Finding Humanity: Book 3 in the Saving Humanity Series

CHAPTER 8

Caleb stepped off the last stair into the basement of the hospital, but he didn't feel like he was in a basement. The walls were painted a bright yellow, and fluorescent light chased the shadows out of every corner. He stepped down the hallway to the communal room at the end. Red, blue, and green bean bag chairs were placed strategically around the area, the walls were decorated in jungle décor, with trees in browns and greens, and birds in rainbows of colors. The room felt larger than it actually was, and there was no hospital vibe at all. No antiseptic smell, no IV poles, no monitors. Caleb felt disappointed that he hadn't found this spot before that day.

A door to his right opened and an older man in jeans and a faded black t-shirt stepped through. His two-tone gray beard hung down his chest, and his hair in the back hung below his shoulders. He was thin and the same height as Caleb. His gaze fell on Caleb, stopping him in his tracks. The sides of his mustache lifted upward, and two white teeth glinted beneath the bristles of hair. Immediately, the image of a hamster ran through Caleb's head. He really wished he had found this place sooner.

"Hello, Caleb," the man's voice was low and cheery.

Caleb pushed his eyebrows together and took half a step backward. "How do you know me?"

"I was here when you were brought in."

Caleb brightened. "You know who found me?"

The man shook his head. "No, they were long gone. But the fact that anyone found you at all is amazing."

Disappointment settled over Caleb. He wasn't sure why he was upset about not knowing who had found him. It wasn't like he wanted to thank the person for saving him. Part of him was still upset that he lived. He was curious to know who had been out there, if he knew them or not. Though he was fairly certain he didn't know who'd saved him. He'd hoped that if the person knew him, they'd stay around to keep him company.

"What brings you down here? I hear you're getting out today."

Caleb nodded. "I am. But I heard you might be able to help me with something."

"Oh? What would that be?"

Caleb held up his hands. The wristbands the psychiatrist had given him were prominent and still in place, but wear had begun to show. The ends were frayed, and strings traveled down his arms.

"I was told you might be able to help me cover these permanently."

"The wristbands? Why would you want to do that?" His teeth showed through his facial hair.

Caleb forced a smile, but he certainly didn't feel jovial. Knowing he was being discharged caused him a lot of anxiety. He was being sent to the city to live with some guy he didn't know, and he had no idea what to expect. Last time he'd been in the world, he'd lost everything. He couldn't do that again. He didn't know if he could avoid it though, and that was why he struggled with having to leave.

Staying in the hospital certainly wasn't an option. The place may have been safe and helped him heal, but it absolutely had an institutional feel to it, and that added a sense of entrapment to the other emotions swirling through Caleb. It felt too normal, and life was anything but. The desire to head out into the world and disappear coursed through him. Life would be easier if he was on his own. Since that wasn't an option, he didn't want to worry about his wristbands fraying away and revealing his scars to others. He needed more permanent coverings.

"The nurse who took out my stitches mentioned that you do tattoos. I was hoping you could help me out."

"A tattoo, huh? You know it won't erase the scar, right? It'll just cover it up."

Caleb nodded. "Yeah. I know."

"Okay. Just want to make sure you have realistic expectations about the process."