It wasn't a long trip, and the hospital ER wasn't that crowded. Just a few boys in for a stitch or two in their lip from fighting. That meant Clarice got ushered to a room quickly, and there was a lot of speculation about why she was the color she was, much less stabbed.

"Reckon it's a drug thing? Think she cheated someone?"

"Nah, she's a little thing..."

"But she's got muscle on her, and you seen them spikes..."

"And you ALL need to clear out before I boot you myself, morons. She's bleeding and underfed and you're all jabbering!" Apparently doctor Mitchell was on staff tonight.