hint of lavender

The stranger’s eyes landed on the old soup and pieces of pink meat on the floor. His nose wrinkled in disgust.

“L-let go...” Anthony mumbled, reaching out weakly toward the stranger. He gave a feeble push, but it only intensified the pain. He cursed himself as the tracker began stinging again.

The stranger didn’t tolerate Anthony’s defiance and lifted him up. Anthony was light enough that the stranger easily helped him out of the room.

“What’s your name?” he asked impatiently, holding Anthony close as if he didn’t want him to fall, yet refused to let him rest.

Anthony glared at him with weak eyes but was surprised to find that the stranger wasn’t even looking at him. Instead, his eyes were fixed on the long hallway. Anthony could make out brownish-blond hair and saw something red, but not much more. His vision was still blurry.

Anthony dropped his head and closed his eyes. He reasoned that the stranger would drag him if necessary. Struggling would only result in more pain or exhaustion.

His eyes snapped open when he felt a sharp, though not overly painful, pinch in his side. He glared at the hand that had caused it.

“Why did you pinch me?” he asked, annoyed. He was genuinely curious but not upset; he found it more amusing than it probably was.

The stranger led him through an iron door into a small room with white walls and tile flooring. Four stretchers were positioned against the walls, facing the center of the room. At the back was a large cabinet with glass doors revealing various medicines.

Anthony noticed an old man on the first stretcher, who had only a patch of gray hair. A drip was beside him, but instead of medicine, a green liquid was being poured into his frail body. A small blue blanket covered him.

The idea of them wanting to cover the old man’s body crossed Anthony’s mind, but he pushed it away. They were cruel, but even they should respect elders. Maybe the man had just become sick, and they were genuinely trying to help him. He wondered what the old man’s life had been like.

When he was pushed onto a stretcher, he snapped out of his trance. He wanted to protest, but something cold and soft was placed over his mouth and nose. The chemical scent made him feel nauseous, but a hint of something familiar helped calm him.

Whatever it was made his body relax. His breathing steadied, and his eyes were on the verge of closing.

“Do you like lavender?” the stranger asked. It was hard to tell if he was being genuine or not.

Anthony shook his head. He didn’t want to give the stranger any advantage. Even if he found comfort in the familiar scent, he wouldn’t let himself become attached. It could only cause trouble.

As the blurriness faded, the stranger’s features became clearer. The person had brownish-blond, curly but neat hair. He wore a white button-up shirt with a red pullover and black pants. He looked wealthy; his clothes were new, and a gold watch adorned his wrist.

He seemed young. Anthony thought they might be around the same age, despite him being smaller and much thinner.

He felt the stranger staring through him, so he returned the gaze. It went on for a full minute without either of them looking away. It felt like a challenge, but eventually, Anthony won, and the stranger looked away.

Anthony still had the cloth over his mouth. He was relieved to keep it. Even if it smelled strongly of chemicals, it still had a somewhat pleasant scent.

He tried to remember what the stranger had said it was—lavender. He kept repeating it in his mind, hoping it was the source of the good smell. He wanted to ask Dr. Rain about it later.

A little feeling returned to his hands, and he lifted the cloth off his mouth but kept it over his nose.

“Just... just a little longer,” he half-begged himself. He tried to savor the comforting scent. It was familiar but not often experienced in this place. Luxuries like this were rare.

His eyes closed slowly, ignoring the soft footsteps approaching. His mind focused solely on the smell, to the point where he didn’t resist when a sweet liquid was poured into his throat.

“You can sleep... it’s still early in the morning,” the stranger offered.

Anthony couldn’t read the stranger’s intentions. The voice was non-threatening but not entirely reassuring either.

His common sense failed him this time. He gave a small nod and closed his eyes.

He felt more peaceful than he had in a long time.

But it wouldn’t last long.

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