Cannabis

Chapter 3

Location : Well Being Rehabilitation Center

Abigail waited for Sarah to take a break and help her with the interview around the rehab. She looked radiant in a black and white striped tee and blue denim shorts, carrying a black tote bag. Abigail looked at her watch.

Just then, Sarah, with droplets of sweat on her face, appeared, "I'm here. Let's go."

"Had a hard day,hm?", Abigail rhetorically inquired with a smirk.

"Of course. Had to handle seven patients at a stretch. Now, shall we?"

"Oh, yeah. Let's get to work."

The two lasses walked through the building, selected patients of their choice and interviewed them. The list included a middle aged woman, a teenage boy, an old man and a girl, a bit elder than them, claiming to be 'an unsuccessful model'.

"Phew! We're almost done. One more left.", Abigail sighed while looking at the scribbled report on her hand." Let's go to the next floor for the last one."

"No.....it is a prohibited place. Only the doctors and staff members are allowed there.", Sarah repeated what Zac had said her earlier.

"Why the hell is it prohibited?" Abigail asked with irritation.

"It's the notorious C-section of this rehab where the most violent of the lot are kept here under much control. In this section the maniac of cell number 23 resides, the one I told you about yesterday."

"That'd be so interesting. Don't be a spoilsport, Sarah! Come on, we're going.", Abigail sprinted away towards the elevator.

"Wait!", Sarah followed suit.

"Excuse me, miss. You can't go there", an old doctor with salt and pepper hair confronted Abigail.

"Dr. Windscuttle," said Sarah, "She's my friend. She's here to fulfill an assignment given to her."

"I understand, but Sarah, you know that she isn't a doctor or a staff member.", the doctor said as a matter-of-fact.

"Here, look." Abigail confidently took out her identity card, which stated in bold letters that she was a medical student.

"Okay, since you're a medical student, I allow you to go. But remember, the rehab authority would bear no responsibility if something nasty happens. Remember, we warned you."

"Well then, doc, I know my risks."

"Sarah, take her and Miss Slater, convey my hello to Mrs. Hawthorne."

Sarah, with an overly elated Abigail, got into the elevator. Once they reached the notorious floor of the facility, the young student sensed stiffness in the air.

"Don't think that I'm supporting this decision of you. I warned you too." Sarah said in a low voice.

"Oh don't be such a-"

Before Abigail could finish her words, she heard a loud, blood curdling scream. From where did it come?

"Cell number 23....", Sarah mumbled, fear consuming her mind.

Abigail, with measured steps, walked towards the room, leaving a petrified Sarah behind.

When she reached the door, her gray-green eyes widened.

She saw, three ward boys struggling with a boy wearing clothes similar to the other inmates and a blonde, young doctor, standing nearby with an injection kit, loaded with a transparent, dilute liquid, waiting for the frenzy to die down.

"Dr. Abner! Miller is getting out of control!", a ward boy managed to say, struggling.

All of a sudden, another of the helpers punched the aggressive inmate in his guts.

"YOU DARNED CREATURE! I'LL KILL YOU RIGHT NOW AND HERE!!", the inmate's voice thundered throughout the floor.

To get out of the strong grips of those helpers, his skinny and fragile body struggled vehemently, "GIVE ME! GIVE ME SOME MORE OF THOSE! I'M DYING.....LET ME GO!!!"

"Stop it!", the tender voice of the young lady was heard, who silently witnessed the tempest so far, bewildered.

"Stop it, all of you! And you, Miller. Who do you think you are, huh! Stop this nuisance altogether." Abigail panted.

"The helpers, too. You people are also to be blamed. Why did you beat him? Verbal attack was enough. No matter how violent a patient becomes, don't you ever beat them. They too have families who care for them!"

Everyone was silent, including Erose. Abigail neared Erose and stretched out her hand to him. Everyone present there watched the impossible to happen, including Sarah.

Abigail took in a deep breath and within moments, her face lit up by her signature, amiable, pearly smile.

"Abigail Slater, nice to meet you!"

An awkward silence echoed in the room. What happened next, made everyone gasp.

"Erose Miller, nice to meet you too....", he said in a broken voice, shaking his pale, cold and clammy hands with warm, soft hands of the girl.

Withdrawing her hand, Abigail clapped her hands together and said, "Now that we're friends, will you listen to me?"

"Yes...", Erose replied as if some Angel has cast her magical spell on him.

"Then be a good boy and let them do their job."

Erose gazed blankly at Abigail, in a daze.

"Please?"

Zac came towards an abnormally silent Erose and injected the liquid in his arm cautiously. The others watched holding their breaths as the vicious boy drifted to unconsciousness, slowly.

--------------------------------------------------

Abigail had completed her assignment impeccably by that evening. While revising the project, her eyes fell on the name of a certain someone...

Erose Miller

She smiled involuntarily.

Little did she knew what that name had done to her. That the name had already created a soft spot for itself, deep down in her heart.

To be continued...