Page 129 of Veiled

My stomach flips.

I’ve been improving in Combat Medicine so much that Healer Erin just informed me I’ll be solo-handling most of the patients that come in.

It’s the Friday of a long weekend, so I expect to be slammed with drunk students who have either gotten hurt doing something stupid or were bored and put an object in an orifice it shouldn’t be in—something that happens a lot more than you would think!

My last weekend rotation, a girl came in so drunk she could barely stand after she’d coated her dildo in alcohol before putting it to use because she wanted to “get drunk and get fucked.”

And when Matt had his first rotation, two drunk guys came in with bottles up their asses because they had a bet on who could take one deeper.

It’s a good thing civilians don’t know these things are happening, or all the faith in Scion creating “elite” warriors to keep them safe would go down the drain.

A loud groan comes from room six, and I remember they’re waiting on me.

Right.

I can do this.

I inhale—slow and steady.

“On it,” I say, hoping my voice doesn’t betray me.

And step forward into Room Six.

“Hi, I’m Annalise. I’m going to be helping with your treatment tonight. Can you tell me your name and what’s going on?” I ask the brunette sitting on the bed, crying.

“Uhm. Hi. No offense, but can I see the healer?”

I gently smile at her. “Of course. Do you mind if I get a little information from you, and then you can tell her what brings you in tonight?”

She proceeds to give me all of the information I need to get her checked in, other than her reason for her visit.

“Healer Erin will be in shortly, but if there’s anything you need, just holler, and I’ll be back,” I tell her before closing her curtain.

“Room six would like to speak with you directly. I didn’t see anything wrong physically while she gave me her basics for the system, but she’s really upset. I’m putting her information in now, but she’s Bravo company, 22, and her name is Wrenley Plune.”

“Thanks, Corvin. I’ll head in there now. I was about to go see the recruit in three since he’s about due for a bandage change. Would you mind taking care of that for me when you’re done?”

“Not at all,” I tell her as she leaves the desk.

Almost to room three, the main entrance door at the far end of the infirmary slams open, the sound cracking through the quiet like lightning.

I jump, heart lodging somewhere near my throat.

Captain Korr strides in, carrying a recruit over his shoulder like he weighs nothing. His uniform is streaked with dirt and sweat, and a thin line of blood stains his jaw.

“Clear a bed,” he orders, voice low and coiled.

Healer Sara snaps forward, “Bay four!”

Korr doesn’t wait. He moves fast, depositing the unconscious recruit onto the bed with practiced precision.

The recruit’s uniform is shredded across the chest and side. Long, deep claw marks rake across his ribs; the flesh around them is already swollen and mottled with bruising that spreads by the second. The wounds almost vibrate, like whatever caused them left something behind.

“What happened?” Healer Sara demands, already pulling on reinforced gloves.

“He wasn’t in class,” Korr says, voice clipped. “One of his friends found him in the woods and ran to get me.”

The words land like a stone in my stomach.