Hurters and Healers

18

We left quietly. We walked through the streets without being noticed and when we were about a block away from the hospital everyone found a nurse and was given a small cut that warranted medical attention. Some of the nurses chose to get one as well but I didn't since I was responsible to explain who we were and why we were there. Everything seemed to be going according to plan which helped calm my nerves a little bit.

Just like Alex predicted, a few kids started crying when they got their cut and had to be comforted by a nurse while they were walked. We let those kids go to the front of the group so that they would be treated first.

I was in the back of the group so by the time I got to the emergency room it was already full of kids from the compound. I saw a doctor looking frantically as if an explanation was going to appear out of thin air, which I guess it was. I made my way over to him so that I could start my speech which every nurse leading the children had memorized and was supposed to give to whatever doctor was in charge.

"Excuse me, are you in charge?" I asked when I got to him.

"Yes, now if you'll excuse me, we're quite crowded and I need to figure out why," he tried to brush past me but I didn't' let him.

"Then it's a good thing I'm here to tell you," I tried to start but he cut me off.

"Look, little girl, I don't know who you are or why you're here but I need to help these people and figure out who did this to them. They're only children for god's sake."

I stood on a chair in the waiting area to get someone's attention since he wouldn't listen.

"Your government did this to these children," I started. That definitely got attention.

"These children have been taken from foster homes, orphanages, or were never put in foster homes but instead were forced to fight the government's battles, most of which they knew nothing about. These little cuts are nothing compared to some of the wounds I've had to treat in the past. When the government can't decide on something, a fight is set up between the two sectors and a fighter is chosen from each side. Whoever wins the fight makes the decision, that's why some decisions take a few days.

"Not only is the government making us fight their battles, but they also kept us a secret from society. These kids train all day instead of going to school or playing outside and having a childhood. When we tried to ask for more freedom and education for these kids, they restricted us more.

"Officers have been sent to the compounds where we live to make sure all we do is train, eat, and sleep. Something needed to be done about it, so here we are. Go ahead and turn on the news, I'm sure the rest of us have made it to the capitol by now," I finished.

I'll admit, it wasn't written the best but we had to rush it and get it out to everyone in time for them to memorize it.

A nurse turned on the news where cameras were already surrounding the capital building and showing the other hospitals which were in the same situation. Some of the nurses were still giving their speeches so the cameras tried to get that.

All the nurses and doctors seemed shocked. All around the room, people were staring and trying to hide their expressions as they stitched arms or legs while also trying to listen to the news report.

We stayed there all night. In the morning the news was turned back on for a statement from their current leader.

"I was aware of the existence of the places these people are coming from, but I did not set them up. I visited one of them a few months ago to assess the situation and found nothing that was an immediate concern. I have been working with my council on a solution but one cannot be found. There are simply too many people."