Chapter 19: The Enemy Within

Mild Nudity, FYI

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"Iliana, please put this on."

The doctor standing in front of me looked a little concerned, and was handing me a surgical mask. I tried not to freak out, but I would be lying if I said I didn't get a "Patient Zero" thought in my head. You know, those movies where the world is wiped out by a deadly virus started by some innocent person with a cough. The fact that these were apocalyptic times did not help to ease my worry. I was unsure as to what was going on, but I listened to him, putting the elastic band around my head after putting the mask over my mouth.

"Ok, now that you have that on, I should tell you that you have TB."

"Tuberculosis? I thought that disease wasn't common anymore."

"Well, you're right, it wasn't, but with the nation's collapse, and deteriorating conditions, the disease is making a comeback. It thrives in unsanitary environments such as these. We've got you on antibiotics for it, though, so it is under control. I've got to go do some paperwork, but I'll be back shortly, okay?"

I nodded, and decided to rest while the doctor left. I felt less nervous because I was glad I had something that was curable, and not anything like the horrible thoughts I'd had in my  head earlier. However, I was fairly contagious, so the doctor thought it best that Everett sit by the window in a chair outside my room.

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I walked down the hallway, and to the nurses station, setting the paperwork down on the counter. Then I made my way to the waiting room to make a phone call.

"Hey. I have the package."

"Good. Make sure it's ready for transport in forty-five minutes. I'll be waiting."

After my phone call was over, I went to find Dr. McClaren because I knew he had been waiting a long time to see his wife. I led him to her room, and told him what she had. He was sad that she was sick, but he was also relieved that she wasn't missing anymore.

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When the doctor in the blue scrubs came back, he had a smile on his face. I was happy that he seemed less somber.

"Hi Iliana, I have someone who wants to see you. Do you feel up for a visitor?"

My voice caught in my throat, as I thought of the only person who would want to come see me. Could it be? Was he actually alive? Was I finally going to be free from this nightmare? I smiled and nodded at the doctor, who left again to get the visitor. I patted my hair, giggling to myself as I felt the hilarity of the situation. Here I was, just about to see the man who had lived with me for five years, the man who had seen me naked multiple times, the man I was in love with, but I was nervous? How ridiculous. At the same time, I somewhat understood what I was nervous about. I had been forced to do unspeakable things for nearly... one month? Had it really only been one month? Why did it feel like decades had passed? I wasn't the same person anymore, or at least I didn't feel like it, I felt tainted.

"Iliana?"

My heart fluttered when I heard his voice. I turned towards the door, smiling at him. Even though he couldn't see my mouth through the mask I was wearing, I knew he could tell I was smiling. I wished I could kiss him, but my TB was preventing that. He had done his hair differently than when I last saw him, it was a little longer, and some stubble had grown in on his face. He looked weary, but his eyes lit up when he saw me. I moved over and he came and sat on the bed, taking me in his arms and pulling me close to him. I snuggled myself in his grasp, laying my head on his chest as close as I could, placing my hand on his shirt, unable to believe that he was really here. I was finally safe. Having my head so close to his, I could hear his quiet sniffles as tears fell down his cheeks. I couldn't help but shed a few of my own tears as well.

"I can't believe you're here, baby. I missed you so much. I was so worried about you. I tried looking for you, but my leads ran dry, and I got stuck. I thought the worst, I didn't know if I would ever see you again."

"Gerard? Is it really you? I feel like I'm dreaming. I thought the same too, whether I'd see you again."

"Yes, baby, it's me. I'm so sorry I couldn't find you."

"It's okay. It's good to know that you tried. I don't want to let you go. Can you stay with me forever?"

Gerard laughed a little through his tears, and I knew he was doing it because my request was a silly one. I knew it as well, but I really didn't want to let him out of my sight again.

"Well, baby, I wish I could do that, but since you have TB, we have to move you to Quarantine for a few days until you become less contagious. Then you'll be a few steps closer to coming home."

I nodded, glad that I was on the path to recovery, but sad that I couldn't go home right away. I felt safe, though, knowing that I was in Gerard's sights again.

"Gerard?"

The other doctor who had given me the surgical mask earlier was back, requesting Gerard for something, probably a surgery. Gerard got up off the bed, and sat on the edge of it, keeping his hand close to me on the mattress. I touched his arm, wishing I could hang onto him for just a little longer.

"I'm sorry to interrupt, but your patient is prepped and ready for you in the OR."

"Ahh, it's not a problem, Keith. Thank you so much for telling me where Iliana's room was. Can you do me a favor, and move her to Quarantine? I'd like her to be able to get better as soon as possible so I can take her home."

"Of course, Dr. McClaren."

"Iliana? I'm going to go do my surgery, but when I'm done, I'll come right back, okay? You'll be in good hands with Dr. Lendel here. You should sleep, let your body work with the antibiotics so you can heal."

I hugged Gerard goodbye and he went out of my room. Keith came over and switched out my antibiotic bag, seeing as the other one was getting low on fluid. I smiled at him, and closed my eyes again, feeling sleepy and comfortable enough to take a nap. As I drift off to sleep, I feel Keith raise the bars on the side of my hospital bed and release the brakes on the wheels, pushing me out of the room and down the hallway to Quarantine.

When I woke up, I was not expecting to see what I did. My heart dropped, my throat tightened up, my stomach started feeling tight, and every muscle in my body tensed. I was looking into emerald green eyes, the eyes I hoped I'd never have to see again.

"Welcome back, Iliana."

"NO! What is this?!"

I struggled, feeling that my wrists were restrained to the sides of the small bed I was laying on. I couldn't help but cry as I thought about how unlucky I truly was. Maybe my visit to the hospital had been a dream. I had just begun to get better, I had seen Gerard again, I was almost home free, and now this. I felt cold, all over, and realized that I was naked.

"This, my dear, is your punishment. It's a shame, really, darling. You were my favorite. I really did treat you better than everyone else. I even gave you your TB meds. But then you had to go and run away. I was taking care of you, and you repay me by running away. Now I see that you are just an ungrateful little whore! So... this is the part of the brothel for those clients who want a little more of a hardcore experience. That's why you're restrained, the pain turns them on. I occasionally sent some of the other hookers down here when they pissed me off, but you, you never wronged me. Until now."

Leo glared at me and left my bedside, walking towards a small end table next to the bed. My head was reeling with the things I had just learned about him. He was taking care of me? He knew about my TB? How was he getting medicine for me? It was then that I put two and two together. Leo had someone inside the hospital who was giving him the supplies he needed, and that someone was Keith. I cried harder at my revelation because Gerard didn't even know. He didn't even know that the enemy was right under his nose. Everett was powerless to stop anything because he never would have suspected a doctor harmlessly wheeling me down the hallway. I underestimated Leo. I underestimated him gravely, and I was going to pay, hopefully not with my life.

"Are you, are you going to kill me? Torture me?"

"No of course not, you were my highest earner, and you still will be. Unfortunately for you, all the perks that went along with that, all the freedom I so generously gave you, are no longer a possibility for you. I'm going to let the clients have their way with you, however they so choose. Some of them enjoy strangulation, bondage, various other kinds of things I won't mention. I wouldn't want to spoil the surprise."

Leo got a rubber tube off of a small end table, and when I realized what he was doing, I squirmed within my restraints to no avail. He tied the tube around my arm and patted it so my vein became more apparent. Leo got out a white powder and sprinkled a little bit of it onto a spoon, then held a lighter underneath it to melt it. Then he filled a syringe with it, flicking the needle to get the air bubbles out. I squirmed more, knowing what he was going to do to me and wanting none of it.

"Stop moving, Iliana, you don't want me to miss because it will hurt. It will hurt like I'm stabbing you in the arm. You don't need that on top of your TB."

"I don't want this, please, Leo, I'll do whatever you want, just please, don't make me an addict!! I'm begging you!"

"SHUT UP! Groveling isn't going to help you. I trusted you, bitch, and you broke that trust. I am done being nice to you."

Leo flicked the needle again, and then pushed it into my arm. I looked away, closing my eyes as if doing that would stave off the effects of the heroin. I of course, knew it wouldn't, but then, suddenly, nothing mattered anymore as I felt like I was flying through the air, my breathing slowed, and I drifted off to a state of euphoria, or unconsciousness, or sleep, I'm not sure which, but I didn't care.