The Doctor

A row of shelves on the opposite wall showed multiple pairs of pink, plastic sandals. As she took one shoe and turned it over, Avery was amazed to see that it was her exact size. How this was all set up was just completely insane, not to mention downright creepy. As she ducked her head into the walk-in shower, the lights slowly began to come up, brightening the room. At first, she thought that it was some sort of motion sensor until she realized that she could hear voices speaking in the other room. She walked out of the bathroom and back into the bedroom to see Nurse Adkins there with another woman wearing blue scrubs that looked to be about the age of Avery’s mother.

“There you are, dear.” Nurse Adkins greeted, wearing her customary smile as she motioned Avery to come closer, “This is Nurse Leland. She will be assigned to you for the remainder of your stay.”

Avery just stared as the nurse did the same, no mirth in her eyes whatsoever. Her dark hair was slicked back into a tight bun, not a hair out of place. The red slash of Nurse Leland’s wide lips remained firm as she appraised her newest charge with cold, blue charcoal-lined eyes that took Avery in from head to foot. The woman was nearly as tall as Avery and of average build, her voice a bit on the harsh side when she spoke a greeting. Avery couldn’t figure out which demeanor was the worse between the two nurses but she knew that she had to play the game if she was going to survive this.

“Hello.” Avery finally managed, nearly through gritted teeth as Nurse Adkins smiled happily at the exchange.

“I’m quite sure that you two will get to know each other well over time,” Nurse Adkins said as she made ready to leave the room, “It’s time for me to go back to my post, but I’m sure that I’ll be seeing you around.”

Nurse Leland was still staring at her as Avery stared back at the woman, expectantly.

“You will find your journal in that desk drawer over there. You will write in it every day after meditation. Breakfast is from six to nine. Your first seminar will be at nine-thirty sharp tomorrow morning. Don’t make me come looking for you.”

Avery nodded, dumbly, not quite understanding what all of this was about but she knew the seminar, whatever that was, would be just as weird as everything else had been. Maybe she’d finally get some answers if she could talk to that doctor, who seemed to be in charge of everything here.

“And take a bath.” Nurse Leland threw over her shoulder as she took her leave, “You smell.”