“We have to contact the count,” the nurse was bent over the cot, her fingers gently pressing the child’s neck. “Tell him we have a ward full of sick babies, and that we need more assistance from the central government. Get him to send for a priest and another medical team, or else this is just going to get worse.”
The assistant nodded, taking one last glance at the feverish child struggling in its cot before heading for the door.
“Shh, shh. It’ll be ok little one.” The nurse pulled her rosary from around her neck, rubbing each bead. With one hand on the child’s chest and another on the necklace, she began reciting a prayer. Golden wisps of energy danced at her fingers, entering into the child in waves. A few moments later and the spell was complete. The child’s condition had barely improved, the redness in its skin hardly reducing.
The nurse shook her head, standing from the cot and looking around the ward. Coughs echoes out all around her and she felt her heart breaking. She knew that at least one of them wouldn’t make it through the night. Hoping with all her heart that it wouldn’t occur, she could see the spectre of death all around the room, its hollow visage carefully selecting its victim.
Today's prompt: sick babies
This week's worldbuilding prompt: wealth and power
If you'd like to participate too, the contest/prompts can be found here:
@mariannewest/day-1655-5-minute-freewrite-wednesday-prompt-sick-babies
