Dwellers of the New World Chapter Sixteen ( Pt 2 ) Let There Be Life

Lena awoke from her slumber in the hospital on Obsidian discovering herself alone, she had no idea how long she'd been asleep or what was going on. An overhead strip light flickered on and off in the dim orange of the backup light. There were tubes in her arms which she immediately disconnected as she saw no movement from the machine next to her, but then remembering her trauma and the reason she was lying in this hospital bed in the first place, It was as if the sleep had rejuvenated her, giving the woman a new lease of life.

Getting out of bed, she walked across to the door pressing the button, as it opened she saw a nurse slumped over a monitor in the next room. It was all too much for Lena, having no idea of what was going on. Lifting the sleeping nurse's head, she gazed into her face. “Nurse...nurse!” She shook the woman, but still she didn't move, her body totally relaxed.

“What's going on?” Lena shouted, but nobody came or heard. Walking back to her room, she made her way over to the bedside cabinet where her clothes were and began to dress, there was no way she was staying in the hospital a moment longer.

Picking up the door card, Lena tried using her telek port button, the implant at the back of her ear, she needed to get home quick, but for some unknown reason it wouldn't work. “Dam!” She called out, feeling deflated. “Now I'll have to walk.”

Walking down one of the many corridors to the main reception, bodies were strewn across the floor. Lena had to get out of the place, a feeling of claustrophobia overcoming her. She thought maybe there was something in the air, but couldn't fathom why she'd come round and yet others hadn't.

Finally reaching the entrance, everywhere was quiet, but then she heard a moaning coming from behind the reception. Quickly rushing over to see who it was, Lena found a woman slumped over the reception desk murmuring.

“My head...what's going on? What's happening? Someone tell me...Oh my head hurts so bad!” Lifting herself up, she caught sight of Lena.

“Hey! You! Where you going? You're a patient, I remember you.” The woman tried to stand, but found it impossible to keep her balance.

“You mean you – you've no – no idea what's going on?” Stuttered Lena in a panic.

“Where's everyone? How come you're out of bed?” The poor woman looked around, as the empty silence continued.

“I actually feel fine,” Lena declared. “I need to go home. I'll find out more walking back.”

“But you can't leave, you need to be signed out.” The woman pressed an alarm button under the reception, suddenly a loud piercing, high pitched whine sounded. Lena managed to get the entrance door open, before the woman had time to lock it. She ran out, finding herself in one of the passageways of the underground mall. Gazing around there were more bodies, some people were starting to wake, their eyes opening, not sure where they were at first.

Lena carried on walking, avoiding talking or bothering to find out if anyone else knew what was going on, it was obvious to her that these people were in the same boat as her. Then she saw one of the ladies from her fitness classes, she was with her little girl who was clutching her mother's arm for dear life. Feeling sorry for the child, she ran over. “Kelly! It's Lena...are you okay?”

Kelly looked up at Lena, concern in her eyes. “Mum won't wake up...I think she's dead...please...please help me.”

Lena bent down and touched the child's shoulder. “Kelly! Your mum's not dead, she's just sleeping. You need to stay with her and wait, I promise she'll wake up eventually.” Lena now realised this was a problem affecting everyone, not just the hospital. She worried about Luke and wondered if he was okay. “Kelly – I have to get home, you'll be fine, just stay here with your mother.”

The child nodded that she understood. As Lena hurried away, picking up speed, that sickly feeling came back, remembering she'd not eaten and that was why she'd been on a drip, food was what she needed and home was where the woman needed to be, so she continued on her way.

Dwellers of the New World Chapter Sixteen ( Pt 3 ) Easy Does It | ABCtales