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She cringed. What a stupid question. D.C. must have thought so too, judging by her expression.

“I answered your question, now why areyouhere early?” she asked for the third time.

“Does it really matter?” Alex released a frustrated breath. “I’m here now, and everyone else will be back tomorrow. What’s the big deal?”

“The security wards shouldn’t have let you in,” D.C. said. “So that means you must have come back because of special circumstances.”

The red-head’s eyes flickered to Alex’s wounded throat, but Alex just shrugged, neither denying nor confirming her assumption.

“I’m just concerned for my own safety,” D.C. continued. “If someone’s after you, they might come after me to get you. I deserve to know if I have to watch my back because I have a roommate who can’t keep her nose out of other people’s business.”

Okay, that wasn’t fair.

Not wanting to say or do something she’d later regret, Alex turned away from the other girl and walked straight out the doorway, ignoring D.C.’s cries for her to come back and answer her questions.

Presuming it was too late for breakfast, Alex headed directly to the Med Ward. Fletcher was there, just like she’d hoped, but he wasn’t alone. With him stood another man, someone she’d never seen before. He was interesting to look at, with dark skin and a tangled mess of flaxen-coloured hair that was braided halfway down his back. Short for a man, he stood just under Alex’s height, but what he lacked in length was made up for in steroid-like muscle mass. Aside from the strange contrast between his dark skin and light hair, Alex rather thought he reminded her of a Viking, with his long moustache and thick plaited beard. But her observation could have also been influenced by the horned helmet resting atop the crown of his head and the armour wrapped around his torso.

Despite his bizarre attire and weathered features, the Viking man had a kind face and directed a beaming smile towards her when she approached.

“Alex!” Fletcher greeted. “Jarvis said you might be paying me a visit today.”

“I couldn’t stay away,” Alex said. “You know how much I love this place.”

He tsked quietly as he looked at her neck. “Classes haven’t even started back yet and already you’re here to see me. That book must have been very helpful.”

She laughed with him. “Yes, thank you. I particularly liked the ‘Doctor! Doctor!’ jokes.”

“I’m pleased to hear it,” Fletcher said. “I don’t believe you’ve met Varin yet, have you?”

“Varin?”

“That’s me,” said the other man, his voice as large as his muscles.

Varin the Viking, Alex mused.Seems fitting.

“Nice to meet you,” she said, feeling strangely at ease around him.

“Likewise, Alex,” Varin said. “Fletch here has been regaling me with tales of your misfortune. You certainly do like his Medical Ward, don’t you?”

Something clicked then and Alex realised Varin was the patient who had been in quarantine on the day of the Lockdown, the one she’d overheard Fletcher speaking with.

She covered her shock quickly with an annoyed expression. “What happened to doctor–patient confidentiality, Fletcher?”

He just grinned and motioned for her to jump up onto the closest bed.

“I better get going and leave you to it,” Varin said. “But I’ll see you in class on Thursday, Alex.”

“Class?” she repeated, not sure what he meant.

“Species Distinction,” he clarified. “I’m your professor, but I use that term lightly.”

“Oh.” Alex had completely forgotten that her spare period wasn’t actually a spare period.

Varin waved goodbye to both of them and Fletcher excused himself for a moment before he returned with her file.

Alex eyed it warily. “It’s getting kind of big.”

Fletcher chuckled. “You’re one of my best patients.” He placed the clipboard onto the bed. “Now, let’s have a look at you.”