient 645 is in dire need of stabilization!"

As Riley was being rushed to the nurses room, her condition was getting worse and worse.

"Did you hear me? Get out of the way!" Nurse Daisy shouts as the guards help carry Riley's body to medical.

Finally there, the guards carelessly plopped her on he examination desk, before going to tie her hands and feet down.

"And may I ask, what in the name of the Devil are you doing?" Mixy, the head nurse exclaimed.

The guards stared dumbfounded at the woman, to afraid to speak."Well, um, since this patient was in Sector 5, we thought we would-"

"You thought? That's new coming from that dusty head of yours. Never thought those gears have enough energy to work" she mocks, clearly annoyed.

The guard was awestruck, caught in his hidden feelings for the sassy nurse, or to continue doing his job in the way he was taught.

Obviously, Gavin was a mush when it came to emotions, backing away from Riley and letting Mixy do her job fully.

"And may I say, you look lov-"
"Oh, in the name of the father, the son and the holy spirit, make this dustball go away" she let out a frustrated breath before continue to scurry around the room, checking Riley's every state.

Gavin blushed, embarrassed by her sudden outburst. He tipped his hat respectfully towards the lady, crumbling away from the women and retreating out the door, with his partner at hand.

Mixy's expression turns weary after checking Riley's temperature, taking action right away. She obliges Riley's weak figure to stand up, Mixy trying to carry as much as Riley's weight as possible. She leads her to the bathroom, where she already prepared and ice cubed bath for a previous patient who didn't need one in the end.

"You seem to have a peeking fever of 103.1 degrees farenheit. I will have to dunk your body in ice cold water to lower your temperature. Is that OK?"

Riley laughs faintly. "I don't have a choice, do I?"

As silence confirmed Riley's statement, Mixy calls for several other nurses to enter the room. They all seem to struggle picking up an 105 pound 5'2 girl, but gently lower her into the bath. This place didn't seem to be doing Riley any justice to her physical self, nevertheless her odd mental and emotional states.

The first contact had Riley recoiling by the sudden drop in temperature. She looked at the nurses with pleading eyes.

"Please, isn't there another way?"

With a shaking of the head, the nurses simultaneously hoisted Riley into the tub, submerging her completely.

Riley tried screaming, a reflex from the horrible condition she was in. She thrashed and kicked, but the nurses firm grips were disabling her from going anywhere.

After a full ten seconds, the nurses led her back up for a quick breath before pushing her back in for another ten seconds. After doing so one more time for good measures, they all allowed Riley to breath, but kept her shivering corpse in the bathtub for an extra minute.

To Riley, it was pure torture. She still had the urge to scream out, but her throat hurt too much, and she knew that it would do know good. She let out a sob, a cry of agony, but no tears. The nurses looked at her, pity evident in their eyes. One of them crouched down and spoke softly to her while holding her freezing hand. The other stood there, hugging Riley's other hand weakly. The others knew better, doing their job, not allowing emotion to overrule them.