Hacker

Chapter four part one

"That’s healing up quite nicely" the doctor said, gently removing the last bandage from her temples. Alison grimaced as some of her hair was tugged away with the white wrapping.

"Thanks doc"

"You’ll be right to get up and about now"

"Is there anywhere I can wash up?" Alison asked. She had been bedridden for the last twenty four hours and although she wasn’t technically unclean Ali felt otherwise.

"Showers are that way to the left" he said, gesturing to the far side of the room. Alison hopped off the bed and almost staggered into medical equipment. Her legs had turned the consistency of gelatin. The doctor’s steady hand on her forearm was the only thing that prevented her from becoming re-hospitalized. She wobbled uncertainly on the spot. Alison measured up the distance between her and the showers and was hesitant about her chances.

"Need some help?"

"Maybe a little" Alison said with relief.

"Still sweeping woman off their feet and not bad at my age either, if I say so myself" The doctor joked. The salt and pepper whiskers of his beard quivered as he chuckled. The doc took on most of her bodyweight as they hobbled to the door that led to the showers. They arrived without any further incident.

"I think I can take care of things from here"

"Alright but don’t be long- Macy has a surprise for you when you get out. She’s been acting like an excited puppy all morning" He said with a look of exasperation. Alison guessed that an excitable Macy was a force to be reckoned with.

Her palm met with the cold steel of the door handle. The door swung open wide with a soft creak. Ali shut it behind her and clicked the lock. The bathroom was simple. It had creamy white tiles on the floor and walls. A sink and mirror was to her left and opposite was one of the most beautiful things she had ever seen - a shower.

Alison had intended for her shower to brief but her resolve went down the drain once the steaming water hit her aching muscles and encouraged blood back to her extremities. She bowed her head with relief and rolled her her shoulders back to get the kink out of them. Alison heaved a sigh as she sank to the tiled floor. What had she gotten herself into? She had so little chance of success. The moment she stepped into that hospital she was as good as dead. Alison wondered what they could possibly see in her. Just because she was hacker didn’t automatically give her the ability to do anything remarkable. Alison was no hero. The revelation about her brother’s death was the main driving force that led to this suicidal deal. Tom was still only a half healed wound and everytime she thought of him it was like poking a sore tooth but instead of a sting to the gum it was a knife straight to the soul. Her vow seemed childish and unrealistic now that she had some time to think about it. Alison would still keep her promise of retribution but whether or not she could fulfil it was another matter entirely. It was all too much and finally; slowly. like a great oak falling to the mossy earth, Alison let her composure disintegrate. A burning began in the back of her eyes and her throat tightened. Despite being alone she covered her face with her hands as she wept. Alison cried because she was grieving and broken and so very young. All the pain and misery of the last year was gushing out like the walls of a dam breaking. She missed her baby brother beyond anything she had ever felt before. Her whole body shuddered with heavy sobs as her maimed soul attempted to recover. Scolding water carried her tears away and soothed the tension building in her muscles. Ali wept until she could no longer. Until her throat was raw and her tear ducks dry. Alison had been keeping it in for so long that it was like she had been drowning, suffocating and now she was surfacing. It was the first breath for her deprived lungs.When it was over she felt loose and cleansed and not nearly so wretched.