“I never even had a chip.” The woman said mournfully. “I never felt like I needed one.”
“That’s nice.” Pat said. “To not need one, I mean.” He clarified.
He wanted a moment to think. As much as he appreciated the company, he desperately wanted to be free. Being stuck in an unfamiliar place was starting to wear down his nerves. The chip managed a lot of things, but whenever there was an unfamiliar situation that brought about new challenges, it needed to be recalibrated by a therapist. If he allowed himself to be overcome by this new situation, he was unsure how he would manage his feelings.
“What is your name?” The woman asked suddenly.
“Pat.”
“I love that. Short for Patrick? That’s a good Catholic name.”
“What is your name?” Pat asked.
“Mayre.”
“That is beautiful.” Normally Pat didn’t compliment people, but he already liked this woman even though he couldn’t see her. She seemed genuinely caring. Like what he imagined an older sister would be like.
“Thanks.” Her voice strained with emotion.
Suddenly the door swung wide and several voices were talking over one another and the room felt as if it was shrinking as the space filled. Pat could hear the sound of several carts being wheeled into the room and something much larger being pushed across the floor. Pat still couldn’t see anything but shadows bouncing across the ceiling. He also couldn’t understand the voices in the background due to the echoing of the room.
“Let me out of here!” Mayre shouted suddenly, cutting through the din.
Some of the voices quieted and one woman close to Pat’s right shoulder said, “We can’t do that just yet. Please stay still or we will have to put you to sleep.”
Pat hadn’t realized that Mayre was trying to escape her restraints until she stopped moving. The shuffling had all blended in with the other noises. More machine noise, more beeping, more metal clinks against other metal.
“Can I speak to the surgeon?” Pat asked the woman.
“He’s unavailable at the moment.” She said abruptly.
“When will he be available?”
“I’m uncertain.”
“Tell him he has a terrible bedside manner. I didn’t even know I was having surgery today.”
The silence that followed was so thick. In a moment, the woman he had been speaking to leaned her head into his line of sight and shook her head from side to side almost imperceptibly.
“It’s so funny what medicine can do to the memory sometimes.” The woman laughed lightly but continued to glare at Pat. “The doctor will debrief you on everything once he is available.” She then walked over to Mayre.
Pat kept quiet. The fear in the woman’s eyes was enough of a warning. Even though he could not see her mouth under the mask, he knew she was no longer smiling.
Suddenly, the door burst open again but this time the response from the staff was shock.
“You’re not allowed in here!”
“How did you gain access…?”
“Put your weapons down!”
The nurse who had spoken to Pat used her body as a human shield over his head. Pat could smell a distinct floral scent along with rubbing alcohol. Her warmth reassured him even though he barely knew her.
“We don’t want to hurt anybody.” Said a muffled voice. “We are here for your patients.”
“We can’t do that. They are under our care.” The nurse said. Pat was certain he was the only one who could hear the quaver in her voice.
“You can continue caring for them if you come with us.” The stranger said.
“How do I know you won’t kill us if we go with you?” The nurse demanded.
“I guarantee that going with us is more safe than staying here. Your life is on the line every day you clock in at this place.”
“Our boss will kill us if we leave with you.”
“No harm will come to you. Where we are going is safe. However, if you try to stop us from taking these patients, we will have to fight you.”
Pat held his breath hoping that the nurse would comply. Pat was a skeptical person by nature but he trusted the armed stranger. Nothing they had said caused him any doubt that they would do what they said.
“Ameena, wheel her out.” Commanded the nurse, easing up on her human shield over Pat.
“Sirona…” The other nurse began to argue.
“I am your superior. Listen to me now.”
“With all due respect, I don’t think this is a good idea.” Ameena said quietly, but Pat could hear her shuffling to do as she was told.
“Can we be released?” Pat asked.
