Mia pushed her way to the front of our group.
"What's going on?" She asked the tall older man standing in front of the kitchen door. He was looking down at a clip board but seemed to be the one in charge. He was the oldest guard I had seen with salt and pepper colored short hair. All the guards were attractive and he was no exception even with the few wrinkles on the outside of his eyes and mouth. All the other guards looked to be in their twenties.
"Hmm. Mia?" The guard asked looking up from his papers.
"Yes, that's me," Mia stood straight looking the man in the eye. Though she looked brave I could see her hands shaking a little behind her back. I grabbed one and Greta held the other.
He looked her up and down. Not in a creeper way more like taking an observation putting a name with a face. He gestured to the female next to him wearing a white lab coat. She is very thin but looks kind and professional. "This is Dr. Fran, she will be giving all of you an examination and asking you a few questions."
"Why?" Asks a voice from the back of our group.
"Right now you need to be examined. You will find out why tomorrow." He gestures for Dr. Fran to take over.
"Mia follow me." Dr. Fran motions for Mia to follow.
"Can we come with her?" Greta asks still holding Mia's trembling hand.
"No, but don't worry I won't hurt her and she will only be gone a few minutes." Dr. Fran says kindly. She doesn't seem to have any bad intentions and if they wanted to harm us they could have already. I'm still hesitant to let her go but Mia pulls away from us and follows the doctor. One of the young guards leaves with them.
We wait at one of the tables in the cafeteria. 30 mins later Mia comes back. She looks fine as she takes a seat next to Greta across from me.
"Lauren," the young guard calls from the door. The dark girl I spoke to this morning gets up and follows him out. When she leaves I turn back to Mia.
"So what happened?" Greta asks.
Mia shrugs her shoulder and says, "Dr. Fran asks a few questions then gave me a vaccine. She had me sit on one of those gyno tables with the stirrups for an examination and test."
Greta stares hard at the table. I can see the gears turning in her head.
"What are you thinking Greta?" I whisper. The other girls around us have listened to everything Mia said and are now talking amongst themselves too. We're all trying to figure this out.
Greta frowns, "Whatever it is it can't be good."
"What were the questions?" I ask Mia.
"Wren." The soldier calls my name from the door. So focused on our conversation, I hadn't even noticed that Lauren came back. I stand on shaky legs and follow him down the hall. He stops outside an open door and motions for me to go inside then shuts the door behind me. I'm alone in a white exam room with Dr. Fran. I see the table with the feet stirrups Mia was talking about. I have never been to the gynocologist so this is my first exam like this.
"Sit down on the table Wren. I will start with a few questions then give you a vaccine then do the exam," she explains. I know she's trying to make me feel better but I'm kinda freaking out inside. I keep my fist clenched tight in my lap.
"How many men have you slept with?" She starts. I think that's a bit personal but considering the kind of exam we are having it makes sense. Maybe.
I feel my cheeks heat and blush. "Why does the number matter?" I ask down at my lap too embarrassed to even look up at her. "Shouldn't you just ask if I have ever slept with anyone?" I peek up at her and see her give a small smile.
"Okay, have you slept with anyone?"
"What if I prefer women?" I ask instead. Her eyebrows raise clearly surprised by my question.
"Do you?" She's now smiling like she's enjoying where this is going but I'm not.
"No." I press my lips together.
"No you haven't slept with anyone or no you don't prefer women." She ask.
"Both," I admit. She looks a little disappointed. I don't know if she's disappointed I haven't slept with anyone or disappointed I'm not interested in women.
"In that case, looks like I don't need to ask anymore of the other questions and we won't be doing an exam or test. Just need to give you the vaccine and you're done." She pulls out a little needle with a pale green fluid inside.
"What's the vaccine for?" I ask looking warily at the needle. I hate shots. My stomach cramps and I feel nauseous.
"It's ok. Don't look at it," Dr. Fran ignores my question. She pokes my arm while I stare at the wall. My face feels clammy and the room seems too hot. "Here breathe in this," she hands me a paper bag but I'm already gone. I feel myself tip forward and lose conciouseness.
I wake up in my bunk bed with Mia and Greta looking down on me.
"What happened?" I touch my head and feel a huge knot under the bandage. "Ow."
"That's what we would like to know," says Mia. "You leave then don't come back for an hour. Then some hunky guard comes in carrying your unconscious self princess style with a bandage on your head." Mia rants above me. "Now spill."
"I remember answering the questions," I rub my eyes trying to think past this headache. "Then the vaccine with the killer needle!" I feel sick again just thinking about it.
"Wow I've never seen anyone turn green before," Greta observes. I glare at her. "I knew you hated needless but this seems to be a little more than that. By the way," she changes the subject, "you should have seen the girls when they saw you dead in that guys arms. Talk about freaking out." She points at Mia, "This one was about to tear that guard up and avenge you. Of course I would have been right behind her."
I smile thinking about how it must have looked. Who knew my needle phobia could cause so much trouble? My stomach chooses that time to growl.
"Did you guys eat lunch yet?" I ask.
"Actually you missed lunch," Mia pats me on the shoulder. "It should be dinner time now though."
We get up and head to the kitchen. Mia and Greta make me sit while they cook. My head is still throbbing so I don't argue. Soon we are all eating together.
"I wonder what they have planned for us tomorrow?" Mia says as she looks around the room and extra guards.
"It can't be good," Greta says again. "Why would they ask those questions and give us that kind of exam?"
I put my fork down no longer hungry. I can see Mia thinks this is bad too.
"We've got to do something," Mia growls looking at me.
"What?" I ask putting my hands up.
Greta gives me a sad look too. I look between them both.
"I'm not stupid," I say to both of them. "I know what can happen on an island with only male guards and 12 beautiful women. But we've been here a week and nothing has happened. So hopefully tomorrow will be ok too."
"You're right," they agree but their sad eyes says they don't think so.