II

Chapter 2

Annabelle

I woke up with a huge headache. What happened? I looked at my surroundings and nothing was familiar. Everything was so... white. Bed, walls, bookshelf, couch, intercom. Intercom? Why is there an intercom in this room? My thoughts were interrupted by a man who entered the room.

"Good morning Miss Hamilton. I'm Dr. Mitchell, your doctor for your stay in section A." He chuckles and sat down on the couch next to the window when I just rose a brow.

"Yesterday you had a seizure while working at your job. You tested positive for the disease. You're currently in the facility so you're not risking other people's health." Say what now? Just yesterday I was healthy and eating breakfast with my son and working at the restaurant and now I'm here?

"You've infected four other people but luckily they di-" He was cut off by my paranoid voice.

"Did I infect Raphaël? Is he here? Is he alright? Is he s-"

"Miss Hamilton, I do not know who this Raphaël guy is." Right.

"He is my six-year-old son." I took a deep breath to calm down a little before he answered me.

"No, all four of the people that you've infected were your co-workers. We tested your son and he is negative which means that you've been in contact with someone in the restaurant." I search my memory to see if I remember anyone who might've had it. An image of the man with a cap, a mask and, gloves on. He must've been the one who had it. Maybe that's why he was acting a little suspicious.

"You're currently in section A of the stay rooms. As I said, I am the doctor in this section so your weekly check-ups on Wednesday to keep in track with the progress of your disease are for now with me. Now if you'll excuse me. I'll take my leave." He was about to close the door when I called him and made him turn back to face me with a raised brow.

"Am I going to die?" I can't die now. I'm only twenty-four. I can't leave Raphaël if not he'll grow up without a mother. This cannot be happening to me. Dr. Mitchel gave me a pity full look and hesitated before replying.

"Everyone dies at a certain time but some people die earlier than others." He closed the door and I heard his footsteps fading away. What the hell was that? Was it supposed to make me feel better?

I took a good look around my room. There was a window right next to the double size bed placed at the right corner. A small couch was at the opposite corner of the bed with a bookshelf right next to it. At the end of the bed, a small dresser was standing there. There was a light on the ceiling and a lamp on the bedside table next to the bed. There was also a door next to the dresser at the bottom right corner. I'm guessing it is the bathroom. An intercom was attached to the wall next to the main door. Everything was so white hardly any other color in here.

Thinking back to the last day I went to work, maybe I should've listened to Patricia and took the gloves she offered to me. I wouldn't be in this situation right now.

Apart from everything, I feel fine. I don't really feel sick or anything. Maybe that's a sign that I'll be able to recover by myself and go back to Raphaël.

Speaking of him, I need to find a way to contact Jack to make sure if everything is fine. I really do hope they have a telephone that I could use somewhere in here.

Someone knocked on my room door. She looked like a nurse who is working here because of the scrubs that she was wearing. On top of her outfit was a transparent plastic suit covering all of her skin. With goggles, boots, and gloves. I'm guessing it's for protection to make sure they don't get infected too. She looked African-American and her features were flawless.

"Good morning Miss Hamilton. I'm Natasha Gibson the section's nurse." She smiled warmly at me and the gesture was returned. She took a seat on the couch and crossed her leg over the other and I sat up straighter on the bed.

"Basically I'm in charge of caring for the patients in this section."

"I thought that was Dr. Mitchell's job," I asked confused.

"Well, kind of. He tests everyone in section A and prescribes some medicine if needed and it's my job to obtain them and make sure you're taking them."

"What happens when someone needs surgery, is it Dr. Mitchell who also does that?"

"Well, since we're in section A, that's not likely to happen but in the other sections, it's the doctors who take care of that. We're only helpful for aftercare if you want to put it like that."

"Do you only have a doctor and a nurse?" They must be working really hard if it's only them.

"In this section yes, we try to minimize the number of staff as much as possible," She explained but what is all of this talk about sections?

"What do you mean when you talk about sections?"

"The rooms of the people who are infected and are staying here are divided into sections. There are five sections in total, A, B, C, D, and one for the staff. The one that you are currently staying in is A, it's when the patients don't have any symptoms of the disease apart from seizures. Section B is for patients who have mild symptoms like the flu for example. Section C is when your symptoms get worrisome like cancer as an example. Section D is when you're close to dying and lastly, the staff's section is where we sleep, eat, and keep all of our files of everyone here."

I don't know what triggered me but suddenly my situation felt more real than a few minutes ago. I could actually die in this building without the people I love by my side. Yesterday could've actually been the last time I saw Raphaël.

"Hey, don't worry too much. Some people defeat the disease by themselves and get released from here. I know it may seem like the end but there is still some hope. We are really trying hard to create a vaccination for the disease so stay positive for now," Natasha said when she noticed my change in mood. As if she could read my mind, she then informed me about a telephone down the hall that I could use to call my family. Who only consists of Jack and Raphaël.

We talked a little more about the facility and what I can do during my stay here. She informed me that the building included an indoor and outdoor pool, a garden, a movie room where they play a movie every night at nine, a gym but we have to have access granted by our doctors before going in there, and other medical rooms. There is also a cafeteria so people can socialize with each other during lunchtime. I can either bring my food to my room or eat with other people at the cafeteria but it is forbidden to have someone else in your room apart from the staff. She specified that they went us to be as comfortable as if we were still in our homes despite the disease.

When Natasha and I said our goodbyes I stepped out of my room for the first time since I'm in here. The hallways were white too with different doors for each room. All of this white is really giving me a headache. I glanced at both ends of the hall and spotted two phone cabinets on the right side. Without hesitation, I marched up to it and dialed Jack's phone number that I've memorized over the years. I was silently pleading for him to pick-up and smiled when he did after the third ring.

"Jack here, who is this?" His voice was cranky as if I disturbed his sleep but I don't care right now I want to speak to Raphaël.

"Hey, Jack. It's Annabelle," I said softly. I could hear shifting in the background and Jenny asking where he is going.

"Annabelle, are you okay? I heard what happened at work," He replied reassuring Jenny that he was just talking to me on the phone.

"Yeah, I'm fine. I just wanted to talk to Raphaël for a bit." My voice was lower than a whisper. Somehow I felt like if I got caught using the phone, I would be in trouble.

"Yeah, sure. I'll wake him up for you." Some more shuffling was heard in the background before Jack's sweet voice was heard trying to wake Raphaël up.

"Mommy?" I let a tear stream down my cheek. I would've done anything right now to be with my baby.

"Hey sweetie, how are you?"

"Tired, when are you coming back?"

"I-I'm not sure baby but I'll be back very soon."

"Okay, bye Mommy. I love you"

"I love you too baby." The line went dead and I reluctantly placed the phone back on its holder.

I took a deep breath before turning around but I was only met with a hard chest. I looked up and saw piercing hazel eyes staring down at me as if studying me.

The intensity made me feel self-conscious. As if his eyes were lasers poking a hole through my body. We just stayed there staring at each other without even apologizing. I knew exactly why I was captivated by him but I was not sure for him. His eyes gave nothing away.

Only when somebody started speaking through the intercom I peeled my gaze off of him.

"Attention all patients, lunch is now being served at the cafeteria. Please make your way there."

"Sorry," I quickly murmured and stepping aside to walk away. Before opening the doors separating the lounge and the rooms, I made a quick glance behind me and caught him at the exact same spot observing me with a tilt of his head. A shiver ran through my body. I shook out the feeling and walked through the doors.