Cry to Me

14.

Over the next few weeks, a routine began to develop and things started to almost feel normal. Despite having restricted access to only a few floors in the building, there was still surprisingly a lot to do. This helped keep Taylor busy and distract her from all of the things she knew she should be worried about.

In the ward, Taylor was gaining experience every day. She would usually work during the week for eight hours, having two days off on the weekend, and then repeat the process all over again. She started knowing almost nothing, but in a matter of weeks she was able to clean wounds, help cast broken bones, give medications, and assess patients who came in. Most of the patients she saw were coming in for routine exams or procedures, like vaccinations or people trying to renew their drivers licenses. Occasionally, a child of one of the army members would show up with a broken bone, knowing they would get expedited service compared to the public hospitals. So far, nothing too serious had shown up on the ward, but they wanted her to be ready for almost anything. As a result, she was being trained to help with everything from cardiac issues to serious injuries caused by military-related activities, like amputations. At the end of the day, she was content to know that at least she was getting the opportunity to do something she had always wanted to do.

All of the staff she interacted with on the ward were also working for the military, but most of them lived outside of the building in residential areas or in other areas of the city. Initially, the staff acted extremely cautious around her, and she figured they had been warned about who she was and that she was not allowed to leave the building. Who would that not scare, even just a little? After some time passed, though, they began to treat her more like a team member, which helped her feel like she belonged there. No matter how settled she was beginning to feel, however, there was always a nagging feeling at the back of her mind that would not leave her alone.

She could also tell that David was settling in to his new role. He worked late many nights, but he had a passion for what he was doing that was evident every time she would ask him about his day. He also seemed to open up a little about what he found out doing his research, which helped to explain a few of the unresolved dilemmas she still had. One night, David came home after a twelve-hour shift and anxiously called out for her. She came running out of the bedroom, thinking something had happened.

Taylor: What's wrong?

David: You need to sit down for this.

Curious, she sat down and he soon sat across from her so he could watch her reaction.

David: Remember how all of the creatures in the base were dead? At the time I didn't really put much thought into how they had died, but I found out today. There's a specific frequency that's too high for us to hear, but it's lethal to them! When it played in that enclosed space, they couldn't handle it. Can you imagine that?

Taylor: So are they going back in to the city to get rid of the rest of the Chimeras? To save whoever's left?

David: Well, the thing is, it doesn't really work the same way in the city. They need the enclosed space for it to work, otherwise the sound dissipates too rapidly and it can't take full effect. They are trying to figure something else out, though they haven't committed to anything yet. On top of that, they'd rather divert the resources to other things right now – of course.

He grabbed her hand and looked at her.

David: If there's anything we can do, we will. It's just a matter of time.

This did not give her much hope, but she was content to at least know there was another way to destroy the creatures. Somehow, though, it seemed like it had been a different lifetime in which she had seen them – as if they were not even real anymore. She felt guilty for thinking it, but she started doubting whether there was even anyone left to save.