From Chains

Chapter 9: Confidence

"Please have a seat. The vet will see you shortly." The young receptionist gestures to the chairs. She's cute.

I take my seat, and Pip sits facing me.

I start a new chess game on my phone.

Pip's staring at something behind me. Fear is written all over her face. I turn to get a view. There's a shelf full of whips, tasers, knives and other human punishment devices.

"Pip, look at me."

She's dead still.

I snap my fingers, and it breaks her trance. "Eyes on me."

I turn my phone so she can see the screen. "Try reading that word."

"Pa-ah....-ba"

"No, that's a wa-nn. So it's Pa-ah-wa-nn." I point to each letter. "What happens when you put those together?"

She furrows her brow trying to work it out.

"Take as long as you need."

"P-wan."

"Almost. It's a pawn."

"Prawn."

"No, not a prawn." I chuckle. "A pawn."

"That's what I said."

"Try again."

"P-rawn."

I chuckle again. That's even worse. "Good try. Let's do another one."

"The vet will see you now," the receptionist calls from across the room.

I lead Pip to the vet's office. It's full of expensive medical machines. I don't know how I'm going to pay for this visit.

I greet the vet and gesture for Pip to sit on the examination table. She looks nervous. She shouldn't be. I'm right here.

"She's had a cough for months, maybe years," I tell the vet.

"I see." He grabs a small plastic stick and turns to Pip. "Now, young lady, say ahh."

She looks at me, not opening her mouth. Her arms are wrapped around her stomach.

"Do as he says," I instruct.

She opens, and he swabs inside her mouth.

He places the stick in a machine and presses a few buttons. "She's caught a strain of MXA. It's too much for her immune system to handle. It'll hang around for years if she doesn't get any medication. She'll need an Iberpol shot, and two boosters over the next two months. Symptoms should stop immediately, but the boosters are needed to prevent a relapse."

"Can you give her the Iberpol now?"

"Sure can." He opens a draw and pulls out a hypodermic needle.

Pip's watching him like a hawk.

"Hey, eyes on me," I order.

She stares at me, and he gives her the shot.

I say my goodbyes and head back to the cute receptionist. I still don't have a plan on how to pay for any of this. We could run? No, that's way too risky. The last thing I need is the police on my tail.

We reach the reception desk, and I spot something in the corner – a patient's file. I squint to read the owner's name - Michael Osner.

An idea pops into my head.

"So, how much do I owe?" I ask.

I let my phone slip out of my hands, and It hits the ground with a thud.