Brandon was well aware that even before the world had changed to how it was, people weren't so quick to trust each other. It was the society and the rules put in place that controlled the people because if everyone naturally had true freedom of their actions, then the entire world would have long turned lawless.
Now they were starting to see parts of this lawless world coming out, and Brandon wouldn't be so quick to trust everyone. In the first place, how could a doctor become a leader of a large group and have full control over it? There were certainly hidden factors leading to this situation, and Brandon strongly felt that things might go wrong at any wrong step.
After all, even Ryan managed to control people only due to the secret supply of resources he had gathered, which was why people were willing to listen to him. As for Brandon, he had skills and strength, which helped him gain the respect and position he had within the group.
"What do you want from us?" Brandon asked, still not moving forward while also keeping an eye on the guard in front of them. "Weapons? Supplies? Medicine? Although I doubt you would need the last one."
The doctor pulled down his mask, revealing a smile so wide that it created wrinkles on his face and squinted his eyes in the shape of crescent moons.
"I am a fair person. And I will only ask for a debt if there is one in the first place. It would be completely unfair of me if I were to ask for something without even helping with your problem. But if I were you, I would hurry up or else forget about the ones at your base. You might not even be able to save the one on your back."
Dave turned his head and looked at Brandon. Although he was worried, he was concerned for Pink's mother more than anyone. She was still coughing even now, and although he had yet to tell the others because he didn't want to worry them, she had been coughing a bit of blood for a while as well.
It was hidden underneath her sheets and her hands. Dave could only imagine the pain she was suffering from and why she had hidden it, not wishing to worry her daughter. In the end, he took a deep breath, firmed himself, began to walk forward, and passed the guards as he headed through the hallway to the other side.
It was then that Brandon realised that even if he wanted to do something, it would now put Dave and Pink's mother at risk, so he decided to stand down and just let things transpire without interfering.
After a while, Dave placed the woman on the floor. The doctor clicked his tongue, and two men stepped out from the side doors, each with weapons. They weren't in any uniform like those at the museums but just looked like average citizens.
However, even if they weren't trained in some ways, people with no training at all with guns were more dangerous, and Brandon was relieved he hadn't made a move or else the situation would have turned into an ambush.
"Alright, you two, put her in operating room three, and we will get to work." The doctor ordered the two men.
One knelt but stopped a few seconds before touching the mother.
"Will we be okay, touching her, I mean? Won't we be infected by whatever she has? I mean, you didn't even give us masks."
Before the man heard a reply, the doctor lifted up his foot and kicked the man right in the face.
"Did you forget your current position?" The doctor sneered, "Besides, if you do get unwell, I will be the one helping you out, so I don't think it's a good decision to start talking back to the person who can save your life."
It was as Brandon expected, so he wasn't too surprised, Dave looked like he wanted to say something, but Brandon kicked the back of his leg before he did. This wasn't their place to get involved, not yet, anyway. But Brandon was going to make sure to report everything back to Ryan, and only then would they plan about further business with the Hospital group.
——
The pair continued to follow the guard that had brought them to see the doctor, and as they waited for the doctor to go through the checkups and examine the woman's condition, the guard brought them to the reception area.
This was a large hall with several hundred seats. It was where patients would wait before being called into different sections of the hospital. At the same time, it looked like it was also the place where most of the hospital group was staying. Their numbers were quite huge, however, almost all of them seemed like normal citizens.
Everyone had formed their own little groups as they talked amongst themselves. However, there was a strange tension in the air. No one came to greet or talk to the strangers, and at the same time, there were those that had been allocated guns and were guards in the room, as well as a couple working behind the reception desk.
'They all have their positions in this place, but it seems like everything is assigned out of fear more so than anything else.' Brandon thought.
Some people were sitting in the seats on their own, not part of any group, and that's when Brandon noticed a young man seated alone at the very back. Brandon walked over and sat in the second back row, with the teenager just behind them.
Leaning back, he noticed that the teenager was bandaged up here and there but had this worried look on his face as his knees were trembling up and down.
Dave was wondering what they were doing but didn't say anything, believing that Brandon was onto something and it was best for them not to attract any attention.
"There is something wrong with this place," Brandon whispered. "We are from around here, and from the looks of it, you aren't part of this group as well. Someone in our group is unwell, so we have come here to take them to the doctor. Do you know what's going on?"
After whispering those words, Brandon was expecting a response, but instead, even after a few minutes had passed, the teenager didn't say anything. Then, just when he was about to ask again, the latter suddenly stood up and started to walk towards the bathroom without saying any word.
'Is he a spy? I'm sure there are people seeking rewards for telling on each other in this place. That would make sense. Otherwise, how do they decide who is responsible for what?' Brandon thought.
As Dave turned around, he noticed a small piece of paper and picked it up.
Pulling it open, there were a few words written on it.
[Don't trust anyone in this place, don't talk, or you will pay, and the most important thing: Never trust the doctor. But, if you really are like me, then follow me.]
After reading these words, Dave quickly showed the piece of paper to Brandon, who looked up and saw that the teenager had turned back at them before entering the toilet. After waiting a couple of minutes, Brandon stood up and stretched his arms.
"Stay here, and if anything happens, try to get my attention, if not mine, then of those outside, but hopefully it won't come to that," Brandon whispered to Dave, who nodded.
Then heading off, he too had entered the toilet. Although there were guards near the other entrances, there weren't any by the toilets, and when heading inside, he could see the teenager standing by the sink, staring back at the entrance.
"So it looks like you really aren't with them. I thought you might have been a trap to lure me in or something." The teenager said.
"No…as I said before, we had someone sick." Brandon replied. "What's with this place? Why does it seem so strange, and what's with the doctor?"
Clenching his fist, the teenager grumbled.
"This place… And that doctor…I hate him…and I hate that she keeps getting in trouble with me around, if Zain was here, I bet nothing like that would happen."
"Zain?" Brandon said with a raised eyebrow, "Wait, what? You know Zain? The guy with red hair?"
The teenager's eyes lit up hearing this, and he started to get somewhat excited.
"Yeah, that Zain, the university student, you also know him? Is he here? He can definitely help me."
Brandon didn't know what to say and just shook his head.
"He's not with us at the moment, he rushed off to do something else, but yeah, I know Zain, though I am not close to him, he recently joined our group. Well, he kind of joined us. To be honest, it's complicated with that guy."
The teenager chuckled because he felt the same way since he also had a somewhat similar relationship with Zain in the first place.
"The name is Cody." The teenager introduced himself, "If you know Zain, and you're still alive, I can only believe that you are either strong enough to survive with him or you're a good person. Whatever it is, I need…I need your help! Please help me and my friend get out of here... this place is hell!"
*****
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