Chapter 5: The Doctor’s Slip

The next morning dawned with a biting chill, a stark contrast to the growing inferno of dread in Ellie’s gut. The ill-fitting harness was mandatory for the solo practice drill, a particularly arduous course designed to test endurance and agility. Reed had personally overseen its distribution.

As she struggled through the obstacle course, the canvas harness chafed mercilessly against her shoulders and hips. Each strained movement, each jump and crawl, sent searing pain radiating through her body. The heavy pack on her back shifted awkwardly, pulling at the ill-adjusted straps.

She grit her teeth, forcing herself forward, refusing to give Reed the satisfaction of seeing her falter. But the pain intensified with every step. A sharp, burning sensation spread across her lower back where a metal buckle dug into her skin.

Then, during a low crawl under barbed wire, a sudden, searing pain shot through her left ankle. She cried out, her leg collapsing beneath her. She rolled onto her back, gasping, the harness still digging into her, binding her like a cruel constraint. A sickening crack echoed in her ears.

She lay there for a long moment, clutching her ankle, the pain a white-hot spear. Reed had finally achieved his goal. She had a minor stress fracture, exactly as he intended.

Medics rushed over, carefully extracting her from the wire. The humiliation of being carried off the course, especially after Reed’s watchful eye had been on her, was almost as painful as her ankle.

At the infirmary, Dr. Evelyn Albright, a perpetually overworked woman with kind but tired eyes, treated Ellie. The doctor’s office was a sterile, hushed space, filled with the faint scent of antiseptic.

Dr. Albright examined Ellie’s swollen ankle, her brow furrowed in concentration. She pressed gently, causing Ellie to wince.

“Stress fracture,” Dr. Albright confirmed, her voice low. “Not severe, but it will need rest. And a proper boot for a few weeks.”

Ellie gritted her teeth, the pain radiating through her. “The harness…” she began, but Dr. Albright was already turning to her notes.

The doctor mumbled to herself, more a running commentary than a direct address. “Another one. These harnesses are a real problem.”

Ellie held her breath.

“It’s the second case this month,” Dr. Albright continued, her pen scratching across the medical chart. She sighed, rubbing her temples. “And Sergeant Reed was quite insistent on both being logged as ‘user error,’ even though the harness design is known to cause friction burns and exacerbate ankle strain, especially with improper fit.”

Ellie froze. The words hung in the air, cold and damning. “User error.” “Second case this month.” “Sergeant Reed was quite insistent.” This was Twist 6: Dr. Albright accidentally mumbles about a similar injury a few weeks prior, adding, “It’s the second case this month… and Sergeant Reed was quite insistent on both being logged as ‘user error,’ even though the harness design is known to cause friction burns.”

Ellie stared at the doctor, the realization hitting her like a physical blow. Reed wasn’t just sabotaging her career; he was actively engineering injuries, physically harming recruits, and forcing medical staff to cover it up. Albright’s admission was a crucial piece of evidence – a professional’s accidental confession.

Dr. Albright seemed to suddenly realize what she’d said. Her head snapped up, her eyes wide with alarm. She pressed her lips together, a faint flush creeping up her neck. She looked away, her hand trembling slightly as she closed Ellie’s chart.

“Well,” Dr. Albright said, her voice strained, trying to regain her professional composure. “You’ll need to wear this boot for at least two weeks. No weight-bearing exercises. The Emergency Response Simulation is tomorrow, isn’t it?”

Ellie nodded slowly, her mind reeling. Her ankle throbbed, a constant reminder of Reed’s brutality.

“I can give you something for the pain,” Dr. Albright offered, avoiding Ellie’s gaze. “But rest is the best medicine.”

Ellie took the pills, her hand shaking. The final test was tomorrow, and she was injured. Reed had won this round, physically sidelining her. But he had also given her the ammunition she needed. Albright’s words, though accidental, were irrefutable. She had confirmed a pattern of coerced medical misdiagnosis and deliberate harm.

The weight of this new information settled heavily upon Ellie. She had proof, a professional’s confession, but she was injured. The final test, the culmination of her training, was mere hours away. And Reed had proven he would stop at nothing, even physical harm.

How could she expose him, injured and alone, against such a ruthless adversary, while facing down a test that could still end her career?