Reserved for the Wealthy

The hospital was, as most are, very cold. Even the air itself felt derived of any bacteria. Unnaturally clean. It was smooth and well kept in an unsettling kind of way that made you feel small and insignificant. It was also quiet. A blistering kind where you felt it was not right to utter a breath from your unclean mouth. That you would soil the peace this world held. Every footstep echoed in the halls, bouncing brilliantly off every surface. Each sound could be heard three or four times over. The only present noises that kept at a constant rate was the air conditioning and the scratching of a pen on paper. There was the occasional cough from other patients.

It was dark outside. Far past midnight, but too early in the morning for any regular person to have woken up at that time. Perhaps three or four am. Regardless of time, there were still a few patients and one or two family members sitting silently in smooth plastic chairs. While most were awake, a few were sleeping. Allicia was not any of these people.

There was a woman at the reception desk. She had quite full eye bags and seemed very annoyed to have the job with the subtext night shift on it. Contrary to her weakened state, she was still working as diligently as ever. She uttered not a single word, and didn't look up as Lucus approached. She might hadn't have heard him, but she could also have been ignoring him. Her name tag read Allice. She looked like an Allice. Very plain looking, but not ugly. None of her features stood out, and had very stereotypical eyes and hair. Dark brown, all neatly put together hair, with eyes to match it. Lucus stopped in front of her. He reached forward and patted around on the desk intended for the audience to use. He found what he was looking for. A bell, as most places like this used. He clicked it once, then twice.

"Emergency room or just a checkup? If it's not the emergency room, ya gotta wait in line." She continued looking down at her paper, writing away as though this was a speech she had recited millions of times. She lifted her hand slowly and pointed at the seats holding people who had gotten there before Lucus. Lucus, being blind, didn't bat an eye.

"I need to visit a friend. Name, Allicia- well sorry. I don't think I know her last name." Allice's aura felt demanding and scary. Lucus began to pick at some fraying paint on the cliff of the desk. It was well worn, indicating many had used this stress reliever before. "Please." He added politely, flashing a smile.

"Hold on. Give me a second." Allice reached down and pulled out a sheet of paper. It was excruciatingly slow. She wasn't old, but she seemed to be twenty years older. Allice typed a few numbers and letters into the computer and searched in silence. Lucus, not quite sure what to do, drummed his fingers on the desk, until she made a little menacing noise. A few clicks of her mouse and she put on her glasses. "Aah. Okay. Are you family?" if anyone looked at Lucus and Allicia, they would not, in fact believe they were family. Fortunately, she hadn't looked at him. Lucus wavered, his morals spinning around. He had come all this way, however. He wasn't backing down now.

"Yes." He tried his luck. She didn't seem to remember his lack of last name for Allicia. She never even took down his name. She actually didn't look like she was really listening much at all.

"Okay then." She peered in closer to the screen and typed a few more characters in. "Well, it looks like she just came in about fifteen to minutes before you. She is in the emergency room, but she's being moved out to a private one. Are you the person who paid for that?" She seemed to be slightly sidetracked.

"No, I don't think so."

"Hmm. Oh you're right. Somebody under the name Dover. Ben Dover." Allice blinked, pausing to make sure it wasn't a mistake. She scowled, but knew better than to blow up at a child. Lucus successfully suppressed a laugh. "So she's going to be in room three twenty five. Third floor. Just go down the hall to the right. Fifth door to the left." She was reluctantly helpful, however, what Lucus was fixated on was whether he should be grateful for the fact she never once took how he looked into account, or offended. But then again, neither did he.

Lucus jogged over to the elevator, careful not to allow his footsteps to give away his dangerous speed. He reached over to the elevator panel and found the bumps reading three in braille. He stuck his hand to the wall and followed the woman's instructions. He would normally have his walking stick, however, he had left it at home for fear of hitting an old pompous rich person.

He knocked on the door before going in. Ben greeted him. The entire aura of the place was quiet. Not just in itself, but it screamed that you had better follow its example.

"I guess you're Ben Dover." Lucus whispered to Ben. He followed with a laugh. It wasn't a very happy laugh. More like a tired one. Ben's chuckle in response followed suit. "Is she sleeping?" Lucus already knew the answer, but it felt right to ask. Ben pat Lucus's shoulder to signify yes in a silent manner. Equivalent to that of a nod.

The entire room was rather large. Perhaps twice that of Lucus's bedroom. Although, to be fair, his wasn't awfully large itself. It was dimly lit, however this seemed purposeful. Everything looked pristine and well kept. One reserved for the wealthy patients to purchase. Someone with a background like Ben's. It was lit with a warm welcoming color. One that could resurface the warmth of a campfire, or other happy memories. A curtain surrounded Allicia's bed.

"How long has she been out?" Lucus asked. He was now fiddling with the cuticles of his fingers, pushing them backwards worriedly.

"She hasn't woken up once. They won't tell me what happened."