Graham, my huntsman’s name here, told me I should go to the hospital to check for any more serious injuries. I decided
I was fine and had him drive me home once we were done at the sheriff’s
station. But this morning I woke up aching everywhere. Graham arrived in the
morning to check on me and drove me to Storybrooke General Hospital.
My attacker got away, but I know he can’t run far. The three men I
mentioned in my last passage all make the most sense, but each one raises
questions. First, anyone other than me retaining their memories from our home
is a threat that needs to be contained. Charming would be the worst. I can just
imagine him trying to bring back everyone’s memories with speeches about love
and then finding a weapon for everyone. I don’t think it would work without the
“savior” breaking the curse, so it might not be as bad as that. But he may try
to usurp my authority.
Jefferson is a likely candidate. He certainly has motive after I
stranded him in Wonderland. But how was he able to come to Storybrooke from
Wonderland? As far as I’m aware, my curse only spread across my land. But then,
that’s why I had that pirate kill my mother while she was still in Wonderland,
herself. She would have found a way to come here even if the curse didn’t reach
that far. Was Jefferson able to come back to the forest in time and I didn’t
know about it? The curse may have spread further than I realized.
I told Rumpelstiltskin that Belle was dead, but it’s possible he could
have found out I was keeping her. Back home he cared about his power more than
her, or else my trick would have worked. But here, where there is no magic,
would that matter to him?
My visit to the hospital was illuminating. Graham had left me there so
he could find my attacker. I didn’t have to wait long to see Dr. Whale, though
I must say I was surprised to see him. If Doctor Frankenstein could be the head
surgeon of Storybrooke General, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Jefferson here
after all. The doctor was accompanied by a pretty young nurse with a clipboard.
“I really wish you’d come sooner than this.” He held a shiny tube up to
my eyes while I sat on his table. A light brighter than any candle flame burst
forth, practically blinding me. “Have you been dizzy? The sheriff told me what
happened. Did you hit your head?”
“No. I don’t think so.”
He checked me over and said I was lucky that nothing worse had happened
to me than scrapes and bruising. He took the clipboard and jotted some notes
down before handing it back to the nurse and excusing her. His gaze fell onto
the nurse’s skirt as she left before he turned back to me.
“I’m glad you’re here, actually.” His air was much more pleasant in this
life. He certainly smiled more. “We were scheduled to meet in a few weeks to
discuss upcoming events for the hospital, but I was hoping you and I could discuss
the issues before then.” He moved in closer than was necessary for a doctor to
speak with a patient. “We could brainstorm ideas over drinks? I’d like to start
a volunteer program. Maybe you could volunteer?”
“I think a program like that is a great idea.” I inched away from him
and off the table. “My schedule is already so busy as mayor, however, that I
don’t think I’ll have time for volunteering, let alone drinks. We’ll meet in
public as arranged and announce your program. I’m sure a gentleman with your
reputation will have no problem finding volunteers.”
His smile let me know he understood me. And with that, his examination
was over.
After that, I stopped in the cafeteria for lunch. I’d only eaten about
half of my bland food when a nurse approached me. She was paler than the rest
of the staff here, as though she didn’t see the sun often. Her hair and face
were done up more sternly than the rest of them as well. Her smile at me did
nothing to soften her features. I can’t say that I immediately recognized her.
“I didn’t expect to see you here at this time of day.” She said.
“I had to come in for a check-up.”
“Would you like to check up on her?”
I had to get used to everyone knowing more about me than I did.
“Of course.” I smiled back at her. No one paid us any attention as we
left the cafeteria, or when we made our way down below the main floor of the
hospital to a darker area called the mental care ward. It reminded me more of a
dungeon as the nurse led me down a row of cells and finally stopped me at one
door. She pulled a key from the pocket of her stiff uniform and used it to open
the door. I was reluctant to go inside with her, but she looked back at me and
smiled.
“She’s a lot more docile now.” She said encouragingly. “The medication
we have her on doesn’t allow her to want to do much.”
I walked into the cell. There wasn’t much in the way of furniture. A
single bed sat against the wall. Next to the only window sat a single woman. She
hardly lifted her head to look at me.
Belle.
“How long has she been here now?” I knew I was smiling. My giddiness
couldn’t be suppressed.
“It’s probably been a year now since you found her in your house with a
gun.” She folded her arms and sounded as though she was reminiscing. “This is
really the best place for her. Even her father knew it. Sensitive creatures
like her can be swayed to do the wrong thing. But now she can’t get to anyone
and no one can get to her.”
It was a great way to end a day at the
hospital. Graham picked me up about an hour later. Still no word on my
attacker, but we did agree that he would teach me how to drive tomorrow. Having
Graham drive me around is certainly nice, but I need to be able to get around
and do some investigating of my own.
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