I was worried about my lack of sleep. I had spent three nights in the house without being able to fall asleep, and worse still, I had spent them completely awake. But I didn't feel tired at that moment, so I decided that I would try to tire myself out a little this time to see if I could fall asleep tonight.
To do this, I had to find the gym. It shouldn't be too difficult. Although I hadn't had the chance to go there yet, I knew it must be in the west wing of the house, near the library. Determined to go there, I took Thing and my bench. I got lost for a while looking for it before I finally found it. And just like the classroom, the gym had no door, just a huge gray frame.
I was still outside, but I could already smell sweat and see the lights on from the hallway. When I turned to enter, I could see that the gym was much larger than I had expected. I had never been in a gym before, well, at least not one that wasn't at school, but I was surprised by the number of machines. There were all kinds, and at least two of each. There were all kinds of weights of different sizes, but what impressed me most was the person using the gym.
At the back of the room, with some special-sized machines, was Tiny. At that moment, he was on a weight bench with the largest discs I had ever seen. Each disc was about my height and as wide as my shoulders. I couldn't tell how much they weighed just by looking at them, but I imagined they must be over a ton each.
I stood there watching, amazed by what I was seeing, until he stopped.
- Rookie, what are you doing here? - he said when he finished his reps and turned to look at me. - Did you come to work out a little? -
- Something like that. I came to tire myself out a little, I guess. -
- Come on, don't you want to get in shape? I know it would do you well. If you want, I could help you set up a routine and everything. -
- Are you going to charge me? -
My question was completely serious. I had no way of knowing if this was his job, and as far as I knew, everyone in the house had a way of earning money. But he just responded to my question with a quiet laugh.
- Please, that's not my job. - He was smiling at me as he spoke. He didn't even seem tired from what he had just done. - But I mean it, it's always good to train with someone. Plus, it's safer to train with me than on your own. -
There didn't seem to be any hidden intentions behind his words, but I didn't want him to train me. He would instantly realize how out of shape I was and might even make fun of me.
He can lift two cars with one hand, and I had trouble moving an armchair. But I don't want to say no to him. It would be best to try to change the subject to something else.
- I guess that doesn't apply to you, does it? I think the only person who could help you with that exercise would be Strong, and he doesn't seem to like moving much from his chair. -
He laughed at the comment, and I hoped that would be enough for me to tell him that I planned to use the treadmill for a while and avoid his question altogether.
- You're right, He should move his butt more, but chill, I have my own help too. -
- Who? - I asked almost immediately.
Is there really someone else that strong?
He nodded his head down, and that's when I saw a boy with grayish skin, he had dark black eyes and hair, African features, and was not very tall, around four feet tall. From his face, I would say he couldn't have been more than 12 years old.
When I turned to look at him, he greeted me, but without saying a word, he remained standing on the bench where Tiny was doing the exercise.
- Hi, - I said, embarrassed for not having noticed him before. - Can I ask who you are? -
- My name is Tenton. -
- See, I'm not alone, so don't worry. -
Can he really help him with his exercise? Does he have some kind of power, like telekinesis or gravity control or something?
My mind was racing. I was about to ask him what his power might be when I heard a voice calling me from behind.
- Rookie, I need you to follow me. - It was a high-pitched voice like a girls, but she didn't speak like a girl. She was so confident and spoke so directly that I couldn't help but turn around to see who it was.
As the tone indicated, the voice belonged to a girl. She had black hair tied back in a ponytail, and cold, sharp blue eyes that I felt I had seen before. She was dressed entirely in white and wore closed sneakers. She carried a sports bag on her left shoulder and a gray suitcase with wheels in her right hand.
I was confused, something that was starting to become a habit of mine, and a rather unpleasant one. I didn't like not knowing anything at all, and I didn't like being looked down on either. One would think that I should be used to it by now, but surprisingly, when these kids younger than me treated me with such arrogance, a thorn of pride that I didn't know I had prompted me to respond.
A flood of emotions washed over me in a second. Perhaps if I had been alone, I would have simply bowed my head and gone with the flow, but in that place, with Thing and Tiny being the closest thing I had to friends, a spark of indignation flashed through me.
- Excuse me? - I replied to the girl, letting that slight indignation seep into my voice.
She turned to look me directly in the eyes, her brow furrowed slightly, and I instantly regretted the way I had answered.
- I said I need you to follow me, - her voice showed annoyance and firmness without any nervousness.
I hesitated about whether to accompany her or not. On the one hand, she was just a child, but so was Sleepy, and he was the one who gave me the tour of the mansion. I turned to look at Tiny. He rolled his eyes and nodded.
- Go ahead. If I'm not here when you get back, look for me in my room, - said Tiny.
- I don't have all day, - replied the girl as she began to walk away.
I hesitated for a moment before deciding to follow her. She was walking fast, Thing was coming with me and with that plus the stool I was carrying, it was difficult to keep up with her, but I decided not to let it show. I had to pick up the pace so as not to fall behind.
- I'm not here to play, and don't treat me like a child, okay? - she said as she kept up the pace. - My real name is classified, but you can call me Doctor, and I have as much authority in the house as the Doctor himself, so the next time I ask you to accompany me, do it. -
Doctor? Her? She doesn't look any older than the kid with Tiny. Could her power have something to do with it?
It was then that I remembered where I had seen those eyes before. They were the same eyes as the Doctor's. In fact, her way of speaking was very similar, but unlike him, she wasn't wearing a lab coat.
- So, you're the Doctor's daughter? - I decided to ask as we walked through almost the entire main building.
Upon hearing this, she let out an obvious sigh.
- This is why I have to see them first, - she muttered annoyedly as she walked on.
Finally, we crossed the doorway leading to the building on the left and arrived at the doctor's office. When we arrived, she opened the door just as the doctor had done before.
- This is a private consultation. If you want, Thing can wait outside, or you can bring her in. It's not my problem, - she said as she entered the room.
I decided to go into the office with Thing, expecting to see the doctor from last time sitting at his desk, but that wasn't the case. It was just me, Thing, and the "Doctor." She closed the door as she adjusted a lab coat, she took out of her sports bag.
- I know the name Doctor can be confusing. If you want, you can use the nickname the others use to call me. I really don't care. -
After putting on the lab coat, she put her sports bag in a corner and sat down behind the desk.
- All right, how have you been feeling? -
- Wait, are you a real doctor? -
She didn't hide her frustration. I could see her clench her fists before taking a deep breath followed by a slow exhale, as if she were practicing some breathing exercise.
- All right, I'm going to clarify a few things so that everything goes more smoothly. First of all, I am the head doctor here. The other doctor is technically in charge of the place, but he only comes to the house very rarely, so don't expect to see him for a while. - She paused briefly before continuing. - I am responsible for most of the consultations and most of the treatments in the house. I come every Tuesday and Thursday to see patients. -
With that said, she forced a slight smile and began to focus her attention on the suitcase next to her. I felt a little embarrassed. I felt like I had just insulted her in some way and that I had been an idiot.
- I'm sorry, I didn't mean to insult or offend you, it's just that... -
I didn't know how to continue, what I could say that wouldn't insult her further, I decided I was taking too long.
- I'm just sorry. -
She turned to look at me and relaxed a little.
- It's okay, it's not your fault. Most older people get confused when they see me, - she paused and continued, - that's why I have to come first. -
She said that last part with obvious annoyance. I put Thing on a chair to the side and sat down on my bench. The wheeled suitcase that the doctor girl had been carrying had unfolded, revealing some kind of computer and a machine that I couldn't quite make out.
I waited to see what we were going to do, but the doctor girl was just working on the suitcase computer, and after a while I decided I had to say something because she seemed to have forgotten about me.
- What are we doing? - I asked after a moment.
- I was just waiting for you to answer my question. -
What question?
- How have you been feeling? - Her gaze left the computer to turn and look at me.
- I'm fine, I think. It still burns a little, but only if I bump into something or rub it hard. But food still tastes awful. -
- Very well, then. That means a painkiller is enough to reduce your pain,- she said as she type something down on her computer. - But I think we'll start with something mild. I'll try to increase it gradually, okay? -
She turned her chair completely toward me.
- I'm going to need you to take off your helmet. -
- Are you sure? Isn't that a little dangerous? -
- Don't worry, I know what I'm doing. -
I slowly removed my helmet, and the cold air in the room brushed against my skin. It didn't feel too bad, but a few seconds later it started to burn slightly. She took a strange control device out of her suitcase and when she activated it, a large robotic arm came out from behind the computer. I was surprised for a second, but then I saw how she handled it with great precision as she made it take some swabs from one of the cabinets.
- Don't worry, I'm not going to hurt you, okay? I'm just going to take some samples. -
She took samples of my hair, saliva, skin, and ear. I stored each sample in a special container marked "biohazard."
- Okay, now I have to ask you something very important. Have you been going to the bathroom? -
Yeah, the bathroom issue. I had been avoiding talking about it. I had been told to avoid bathing, washing my hands, or anything else until further notice. If I wanted to eat, I used disinfectant gel, and if I wanted to go to the bathroom, they had placed a biohazard bin there so I could relieve myself, from urinating to defecating, and when I was done, I had to notify someone. I explained that to her.
- Very well, I have good news for you regarding the bathroom issue. now you can bathe, - she said as if it were the best thing in the world, nothing against it obviously. - Of course, not with water, but now we're going to put wet wipes in the bathroom so you can wash your body. Naturally, the wipes go in the biohazard container, and you have to change your suit once you've done that and throw the old suit in the biohazard container. -
That meant I would continue to use the biohazard container as a toilet. I wasn't very excited about that idea, but changing my suit was great because the feeling of freshness is the best I've had so far.
- As for food, I'm going to analyze a sample of your saliva and see if I can solve your problem. Is there anything else that concerns you? -
I thought for a moment that, that was all, and then a concern that had been on my mind for a while came to me. How had I not thought to ask her from the beginning? After all, she was also a doctor.
- Yes, actually, - I said as soon as the thought occurred to me. - I haven't slept at all in the last three days. Is that because of my power or... -
She turned to look at me and then flashed the first genuine smile I had seen her make.
- That? Didn't they explain it to you? - She controlled herself and adopted a more serious expression, although I could still see a certain amusement in her eyes. - As you know, there's a CP here that makes everyone sleep when he is awake and vice versa, which is why the sleeping and waking schedules were created, but a year and a half ago, a CP with a similar power arrived, that makes anyone who is asleep sleepwalk and act as if they were awake. -
She left that hanging in the air for a moment, but seeing that I didn't seem to understand, she continued.
- You've been sleeping every day from 10 to 6, but it looks like you're awake. -
- Oh, alright. -
So that's why I didn't feel tired at all.
- Well, if that's all, the consultation is over. You can go. -
I was ready to leave, I took my stool, got up, and noticed that I was missing something. I stopped at the door for a moment trying to remember what it could be, and then I remembered. I went back to get Thing, but the doctor stopped me.
- Hold on, now it's Thing's turn, she had to stay here. -
I turned to look at Thin, she was in her doll form, looking straight ahead as usual.
- But... she's in charge of watching over me. -
- Then how about you wait outside? Just wait until we're done here, okay? -
I thought about it and ended up nodding and leaving the room. The mechanical arm opened the door for me so I wouldn't touch it.
I left the room normally, stool in hand, ready to wait outside, when without realizing it, I ran into someone.