Three Hearts Left Intact

Chapter 41: New Department

Every vent guard Kaila passed she didn't dare stay long in fear that somebody would notice her. While she was at everybody's feet level there was still enough light that someone would be able to see in through.

But after hours of nonstop crawling, her body started aching. Her arms were trembling and her knees were red from all the pressure they were under.

Finding a safe spot in between two vent gates, Kaila stopped to take a break. Softly she laid her body down onto the metal and let the cold material cool off her burning hot skin.

Trying to think of anything other than go to sleep,  she began listening to what was going on in the halls to keep her mind awake. While their voiced sunk into the vent, the echoing distorted them enough to a point where Kaila could no longer make out the words.

Quietly she pulled herself closer to a vent guard further up ahead, Kaila laid her head near the opening listening outward. Unlike before where the blaring siren of the lockdown rang and the yelling of the Hounds were the only background noise she could hear, this spot had none of that. In fact the closer she listened she realized the conversations being held were nothing like what the doctors and nurses had in the halls either.

Carefully peaking her head out she nearly gasped seeing the surroundings. The classic white walls of the department were now replaced by a dark maroon felt wallpaper. The entire hallway was made of this material. Looking at the individuals in the hall, rather than looking like a Hound, doctor, or nurse they wore all black suits. Some even had bright and dark spots of red on them.

'Where am I?' Kaila questioned as the realization hit her. 'I'm not in Lauren's department anymore, am I?' Looking back out at the people standing in the hallway she listened closely to their conversation.

While most of it was gibberish to the small girl, by the way they spoke of their horrible methods of dealing and taking care of the terrible behavior many of their patients had—Kaila put the pieces together. 'I'm not in D5 anymore, this is D4.'

Thinking back to the file she had seen in Lauren's office about Lain, she remembered seeing large bolded letters on the top corner reading D4.

'Lain's in this department...' before she knew it a small tear fell from her eye just at the thought of being reunited with Lain. Being trapped within the walls of facility have taken away some of her sense of time. Taking another look out at the people in the hallway, Kaila tried to take her attention away from her own mind before she got caught up thinking about being in Lain's arms once again.

"...he had another episode. Which I don't get. The doctor cleared him of all the symptoms last week, so I don't understand why he's still having them. I really had hope he was going to drop back down to S1. What about you?" The man looked towards one of his buddies as he asked.

"Sorry to hear that. Patient 54's been doing really well actually. Remember how I told you he tries to attack the guards I have in the room with me while I try giving him his daily injection...well he hasn't done that in like two weeks. Can you believe?! I think this injection therapy is working, I say maybe another week or so of leaving him on this and he won't ever think about fighting back again." The small group of friends laughed.

"What about you?" The first man asked the girl of the group.

"I wish I had the option to put Patient 100 on the  injection therapy. Her body's too sensitive," she sassily spoke, "or so the doctors say. They won't clear me on getting her started with the injections. She's still fighting back as expected. If it wasn't for Harry in there with me she would've clocked me in the face."

"Woah, it's a good thing he was there." One of the men said.

The other leaned in closer to the other two whispering something that Kaila could just about hear.

"At least she isn't like Patient 102, I heard that even Elias had some trouble with her. Rumor has it that while he was trying to ask her some basic questions she kicked him in the gut and in the ba-"

"Alright we get it!" The woman interrupted as they all broke into laughter. "But do you mean Elias, as in the Elias Fendly. What was he doing dealing with a patient? I swear him and his wife do nothing but sit in their office all day long and make sure were doing their work."

"No idea. But there's got to be something special with patient 102 for him to personally come down here."

The group of friends would've continued talking about work if it wasn't for a loud ding that rang through the halls. "Alright back to work. I'll see you guys later." One of the men waved his hand letting Kaila get a good look at the red stains he had on them.

Her eyes bulged when she took a closer look at the rest of them before they could disperse. In similar fashion they each had some kind of red stain on their skin.

'These guys are crazy! I've got to get out of here and find Lain be...befor...' her thought got cut short as a flashback of the file appeared back in her mind. 'Lain's patient 102! I need to find where she is?! If their just about to start work back up again I need to find her soon. Who knows how much pain she could be in?!'

Getting back up onto her hands and knees Kaila began crawling once again through the vents. She crawled until the fire in her began to run out again, the grumble in her stomach and dryness to her throat signaled as to why. 'I can't stop. Not now. Not while I'm so close to getting Lain!' She pushed through finding the motivation and encouragement she needed from inside her own will.

'I'm coming Lain, don't worry.' Kaila reassured herself as she pushed on further in the cold vents. At each vent opening she briefly paused checking her surrounds for any clues that might be out there. This was foreign territory. Kaila didn't know her way around here, or what she might find. Keeping her eyes open to the different possibilities that lie here, she crawled until she overheard a rather interesting conversation.
——————————————————————————
Let me know what you think. Thanks Lexx signing off