CHAOS IN A QUIET TOWN

The next few weeks were a whirlwind of activity as I settled into my new life. I knew that I would need to earn a living if I was going to attend the art school. I began asking about any job openings. I asked shopkeepers, vendors, and anyone who would listen, but I was met with disappointment at every turn. It seemed that there were no jobs available in the town, and I was starting to worry that I would not be able to make ends meet.

My hope of finding a job dwindled with each passing step. But then, I saw it — a small, quaint inn tucked away in a shady grove of trees. I nervously stepped forward and knocked on the door.

The door opens and an elderly woman with short grey hair and a weathered face steps out. She wears an apron over her plain dress, and spectacles rest upon the bridge of her nose. Her eyes show wisdom and kindness.

“Hi, dear,” she said in a sweet soft voice. “Welcome to The Willow Tree. How can I help you?”

I nervously cleared my throat. “Hi, I wanted to know if you needed anyone to work?”

Her eyes widened with relief. “Yes! Our usual nurse has taken ill, and we need someone to take over.”

My heart sank. This was not what I expected. “I’ll gladly help,” I said sadly, “but I must tell you I have no experience of nursing.”

She squinted her eyes and took in my appearance with a discerning gaze. “That’s okay,” she said finally. “I will get one of the other nurses to train you. What is your name, dear?”

I smiled up at her. “My name is Alivia.”

She smiled back and gestured for me to follow her. “I’m Agatha, come with me and I will give you a tour of the infirmary.”

As I followed Agatha to the infirmary, I couldn’t help but feel a mix of nerves and excitement. Although I had no prior experience as a nurse, I was determined to learn and do my best in this new role. “Now, Alivia, this is where you’ll be working,” she said. “We have one of the best nurses in town, Sarah, she’ll be training you.”

Agatha opened the door to a small room and gestured for me to follow. The infirmary was an impressive sight. Shelves lined the walls, stocked full of ointments and remedies for common ailments. There were three beds placed against the wall and in the corner, a cabinet jammed with an array of vials, jars, and bottles of various colours and shapes. It was clear that this place called for hard work and dedication.

There was a young woman in the who was busily stocking the shelves. “Sarah, this is Alivia. She will be joining us as our new nurse,” Agatha said.

Sarah turned to face us, a friendly smile spreading across her face. “Hi Alivia, it’s great to meet you!” she said warmly.

“Hi Sarah, it’s nice to meet you too,” I replied.

Agatha continued, “Sarah here will be training you. She has been a nurse for years and has a wealth of knowledge and experience.”

I felt a sense of relief knowing that I would have a skilled mentor to guide me through this new experience. “Thank you, Sarah,” I said gratefully.

Sarah smiled again, “No problem. Let us get started!” she said, showing me around the infirmary and explaining each of the various remedies and treatments.

The following days were a seemingly never-ending roller-coaster on top of my studies at the art school. I also had duties to fulfil at the infirmary. It was a tough test, but I kept pushing forward.

At work, I was mostly a spectator, watching as Sarah handled patients, changed bandages, and administered medicine. She moved around the room with such amazing agility and grace, efficiently completing each task with precision and kindness. As much as I was in awe of her abilities, deep down I knew that it would take me a while before I could achieve her level of proficiency and trust.

Days went by and with Sarah’s guidance, I slowly began helping with small tasks, such as preparing bandages and mixing herbs to make medicine. Although it was tough work and sometimes, I wanted to give up, but her words of support kept me going. Every time I accomplished something she cheered for me, and it felt like music to my ears. With each passing day, I felt that I was getting better and, most of all, I am extremely grateful for her mentorship.

The peaceful town was suddenly thrown into chaos as an outbreak of a virus began to spread through the werewolf community. Those infected with the virus began to act erratically, entering homes and attacking anything that crossed their paths before getting high fever and dying. The once bustling streets were now empty as residents locked themselves indoors, scared of what was happening outside.

I was walking back from the infirmary to my dorm when a loud crash echoed through the streets, sending me into a state of panic. My palms became slick with sweat and my knees were shaking as I turned to see what had caused the noise. A wolf had burst through the storefront window of the shop across from me. Its fur was stained with blood and its eyes wild with fear. As it sagged against the frame, struggling to breath, I heard frantic screams around me, people running in all directions to get away from this wild beast. The wolf then began to transform into a man, and he groaned in pain as he trembled with fear. I knelt beside him, and he gasped out, “My daughter”, pointing towards the store behind him.

I looked inside and was horrified by the sight before me; a little girl lay motionless on the floor, her body covered in deep bite marks and her blood spread across the shop’s floor. I quickly checked for a pulse, relieved to find one even if it was faint. I was horrified at the thought of her own father doing something like this to her, but that is the horrifying effect of this virus. Trying to figure out how we could get her to the infirmary quickly, my eyes landed on a horse and carriage parked across the street. I grabbed a few blankets and put them in the carriage, making a makeshift bed.

I gently lifted the little girl lying on the stone-cold floor and put her in the carriage, then I went back for her father, put his arm around my shoulder, lifting him up and he let out a screeching scream in pain. I managed to get him into the carriage, and I quickly climbed onto the driver’s seat. I had never driven a carriage before, but I knew that this was a matter of life and death, and I couldn’t afford to hesitate. I snapped the reins, urging the horse forward, as I navigated the crowded street. People moved out of the way as I rushed past them, the horse’s hooves pounding against the cobblestones. My heart was racing as I tried to remember the way to the infirmary, and I muttered a quick prayer for guidance. I finally saw the familiar inn I worked at, and I breathed a sigh of relief as I pulled the carriage up to the door. I jumped down and ran inside, shouting for a Sarah and Agatha. They both come rushing out to help, taking the little girl and her father from the carriage and quickly rushing them inside for treatment. I collapsed against the wall, my heart pounding as I tried to catch my breath.