April 27, 2032
'The Hellhole', Billy's Town
Elena didn't quite know what the time was since there was no sense of passing time in her cell. She was slowly going out of her mind having nothing to preoccupy her mind with.
Images of the people in her home city were bombarding her and the fact that she couldn't help them was nauseating. She was supposed to be there helping them but instead they just shook with frustration. Useless, she thought. You're so useless.
One of the guards outside was smoking a cigarette and the faint fumes wafted through her cell. She closed her eyes and savored the nicotine that hit her. She didn't like cigarettes at all having a distaste for its' tarry smell and preferring the sweet release of marijuana. But she was desperate now and had to make do with what she could.
She was so lost in savoring the fumes that she dozed off. She did not realize the cell door unlocking. She only registered the man when he had entered her cell and softly closed the door.
Elena's eyes shot open and she quickly shuffled to her feet.
"Who the hell are you?" she demanded adopting a defensive stance. Her mind still hadn't quite jogged awake and was adjusting to the situation. She couldn't make out the man's appearance because he was veiled in a shadow.
"Do not worry, Elena," the man said in a gentle but thick Russian accent. "I am not here to hurt you."
He stepped forward and his friendly toothy smile gleamed in the light. He wore a large, slightly baggy lab coat which had a few brown stains all over it. He wore round spectacles in front of greyish eyes. He had a gentle, well-kempt friendly face with a slight stubble dotted around his square chin.
Elena looked at her suspiciously. She even blinked twice to make sure she was sufficiently awake. The man looked so out of place in the setting they were.
He let out a laugh after looking at her reaction. "My name is Zhirkov. I work as doctor here." "But you're a Soviet. What are you doing here?" she asked.
"I prefer not to be called Soviet. I am Russian as my father was before me. I left the Soviets long back. This is my home now," he replied then his tone turned serious. "But I am not here to tell you my life story. I am here to talk about the little girl."
Elena's face turned white as sheet. Has something happened to her? Is she… no, no, no.
"The little girl is safe, do not worry about her," reassured Zhirkov and Elena let out the deep breath she had held in. "She is sleeping peacefully now."
Elena was not satisfied enough with the answer. She demanded further details from the doctor and asking him about the step-by-step treatment she had given Sidra.
"You seem to have a wide array of knowledge in the medical field," he said impressed.
"I run a clinic…" she said her expression turning suddenly mournful. "Well, used to anyways…"
"That is interesting. We could really use someone with your skillset."
Elena let out a sarcastic laugh. "Yeah, no. There is no way I am ever working for these people."
"It is merely a suggestion," said the doctor. "But I'm afraid Billy won't let you leave this place alive. He is known for being a little too… abrasive in matters such as these. He'd rather dispose of you if you are of no use to him."
Elena showed indifference to the doctor's statement but on the inside, she was scared. She knew what the respawner was capable of doing.
"You have picked up quite a few injuries yourself," noted the doctor. "I have a med kit right here and can fix you up in no time."
The doctor approached Elena but she just held out her hand. "I can do it myself."
Zhirkov hesitated for a second as if trying to ascertain whether she wasn't up to something fishy or not. Then he shrugged, smiled at her and gave her the med kit. He stood nearby as Elena carefully tended to her injuries. She detected the faint smell of disinfectant coming
from the doctor which along with her hands were busy at work brought a flurry of memories. She felt a strange sensation of peace for the first time in a while.
"I say this again," said the doctor as she handed him the supplies back. "I could really use someone like you at the clinic."
Elena appreciated it saying, "I'll think about it."
The doctor's a nice guy, she thought. But not everyone here will be.
The plastic of an injection needle which she had stolen from the kit crinkled in her hand.