Significant Annoyance

Vitrol Business #1

It took a minute for Will to find his voice back."Oil of Vitrol...Sulphuric Acid...that is what that kid got splashed with?" Will asked cautiously. 

"That's what I told you", Kayla said.

"This is insane." Nico added.

"We should get going then. Oh my gods, another one..." Will muttered, as he started walking forward with a fast pace. (Bad intro, bad intro) 

"Will!" Kayla called out. Will kept on walking. Kayla didn't have a hard time catching up with Will's long-legged, now fast-paced but Nico had to practically break into a sprint to catch up.

Nico was certainly surprised by the sudden changed in Will's demeanour. He was walking unusually straight and upright. His movements seemed automatic. His face was drained of colour  and the carefree smile, which could light up a town, which seemed to be permanently present on his lips, were replaced by nervousness. With his trademark humour and cheerfulness replaced by fear and trauma, Nico felt as if the sun got clouded on a nice summer day.

Presently, they had reached the infirmary. The screams and wails they could hear before now had become louder. As Will automatically reached out for the door handle, Kayla held his wrist.

"Look Will", she said, "If you are not okay with it, no one's forcing you into this."

Will looked directly into his sister's cobalt eyes, which shone with concern. He looked  certainly scared, but his now-paper white lips were pressed together in a hard line and tear-brimmed, sapphire eyes gleamed with determination. Whoa, talk about work dedication.

"Nico?" Will said.

Nico's head jerked up in Will direction, quickly enough to give him a spasm.

"Accompanying me inside or not: the choice is totally yours. But I'd like your presence inside the infirmary." He finished.

Whoa. How many people want the son of a death god inside a place were lives are saved??

"Uhh...I guess I'm coming with you." Nico said.

"Good." Will said mustering the small smile he could.

Without another word, Will turned the handle. Will stepped in, followed by Kayla, who mouthed him 'Thank you' as she went. Nico went in at last. 

After stepping in, Nico almost had second thoughts about his decision. The room stunk.  At the end, he could see a group of people standing in a circle, all of them wearing lab coats. Near Will's study desk, he saw a pair of shoes lined up. He was about to move in further, before a hand on his shoulder stopped him. He turned around to meet a masked face with a pair of deep, cobalt blue eyes and cocoa brown hair tied in a short ponytail - it was Kayla. She was also wearing a doctor's apron.

She handed Nico an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. After rubbing his hands with that, she handed him a white apron and a surgical mask to cover his face. She pointed at his feet like: your shoes. He looked down at Kayla's feet, and saw that the usual sports shoes seen at her feet were replaced by blue flip-flops. Nico then got down to undo his boots. 

"I am sorry for all this fuss", Kayla said, as she pushed a pair of black flip-flops towards him, "But Will and other medics are really particular about hygiene standards. Oh, and he also told me to look out for you." She finished. 

"Shall we proceed?" Kayla asked, as Nico finished donning Apollo-cabin-approved-infirmary-outfit. They went nearer towards the end, where the treatment was taking place. 

Calling that sight gut-wrenching, stomach-turning, brutal or gory didn't just put it right. A young child, about 10 yrs of age, was made to sit in a tub. He was literally bawling his eyes out. Four to five people, wearing white aprons, gloves, masks and safety goggles were scurrying around and trying to control the situation.