RED

two

DR. FREDERICK WELLS

I was unable to process what was happening. Staff were frantically rushing to tend to the emergency. I stand back cautiously as I watch multiple staff members push a stretcher down the corridor into an elevator to the third floor. The stretcher was shaking and unsteady due to the thrashing of the new patient. I impatiently tapped my rubber shoe as I rested my chin on my hand, which it's elbow was resting on the arm wrapped around my own abdomen.

The second I saw Dr. Storm enter those swinging doors, I immediately called him to my assistance. We rushed up to the third floor through the elevator and quickly scurried down the long dreary corridor. It was a creepy setting, almost like a horror movie with deranged patients creeping their heads and bloodshot eyes through the small, square glass windows built into the metal cell doors. They were yelling and screaming nasty things along with curse words, desperate to leave the facility. If anything, it just makes them look worse.

I led Dr. Storm to the room all the way at the very end of the corridor. The very room that has been vacant since a very serious patient died in it, after being held there for years after killing her entire family. No one has filled it for 3 and a half years now but it is the only one available at this moment.

I twisted the doorknob to find that it was locked. After knocking on the door, I heard keys jingling on the other side to begin opening the door for us. On the other side were securities and staff dressed in scrubs. Dr. Storm followed me in and I could tell that he was just as on edge as I was. Surrounding a bed were multiple nurses trying to restrain someone who seemed to be acting like a wild animal. They were in the midst of tying her wrists into the thick leather wrist straps along with her ankles also. It was a young looking teenage girl and she was strapped down on the hospital bed with her limbs strapped to each corner.

The bed was rocking and creaking sounds were heard as she wildly thrashed around, trying to get free. There were tears streaming down the erratic girl's face and it was almost sickening to watch. Despite the restraints, the staff still held her down as they then strapped her waist down.

"Wouldn't a sedative be useful?" I heard Dr. Storm's voice from behind me.

I turned and he was watching the girl as if she was a carnival attraction, almost not believing his eyes.

I nodded and snapped my fingers, "we need a syringe tranquilizer, stat!"

Since the nurses were too busy still restraining the viscous girl, Dr. Storm rapidly gathered the syringe and held it upside down, flicking it with his fingers to make sure there were no air bubbles. He cautiously approached the patient with his gloved hands held out in front of him as if he'd lose an eyeball if he got much closer. He sneakily creeped up next to her as she was distracted by all of the other staff members and quickly stuck the needle in her upper arm, pushing the liquid into her body.

A yelp pierced through the air as the girl ripped herself away from Dr. Storm as much as she could with the restraints still holding her down, but he had already gotten the sedative injected into her blood. She stared at him with a burning hatred for doing what he did as he backed away, watching closely at her reaction. The nurses slowly backed away also as we could all see the tranquilizer setting in. Her arms went limp as did her legs, and she now had her head rested on the white pillow.

Upon her stillness, one of the nurses approached and gently fixed the girl's hospital gown as it slightly rode up from all of the movement. Her chest heaved up in down in exhaustion as we watched silently and carefully. Most of the nurses exited the room as they needed a break from what just occurred. Dr. Storm and I were silent, not really knowing what to think. I turned on my heels and went near the door, asking Dr. Storm to follow. An idea was sparked in my head.

"Doctor, how would you like to have your most exciting case yet?" I whispered, smiling slightly.

His eyes widened and light of excitement flashed through them.

"Really?"

I nodded. He slightly shook his head in thought.

"But do you think I'm capable of it?" He spoke quietly so that the new patient would not overhear.

A whimper was heard and our heads turned simultaneously to look. She was limp on the bed, laying on her back and her head was turned on its side, her face looking at us. Her eyes stared back at us helplessly.

I turned back to Dr. Storm, "of course! There is no doubt in my mind."

He smiled and nodded. I knew he loved having the extreme cases more than anything. It's what he worked for. I could tell he got a thrill out of it. And after all, he is one of my best employees and he really deserves it. I couldn't really think of anybody else I'd want to work at this. I patted his back and he thanked me back.

"What will be the move now?" He questioned.

"Well," I spoke, "we're going to have to see where she came from and what the problem is. She is obviously a red wrist band so we will do some research and find some answers."

I paused and rubbed my slightly bearded chin, "but as for right now, you can just look after her and try to get whatever you can out of her. That's really all we can start."

Dr. Storm nodded his head and straightened up his scrubs. I left the room and closed it behind me without locking it, leaving him in there with our new patient. She is strapped down and also drugged on a tranquilizer so there's no reason as to why Dr. Storm can't contain her. Even if she wasn't sedated it, I'm sure he could still handle it, he's a very strong and professionally trained guy.
He is going to go places someday.