Maggie pulled her phone out from her jacket.

“Oh crap, my phone signal came back for a moment, and I have fifty-one missed calls from my parents. So far they’ve left fourteen voicemails,” she sighed loudly and put down her helmet so she could more comfortably send a message. “I’m just going to text them and say we’re fine and not to worry.”

“Are you gonna listen to their messages?”

“No way. I don’t feel like being screamed at fourteen times.”

“Fair enough.”

The automatic doors to the hospital entrance didn’t open. Through the glass they could see plenty of doctors and nurses and hospital staff, none of whom were looking in their direction. Tonia knocked on the window and managed to catch the eye of a young male nurse.

“Uh, hello?” he opened the door slightly and stuck his head out cautiously.

“Hello, can we come in please?” Maggie asked politely.

“I’m not sure if I can let you in. We’re on something of a lockdown right now, you see. What are you doing here?”

“We’re here to visit our friend,” said Tonia.

“Who’s your friend?”

“Annora Huff,” the two girls replied at the same time.

The nurse looked suspicious.

“So, the two of you, completely randomly, despite everything that’s going on right now, decided to come and visit your mate?”

“Of course it wasn’t random,” Tonia said derisively. “We came because of what’s happening. Annora’s very sensitive and gets scared easily. We didn’t want her to be alone.”

“What’s going on out here?” a buxom lady interrupted, pushing the door open wider to get a good look.

“Just talking to these two girls, Cheryl. Apparently they came to see Annora.”

“Now?!”

“Please just let us in,” Maggie implored. “We’re really tired and quite thirsty. I swear we’re not up to anything bad. We’re fourteen so we both have CityID cards, you’re welcome to scan them and run a check. But I promise you we’re telling the truth. We’re just here for Annora.”

She offered her laminated identification card. The lady glanced at it but then stepped back. “Fine. But I’m only letting you in because I can’t knowingly send you back out into this mad city today.”

“Thank you,” they said gratefully.

“Connor here will take you up to Annora’s room,” the lady finished and quickly went back to the huddle around the reception desk. Everyone was staring at a computer screen but Maggie and Tonia couldn’t see over them enough to tell what was happening. They didn’t have to.

The man called Connor escorted them hurriedly through the protected hallways. He was visibly annoyed when Maggie asked to stop at the water fountain for a moment, and as soon as they reached Annora’s room, he unlocked it and departed without so much as a word.

“Hi!” Annora croaked from the bed. “Maggie! What are you doing here?”

“She’s here to keep you company with me, silly,” Tonia planted a light kiss onto Annora’s forehead.

“Couldn’t they have given you a more cozy room?” Maggie said, looking around.

“That would be nice,” Annora smiled. She pulled her legs into a crossed position, making room for them to sit on the bed with her. “Please tell me what’s going on, the nurses won’t say. I’ve heard bits and bobs when people talk in the hallway, but I don’t really know anything. Please tell me.”

They did.