It's not Halloween, but the hospital is- chaotic, and- eerie. For the past week children have been crying and adults have been rioting. And, the cause? The zombies of Winter Hospital. Children, who were scheduled to get their vaccines, cried and ran out of the hospital rooms before the needles were even pulled out. Their parents and guardians were unsatisfied with the doctors, and the doctors had to apologise to the parents for scaring their children. They have all been so sleep deprived from recovering the lost data that their dark circles are reminiscent of the living dead. The front desk, however, is even louder: constant calls from angry patients and a flood of frustrated ones demanding compensation and answers.

Then, a knock on the laboratory door. Joy, Lily, and Nick, who were fast asleep, slowly open their eyes- except for Joy who was the most fatigued.

The voice outside called, "Joy, are you in there?"

Lily, still half asleep, musters all of her strength to poke Joy until she somewhat manages to regain consciousness. She stumbles to the door and opens it and, to her surprise, it's a little girl: possibly a preteen.

The little girl jumps back in surprise, seeing that Joy, along with many of the other staff, looks like a zombie.

Joy rubs her eyes and bends down. "Hi, sweety, what are you doing back here?"

"Um, the lady at the front desk said I couldn't talk to you right now but this is really important." she says nervously rocking back and forth. "My dad wanted to give you this." She pulls out a small envelope and hands it to Joy and gives her a small bow. She thanks Joy and runs off.

"Oh, thank you too!" she calls out to her just as the little girl disappears around the corner.

She goes back into the lab room and the other two have finally fully woken up.

Lily rubs her eyes and asks, "What's that?"

"Oh, a little girl came and gave it to me."

Joy opens up the envelope and it's a card addressed to her from the Owen family. It reads:

Hello Dr. Joy,

    I heard what you've done for my daughter from our physician and I was wrong to judge you without understanding the situation. Thank you for putting in countless hours, that you weren't obliged to, to help and save my daughter. You caught this disease before it was too late, as Katie has underlying conditions. As thanks, I have included vouchers to my family's concession stand at the Spring Festival. I hope you will join us.

Thanks again,

Mr. Owen

Nick raises his arms in excitement. "Yay! Free food!"

Lily interrupts and says, "Hold on, did you say Spring Festival? Are you really ok with going this year?"

About a month ago, Joy had purchased four tickets for her, Lily, Nick, and Brandon to go to the Spring Festival: a festival to celebrate renewal and agriculture- meaning food was the main event. The annual festival was a big deal for them, and this year it was Joy's turn to pick their matching outfits. However, since Joy and Brandon broke up, the three were edgy about going this year.

Joy looked down and sighed. "You read my mind."

Nick looked back and forth between the two and stomped his foot. "But, free food! And it'd be a waste not to go right? I think it'll be a nice break from these last few days."

Lily glared at Nick and shook her head. "I don't know, Nick. I think your cravings are messing with your reasoning."

Nick, ignoring Lily, pleaded to Joy. "Please? Pretty please?"

"Um," Joy paused and then reluctantly replied. "I'll think about it." But, when a person says they'll think about it, it means no.

After another grueling morning, it was finally time for the long awaited lunch. By now, Edan had started sitting with them in hopes of getting closer to Joy. Today was the day, he thought. He had waited a substantial amount of time before asking Joy out to avoid suspicion. He asked her what her plans were for the weekend, and she told him about the shows she was going to binge on Netflicks. He looked at her with a puzzled face, trying to decipher this "Netflicks" and these, what seemed like, "codes". That's when an idea pops into Lily's head. She told him about the Spring Festival, another thing he was confused about, and mentioned that they had an extra ticket. While Nick celebrated by making a three-pointer with his juice box into the trash bin, Joy looked at Lily with a panicked and disaproving look.

She mouths, "What are you doing?"

Lily continues, "We have an extra outfit too so we can all match. It'll be amazing. Joy will get it to you on Friday." Lily says and nudges Joy. "Right?"

"Um," Joy panics even more and thinks of a way to pull Lily to the side to talk to her in private. "Hold that thought. I need to use the restroom. Lily, can you come with me?"

When they reach the restroom, Joy says, "Lily, I thought we agreed not to go."

"What? Why not?"

"I think he likes me. It's going to be so- awkward."

"Yeah, I know. It's pretty obvious, dummy. I think this is a good way for you to move on, you know? Get a fresh start."

"I don't know. I don't think I'm ready. And stop trying to set me up with the guy!"

"Well, ready or not he's coming."

"No, Lily."

"Yes."

"No."

"Yes."

The two continue shooting at each other back and forth until another woman walks into the restroom. They freeze as the woman walks to the stall trying to hold in her laughter. Embarrased, the two decide it's time to go back to the lunch table. There, they see Paris back trying to woo Nick. She tells him that she heard them talking about an extra ticket and she tries to convince Nick to give it to her. Lily grabs Joys arm and begs her to give the ticket to Edan and Joy, knowing how troublesome it would be for Lily if Paris were to come along, gives in. She walks over and tells Paris that they have already offered the ticket to Edan and that they don't have anymore of these, now sold out, tickets. Paris looks at Edan with a puzzled face.

"You said his name was Edan?"

"Yeah, why?"

Edan discretely shakes his head and points to the other three at the table with his eyes. Paris looks at him and scoffs. "Really now? Ok, Edan." Then, she flips her hair and walks away.

Joy turns to Edan and reluctantly says, "Edan, will you go to the Spring Festival with me?"

Edan grins,"That would be perfect."

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