Chapter 2: Meeting new reallity

Don jumped from the window. Who the hell could be knocking at this time. He opened the door of his room in his little apartment and peeked out. It was dark. He reached for his mobile phone and turned flashlight on. The living room is empty. Knock again. This time was even scarier that first one. He approached the door and reached for doorknob but before opening the door he asked silently "Who is it?". Answer was fast and with obvious fear in female voice "Please, please let me in, I need help I am injured". Don would maybe think twice usually, but medic in him opened the door. In front of the door was a girl, not older than 18 with open wound on her bloody right arm. He pulled her inside, locked the door and started to examine the wound. She was shivering in fear. "What happened? Don't be afraid, I am a doctor and I will help you." She was in obvious shock and could not answer at the moment, she started to cry. In next 5 minutes, wound was cleaned and sutured. "Here, you should be okay, I don't know how many blood you lost but as I can see, there should not be any problems." She finally answered "Thank you... I.. I cannot thank you enough." Her eyes are still wet from the tears. "You should not be thanking me, it is okay. You should rest now but I suggest you not to go outside alone and I doubt any taxi will ride at this hour. So, you can go sleep in my room, I will stay here for tonight." She looked at him shocked, like this is kind of gesture she never expected to get. "I don't know what to say, you already helped me more than I could hope for". "As I already said, it is okay. And I mean it. You should stay here and rest, you can go in the morning, it would be at least a bit safer than now". She started to cry again, stood up and hugged Don. "Thank you, I will leave as soon as sun rises". Don nodded and pointed at the bedroom. She walked so slowly and carefully as she was expecting that someone will attack her anytime. When she closed the door Don collected stuff that is left from wound treatment and sat on sofa. He realised that he didn't took blanket nor pillow from his room. Yeah, no way he will go there now. Thank God he wasn't really tidiest person in the world, so he took shirt that was lying on the chair near sofa, he rolled up the shirt and layed his head on it. He could not fall asleep for hours so he decided to quick check on girl. He walked as slow as he could towards bedroom door. As soon as he opened the door he knew she was long gone. The window was wide open and he is sure that it was closed 24/7 since riots started. One quick look at the bed and his suspicion became valid, bed was empty. What now? He doesn't even know girl's name and where she could go but that feeling that she is his responsibility was still there. She was his first true patient. One look on the watch, 5:45 AM. Well, its not like he will stay in home for rest of his life, except going in a near shop that was still working. He picked his sneakers and put them on his feet. Beside the door on little table there was his pocket knife that he never took outside. Don isn't really aggresive type of person or even a guy that would ever hurt anyone. No, he spent his entire life studying how to help people, not how to hurt them. Everyday he says to himself that he should take that pocket knife with himself to the shop, what if someone attack and rob him. But as soon as he take it, he knew that even if someone would try to rob him, he will just give everything and ask that person not to hurt him or anyone. After that thought he will always left his little knife back on table and leave his apartment unarmed. But now? It's not only his life endangered. He quickly grabed knife from table, put it in his pocket before he changes his mind and leave the apartment, locked the door, checked it twice and with deep breath he left the building. When he put his feet on sidewalk in front of building where his little apartment is, cold morning air filled his lungs. There was noone in sight which is from one side nice relief, but from other, its unpleasant not to see anyone. Where to start? He doesn't know anything about girl and she could be gone for hours now. He knew that the right way is towards city's square and center of Carlow where most of bar and shops are. Left way is towards park and lake where he doubted she headed. Street across him is leading towards just more of buildings, at this time in little alleys between that buildings you should find gangs, dilers or drunk people. He pointed in that direction. Assuming she headed home and that's most populated area around. Everyone around here is just looking at their buisness, especially these days, so even more people that earn their money through some black operations are outside. He walked for maybe five minutes when he saw first person. It was old man visibly drunk muttering about the end of the world. Then, out of nowhere 4 shady men jumped on old guy and started to beat him. They where yelling at him. "End of the world? You old drunken coward. Because of people like you there is this mess all around the world. We should be united in defending our home, not be surrendering it". Don stood there for few moments when he realised he grips his pocket knife so hard it started to hurt. He won't let them kill that poor old man. When he decided to say them to stop and get involved, he was pulled behind the corner and thrown on ground next to big garbage container. Instead of pulling his pocket knife he put his hands in front of face like biggest coward in the world. Gentle known female voice start talking. "What are you doing here? It is dangerous to be here now". He looked through his hands and there she is, the girl he previously saved. "I was looking for you, you are hurt and I..". She interupted him. "Thanks, but you have done enough, I don't have time to sleep in warm bed and be resting while... Never mind, go home, I am fine". Don didn't know what to say. She was so young but so dedicated to stay there in that mess. He tried to argue and convince her but she just showed him to be silent. Next moment those five shady guys came and threw something in cointainer. Don was worried they could hear his heart beating. Girl put her hand on his mounth and gave him a sharp look. If they check 3 feet from where they are, they will find them and then what. Luckily they turned around and as silently as they came they left. Without any word said. She got up and said "Listen, I lost my little brother before I came at your door and won't be resting before I find him. Don stood next to her and he firmly said "Okay, then I am going to help you and you can't say anything that will send me home now". At the moment she looked like she will argue about that, but then she smiled. "Okay, thank you.. My name is Kaylee and I will repay my debt, you can call me Kay". Dan nodded. "There is no debt to repay, I will gladly help you Kay". They shook hands and then a thought flashed through his head. He turned around and looked in container. He will remember that dead look from old man forever.