Lily remained motionless, slowly opening her eyes after some time. She placed one hand over the other, checking her pulse. A sigh of relief escaped her lips; it remained unchanged.
Although the secret code matched, the doctor's words and information didn't arouse suspicion. Still, caution demanded a double-check. She couldn't afford to let her guard down in this place. Even Mike, a familiar friend, might deceive her for his son; these strangers posed an even greater threat.
She entered the bathroom and carefully unfurled a small piece of paper from a ring. The familiar handwriting read: "I've found the stronghold. Wait for me!" A few simple words, yet Lily understood. Alexander had located the organization's stronghold and was preparing a rescue. However, saving her wasn't simple. He also needed to consider unknown, potentially dangerous viruses.
From the outset, eradicating the organization hadn't been the most difficult aspect. The real challenge lay in eliminating the organization while preserving the viruses, preventing destruction or transmission.
Lily crumpled the note, hesitating before discarding it. Instead, she tore it into tiny pieces and flushed them down the toilet, flushing several times before turning on the tap and showering.
She closed her eyes, recalling the dangerous exchange with the doctor. The two nurses were present as he subtly passed the secret code. "Although injections might be painful," he'd said, "they're not as bitter as medicine." It was an inside joke, a shared memory with Alexander.
When she'd been ill and needed an injection, Alexander had suggested medicine instead, but she’d complained about its bitterness. As a student of traditional medicine, she found both traditional and modern remedies unpleasant. Alexander had teased her, saying she feared the bitterness more than the pain. Lily retorted, "Although injections might be painful, they're not as bitter as medicine." Only they shared that joke. The doctor's precise repetition, emphasized twice, confirmed Alexander had sent him. The nutrient solution in the syringe, and the doctor's examination in the bedroom, away from observation, further solidified her belief.
Stepping from the shower, Lily felt calmer. Previously, unable to contact the outside world, she'd been restless and anxious about Alexander. Now, having received his message, she knew things were under control. Restlessness only led to mistakes; perhaps Alexander and the others were waiting for her to compose herself.
Later that night, the doctor returned.