'Damn it, you morons! Do you just expect me to sit here and do nothing? It's not like I'm feeling sick or anything! Just wait till I get out of here, you hear?' Maria yelled through the glass. 'I'm going to kill every single one of you! Why did you even lock me up? And… And why did you take my shoes? It's cold in here, you know! Goddammit!'

Maria heard a very quiet giggling.

'Huh?' she turned around.

All the other beds in the quarantine bay were empty… Except one.

'Oh… Sorry, I didn't know there was anyone else here'

'It's… alright…' the girl smiled. 'No offense… but you were kind of funny'

'Oh yeah? Just wait till I get out! These jackasses won't be laughing!' Maria grinned. 'What's your name?'

'Oh… It's Lizzy. Lizzy Parker'

'Maria Torres' the paramedic introduced herself. 'So, uhm… How are you feeling'

Lizzy smiled.

'I… don't feel anything right now… Except tiredness… I'm barely keeping my eyes open'

'When were you bitten?'

'A… A few days ago…'

'Wait… The disease takes only that much to… No…' Maria shivered.

'It's alright. I know' the teenager smiled again. 'The doctor told me already'

'You mean Gabe? That bastard! I'll rip his heart out for this!'

'No… I asked him myself… I'm grateful that he told me'

Maria looked down, then at the girl again.

'Aren't you scared? I mean… I was bitten about half an hour ago, and I'm freaking out!'

'Not really… There's nothing left for me to live for…'

Maria suddenly turned serious.

'Don't say that! You're so young! You have your whole life ahead of you! You must not lose hope!'

Lizzy looked at the doctor.

'I have nothing now… Not even hope… Nothing…'

'Don't say that! You have me, don't you? I'm here for you!'

The teenager smiled once more, but for some reason this smile seemed far more sincere to Maria than her previous ones.

'Thank you'

'Of course!' Maria grinned.

'Gah…' Lizzy grabbed her chest.

'Hey, what's wrong?'

'It… it hurts…'

'Hey! HEY! Anyone out there?' Maria yelled.

'No… I'm alright… Please, don't call anyone…'

Dr. Torres sighed and looked at the girl.

'Does it hurt often?'

'Yeah… Every half an hour… It goes on for a few minutes…'

'Can I do anything to help?'

'Y-yeah…' Lizzy made a faint attempt to smile. 'Talk to me… Just… tell me something… about yourself… Argh…'

'Well, alright, let's see… Uhm… I grew up in an orphanage, and I've been wanting to be a paramedic ever since I turned 14. It's actually a cool story…'

The teenage girl listened to her new friend talk and suddenly felt a lot better.

"Thank you, Maria" she thought. "I truly feel better when you're here for me"