A Doctor's Reccomendation
Leksa heard a faint beeping. Not another box. She thought she had finished the games. She slowly opened her eyes and let out the breath she was holding. The beeping was coming from a monitor on the wall to her left. She was in a hospital. She sat up and cried out in pain, the monitor to her left beeping like crazy. Her back felt strange. She moved her right arm up and in a big circle.
Okay, she thought, that’s normal. Next she went to move her left arm, and that's where the trouble came. Her arm wouldn’t lift and when she tried she was overcome with a searing pain. She screamed this time, tears rushing to her eyes. Her arm flopped down to her side. A doctor ran into the room, accompanied by a few nurses.
“You’re up.” The doctor was a brunette, more bone than skin. Her jaw line and her brow were familiar to Leksa. She squinted trying to think where she would’ve seen this woman before.
“Don’t move your arm up again. We need the muscles in your back to heal so we can try to train them again. You just tore your stitches back open again.” The woman turned so she could see Leksas bare backside, her eyes going up and down Leksa to make sure she hadn’t busted anything else.
“You sustained a terrible back injury, a few broken ribs and a pulled wrist. Not to mention the malnutrition and slight dehydration. But overall, I think given the circumstances, you managed fairly well.” The woman gave her a small smile. “I’m your doctor for the time being, if you hadn’t guessed. You can call me Abbie.”
“Given the circumstances? I won the games.” Leksa assumed the woman knew her name. Leksa assumed everyone in the Districts and the Capitol knew her name.
“Yes, with my daughters help. Mind you, she broke a few rules so, she’s resigned.” Abbie informed her. Leksa’s face paled. She hoped they hadn’t made her eat the berries to atone for breaking the rules. Abbie looked at the frantically beating monitor. Leksa’s heart rate had increased dramatically.
“She’s alive Leksa. Relax.” Abbie’s face softened at the war tattered woman in front of her. The monitor slowly started to change from a fast beat to a slower one. “President Snow has requested you see him when you are most able. You also have an interview with Caesar in a day.” Leksa scoffed and kicked at the air in front of her.
“I recommend you wait until after the interview to go and see President Snow. He has these visits with the victors he’s most impressed by. Consider yourself lucky.” Abbie was hit some buttons against the wall. Some medicine came out of the wall in a compartment. Abbie went over to Leksa and put the end of the medicinal gun against her shoulder. “This will help with the pain. I’ve seen you wincing, even if you won’t admit you’re in pain.” Leksa felt the cool rush of the medicine entering her system and welcomed the pain relief.
“Thank you, Abbie...”
“Griffen. Did Klark not tell you her last name?” Abbies eyebrow went up curiously. “And thank you for coming back. I don’t know what Klark would’ve done if you hadn’t.” Abbie looked behind Leksa at the wall, deep in thought.
The atmosphere was broken by someone entering Leksa’s hospital room. She quickly looked at the entrance to her room and frowned. Just Anya. No Klark.
“Right, well, hit the button if you need a nurse.” Abbie gestured to the button on the little table to the right of Leksas bed. Leksa nodded in response and watched her leave. Anya briskly went to stand in front of Leksa.
“You did it. I knew you would.” Anya smiled down at Leksa. Leksa looked anywhere but at Anya.
“I got badly injured. My parents will see it as a failure.” Leksa felt her chest grow heavy with despair.
“Forget your parents.” Anya said harshly. “I was your mentor for the games. Let me be your sister now.” Leksa finally looked at Anya. The hard cold mentor was glaring at the floor. “You won, you’re alive and if they can’t appreciate that then they don’t deserve to have you as their child.”
“Okay.” Leksa nodded at Anya, briefly touching Anya's arm. “I think I can allow this. I’ve killed children, surely my parents approval over my injuries or how many I killed shouldn’t be important to me. They hardly cared when I was there anyway.”
Anya nodded at Leksa. “I know I’m not who you wanted to see but she’s occupied. Hopefully you see her tomorrow sometime. Now, get some sleep. Your back won’t heal if you’re awake.” Anya was pushing her back into the bed.
Leksa closed her eyes, Anya had been wearing war paint.