Without another word Luigi slipped out of the room and walked briskly down the lengthy hallway that led back into the sprawling, Toad filled waiting room. Unable to bear the thought of losing the Princesses or any of the other innocent denizens of the Mushroom Kingdom to a silly allergy, Luigi was determined to find a way to bring the inoculation back to Toad Town from HavenBrooke Village; even if he had to do it alone.
Pulling the bill of green cap down to shield his eyes; blocking the pitiful sight of emotionally anguished loved ones that populated the waiting room, Luigi braced himself for the bitter cold and howling wind that awaited him outside the hospital.
The thickening snow of the unexpected blizzard was deep and easily buried Luigi's boots beneath the increasing layer of icy whiteness. A sheet of thin ice covered the top of the snow which created a slick hazard with audible 'crunch' beneath each footstep. As Luigi parted ways with the hospital entrance toward the West the continuously falling snow easily filled in the boot shaped divots that he had left behind as he trekked.
Mario and Dr. Toadley tentatively monitored each patient with a diligence worthy of any proud doctor. The few nurses on staff who hadn't been affected by the allergy worked to the verge of collapse to properly tend to each patient. Neither doctors or nurses complained of the fatigue, impatience or frustration that filled the hospital as each minute that passed by drew the sickest of the afflicted that much closer to demise.
"How many more have been admitted?" Dr. Toadley addressed the head nurse who had been keeping track of the chaos. "We must continue to monitor each victim for any sign of recovery or weakness."
"Just these two." The nurse informed confidently, while also sounding doubtful. "I don't think there's anyone left in town to fall sick."
Mario sighed and rubbed at the back of his neck tiredly, his blue eyes glassy with the very fatigue that ached at his body. "I'm going to check on the Princesses." Silently Mario left the room and softly made his way down the corridor to the solitary room, dreading what he may find waiting for him.
Dr. Toadley could see that Mario was beginning to lose heart and empathized with the brave hero. "Nurse Fungi, we MUST find a way to create an effective inoculate."
"We're trying doctor." Nurse Fungi admitted with a twinge of defeat in his voice. "But without an actual pollen sample to work with the lab can only do so much."
"I just hope when we do find the proper inoculation it isn't too late." The good doctor's voice was heavy with sorrow. "I fear the worst has yet to come."
Braving the harsh winds and deepening snow drifts Luigi trekked with focused determination through the bombarding cold to find the nearest route to HavenBrooke Village. The biting cold stung his eyes and numbed his fingers and toes, but he refused to stop for even a moment. With time of the essence Luigi was unable to return home to gather supplies or more appropriate winter clothing for the arduous journey.
Using his strong hand to shield his eyes from the tiny flecks of ice that blew on the wind Luigi and directly into his face, he used pure muscle and sheer force of will to drudge a path through the snow.
A tiny snow covered sign on the trail connecting the Western route into Toad Town to the neighboring forest was barely visible due to the opaque snowbank that surrounded it. Brushing the snowy layer from the road sign Luigi knew he was on the right trail.
"HavenBrooke Village, twenty miles ahead." Luigi scanned the snowed covered trail, glancing into the woods and only imagining the icy peril that awaited him. "Twenty miles..." Squaring his jaw Luigi pressed onward determinedly. "It doesn't matter how far away it is. They need help!"
Nervously walking the corridors of the filled hospital Mario felt a knot tightening in the pit of his stomach. It had been a few hours since he had last seen Luigi and when Mario checked on the Princesses, finding them without Luigi watching over them, he began to worry that maybe something had happened to his little brother.
"Where are you, bro?" Mario leaned against the wall outside the Princesses room and rubbed the bridge of his nose with his fingers, hoping to relieve the stress headache that was gnawing away at him. "It's not like you to just disappear."
Dr. Toadley had seen Mario leaning against the wall from a distance. Sensing that something more than the allergy epidemic was bothering Mario the seasoned doctor approached his friend and colleague. "Mario, are you alright? You look exhausted."
"I'll be okay." Mario's response was a little slow but sounded confident. "Just a little headache. Have you seen Luigi? He was with the Princesses and I haven't seen him in any of the other rooms."
Shaking his head Dr. Toadley arched an eyebrow. "No, I haven't seen him. Perhaps he's down in the lab?"
"Maybe." Mario shrugged off the answer. "Call it stress or me being over protective, but I have the strangest feeling that Luigi might be in trouble..."
...to be continued...