Pritcher P.O.V

I couldn't tear my eyes away from it. It, no longer him. There was no coming back from what he'd become; demoralized, dehumanized... Demonized. It tightened it's hold on the ground, muscles bunching as it faced where I hid, and I couldn't help but move. In that moment, it sprung, body spreading out in the air, claws hardly touching the top of the desk as I rolled and pointed the nozzle towards it, spraying a healthy dose of the white powder from the extinguisher. It yowled, making choking coughing sounds and swiped, luckily, with the back of its clawed hand, knocking the extinguisher from my clammy hands.

I lurched back as the creature shook its head, flinging the clumps of drool as it rapidly blinked its draining eyes. Not sparing any time, I scrabbled on the powdered floor, trying to gain purchase and move before the creature regained its... Instinctual prowess, not senses; this creature was senseless, running on the basest of needs. To feed, maim and glut. My shoes squeaked as I gained ground, hands catching at the tiled floor, feet holding and slipping precariously until I was able to straighten and run toward the double doors that lead from this room to the wide hall that sprouted more halls and rooms, hoping to...

I glanced back against my will, knowing that it would not assist me in any way towards my survival. It was already set to spring at me, and I couldn't help but watched as it began to spring as I turned back forward, eyes wide in knowing that there was no way I would be able to avoid it again. And then there was the sharp, warping sound of a gunshot and Ashe screaming shrilly in his room; quickly quieted. My eyes alighted on the group of men in protective gear, guns raised as I looked back again, skidding on the ground and sliding into a potted plant whose fronds shook angrily.

From this angle, my body no longer able to handle the stress put upon it, I watched as the creature hissed and released a coughing yowl before turning from the group now flooding into the room and bounding into the glass enclosure where Ashe and Mrs. Leugen were still hidden. Gunshots continued to ring out as the creature scratched and collided with the glass, it and the bullets fracturing the structure as blood splattered, smearing the room beyond into shades of red. Bullets rang out constantly as the creature made another concerted effort at the wall, it and the damage from the bullets finally weakening the partition enough that it crumbled inward with the beast. Blood now pooled and followed the webbing cracks as the beast continued to crawl forward toward the two under the bed.

There was a shrill scream as its claws scraped closer to the bed. I watched from my position on the ground by the potted plant, barely conscious enough to watched as dark booted feet collided with the ground, moving away and toward the white room to surround the pulsing mass on the ground, the sound of numerous shots echoing through the rooms until a large item glinted in the sharp light, abruptly ending the concussion of bullets as it flashed downward with a thunk.

Not long after that, a group of people in white protective gear holding equipment bags entered, those in dark gear moving back and following one of the people in white from the room. An area was cleaned, then plastic laid out as several people began their ministrations of the unmoving lump. From what I could see, several were assisting Mrs. Leugen and Ashe from under the bed, leading them through to the actual door and to a different area of the room where a screen was set up.

I was so focused on what was happening that it wasn't until the white booted feet were right in front of me that I noticed the person, my eyes following up the figure until I was looking into a clear mask, the light reflecting from it making it hard to see the face behind it, "Sir, are you able to stand?"

"I-I, yes," My body hurt from years of only walking and sitting at a desk with the occasional light exercise. I grimaced as I stood, knocking at the fronds that I stood up into.

"Are you injured in any way, sir?" The same person, a female, asked as two of her coworkers set up a screen just like the one Ashe and Mrs. Leugen had been corralled into.

"No... I don't think so," I looked down at myself, my clothes full of powder, and I could only imagine the disarray that my hair and face were in.

"I'll need you to step into that shallow structure there, sir, and remove your clothes."

"Even my, uh, undergarments?" I stepped into the small inflated, pool-like structure, removing my shoes after I stepped in only to have them bagged right away. I noticed there was a tube coming from the pool, and the sound of a small generator as suction began.

"Yes, everything."

"Uh, then, can I not have an audience?" I removed my coat, having it confiscated too, and began removing my polo and under shirt.

"I'm sorry sir, but in these cases, procedures to not allow for... privacy, decency or dignity," The female did not say this rudely as her teammates worked in synchronicity, much like my own. "And, being a doctor, I'm surprised by your modest decorum."

"I may see bodies without concern for my personal embarrassment, but having mine on display is much different," I was now down to my dark blue boxer briefs, skin pebbling in discomfort.

"We are doctors as well. Just think of this as... A check-up," She took an assembly almost exactly like a shower head. It was puck-shaped but as big as a dinner plate with many little nodules that I can only assume water or some other chemical is released from.

I flushed as I removed my last article of clothing before she demanded I hold onto something much like a foot cradle for balance and to keep still as they thoroughly cleaned my face, making me cringe from the astringent products used, my skin tingling and burning slightly. My skin there was scrubbed then cleaned off and then a small respirator that fully encapsulated my mouth and nose so no liquid or air other than from the equipment could enter. A gel was spread over my eyes that tightened and made it impossible to see, "Be sure to hold this. Don't let go; it'll help you keep your balance."

I gripped the bar tightly as they cleaned my ears and then shoved plugs in them before my body was sprayed and cleaned and steamed painfully. Every portion of my flesh, even the most embarrassing of areas were thoroughly cleansed. By the end of it, my scalp burned like my body with an interlacing of tingles and itching. I was covered in a towel and guided onto a soft mat, then seated on a covered chair as I felt them running over my skin and some kind of heat lamp rolling over different sections. Finally, the gunk was removed from my eyes and my ears were unclogged. They did not remove the respirator, but dressed me in a suit similar to their own before guiding me out of the room over plastic-covered flooring.

***

The area we had been in was now a restricted zone, everyone believing there had been a leak of some sort, probably the most generic of excuses used- gas. Luckily enough, my office was not in this area, but some ways away from it, so after the people had run their fancy items over where they thought the origin was to the 'ground zero' that we had been found in, they taped it all up. All of it was restricted and obviously placed into quarantine. I was lucky that I had a couple changes of clothes for Ashe and I, giving Mrs. Leugen some nurse's scrubs that we had on hand. Anything in that room was confiscated.

We were all in the office together, me behind my desk while the other two were as close as the pushed-together chairs allowed. It was an adorable sight, though I was worried about Ashe and his mental stability. I stood when the coffee was ready, pouring us both cups, and set one in front of her. I sat once more, "Mrs. Leugen... I am so sorry you had to go through this. I-I really have no idea what to say or do, but I really hope this doesn't affect or change your thoughts on anything."

"Nothing more than wanting to leave this place," Mrs. Leugen stated. "With Ashe. Today. Now."

I sighed, relieved, "While I am glad that you are still receptive toward wanting Ashe, I must insist keeping you both here for observation and time to speak with Mr. Cian."

She shook her head, holding Ashe tighter in both her arms as he snuggled into her in response. I watched, fascinated by how Ashe acted, knowing that he had probably imprinted with her, "Dr. Pritcher, I don't want to stay here, and I don't want my bab- Ashe, to stay here."

I stood, "Follow me, please. I think I have a place you may be more okay with staying for a couple days- please."

We walked slowly, Ashe weak from his long sleep but refusing to be far enough away from Mrs. Leugen to sit in a wheelchair. After some time of traversing the halls, we finally reached a hall of spaced, numbered doors, "May I have a key to one of the empty rooms, please?"

"Is room 4 alright with you, Doctor?" The clerical assistant asked, fingers tapping at her keyboard.

"That's fine," I took the cards from her, ushering Mrs. Leugen to follow me. We reached the room and I slid the card, opening it so they could enter first before following.

"Oh..." Was her only response as they walked into a large suite, looking nothing like a hospital room.

"Would you be willing to spend a few nights here, with Ashe?"

She was carding her hand through his hair, looking around the room, her face showing her slight unease, "I..."

"This is like a hotel room. No one but you and I will be able to get into this room, and it is so well protected that no one, no one will be able to get near here without being taken down."

We watched as Ashe's mouth opened wide in an uncovered yawn, "Let's lay you down, you've had a long day."

She guided him to the bed, removing his shoes and putting him under the covers. She kissed his head, sitting on the side of the bed, fingers running through his hair until he slept. She stood when he was asleep, and we both watched as he stuck the tips of three of his fingers into his mouth, commonly done by young Wanpyrkos. By placing the finger tips in their mouth, they are able to use their fingernails to put pressure on their fangs, almost a calming mechanism, like what human children did by sucking their thumb. The way he slept had me relaxed, as he was not showing any of the previous signs caused by the earlier traumatizing events.

I nodded my head toward the kitchen so Mrs. Leugen would follow, leaning against the counter to speak with her quietly, "Mrs. Leugen, we all know that you are the only person that Ashe trusts implicitly at this point. I think you are perfect for him, and I will make sure to speak with Mr. Cian about this. I am on your side, and once I know Ashe is stable enough, I will do my best to convince Mr. Cian of it as well."

Mrs. Leugen's eyes glazed with unshed tears as her hands laced and came to cover her mouth, "Oh. Oh, thank you, Dr. Pritcher!" She reached forward, hugging me, then crying. I felt extremely awkward, but patted her back, "I-I-I'm s-sorry. I-I was just-st s-so sc-scared!"

It took several moments and handfuls of tissues before she calmed down, "I understand, Mrs. Leugen. You were so strong and did so well protecting Ashe. You are a great mother."

Her smile was watery, and seemed like she could use a rest herself, "Tell you what, you relax for a while with Ashe. I'll get you a change of clothes and contact Mr Cian. Would you like me to contact your husband?"

"Oh! As much as I would like to, I really don't want to make him worry until I'm back home. He has work and the kids to care for. I really don't want him over-stressed from something that he can't do anything about," Mrs. Leugen held her fingers, eyes watering as she slightly frowned. "I feel bad not telling him, but..." She looked me straight in the eye. "I want, no, need Ashe, and he needs me. I don't want anything else to get in the way of me being able to take him home."

I left with the goal of calling Cian. Hopefully he doesn't do something stupid when he hears the news, or I'd have to ban him from the hospital, even if he is the Underlord.