NightTide: The Girl With Red Eyes
Heated Blankets

It was a few hours before the doctor came back in. He brought one of those heated blankets, it was nice. “It looks like we’ll be able to get a CT Scan this Wednesdays.”

Wednesday… I didn’t know what day it was. “Wait, what day is it now?”

He seemed confused for a second and then answered. “It’s Saturday? Do you keep track of the date?”

I didn’t… unfortunately. “No. I don’t really know how to?”

He pushed his glassed back up towards his face. “Hmm. What’s your education level?”

Education? “What’s that?”

He seemed to be choking when I said that, he had a small coughing fit. “How long have you been conscious?!”

It’s been about a year, hasn’t it? Well as far I know Kayla said I’d been around them for a about five months. Jessica said I’ve been here for almost a month now. “I think six or seven months? From what I know I’m seventeen?”

He calmed down his coughing fit. “Ok then, I see you have the sharp teeth as well. Do you know if the body you’re in has been infected for a while?”

That doctor lady said they found me at thirteen I think. “They said I was found at thirteen? Apparently, I’ve been in something called a coma until around seven months ago?”

He started scratching his chin. “I see… I’m surprised by your maturity given your state of infancy. At least you seem far more mature then the others, around your age of consciousness. Can I ask, what were the conditions of who you were with before? I understand you were captured when Jessica and Keith went out with a detachment to rescue Elizabeth.”

I had to think about it for a minute. “Kind of like this place. Though they had a lot more of the color white. I had two friends I helped out, we had to guard stuff occasionally.”

He was leaning against the wall now. “Were you thrust into that lifestyle or was it a change from something else.”

I guess I didn’t have much else I did. “No, I woke up and was immediately put into that situation.”

He scratched his chin again. “So, you were thrown into a military lifestyle… I guess that would be where the maturity comes in, you didn’t have much else you could do and was forced to adapt… I’ve read Jessica’s report on your past, at least what little she could replace. I haven’t seen your medical records though. That would explain why she’s willing to show you such mercy… No matter, it’s late and you should get some sleep. I need to check in with Jessica to see if she has your file.” He shut off the light and I heard a click, I think they locked me in the room again.

The next day the same doctor came in and he had a calendar… He was also wearing a lab coat covered in pumpkins. “So, how do you feel today Red?”

I felt fine. “Fine I guess, I’m bored though.”

He let out a small chuckle. “Understandable, now I’m not a teacher but I should at least be able to show you how to keep track of the days. Today is Sunday.” He pointed to the word Sunday on the calendar, specifically the one with a twelve on it. “it’s October twelfth and the year is twenty-one thirty-two. When you wake up tomorrow it’ll be October thirteenth, each day you just move one forward.” It’s not that hard to grasp I guess. “At least, that’s the best way I can explain it.”

That coat was getting to me for some reason. “I’ll do my best to keep track then. Why are you covered in pumpkins?

He smiled. “It’s going to be Halloween soon, it’s an old holiday but it seems to have stuck around.”

Halloween? “What’s Halloween?”

He had a small frown when I said that. “Well, that’s something you might want to ask Jessica’s friend Keith about, he seems to be the most into it. I just like the strange outfits that get made around this time of year.”

He left and came back with another one of those heated blankets. I really like those things. I had to lay in bed all day, it sucked. A nurse came by every now and again so I had amassed like four blankets and buried myself in them, it was… cozy.

I fell asleep in the blankets for a bit and woke up when I felt the ground shaking a little, it was a large set of footsteps. I immediately though Owen but remember that I wasn’t there so Keith came to mind.

There was a click and the door to the room opened, I was still under the blankets though.

I Immediately heard a feminine voice, it sounded like Jessica. “Where’s she at!?” I popped my head out of the blankets and let out a yawn. Her face was filled with anger and then it softened. she laughed, like the kind you try to hide. “Snrk! Ok ok, I’m not going to lie that was kind of cute. Red, don’t do that again.”

What did I do? “What did I do wrong?”

She sighed. “Nothing, just don’t do anything that would make us think you ran off. How did you get your hands on that many blankets?”

Why did she need to know that? “When one got cold I asked a nurse and they brought another one?”

She tilted her head a little… Then she walked out of the room. A few minutes later she came back with another blanket and tossed it at me. It was warm, I felt like I was melting, it was so good.

She seemed a little irritated now. “That would explain why they didn’t take them away… Dammit, now this is where you looking like me is a problem. They knew you weren’t me but I guess they liked seeing that damned smile of yours and probably imagined me having that smile… It’s adorable but that isn’t a reason to let you have so many blankets.” She walked over and took the old blankets, much to my dismay. She took them out of the room and I assume she handed them to a nurse. Then she walked back in. “ONE! Blanket at a time.”

I let out a sigh. “Fine, they’re just so comfortable.”

She crossed her arms and turned around. “Alright Keith you can come in now.”

I saw Keith lower his head and walk into the room, the doorway was a little too short for him.

Once he was through he stretched his back. “Ah, at least these rooms are taller than the hallway.”

Jessica looked at me once he was in the room. “Well this is a little embarrassing but in our little eh, fight I said I was going to train you. Well I don’t have time to right now but Keith does. He’s agreed to train you once we get the ok from the other three base officers. When I finish up my paperwork I’ll be taking over but until then Keith will be handling it. That’s really all we came here to say, that and we got you some food.” She tossed me a bag that had fries in it. “That’s all Red, Keith will come get you in the next couple of days.” They walked out, I was given food, lectured, and told I would be training all at once. I guess it could have gone worse.