Page 108 of Redemption
Former Occupation: Tank Operator, USMC
Strengths:Discipline, loyalty, obedience
Medical:
Virus: Negative
STD Panel: Negative
Fertility: Positive
Medical examination: Patient shows signs of a past injury to the skull resulting in minor head trauma and possible PTSD. All tests have been completed. Immunity to the virus has been confirmed. STD testing negative on full panel. Virility has been confirmed. As of today, I see no need for a release from duty.
Primary Job Affiliation: Security Detail, Beta Team. Lineman Leader.
Newly assigned to lead rehabilitation and integration of Jackson Rhodes
Ascension Detail: Approved
There are a few more pages attached to this one but still... What the fuck?
I barely get to contemplate the question when the door opens, revealing a man in a lab coat. He stands awkwardly at the threshold, staring at me while I stare back, both of our flashlights aimed at one another. We’re stuck in a silent standoff where I don’t intend to back down even though I’ve been caught with my proverbial hand in the cookie jar. He turns his gaze to the side, silently scanning the hallway and confirming I’m the only one here, before furrowing his brows at me. “New girl?”
Still not removing my hand from the file—I mean... he might not even notice that I’ve pilfered his goods. Why draw attention to it?—I respond, “Yes?”
Without even batting an eye at what I’m obviously doing, he turns down the hall and lifts his hand over his shoulder in a waving motion. “Perfect. I was just informed of your arrival. I’m Stitch. Let’s get started. Follow me, please.”
Stitch...
This must be the man Darius told me about earlier.
I mentally file away the information I managed to gather and set the files back in the cabinet before turning to follow him. Despite the fact that Dare said he was trustworthy, I’m instantly on edge as he leads me down the hallway.
With an almost imperceptible stumble, Stitch stops just outside the room Hawk was carried out of and silently takes in the mess of bodies lying around the room. Blood is splattered everywhere, and a little trail of red is beginning to ooze out into the hallway. He exhales heavily, seemingly more annoyed than shocked, before turning to the opposite side and opening the door next to the bathroom. Lifting a hand, he allows me to enter first. I’m reluctant to do so, but I remind myself to trust in Darius as I take a seat on the bed in the center of the room while still clutching my flashlight between my tense fingers.
Stitch closes the door but remains there, staring at the white wood for a moment. His shoulders lift and lower with a deep breath before regarding me again. “Is your name Alessandra, by chance?”
Shit. How do I play this? Do I give him a real name, or should I fudge that information? Darius said he trusts this guy, but then again, he also said to not trust anyone. On the other hand, I was sent here by David to do some sort of onboardingmedical examination. That means paperwork. Paperwork that, according to Darius, would end up in that filing cabinet right next to everyone else’s. In the long run, it might not be a bad idea to have a paper trail just in case something goes wrong. Besides, this guy seems to already know who I am. So, what’s the harm? Real name it is. “Yes, Alessandra... or Aly,” I answer.
As if overwhelmed by my confirmation, Stitch rubs his palms down his face before placing his hands on his hips. “Ok,” he says, nodding to himself before repeating the word, a bit more seriously this time. “Ok.” He takes a small step forward, palms facing me as if I’m a wounded animal about to strike. Which... to be fair... after everything I’ve been through regarding this town, might happen. “You’re going to be ok, Alessandra. But I’ve got to be honest, you’re both fucking lucky I had to cover the overnight shift for Forge. If he were here, he wouldn’t have given two shits about you. Rest assured, however, you’ll be safe with me.” He takes another tentative step forward but pauses when my grip on the flashlight tightens in response. “Drone... shit...Dariuswas the one who told me about you. Asked me to watch over you until he returned. I know you don’t know me, but youcantrust me. Just...sit tight and stay quiet. I’m the only one on the floor right now, so no one else will bother you.”
With nothing more than a sympathetic nod, he exits the room, leaving me on my own.
∞∞∞
Not even five minutes later, voices filter in through the walls.
“Sorry, sir, the Infirmary is empty. Our last two patients were reassigned. They’ve both been relocated already.”I recognize that voice to be Stitch’s, but who’s he talking to?
“No new patients?”
“No, sir.”
“I find that hard to believe, Stitch,” the other man says skeptically with a deep southern drawl. “I specifically sent Drone over here with a new arrival not twenty minutes ago, saw them both enter the facility with my own two eyes. He never showed up to our meeting, so I decided to take a little walk over to see what the holdup was.”
“I’m not sure what you’re referring to, sir. I just got back from reviewing the tests sent from Ascension House. Haven’t seen a soul since.”
A momentary pause, and then...
