"Ugh" a voice grunted, the owner clenching his teeth in severe pain.
The clanging of metal junks against metal junks, as well as harsh whispers of people, seemed to pound in his head with relentless force.
[Scan Complete]
[Status: Critical]
[Altered perfusion patterns of cerebral blood flow!]
[Reduced synaptic plasticity! Imbalance in serotonin and dopamine levels! Impaired regulations of neurotransmitters!]
[Heart rate and blood pressure elevated!]
[Nociceptors activated in multiple regions, indicating acute pain perception]
[Grade 2 strains detected in bilateral knee and ankle joints with associated inflammation and tissue damage]
[Abnormal muscle contractions in calves, quadriceps and lower back]
[Rapid cellular proliferation of minor, benign genetic mutations in cells and tissues]
[Minor internal injuries, including small hematomas and micro tears in soft tissues]
[It is recommended you see a Doctor!]
"Huh? What is this?!" The voice exclaimed, seeing letters illuminate like a hologram in his retina. Like it was being fed directly to his brain.
He seemed to forget his pain for a moment, but was brought back to earth as a contraction from his thigh seared his nerves with white hot pain.
"Arrrgh" he groaned, gritting his teeth as tears threatened to drip from his eyes, but he fought them back. The murmurs of those in the background he had yet to acknowledge, filtering into his ears with chilling clarity.
"He's awake?"
"Yeah, he woke up few seconds ago"
"What's he doing... here like that though?"
"Why was he acting like he'd seen a ghost? Now he's screaming in pain. Has he lost it?"
"You idiot, can't you see the bruises on his body? Obviously he's pained!" Another voice replied, voice resounding with disdain at the "stupid" question.
However, none of them made an attempt to help, still murmuring from the background.
He attempted to help himself up, but his joints felt like they'd been welded with Lead, his knee and ankles infact, were in a different world of agony.
Both were slightly swollen, and the pain he felt from them threatened to drive him mad.
He couldn't help it any longer as a streak of tears left his eye, his teeth however were gritted tightly, trying not to let out a sound.
"Sean?" A voice suddenly called from the front.
"Oh my god. Sean?!" The voice called out again as a black haired haggard kid came into view running up to him.
The boy stopped a few steps away from him, his eyes trailing his body in shock and pity. He opened his mouth and closed, and opened and closed again, making Ellis who was in pain, almost frown in anger.
Finally the boy approached and stooped low, "What... what happened to you?" He asked hesitantly, but Ellis didn't respond.
"Sean? Come on man, what the hell happened to you?" He asked again.
"Hey!" He suddenly raised his voice to the elders and teens alike at the back, rummaging through metal scraps while watching them.
"Someone please help him!" He begged.
However, nobody made a move.
Seeing this, the boy gritted his teeth. Although he had expected it, and even he himself would've done the same in their shoes, it was still annoying, and it still hurt. But he couldn't complain, this was life in the slums.
Turning back to Ellis, he called again softly "Hey, we need to get you to the hospital. I can't carry you but I can help."
He gritted his teeth, "Can you at least walk?"
Ellis nodded, thoughts swirling in his head.
"Good" the boy said with a tone of relief. "Lemme help you up" he said, wrapping Ellis's hand over his shoulder with urgency.
The sudden jerk was painful, but Ellis didn't let out a sound, using his support to struggle to his feet.
Each movement made pain slice up his nerves from his knees, his ankles, his now sore thighs, and calves that had been contracting nonstop seconds ago, making him hiss slightly and bite his tongue to hold himself back from letting another tear slip.
Slowly, the boy helped him up, leading him away from the dump site, where the people had already gone back to rummaging for scraps.
---------------------------
"He'll be back to good health in a few days." The doctor responded in a gruff voice, his scruffy beard shaking lightly.
The boy sighed in relief, eyes flicking towards Ellis who appeared zoned out, and frowned.
He opened his mouth to say something, when he suddenly realized he didn't necessarily have enough money to pay. And seeing his friend's condition...
"Uhhh.... Sir, how much is the bill?" He asked nervously.
"Three fifty credits"
HISS!!!
The boy sucked in a cold breath.
Three hundred and fifty credits! That was a lot, for a slum dweller!
He suddenly looked at Ellis, his eyes holding both respect and pity. Respect that he was still alive even after sustaining damage enough to warrant such a price for healing him. Although he knew the injury was bad, he didn't know it was that bad.
And also, pity as it might have given his friend some brain damages... No wonder he looked zoned out.
He coughed "Uhm... I have some credits at home. I mean I don't have any money on me now, so I don't know... Can I leave him here and run home to get it?" He swallowed.
He himself knew how ridiculous his words sounded.
"You have three hundred, fifty credits?!" The doctor remarked in shock, then laughed.
"What are you? Fifteen maybe? How do you have such amount of money?"
The boy swallowed again, feeling weak in the knees.
"Well, it doesn't matter where you get the money from." The doctor said, seeing the kid panicking as though he was about to be robbed.
"Just make sure to bring me my money. Else..." His eyes flickered to Ellis, who's eyes suddenly narrowed. He grinned, liking the reaction.
"...This kid looks strong. I've been in need for a slave for a while now"
Both Ellis's and the boy's eyes constricted at his words.
"I... I'll... I'll bring your money" the boy stammered. "I just need to run home I'll be back before thirty minutes"
"Hmph!" The doctor snorted in response.
Immediately the boy bolted out of the room filled with the smell of antiseptic, shouting as though to make sure the Doctor didn't do anything funny, and also a reassurance for Ellis perhaps?
"I'll bring the money, I promise!"
*********
What an info dumpy system. Truly shitty "tsk" MC really needs to get a better one in the future... This one be dinging like a bot. But oh well.
You know what to do 😏