Hope
Lincoln's pov
When I open my eyes the first thing I feel are ropes around my wrists. They burn my skin as I try to break free, but it's no use. I hear voices shouting and figures moving in front of me that I don't recognise. Where the hell am I? And who are those people?
A woman moves into the field of my vision and says something. I don't know what she speaks, so instead I pull against my restraints again with a growl, trying to get to her. The woman orders the others to do something and only moments later, I'm engulfed in darkness.
Abby's pov
We walk for about an hour until we finally catch sight of the grounder camp. There are more tents than there were yesterday and more warriors walk through the place. I can hear the ringing of metal against metal to my side and when I look in that direction my eyes land on a few men and women, fighting with concentrated expressions and their eyes fly over their opponents' bodies as if analysing their postures.
From the corner of my eye, I can see a woman walking towards us, so I rip my gaze away from the fascinating dance of swords. The woman looks terrifying with scars visible on her face and a tattoo on the right side of her face over her eye. The she holds herself demands respect, she has to have some authoritative position.
„Doctor, I need you to come with me on Heda's orders. Chancellor, you can come with us or I will order someone to lead you to your tent." Okay, right to the point then. After Kane's decision to come with us, she starts to lead the way. After a few minutes of walking I start to feel a bit unsettled. We already walked by the commanders tent and everything that I somehow recognise from yesterday. „May I ask where we are going?"
The woman glances over her shoulder at me and without stopping she answers. „To a patient. None of our healers can help him and I was hoping that maybe you would have a solution."
That, I didn't expect. Changing into doctor mode, I immediately start asking questions about symptoms, but her only answer is that I better see it for myself.
When the woman halts in front of a tent I almost walk into her and only don't because Kane thankfully stops me in time.
„I must warn you, he is very aggressive and has to be restrained. I and a few warriors will be there the whole time, so if you need anything or he becomes too dangerous we will be there to help." Without further ado, she pulls the fabric aside and lets us step through first.
I don’t know what I expected, but that was definitely not it. Once I walk through the entrance, my gaze lands on a man, both arms tied to opposite poles so he can‘t move, struggling against his restraints, grunting in the effort. As soon as I get over the initial shock, I start to examine him as well as try to talk to him; without success.
I turn to the woman who led us here. „From what I can tell, he seems to be under the influence of some drug; he has dilated pupils and isn’t responsive to my attempts to talk to him. Another thing is that he has many bruises, likely from fighting, also his wrists are red from th-“
Suddenly, the restrained man jerks forward, making sounds I can only describe as pleading. „Red… red, please.“ He falls to his knees and looks at me with watery eyes, before tilting his head to expose his neck.
The woman pushes me to the side, more gentle than I would ever expect from a fierce warrior like her, and kneels down in front of the man. She looks into his eyes, not moving to prevent spooking him or giving him an opportunity to attack, signalling him that she is there for him. The scene playing out in front of me is a motherly one and I feel my heart both break in the knowledge that I can‘t be there for my own daughter in that way, and warm at the sincere display of affection.
Only when the man comes out of his trance and tries to attack does the woman come back up. She motions for us to get out of the tent and we oblige, followed by the warrior herself too after a short moment.
The woman is the first to speak. „Is there anything you can do for him?“
„There might. If he really is on a drug, from his reaction assumably called „red“, then he will very soon experience a withdrawal. Those are dangerous and if not assisted at that level of addiction end with death. Even with assistance it is not save to say if he will survive. All we can do right now is keeping him hydrated and if you have some light drug give it to him periodically in small and smaller doses. That will help since it will make the withdrawal easier on him and his body. Other than that there is not much we can do.“
„Thank you, doctor. I will arrange for water and something light. Now that we are done here, Heda wishes to see you in the war tent to start planning the attack on Mount Weather.“ With a small gesture she signals two guards to lead us there. Before we go, she reaches out and grasps my forearm, showing me gratitude. She doesn’t smile, but she does give me a respectful nod. After that transaction, Kane and I follow the guards to the commanders tent where we will plan for the rest of the day.