In the middle of a house call, Zenos lifted his head. “Huh?”
“What’s the matter, doctor?” asked the elderly patient lying in bed.
“Oh, nothing, just... I thought I heard someone screaming.”
“Really? Maybe you’re just tired, doctor. I’m so sorry for making you come all the way out here.”
“Don’t worry about it, gramps. Your strength isn’t what it used to be, you know? I can’t have you walking all the way to the clinic.” The clinic. Was something going on over there?
Zenos gazed out the window at the setting sun and began to prepare for his return home.
***
No, seriously! Where are all the men?!
Liz was sweating bullets as she continued to lay still, eyes closed, on the clinic’s bed. She’d been thoroughly examined by an elf girl, who’d touched her here and there before suddenly prying her eyes open to shine a light in them.
What the hells is this place?!
She’d been planning to use her succubus blood to charm the male guards, but she hadn’t seen a single man yet.
“Hmm, her pupil reflexes seem fine. Um, what was I supposed to do next, again...?” the young elf pondered, a finger on her forehead as she peered down at Liz. “Oh! Right! Zenos said to check the extent of the coma in unconscious patients!” Rustling sounds echoed through the room as the girl prepared something. “I think...um, right, to check how deeply asleep the patient is, I need to inflict pain. Then... Oh, I know! I’ll try crushing a fingernail!”
“W-Wait! Wait, wait, waaait!”
“Huh? Did she wake up?”
“Z-Zzz...”
“Oh? She’s asleep. Did I imagine that too?”
Sweat was streaming down Liz’s temples at this point as she continued to feign sleep. The mastermind’s lair was way, way worse than she could’ve ever imagined. Coming here alone had been premature on her part. This little elf girl, whom Liz had thought was a caretaker, had suddenly begun to act like a torturer! Why, this place was as lawless as the depths of the Black Guild! A paradise for the deranged! No wonder this man had unified the chaos of the slums!
O-Okay. This is getting bad. I need to “wake up.” Things were growing dire. Honestly, Liz feared for her life! Surely if she woke up and caused a commotion, one or two male guards would show up? And then she’d have her chance!
But just as she began to slowly open her eyes, someone barged in through the front door, forcing Liz to hurriedly close her eyes again. A man, maybe? She stole a hopeful peek at the visitor, but...
“Doc! Are you here?!” a voice rang out.
“Oh, Zophia!” Lily said. “Zenos is out doing rounds today.”
“Ah, right,” replied the disappointed visitor with black hair tied up in a ponytail. “I forgot about that.”
Damn it. Another woman. The name “Zophia” was familiar to Liz—that was the leader of the lizardman faction in the slums.
Noticing Liz on the bed, Zophia said, “Oh. A patient?”
“Yeah, Lynga brought her in,” Lily explained. “She hasn’t regained consciousness yet...”
“Hmm. She looks healthy, though. Are you sure she’s sick?”
Liz’s heart skipped a beat.
“Oh, well. Whatever,” Zophia continued. “I just came over to bring some high-quality meat as a gift.”
“You’re always so thoughtful.”
“I mean, the doc’s always watching out for us, you know? It’s the least I can do. Anyway, I’ll leave it here, all right?”
“Okay! Thank you!”
Zophia set down a package on the desk and left. A tribute, maybe? Liz was in a panic, fearing the lizardwoman had seen through her ruse. Her reputation as leader of one of the three major factions of the slums wasn’t unfounded, it seemed. Liz decided to lie low and continue to watch the situation.
Another visitor walked in. Hoping this time it was a man, Liz opened her eyes ever so slightly, but before her stood a tall woman with dark skin. Another woman?!
“Is Zenos here?” the visitor asked.
“Oh, Loewe!” Lily said. “Zenos is doing rounds today.”
“Oh, right, yeah. My bad.” Loewe, likely the leader of the orcs, glanced at Liz down on the bed and pointedly remarked, “Who’s this? An intruder?”
Liz flinched, her eyebrows spasming lightly.
The elf girl shook her head. “No, she was out cold on the street. Lynga brought her in. She won’t wake up, though...”
“Oh, she won’t? Maybe I could try to wake her up with a solid punch to the gut?”
No! No, no, nonononono! Who in their right mind would just casually suggest such a thing?! Was everyone who came here a deviant?!
