Chapter two

Anderson's POV

Three weeks later…

“Dr Anderson, Stuart is awake!” One of the nurses that worked directly under me informed me, barging into my office. The seriousness of the matter on ground stopped me from protesting against the manner in which she had entered my office. The nurse, whose name I have long given up trying to remember, went out as quickly as she had come in with me trailing behind as expected.

As I made my way towards the ward where Stuart is, I tried as much as I could to smile at those who greeted me, or waved or even smiled at me. Being an expert in one's field attracts public attention. I said to myself, exhaling fearfully. Although I have no idea what awaits me in Stuart's ward, I felt bad. What if he remembers me? I asked myself, while I frantically struggled to keep my lips from quivering.

After three weeks of being unconscious, Stuart had finally regained consciousness, and as the doctor in charge of his case, I was immediately alerted. I shook my head slightly as images from three weeks ago surged through me, making me wonder if I was truly in the right state of mind when I agreed to all that.

At the entrance of Stuart's ward, a group of onlookers which consisted of patients, friends, and even hospital staff had gathered to satisfy their curiosity but none of them dared to go in, even though the door was only half closed.

The news of Stuart's unconscious state had spread throughout the walls of the hospital and so his sudden arousal from coma had attracted the presence of several onlookers who wanted to see things for themselves. Their whisperings could be heard as they pried to have a look through the half opened door and at the same time struggled to not get the door any more opened than it was.

"Give way, all of you". The nurse who was ahead of me called out and they all scurried away from the entrance to take strategic positions nearby.

Once I got to the entrance, I stepped into the room, without sparing any of the onlookers as little as a glance. The nurse, who had waited behind the door for me to step in, shut the door.

"Leave it open a little. He needs natural air". I instructed, and she opened the door a little, to keep the prying eyes out.

"How are you feeling?". I asked, turning my focus on Stuart, who sat docile on the bed.

The past three weeks had healed most of the injuries, leaving in their place scars and bruises. Stuart's facial expression had suddenly switched from being dazed to being apprehensive as he moved farther into the bed with every step I took toward him. He looked as though he had seen a ghost. He kept moving his gaze from the nurse to me and then back to the nurse again as though he was seeking her help.

"Don't touch me. Don't hurt me again. please don't make him hurt me again". Stuart screamed, trying frantically to get the drip off his wrist, as it prevented him from moving any further.

"Shut the door, now!" I ordered the nurse at once.

"Sir, what is going on? She asked, confusion written all over her as she pushed the door close.

"It is nothing serious. Clear the hallway, then call me Dr Sofia". I instructed, with a relaxed look. Within me I was in severe turmoils.

She stepped outside, and soon the sound of retreating footsteps could be heard in the hallway.

How did it manage to not work? I followed all the procedures. I did. I wondered within myself.

"Is he awake? How is he doing?". Came Dr Sofia's voice, once she stepped into the ward.

"As you can see". I replied, pointing at Stuart who was now facing the wall, whimpering sorrowfully. The drip now hung loose from the pole, sending drops of liquid to the bed.

With a signal from Dr Sofia, I turned to the nurse, who was looking as clueless as we expected.

"Prepare documents for the other patients, and then administer to them their afternoon dosage". I instructed, while she left immediately. A part of me wondered if it was suspicion I sensed when she took a last glance around the room just as she shut the door.

"What the hell happened?" Dr Sofia asked, once she was sure we were out of earshot.

"I don't know. He seems to have a clear memory of me".

"Did you administer ZIP to him as I instructed?". Dr Sofia asked, in a hushed voice.

“Of course. I did everything just as you directed.” I replied, my voice coming out in whispers.

"How is it that his memory is still intact". Dr Sofia asked, moving towards Stuart who is now quietly dozing off.

With a gentle tap on Stuart's shoulders, she aroused him from his slumber, making him jerk a little. He raised his head to see who it was that had interrupted his peaceful sleep. Once he locked eyes with Dr Sofia's, he resumed screaming, this time way louder than the last.

While Dr Sofia tried to quieten him, I just stood there, confused and scared, perspiration breaking out of my forehead and neck.

When I stopped hearing Stuart's screams, I looked just in time to see Dr Sofia throwing a now empty syringe into the refuse bin.

"Don't just stand there!" Dr Sofia called, steadying a now unconscious Stuart with her legs.

Together, we carried him and placed him on the bed where he had got off from, which was now wet.

"What did you do to him?" I asked, panic-stricken.

"Nothing serious, I Just knocked him out for a few hours, to buy us time.

"How long will he be out for?" I asked, surprised at Sofia's courage even though I was crumbling at the moment.

"Eight hours, minimum". She replied, without facing me. She busied herself with fixing the drip Stuart had removed minutes ago, even though we both knew it contained nothing but water.

"You mentioned buying us time. What does that mean?" I asked, swallowing hard, in readiness for her reply which I somehow knew wasn't going to be pleasant to my ears.

"It is what I said, Anderson. To buy us more time". She replied, her voice growing colder with each word.

"But.." I started to say but trailed off immediately.

The look Dr Sofia gave me afterwards killed every other question I had concerning the mission.

"We have to act fast. I mean really fast". Sofia suddenly said, moving towards the door while I slowly trailed behind.