Static

CHAPTER TWO

      "It's ok, I got you, you have to get up Flea."  I murmur.  She tries to swat me away but the action has no effect.  Just as I managed to haul her back to her feet, Connors is there, grabbing her arm again and my shirt neck.
      "Shut up!"  He roars. And we are dragged yet again through the mess hall and up to the Storage facility.  I am prepared to stop at this floor so my steps faultier ever so slightly when we don't.  Connors keeps climbing, up to the infirmary.  Here he stops and raps repetitively on the faded peach color door.

       "Open the door you idiot, it's unlocked!"  The call comes from the other side of the door, it's a female voice.  Connors looks visibly taken aback from the insult but regains his composure and flings open the door.

       "Dr. Kumke, I'll have you know that I am no idiot.  But I am eager to get on my way so I will let this one slide.  Anyway, I have two who failed to comply during the introductory training.  I think they need some extensive treatment."  A slow smirk spread on his hideous face and he glared at me with his dark snake eyes.  A slow shiver worked its way agonizingly slow down my spine.

      The infirmary is not a name I'd call this place.  It sports an overwhelming smell of bleach that stings my nose when I breathe in.  It's the same size as the training room only this space feels much more confined with all of the beds and curtains and random office rooms scattered throughout.  And in no way is it sanitary.

   A women who I presumed to be  Dr. Kumke emerged from behind a curtain to face Flea, Connors and I.
     "Officer Connors!"  She said, her eyes lighting up with first shock and then something almost like self consciousness.  Her hands flew up to her head and she adjusted the bun of folded blonde hair on the top of her head at the same time a hue of red began rising from her neck and spreading across her face.

     "I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to call you an idiot!"  I couldn't tell if this Dr. Kumke was flustered because she was frightened of Connors or if she admired him and idolized him so much that she became embarrassed for acting out in his presence. 

      "Slow down, Dr., I need you to take these two scum bags and teach them how it's supposed to work around here."  He gave us a final shove and and winked once at Dr. Kumke before turning on his heal and striding out, slamming the door behind him with a defiant thud that was all for show. 

     "Hello, I'm Dr.  Rebecca Kumke and I'm going to give you your treatment, it will be similar to the process you experienced when you first arrived."  Dr. Kumke gave a smile that was all spice and no sugar.  I stole a glance at Flea, her dark long hair had fallen over her face and was plastered there from sweat.  Her blue eyes were wild and scared.  But there was something calm, something reserved about her, the way she stood.  She stood the way I used to see Ant stand, like she was a force that couldn't be stopped, like she would bow to no one, no matter what they threw at her.  But that didn't work for Ant, it's not going to work for Flea either.

      "Follow me, try and keep up."  We passed through the cots that were each bordered by a pale pink curtain.  I heard noises of moaning and the occasional scream and crashing of medical supplies as they tumbled to the ground.  But I kept my eyes forward, heart pounding.  I'd gone through this torture once before, three years ago, and I could barley handle it then, I'm not sure my mind and body could fight it off a second time.

      "Sit, you first."  Dr.  Kumke said, pointing at me once we got to the very end of the floor.  She had pulled open a curtain revealing a familiar looking set of equipment and one cot in the middle of it all.  She'd yanked the curtain closed already.

      I obeyed, and sat obediently on the cot, careful to avoid brushing up against any of the metal machines.
      Dr. Kumke pushed my shoulder down with enough force to cause me to lie down on the cot.  My eyes were focused on the ceiling but I could see a nervous Flea swaying on her feet in my peripheral vision.