Into The Dark (open)

Ragnor Elinnson

I come walking down the road towards the hospital for the night shift, in my brown pants, yellow shirt, and a brown jacket, with my bag slung over my shoulders, swinging my flashlight as I whistle a tune on my way to work. At the entrance I bend over to tie the laces on my boots, when out of the corner of my eye I catch a glimpse of you, as you are standing up to prepare to enter the hospital. "Ah Doctor Colquhoun, nice to see you, it seems like days since I've seen you about, why are you here so late?"

Ragnor Elinnson

Something seems off about the good doctor, maybe it's his voice, I hope he doesn't have laryngitis, and why is he wearing his surgical mask? Some things don't add up. I better follow him to be sure. "Doctor Colquhoun wait up, why don't I help you with your, son? I don't have any important work to do I'm just supposed to be keeping Felix's office warm, and filing some paperwork for him (Felix is my step father and mentor, another doctor at the hospital)." I really hope Joshua's OK, I mean I don't know him that well because, he's a year older than me, but like me he'd rather be a doctor than a tribute, and for that we are both outcast at school, though I'm more of an outcast, seeing as I tend to make my distaste for the tributes well known, but this may be a great chance to make a friend my own age, I don't have too many of those. Something still seems off with the doctor, maybe it's the way he walks, or maybe its the color of his eyes, and then there's that damned surgical mask. "Doctor Colquhoun you do know we aren't in quarantine anymore right? You can take your mask off."

Ragnor Elinnson
"Really sir it's fine you don't need to ask me, I don't mind the danger, and besides I can't let you do this on your own, I can't just sit idly while someone is sick, besides two medical minds are better than one." Now I'm sure something is off with the doctor, and that's when it hits me, I was in the lobby when Dr Grubber told the Chief that Doctor Colquhoun wouldn't be in today, cause he was feeling under the weather. Wow I'm so stupid, no wonder things didn't add up, it's not the Josh who's sick, its the Doctor, which means that this is Josh. "Come with me doctor I'll help you get the medicine you need, we'll grab it from one of the empty rooms, therefore it won't be missed." I lead Josh into an empty room and lock the door behind us. "Ok Josh, don't be alarmed, just tell me what is happening with your father, what you are doing here, and what I can do to help."

Ragnor Elinnson

Finally the truth, and to think brave Joshua is willing to risk everything to save the people he cares about, now that's something special, in fact that's a trait that I claim to have, but yet it always shown through in Colm and that trait got him killed, well I can't let Joshua's Dad die, that's not like me, so that leaves me one option escort Joshua to get his supplies, and then make sure he gets out, and then check back with him in a few days. "That's all I was looking for, the truth. Come on, lets go get that cure."

"What's in it for you, Ragnor? Why do you want to help me?"

The question hits me like a ton of bricks, why must there always be some sort of ulterior motive to everything. Why can't people just be nice? "Nothing absolutely nothing, I look up to your father as a doctor, I could see you as a friend, I can't sit idly by and let a good man die. SoI guess what I get from this is a clear conscious, a new friend, and the respect of a mentor."

Don't attract attention, I can do that. "Ok follow me, if you want to go unseen then we should, go to the backup store, there will be less traffic there, and I know the back way to get there." Joshua is right the risk is great, but between the two of us it should be a cinch to survive this mess. I unlock the door, check to see that nobody is around, and then rush out. "Let's go!"

Why is Joshua moving so slowly, it's like he's trying to act unobtrusive or something, the only thing is, that if he's trying so hard he'll get noticed. I know that the easiest way for me to avoid attention is to be myself and that requires me to be loud. If I am loud attention will be drawn to me, not the doctor following me, and when the other staff see it's just me they'll go back to business. I look around and it seems my plan is working, I see a nurse look in my direction and when she sees me she just shrugs and looks away. I see Joshua is nearing the staircase, I go up to doctor Gordon as he walks past, "Hey I was just with Mrs. Briggs and she was complaining about her chest tube, I took a look at it and I think it may be infected, you'd better go check her out." by distracting the good doctor Joshua was able to enter the stairwell I follow.