Alice meets Alano

( The night is dark and cool. Calm. As the Society bustles
about, a man dances from the docks to the cobblestone streets. Strapped to his
back is a guitar perhaps a little small for his size. As he waltzes through
Bethnal Green with heavy luggage in hand, he stops to notice the world around
him and the transition from the lively lower classes to the austere company. He
saddens as he approaches the Society, taking in his new neighborhood.
"Not as lively as home"
He sighs and marches up the steps, setting the bag down. In
one swift motion, he pivots and knocks three times with the back of his hand. )
Hyde without
a Jekyll: *Alice was returning
to her room to retire for the night when she heard the knocks at the door. She
about faced and trudged back to the entrance and cracked open the main doors to
great the stranger. * Hello?
Dr. de Lezo:  Hola! Need an extra hand? ( As if on cue, a vine sprouts
from his back and waves to her. )
Hyde without
a Jekyll:  *Her eyes widen at the plant and she stands there
stunned.* ....vine...
Dr. de Lezo:  ( He looks
over at the vine and back at her. ) Well I couldn't use a REAL hand now could
I?
Hyde without
a Jekyll:  ...*She stood there speechless. Clearly this man was one
of "them", safe. Alice stepped back and open the door wider allowing
the man entrance.*
Dr. de Lezo:  ( He
giggles, seeing her reaction. He reaches into his coat and hands her a perfumed
calling card. ) Don't worry, I'm not a weirdo. I apologize for the smell, by
the way. My friend Hen asked me here and he goes a little heavy on the ladies
perfume.
Hyde without
a Jekyll:  *She sees Hen's handwriting and name on the envelop
followed by the strong smell of perfume.* T-That's quite alright. Please come
in, I'm sure you're tired from you're long travel.
Dr. de Lezo:  ( He tucks
the envelope away and picks up his one heavy trunk, heading inside. ) The
voyage was surprisingly nice, the coastlines are very agreeable this time of
year.
Hyde without
a Jekyll:  Still though arrive so late at night you must have had a
long day of traveling. *She closed the door behind him.* If you don't mind me
asking, where are you traveling from?
Dr. de Lezo:  Oh I don't
mind at all, I hail from Barcelona! It's a beautiful city, so full of color and
life!
Hyde without
a Jekyll:  That sounds lovely... *she smiles.* I'm surprised Hen
called you all the way down to our gloomy section of the world, he's not one to
get many visitors.
Dr. de Lezo:  Unfortunately,
the reason I'm here is because he actually does. ( He looks around the hall
sadly, as if searching for signs of trouble. He looks back at Alice with
melancholy smile. ) The injuries are getting a little challenging for a doctor
with no formal surgeons on staff. He's a good man, but he's in way over his
head with this one.
Hyde without
a Jekyll:  *She nods knowing how many people end up on his door
step, but she's unsure as to the surgery he's referencing.* Surgeon? What's Hen
attempting to do?
Dr. de Lezo:  Fear not!
We're not attempting anything. Just doing repairs.
Hyde without
a Jekyll:  Repairs? *This did not comfort her and only made her more
curious.*
Dr. de Lezo:  Surgery
technically, we'll be fixing the damage someone has done to them.
Hyde without
a Jekyll:  Who if I may ask? *She hadn't heard much about a surgery
but she made a mental note to check the gossip vine if this lead proved to
yield no answers.*
Dr. de Lezo:  Unfortunately,
a doctor is bound to the rule of anonymity. I can only tell you this- something
terrible happened: an assault. Our patient was a hair away from being dead and
it's a miracle that they are with us still.
Hyde without
a Jekyll:  ...Catt? *She asks herself more than Alano.*
Dr. de Lezo:  ( His
voice lowers. ) You said it, not me.
Hyde without
a Jekyll: *She lowers her voice
to match his.* D-Did she get hurt again? 
Dr.
de Lezo:  ( He pauses intently. )
Not recently, but the bullet's still in there.
Hyde without
a Jekyll:  I know it was causing her...lack of fear but has it
gotten worse?
Dr. de Lezo:  Much.
She's starting to display neurologic symptoms now too.
== Obtained From ==
The Man with the Guitar on his Back
Category:Side Story
Category:Introduction Stories
Category:Tales from the ER