“What’s your name?” Clarke asked.

“Uh… Clarence,” the young thug answered.

“Alright, Clarence,” Clarke decided. “I won’t kill you, but you’re going to become a volunteer at the hospital you tried to rob. You’re going to work there and make up for your cowardice.”

“What?” Clarence blurted out. “But I don’t know anything about medicine! What if I kill someone?”

“I’m sure they could use help cleaning bedpans. Now get on your feet. You’re late for your first day already.”

XXXXXXXX

Doctor Hall was hard at work when Clarke arrived with Clarence in tow. The young man was terrified, both of leaving the gang and what Clarke might do if he screwed this chance up. Hall looked at the two of them curiously.

“Another injured person?” she asked.

“A gangster who wants to reform himself,” Clarke corrected. He leered at Clarence. “Aren’t you?”

Clarence nearly jumped out of his skin as Clarke looked down at him. “Ye-yes sir!”

“Oh. No injuries then?” Hall said, giving Clarence a once-over. “What’s he doing here then?”

Clarke grabbed Clarence by the shoulder and forced him forward to confront the good doctor. “Go ahead,” Clarke said.

Clarence glanced about nervously for a moment, not quite sure how to say what Clarke told him to say. However, the heat of Clarke’s stare made Clarence realize that stalling wasn’t the answer. He took a short breath in and finally came forth.

“Um… I’m sorry for trying to… rob you… the other day…” Clarence said, growing quieter with every word.

“You did?” Hall asked, looking over at Clarke. “Oh, that. Well, since you didn’t actually cause any damage, I guess it’s alright.”

Clarence looked up at Hall. The way Clarke had acted, he was worried that she would have been a hardass, much like him. However, she was sweet and seemed like a very kind-hearted person. It was remarkable that she would associate herself with someone as violent and angry as Clarke.

“Keep going,” Clarke said, giving Clarence a push to the shoulder.

“Oh, uh,” Clarence remembered. “Could I, maybe, have a job here too?”

He stared at Hall hopefully. She was his chance out of this mess. She could help him get away from Clarke. It was true that Clarence didn’t oppose the idea of reforming himself as long as he was safe, but being forced to do so by someone like Clarke wasn’t the answer. However, his hope faded as Hall frowned sadly.

“No offence,” Hall said. “But you look a little young to have gone to medical school.”

“Oh, but I…” Clarence started to mutter. “He said I could help somehow.”

Hall folded her arms in thought. He looked Clarence over again, then looked at Clarke, whose expression hadn’t changed since they entered the hospital. After a moment, Hall had made up her mind.

“You don’t have any of the training, or the knowledge,” Hall said. “So it would be dangerous to let you loose on the patients. However, our night time janitor could use a hand.”