chapter 2
The official shows Evelyn, Marcus, Kimberly, and Alex around the building. He introduces them to the other faculty of the hospital, as well as showing them a few important rooms. Each wall is white, if not white, some light color. The windows are large rectangle windows, mixed with some square windows.
"You guys won't be working up here, you'll be needed down below," The official says, stopping at an elevator. "If you wanted, there is a pair of stairs, but I prefer we use the elevator for now, this is your first time here after all." He waits for the elevator to open, and when it does, he walks inside. The students follow him, standing beside him so he can press a broken '-1' button.
"-1? Doesn't that just mean basement?" Alex, questions. He is the same height as Evelyn but seems shorter because he slouches most of the time.
"It can, but it was just more convenient to keep it as -1. This way, nobody would press the button," The official answers. The elevator doors close, slowly, and the elevator brings them down. Once they open again, the official brings them through the surprisingly well-lit hallways.
"As you can see on this list, there will only be four patients, so we are only assigning them two doctors. As for the other two, you will be working on something else upstairs," the official says as he passes out the patient list.
"So, which two will stay here?" Evelyn asks.
"You and Marcus will be down here, Alex and Kimberly will stay upstairs with us, occasionally coming down here to help," the official answers.
"So, one patient is already here, when will the other three arrive?" Marcus asks. There are four names on the patient list, Azreal, Iris, Lucas, and Naomi. Underneath their names are the dates they arrived. Azreal's the only one with a date, 5/1/24.
"I know that Lucas and Naomi will arrive tomorrow, and Iris will be the last to arrive on the third," the official answers. "Marcus and Evelyn, follow me, I will take you to Azreal so you can meet him. As for you Alex and Kimberly, make your way back to the elevator and wait for me there," the official commands. Kimberly and Alex begin to make their way back to the elevator.
"Marcus, Evelyn, come with me," the official orders. They followed him to the front desk.
"Azreal, these will be your doctors," the official announces.
"Don't you think two doctors is a little extreme for one person?" Azreal jokes. He is wearing a white shirt and black jogging pants. His hair is black, his style a curly mullet. His skin is soft and lightly tanned.
"You're practically two people, just someone sitting on another's shoulders in a black leather jacket,' the official jokes. Azreal smiles and turns his head while the official shakes his head and laughs.
"Nice to meet you Azreal," Evelyn says. She holds out her hand, waiting for Azreal to shake it.
it's a pleasure to meet you too, whatever your name is," He replies, shaking Evelyn's hand.
"I'm Evelyn, and this is Marcus," she says, pointing back towards Marcus with her thumb. Marcus and Azreal nod at each other.
"Now that the introductions are over, I will just let you know, that Azreal is 27. Even if he is three years older than you both, I'm sure you'll be able to take good care of him," the official informs them.
"Won't be a problem at all," Marcus says cockily. The official smiles and heads back to the elevator to train Alex and Kimberly.
"Want to go explore?" Azreal tempts. His voice is a little raspy but clear.
"After we learn our routine, then yes. But you can tag along," Evelyn offers.
"Sure, sounds a lot better than being alone," Azreal responds, taking the offer. They start to explore each room; a room with filing cabinets is filled with files of every patient that's been to the hospital, and others are filled with information about doctors, nurses, or other faculty members.
As they walk out of the room, they see another doctor standing next to the doorway.
"I'm Mr. Morgan, I'll be showing you around today, helping you learn the routine and all of that fun stuff," he says.
"Yuck, doctor work, guess I'll head to my room now," Azreal jokes as he walks down the hallway. He waves goodbye to Evelyn and Marcus; they wave back at him.
They spend the rest of their day learning what to do in different situations and schedules. It starts with waking the patients up and bringing them to eat, an activity, free time, lunch, group sessions, free time, and dinner, doctors decide what to do with the remaining time, then bed by 11 pm.
"Seems like a lot of work, but it shouldn't be too hard," Marcus yawns. He lays down on his bed, sinking into the soft mattress. Evelyn is sitting on the edge of the bed.
"I am hoping to form connections with them, I mean, they are still people. They are just less fortunate than we are," Evelyn says softly. She lets the words fly off her close to numb feeling face.
"It's cool that we get a room in this place, we can go right to them if anything happens," Marcus says. The room itself seems like a small one-floor apartment. Or a hotel room in the basement. There is a full bathroom, a kitchen, a dining room, a living room, and a bedroom. They do not have much to decorate the place, besides what they packed and what things came with the rooms as well.
"I'm beat from all that walking we did today," Marcus says softly. The clock beside their king-size bed reads'11:50.' They were hoping to get a little more shut eye in, but they attended a small welcome party after figuring out their schedule.
"I'm excited to meet the new patients coming in tomorrow, I wonder what they will look and act like," Evelyn says, thinking aloud.
"The real question is what do their "titles" even mean." Marcus brings up. "The survivor, the artist, the empath, and the strategist. They all sound cool, but also mysterious."
"I hope to find that out eventually, it may just be their talent, who knows. It could mean a lot," Evelyn says, barely able to keep her eyes open.
"You're right, but that is for the future, tonight, we should rest," Marcus whispers. He noticed Evelyn had fallen asleep sitting up, so he tucked her in. He turns the lamp on his bedside table off and makes himself comfortable underneath the covers, falling asleep afterward.