Chapter 2: A Village in Crisis

Ethan woke up to the sound of hurried footsteps outside his small room. The sun hadn't fully risen, yet the village was already stirring with an unusual sense of urgency. He quickly dressed and stepped outside, where a group of villagers stood anxiously near the clinic.

Aisha, the head nurse, was already there, speaking in hushed tones with a local elder. The moment she spotted Ethan, she gestured for him to come over.

"We have a problem," she said, her usual composure slightly shaken.

"What happened?" Ethan asked.

"A sickness is spreading in the village," Aisha explained. "Fever, vomiting, severe dehydration. Three people collapsed overnight, and now more are showing symptoms."

Ethan's stomach tightened. An outbreak.

They rushed inside the clinic, where a chaotic scene awaited them. The waiting area, which usually had a handful of patients, was now overcrowded. Women held their children close, elderly men lay weakly on the benches, and some patients sat on the floor, unable to stand.

Ethan immediately began assessing the symptoms. High fever. Lethargy. Vomiting. His medical training kicked in—this looked like a bacterial or viral infection, possibly cholera or typhoid.

"We need IV fluids, fast," he told Aisha. "If it's dehydration, we can't waste time."

Aisha nodded and called for the clinic staff to begin setting up IV lines. But Ethan noticed something troubling—the clinic's supply was low.

"We don't have enough," Aisha admitted, her voice tight with frustration. "And the nearest hospital is two hours away."

Ethan clenched his jaw. If they didn't act fast, people would die.

He turned to the crowd and addressed them in Hausa. "Please, anyone who has clean water at home, bring it. We will start making oral rehydration solutions."

A murmur ran through the villagers. Some hesitated, but a few nodded and ran off to help.

Minutes later, they had water, salt, and sugar. Ethan guided the volunteers in preparing homemade rehydration drinks for those too weak to take IV fluids.

Then, just as they were stabilizing the first patients, a man burst through the clinic doors, his eyes wild with fear.

"Doctor! My daughter—she collapsed at home!"

Ethan and Aisha exchanged glances. The crisis was spreading beyond the clinic.

Without hesitation, Ethan grabbed his medical bag. "Take me to her."

As he followed the man into the village, a single thought ran through his mind—this was just the beginning.

---

Chapter 3: Fighting the System

Ethan arrived at the family's small hut to find the girl—no older than eight—lying motionless on a mat. Her mother knelt beside her, pressing a damp cloth to her forehead.

Ethan crouched beside her, checking her pulse. Weak. He opened his bag and quickly prepared an injection of antibiotics while instructing the mother to keep her head elevated.

"We need to get her to the clinic," he said urgently.

The father nodded and scooped the girl into his arms, rushing back toward the clinic.

But when they arrived, they were met with an unwelcome sight—a government official, flanked by two policemen, speaking with Aisha.

"What's going on?" Ethan asked.

The official turned to him with a disapproving look. "This clinic is operating beyond its approved capacity. You are not authorized to treat this many patients."

Ethan couldn't believe what he was hearing. "People are dying. And you're worried about authorization?"

The official sighed, as if Ethan were an inconvenience. "Resources are limited. We cannot allow unregistered medical efforts."

Ethan felt his temper rising. "Then send us supplies. More IVs. More medicine. If you won't help, at least don't stop us from saving lives."

The official smirked. "That is not how the system works, doctor."

Ethan realized then—this wasn't just a medical crisis. It was a political one.

And if he wanted

to change things, he would have to fight harder than he ever imagined.