1030am
It was a sunny morning. The sun shines fiercely on the garden area filled with vegetables, plants and several pots of flower laying on the ground.
Aunty Zhou who has an interest in keeping the garden area intact at her private farm area as she gathered the crops into a bag. Another great year of harvest for her
Elderly Patient Gardener 1: "Aunty Zhou, another great harvest, right?!" One of them shouted from across the garden
Aunty Zhou: "Indeed! It has been growing strong since last month!"
She continued to harvested the vegetables until she came across a rotten one, one heavily rotten to the core as the mold and fungus slowly covered the vegetable, it's colour slowly changing shape
She looked at it deeply and she before lifting it to the vegetable-filled basket however lingered a little while before throwing it onto the bin
She then turns towards a clock on the wall, pointing at 10.43am
Aunty Zhou: "Ah...It's already 10.43am…It's time for that boy's checkup" She said as she got up and looked at two standing nurses near the doorway
Aunty Zhou: "I assume you two are newcomers. Here, this paper contains the required medicines. *Don't* mess it up"
The two nurses stood still while the paper was still awkwardly floating on Aunty Zhou's hand before the tall one swiftly took it without much force
("Impressive speed") She thought to herself as she began preparing alongside the two nurses
Elderly Patient Gardener 2: "Zhou, leaving so soon?"
Aunty Zhou: "Don't mention it again, Dr Ng gave me another patient a while back. Aren't my hands full already?"
Elderly Patient Gardener 1: "That Li Heng kid, isn't it?"
Elderly Patient Gardener 2: "Is that the new kid who followed Mr Goh around?"
Elderly Patient Gardener 1: "Mr Goh? Speaking of him, his granddaughter had a rare illness, wasn't it?"
Aunty Zhou: "Some sort of bone diseases, I think...Poor child…"
Aunty Zhou: "I'm leaving now. We'll talk later at the evening"
She later grabbed the fully prepared medicine tray by the two nurses and waved the patient gardeners goodbye, later began walking to Li Heng's cell
Along the way, Aunty Zhou noticed the two newcomer nurses to be quiet, too quiet for someone normal while she noticed that they constantly glared across the passed by people, rooms, hallways or especially small interactions between personnels.
Aunty Zhou: "Are you two new here?" She suddenly asked
The two nurses went even quieter however still remained the same calm, confident posture before the tall and older one speak
'Nurse' 1: "...…Yes, we were assigned to pushing trays to the respective patients until we were assigned to assist you 10 minutes ago" She said with a broken and a noticeable heavy korean accent
Aunty Zhou: "Are you two foreigners?"
The short 'nurse' proceeds to wave up her hands excitedly before the taller 'nurse' shuts her down and shook her head
'Nurse' 1: "No, we come from the Northern provinces thus you could misunderstood our heavy accent for foreigners"
Aunty Zhou: "Then which province?"
…
The two never spoke for a solid 10 seconds before the short 'nurse' (Nurse 2) shouted 'Harbin!' loudly with a cheerful and enthusiasm tone that attracted attentions from patients, passer-by and personnel throughout the hallway
Aunty Zhou stopped and looked at her alongside every by stander or passer-by with a awkward expression, some even had a disgust expression but she didn't care, just looking back at them innocently, like nothing was wrong
Aunty Zhou: "Harbin?"
'Nurse' 1: "...It's because our mother is a korean before she migrant to China"
Although this reason was out of the question however Aunty Zhou could accept it as a temporary answer before further confirmation
On the way, Aunty Zhou saw Mr Goh who was sitting at a bench looking at Xiao An and the children playing in the field
Aunty Zhou: "Mr Goh! Have you taken your medicine?!" She shouted which Mr Goh took out several small medicine ziplock bag from his pocket
She then stopped behind him and admired the field scenery before looking back at Mr Goh
Aunty Zhou: "Have you consider Dr Zhao treatment plan for Xiao An?" She suddenly asked, Mr Goh doesn't said anything and sighs
Mr Goh: "Dr Zhao...His plan doesn't suit me...…"
Aunty Zhou: "Do you really distrust him that bad?"
Mr Goh: "Most of us do, so as his colleagues...However he somehow wield the most power here, isn't it…?"
She never said anything after that, she awkwardly coughed for a few moments before Mr Goh looked at the tray, the two unfit 'nurses' and finally back to her
Mr Goh: "Were you going somewhere just now?"
Aunty Zhou: "I was going to check up on that Li Heng boy. Is he in his cell?"
Mr Goh paused a bit and nods
Mr Goh: "Well, he was just talking to me but very depressed and he ran back towards his cell"
Aunty Zhou: "Depressed at such a young age, we were fighting for our lives since we're young…Depressed. Well, I'll be going now. We'll talk later"
Mr Goh nods while looking at the two 'nurses' before returning watching over Xiao An, with a unobservable expression
Outside of Li Heng's cell, Aunty Zhou risen hand paused at the door, after few seconds, she knocked on the door *softly* while remaining some weight on it repeatedly
Aunty Zhou then repeatedly knocked again, louder this time. It was then the tall nurse beside her tensed as she move over to the door, pushing Aunty Zhou aside
'Nurse' 1: "Sorry" She said softly however the next second, her leg kicked firmly at the door, powerful and striking for every kick. Only with 3 kicks, the door 'opened'
When entered, the pungent smell of blood filled the room and exited the hallway. The bloods dripping down the sheet and onto the floor, Li Heng lying on the bed unconscious.
Aunty Zhou froze on the spot, trembling with fear however the two 'nurses' immediately rushed to Li Heng, checking his pulses, condition, breathing. Their expression are calm, too calm even for nurses. They seem numb, experienced and observant far more than normal people. The tall 'nurse' while checking him was searching for his pocket and silently placed a small ziplock bag with a chain of keys into it
Aunty Zhou after the shock period immediately began calling the doctor in charge-Dr Zhao and several other nurses for help with urgent but calm and full information exposition
Meanwhile several floors above, the hospital administrative departments had gathered at a meeting room. Information, Therapeutic, Laboratory and Support service department heads were all presented
Their expressions slightly tense and unease as the board in front of the room presents with several slides and a introduction titled 'Zhong Family mental health hospital public interview'. A middle aged man wearing a business suit and a name tag titled 'Acting Director' was in front, looking at all the departments head sitting as he spoke
Acting Director: "Good morning everyone, I assume all of you heard or at least heard of this" He presented the introduction title which several deep breathes was heard "Our board had this event due to controversies lately, from our former director's...…'Death' and our most controversial patient yet. The board have decided to conduct a special interview of our hospital by a news company to turn our reputation around "
Acting Director: "The interviewer have been listed on the documents you can glance through...…So, we'll be going through the administrative departments, therapeutic and final interview with several doctors. Any questions?"
He asked while the other heads were busy going through the documents, Dr Zhao got up with a slightly tense and furious expression with his phone on his hand.
Dr Zhao: "Excuse me, I have urgent situation to attend to"
Finance Director: "Zhao, please respect the director-"
Dr Zhao: "...I'm sorry but you could report to the board if you want" He said as he rushed out of the meeting room and onto Li Heng's cell
…
…
…
It was a sunny morning. The sun shines fiercely on a elegant, precision and gentle garden area filled with flower beds, whitewashed walls and several statues around the garden
From an unknown female perspective, she was tending to several potted glowing flowers. After that, she went to play a luxurious lyre, soft, elegant, experienced yet powerful strikes each time she played it
Then it went blacked, as outside voices looms the memories.
Outside Voice 1: "How is he alive?"
Outside Voice 2: "Quit looking and set up the charges!"
Outside Voice 1: "Alright! 3…2…1!"
A sudden electric shock ran through the body and memories as it changed to a field with several shorter people, with bags and weapons and cultivator logos on their sides and bodies like adventurers
Memory Voice 1: "Goddess! Thank you for your help!"
Memory Voice 2: "Here, a present for us!"
They then cheerfully present a small souvenir as they hugged the unknown female
Outside Voice 1: "He's heart rate is going fast!"
Outside Voice 2: "Do it again!"
Outside Voice 1: "3,2,1!"
Another sudden electric shock ran through the body and memories as it changed to a dark forest face to face with the mysterious long unrealistical being.
This time, it's face was more clearly. It's body was shaped like a green unrealistical long and thick caterpillar, with several twisted but blurred face and unnatural body shape
Unknown Female Memory Voice: "Who...Who are you?...…"
Blurred Voice: *Unstatic*
Then the forest began appearing several hundreds of eyes and large aggressive spiders among the trees as they rushed towards the unknown female
As the memories started to get blurry and blurry until Li Heng eyes opened with a surgeon light pointing at his face. He shut his eyes and proceeds to continue resting.
On the outside, Aunty Zhou stood side by side with Dr Ng who was checking his recent reports
Dr Ng: "High iron and magnesium...This should be impossible…" He whispered to himself
Aunty Zhou: "Who's wrong with him?"
Dr Ng paused for a moment before continuing while closing the report
Dr Ng: "...He's technically fine…But his bloodcell is aggressive compared to normal humans which is...Unnatural"
Aunty Zhou: "...Good…"
She began to leave however stopped until she gave Dr Ng a phone-particularly Li Heng's phone
Aunty Zhou: "If he dies...At least calls his parents" She said as she leaves the room
Dr Ng then glances through Li Heng's contact list until he saw a familiar name-Bai Zhe. He slowly looked towards Li Heng and back at his phone
Dr Ng: "What a small world…"
However Dr Zhao entered the room which Dr Ng quickly hids the phone and faces him directly
Dr Zhao: "Is he alive, Ng?"
Dr Ng: "He is however he needs time to rest…A few days? We guess"
Dr Zhao: "You know, I thought he was a goner but him? He exceed my expectations today. I even gone out a meeting just for him"
Dr Ng: "Is that a…Compliment?"
Dr Zhao: "...As long as he don't die, I'm good with it. Notify me when he wakes up"
He then walked out through the door and onto the hallway
Dr Ng take one last glance at Li Heng before exiting as well
When Dr Ng walked out, Li Heng opened his eyes again and got up slightly as several medical blood transfer devices and medical equipments were implemented into his body
Li Heng: "...…I'm alive"
He then slowly leaned on the wall and looks at his body with noticeable changes. His more smoother breathing, his noticeable slightly stronger physique and his perception
Li Heng: "...Who took my phone?" He said in a confused tone
Li Heng later while searched for phone in his pockets, touched something else. He took it out and saw something else- A ziplock with a chain of keys
Li Heng: "What…?" He muttered to himself
At the mental hospital several levels below, deep below any normal basements. There was a quiet laboratory as everyone had left for the day except for Dr Zhao, filled with chemical bottles, insect specimens and multiple shelves of living spiders enclosures.
Dr Zhao was walking around the laboratory, admiring on each representative spiders, gently dusting off the dust on the enclosures while talking to someone on the phone in one hand
Dr Zhao: "Late night call, Mr CEO. I assume you have business with me?
Unknown CEO: "Dr Zhao, I would like to hear the reports of your current 'projects'
Dr Zhao: "It's currently incomplete, still lacking around 45% deformity but we're getting there"
Unknown CEO: "I see…But make it faster. Our rivalry with the Mao Family is clouding across China and my son is about to return from overseas to inherit the Zhong Pharmaceutical Company"
Dr Zhao paused for a moment, his eyes slightly bigger and his breathing got quieter for a second before continuing
Dr Zhao: "…Young master Zhong? He's returning?"
Unknown CEO: "…I'm only telling this to my closed ones. Keep it a secret"
Dr Zhao: "Indeed but about my current position-"
Unknown CEO: "No one would dare. Not after I ordered the former director's death"
Dr Zhao: "Very well, I shall inform you of any progress I made. Good night"
Unknown CEO: "Good night"
The phone hang up and the laboratory returned to quiet. As Dr Zhao continues to admired the spiders, the list of the next test subjects are organized near his desk.
Dr Zhao: "What fine specimens…"
[End of Arc II Part I]