DOCTOR SEVEN

As soon as I stepped into the prison hospital, a young, stunning woman suddenly dropped to her knees, her arms outstretched, her eyes pleading. "Please, Doctor Seven, you have to help me!" she begged. I instinctively reached out to assist her.

In prison I was known as Seven. The uniform's numbering system had become an identifier for us inmates. While most preferred their names, I had grown fond of Seven, the number embroidered on my uniform. Few knew my name, there was a certain detachment to being known by a number that I loved. In this place, Seven was who I was.

"Please, Doctor Seven, help my father," she begged, "please I beg you." I gently knelt down, trying to calm her, and asked, "What's wrong with your father?" My tone was soft and reassuring.

Just as I was lifting her off the floor, she was roughly pulled away from me. "Don't kneel for him, Carol. I heard he is a murder convict."

Carol's eyes welled up with tears, "But mum, we have been to every hospital and nothing worked, and if it wasn't for the rumors about the exceptional doctor in prison, I would lose all hope." She sighed, gesturing towards me, "He is our last hope."

The proud looking lady's demeanor shifted slightly. But she held her head high, her voice firm as she said, "It doesn't matter, he is a prisoner. He will treat my husband anyway. No need to begg."

I flashed her a cold smile, "With that attitude I am afraid I won't be attending to your husband. Find another doctor." With that, I turned and walked away, the darkness within me simmering just below the surface. Recently I was constantly losing control.

"Please Doctor Seven, I am begging you save my father," Carol pleaded, desperation on her face as she grasped for anything that might persuade me to help her father. "I will give you whatever you want, just please, Doctor Seven, save him."

I clenched my fists, the urge to hurt someone growing stronger by the second. I had to get out of there fast before my instincts took over.

I turned to face her, my expression cold and unyielding. "I said no young lady, I don't take kindly to being disrespected."

Her mother pulled me back causing my steps to flatter, her voice filled with venom as she sneered, "You better remember your place, prisoner. My husband's influence can make your life unbearable. You are in no position to refuse us." Her eyes flashed with anger, her words hanging in the air like a threat.

My eyes locked onto hers, "Be my guest." I said as I took a step closer, my presence looming over her. "Lastly, I hate being threatened."

"Are you even a doctor?" she asked, her voice mixed with desperation and doubt. "A good doctor would never stand by and watch a patient die." Her eyes searched mine, as if seeking some glimmer of humanity behind my cold face.

I smiled before calmly adding, "But am not watching him die, you are not going to be short on medical care with your connections. I'm sure your husband's influence will get him the best treatment. Besides, like you said I am just a prisoner. What could I possibly do for someone of your level?"

She moved as if to slap me but stopped immediately after she gazed into my eyes. I stood there, my body tense, the voice in my head grew louder, urging me to lash out, to unleash my fury on the loud disrespectful woman. I could feel my control dropping, I clenched my fingers tighter. I wasn't stable.

I turned and left, the sound of Carol's desperate cries echoing behind me, fading with each step as I disappeared from view.

Immediately I was out of sight, I broke into a run towards the ice room, it was a freezer where they stored body organs. I stepped in closing the door behind me. As the icy air wrapped around my skin, I felt my body begin to calm, the tension seeping out of my muscles. The voices in my head, the rage and anger, all quieted. I had done this so many times over the past month. As I left the room I wondered what was happening to me? Was I really losing my sanity?

With my composure restored, I needed to find that patient. I wasn't one to ignore a patient simply because of a rude relative. Before I wasn't in my right mind, but now that I was thinking, I needed to treat this man.

As I approached the room, I saw a group of doctors from various countries trying to brief the rude woman on the patient's condition, but she cut them off with threats, I walked past the gathered doctors, just as I was about to enter, a hand clamped down on my arm, holding me back.

"Who are you?" A voice asked

I decided to keep quiet, I was fighting demons I didn't want to resurface. At least not yet.

I continued pushing the door, but the man held me back, "We are doctors from around the world. We have all failed to treat the old man, and you, a child, think you can succeed? Who are you? Do you want to kill the old man?"

I ignored him and surveyed my surroundings, I spotted Uncle Delgado in a corner, seemingly awakened by the commotion.

"Do you have any idea why the old man is in a prison hospital?" I asked the doctor who was holding my arm.

"Yes, apparently the ladies think a certain prison doctor named Doctor Seven can cure Mr. Kole," he said, gesturing towards Carol and her mother. "Though I strongly disagree, I would like to meet this mystery Doctor Seven."

"Why meet with someone you have doubts about?"

"Because of his achievements," he replied. "It's said he has brought men back from the brink of death. Am just not convinced he is better than any of us" he paused looking at the gathered doctors. "We are all top graduates with experience." They all nodded agreeing with him.

"Thank you for the compliment, it's nice to meet all of you. I am Doctor Seven," I said and I was met with silence then chaos.

"You, you're... now my doubts have intensified. You are a young man with no experience." The doctor from earlier said looking at me with doubt.

"I may look young, but my hands have treated more patients than yours," I replied calmly, eager to get this over with.

They all laughed, but I ignored them. "Now, if you will allow me, gentlemen, I need to start before it's too late."

I turned to my uncle. "Dr. Delgado, will you please assist me?" He quickly moved to my side. "Of course, of course."

Then I turned to Mrs. Kole and her daughter. "May I?" Mrs. Kole was silent, but her daughter happily agreed.

The surgery was long but successful. As it ended, I noticed one of the nurses secretly adding a drug to the IV. A sly smile spread across my face, and my hands involuntarily clenched into fists. I have been itching to hit someone and he was just the perfect candidate.

"What are you doing?" I asked, my voice firm and urgent. I didn't give him a chance to answer before I swung the first fist. Punch after punch went over his head and very soon he was covered in blood.

There was pounding on the door, inside someone was trying to pull me away, but all I could see was red, my vision blurred by rage.

A fist hit my face, and I spun around to confront my attacker. Before I could react, another blow landed. Just as I was about to attack back, a voice pierced through my rage, stopping me in my tracks.

"COME DOWN! Damen, stop!" It was Uncle Thor. I froze, my gaze falling on the battered man at my feet. I took a step back, horrified, and stared at my blood-stained hands. What was wrong with me?