Cornibus Saga: Chapter 15
Wokini
“Gears are turning,” he said, his ankle propped over his knee. “And I owe a hundred percent of it to Odette; she’s worked really hard and now both me and Mallory are in the process of getting out of here.”
Olive smiled. “She sounds like the best friend.”
“The absolute best. I’m gonna buy her something nice. Probably something well-dressed and will open the car door for her.”
The therapist giggled. “So, you’re excited to leave. Can I ask what you plan to do about your mental healthcare once you do?”
“I think part of the deal Odette is cutting is that I have to have weekly visits with a psychologist and a talk therapist and they, like… have a committee where they discuss my care every month or so.” He scratched his scruffy jaw.
She nodded. “That sounds like a great plan. Because if I’m being honest? I don’t think you belong here.”
William looked at the ceiling. “Thank you.”
“I think what happened was a very unfortunate hallucination during a very unfortunate time due to a lot of stress on you. And you were sent here due to military levels of precaution. But you appear to be coping as well as anyone with your level of trauma on the medication you take. All sick people have bad days. And I think you had a really bad day.”
“My God.” He felt sincerely emotional and rubbed his face. What a relief. “Thank you so much.”
“That said, I agree that you need intensive care. But I think what Odette is working out for you with less work hours and more therapy time is a better personal plan for you. And I was wondering if there was a way I could continue to be involved in your care. If you’re comfortable with that.”
He blinked. “Yeah, absolutely.”
She smiled again. “You sure?”
“Yeah, definitely. I’ll mention it to Odette. Maybe they could get you on the committee, y’know. Can I ask why?” He huffed. “Usually, doctors can’t wait to scrape me off on someone else.”
Olive appeared saddened by his comment. “I find you interesting, I think you’re a good person, I respect you, and I think I can help you.”
William stared like he was waiting for the punchline. “You’re serious.”
“Of course.”
He glanced her up and down before putting both feet softly on the floor. “Thank you. That’s… that’s really nice.”
She straightened her posture again. “I’m also curious about what Mallory’s situation will be. Will she be receiving intensive care like you?”
He nodded. “Yeah. We’re working on those details, but… the main thing is that she gets somewhere safe as soon as possible. The fixation Scarlet has on her is…” His lips went crooked. “Concerning.”
Olive nodded, too. “I totally agree. But, having been her therapist for a while now, I would be remiss to not mention that I am concerned about her initial adjustment to any life outside of a hospital.”
He blinked again. “What concerns do you have.”
She winced. “I’m entering a gray area with confidentiality.”
William waved a hand. “Right. Sorry.”
“She’s just… been inpatient for so long. Will I be able to see her after she leaves, too?”
He replied without even considering what it would take. “Yes. I’ll make sure that you’re still involved in her care and… maybe you can give an assessment to those who are overseeing her protection and care. Let me just…” He pulled a notepad toward him and began taking notes. “And give you an opportunity to… voice your concerns.”
“I really appreciate that, William. You and Odette are the dream team.”
He raised his eyebrows with a nod. “More than you know.”
She put her fist against her chin. “Care to chat about you and Odette?”
He took a deep breath with a smirk.
William found her standing beside the sofa in the recreation room in front of the television, holding a pillow shaped like an owl to her chest. She was watching a news story regarding Scarlet’s recent exploits. It was the first time he’d seen her in regular clothes. She was wearing jeans and a loose-fitting, striped hoodie T-shirt. Brian mumbled something where he was wadded up on the couch and Mallory smiled at him. William approached and she turned to him, beaming. “You ready?”
Her shoulders came up close to her jaws. “I’m kinda nervous.”
“That’s okay.” He put a hand on her shoulder. “Everyone’s gonna love you.”
The door to the foyer opened and Odette stepped in. She wasn’t in uniform, but she was professionally dressed in a silk, pale pink blouse and gray slacks. She met them with an excited smile. “Hey, you two! Ready to hit the road?”
“Definitely,” Mallory said. She thanked Odette when she reached for her bag and handed it over. “Just sixty seconds to say goodbye?”
“Of course, milaya! Take your time.”
She thanked her again and turned to the group lingering in the recreation room, who had apparently been awaiting her departure and closed in on her, each taking their turn with a hug.
William stood next to his redheaded friend and couldn’t help but watch. Some of them were crying, squeezing the breath out of Mallory.
“They really love her here,” Odette said.
“She takes care of everyone.” He pointedly looked at Odette. “I mean she really looks out for them. Better than most of the staff.” He winced at hearing one of the other patients audibly weeping. Mallory wasn’t crying, but she comfortingly rubbed the patient’s back as they hugged. “They’ll miss her. I would.”
Mallory came back to William and Odette. “Okay, I’m ready,” she breathed with a hint of anxiety.
Odette led the way to the foyer where Doctor Blakely was waiting with her hands behind her back. The three of them paused when the doctor smiled. “I wish you both the best,” she said, extending a hand to Mallory. “Take care.” She shook Mallory’s hand and then William’s. The released patients thanked her and stepped out the final set of doors.
Odette looked at William. “Mne ona ne nravitsya.”
He chuckled. Mallory stopped when a red-coated soldier opened the door of the miniature limousine. She thanked them sincerely and took a seat in the back. William and Odette climbed in after her. “How cool is it that we got discharged on the same day?” Mallory grinned.
“You have her to thank for that.” William nodded to Odette. “The mastermind making our lives better.”
“Hardly.” Odette reached for a tiny fridge pocket in the back with them and retrieved some water bottles. “Just pays to know the system!”
When they arrived at their destination, Mallory’s eyes were out the window the entire way from the gate of base headquarters to the main building. William smirked when she rolled the window down and stuck her head out to see the tops of some of the structures. She watched the formation in the opposite clearing with fascination. After they exited their ride and passed the last security checkpoint inside the main building, Mallory started to go rigid, hugging her owl pillow.
William walked close next to her, nodding in acknowledgement to the people who saluted him as he passed. “Relax,” he said softly.
“Everyone’s in uniform,” she said.
“Yeah, because they’re in the military. You’re not,” he chuckled.
“I still feel underdressed.”
“Then we both are.” He took her owl pillow from her and hugged it to his belly, eliciting a giggle from her.
They traveled to the depths of the building and past a certain point, no one was wearing red coats anymore. Instead, they were wearing white lab coats. Mallory automatically smiled when they were eagerly met by three doctors, who first greeted William and Odette before shaking Mallory’s hand. The man introduced himself and the two women as his colleagues who were in charge of the study of Special Abilities. “We understand that you have quite the unique power, Mallory.” He was grinning from ear to ear. William found it amusing how excited they became—not that it was unwarranted.
“So I’ve been told,” she replied. William expected her to sound shy, but she didn’t have a sheepish note at all. She was actually putting out professional vibes. Even her handshake looked enthusiastic.
“Well, that’s spectacular and we’re certainly eager to see how we might be able to help you identify some controlling points in your experiences with the wendigo.”
“I’m certainly looking forward to seeing how I can aid the cause.”
William puffed his chest out a little at that.
“Great! All right, allow us to give you the tour.” The three doctors guided Mallory, William, and Odette through halls that very much resembled a regular medical hospital. They were shown examination rooms, exercise rooms, and simulation rooms. Mallory nodded with interest and made acknowledging comments here and there. But when Odette elbowed William and subtly nodded at Mallory’s waist, he saw how Mallory had successfully picked off three ends of her fingernails just in the time of the tour. He even caught her discreetly putting one in her pocket instead of dropping it on the floor so as to not leave a trail of her panic.
The last room they stepped into William recognized as a sleep observatory, meaning it was a real bed with a nice duvet with a homey nightstand, but it was sitting in the middle of a stark white room with a giant pane of glass on one wall. When the man introduced this as “her room,” William spoke up. “Pardon? Her room?”
“Yes.”
He blinked. “You don’t mean this is…” He looked at Odette. “I thought we were able to swing the apartment wing for her on the…” He pointed East.
“I… thought so too—Mallory’s not ready for sleep studies right now; who told you this was where she would be staying?”
The doctors looked embarrassed. “Oh, I’m so sorry. I was given that information by Colonel Marshall.”
“It’s all right, we’re not blaming you. But that was not the arrangement Colonel Marshall was informed of.” Odette turned to William. “Ona ne mozhet ostavat’sya zdes’. Ye nuzhno chto-to bol’she pokhozheye na dom.”
“Oh—no, this is fine!” Mallory said. “It’s a lovely bed! It looks so cozy!”
Odette vehemently shook her head as she started typing on her phone rather firmly. William turned to Mallory. “That’s okay.” He placed a hand on her shoulder again. “Change of plans.”
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Billy Mills, from his book Wokini (life)
In my youth I respected the world and life, I needed not anything but peace of heart And yet I changed despite myself and believed in Iktumi's lies. He seemed to know all the truth, he promised to make me happy. He made me ask Wakantanka for wealth, that I might have power; I was given poverty, that I might find my inner strength. I asked for fame, so others would know me; I was given obscurity, that I might know myself. I asked for a person to love that I might never be alone, I was given a life of a hermit, that I might learn to accept myself. I asked for power, that I might achieve, I was given weakness, that I might learn to obey. I asked for health, that I might lead a long life. I was given infirmity, that I might appreciate each minute. I asked Mother Earth for strength, that I might have my way, I was given weakness, that I might feel the need for Her. I asked to live happily, that I might enjoy life, I was given life, that I might live happily, I received nothing I asked for, yet all my wishes came true. Despite myself and Iktumi, my dreams were fulfilled, I am richly blessed more than I ever hoped, I thank-you, Wakantanka, for what you've given me.
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