Is she really real?

Das gives a defeated sigh as my right hand wants to prove her existence. Her skin is lighter than before as she slowly approaches me. As herself and my hand collide she passes through it and then my entire body. She feels cold like the breeze of the last Autumn. I struggle to get up and see her through the windowed door.

Is she really going to open it or will she leave me here, stranded?

I grasp onto the doorknob to try and pull myself up but my body is too heavy, and I fall right on my chin. Moments later, several locks can be heard from the door until it slowly creaks open.

She actually did it.

I pull my chin up and see her one last time. She smiles with desperation and hope as she withers away.

“Das? Say something!”

… she’s gone.

I’m left with the humming of the air-conditioner and the buzzing of some of the ceiling lights. Just then, the door starts to shut itself. My heart feels like an anchor as it sinks to the deepest depths of my body.

“This isn’t good.”

My wild animal side kicks in as I launch myself like a walrus while pulling my right arm outward and barely catch the door as it slams in between my forearm. The pain is excruciating as I scream in terror; it’s so heavy it feels as if it’s going to tear apart my last arm!

Shut up! Shut up!

I wait for a snarky remark from Das but there’s only silence and my nerves screaming for the pain to end.

She’s really gone. Now I have to do my part; if I ever want to walk again.

I try to pull myself but my arm is injured to the point I can barely feel my finger tips even though they were not the ones in the casualty. While trying to worm myself up and keeping the door open; I finally figure out the only way is to roll over and push myself onto the door. To my surprise, the hallway is empty but not for long.

“I better hurry before someone finds me.”

Both sides of the hallway are miserable with a fifty-fifty chance one of them is the right way. My natural video game instincts go overdrive as left is always the hidden path while right is the obvious path but this isn’t a video game.

The location with less people is probably left as the right side might take me to a crowded hallway.

I make up my mind and roll left as the door behind me shuts for good.

“There’s no turning back now.”

With a missing limb and an injured arm, I pull myself once more. This time I only feel numbness with the hope of finding a blood bank for Das. I can’t stop sweating and occasionally whimper until I notice there aren’t any rooms in this hallway. I roll on my back to see behind me and realize the other side doesn’t have any doors either, except for the one I was in.

“This hospital is starting to creep me out. Where is everyone?”

Tap* Tap* Tap*

I had to open my big mouth?

Somehow my heart finds a deeper layer to sink in than before. I quickly roll on my belly and listen to the tapping of what sounds to be footsteps coming from another hallway ahead of me. I nervously look for somewhere to hide but there’s literally nothing in this hallway!

I’m going to be caught. Shit! Shit!! SHIT!!! What do I do now?!

The footsteps sound louder and louder.

They’re coming this way for sure.

Having no other choice, I do what any wise person would do; I roll myself to the right side of the hallway and hug the wall for my dear life.

Maybe they won’t notice me.

I shut my eye and pray for the best, frozen in place.

The rubber from the soled shoes stops tapping.

Are they on my hallway?

Suddenly, the soled shoes tap louder and louder sounding closer to me.

I’ve been found! What do I say?!

The stranger grabs my shoulder and tries to turn me around, at first I force myself not to be seen but decide it would be better to act asleep. As they turn me, I hear them gasp and shout-

ɭ “Edison? Is that really you?!” ɭ

Her voice sounds familiar as curiosity gets the best of me again.

“Lisa?”

I point at her with my limbless arm; she points at me with her left arm as we both shout at each other-

ɭ “What are you doing here?!” ɭ / “What are you doing here?!”

ɭ “I work here! My mom is a doctor here at, Saint Peter’s Hospital. She gave me a chance to do my community service so I can get it out of the way but forget that! What happened to you?! You look like shit!” ɭ

I look at myself as she carefully pulls me up. My lip begins to curl and I feel my only eye wanting to tear but I’ve run out of tears.

Be a man. Be a man. Don’t cry. You’re in front a friend from school. What if she tells everyone? Don’t cry. You can do this Edison.

“… it’s a long story…”

Where do I even begin?

ɭ “You can start with why you smell like you’ve gone dumpster diving.” ɭ

It really is Lisa; her laughter and dark sense of humor. I have no other choice but laugh with her.

“...I… I was in a car accident… oh, I guess it’s not a long story.”

ɭ “I get it, but what are you doing outside of your bedroom? You’re in no shape nor heath to be out here, mister. Were you crawling?!” ɭ

Is she interrogating me?

“I was actually hungry.”

She brushes off my answer and continues.

ɭ “Don’t worry. Let me go get a wheelchair for you. For now, just rest here. I won’t be long. They’re just around the corner.” ɭ

“Thank you, Lisa.”

Without another thought she walks from where she had come from and immediately twirls around as she startles me!

ɭ “Don’t go anywhere, okay.” ɭ

She winks as I force a smile; Lisa returns my gesture as she laughs with her cynical laughter I’ve grown to know- it’s kind of comforting.

ɭ “I’m just messing with you- just stay put.” ɭ

She disappears as she turns around the corner from whence she came; all I can hear are the tapping of her soles.

Should I tell her the truth? No. She would just believe I’ve gone insane! What if she tries to make me go back to that room? I need an excuse for her to push me around this place until I find what I’m looking for… Blood. What about her blood? What the am I thinking?! That’s inhuman! I would never! Stop thinking that way! Stop!

ɭ “I’m back!” ɭ

I was too focused fighting myself, I didn’t even hear her approach me.

ɭ “What are you killing yourself over?” ɭ

“It’s nothing. I’m just upset with what happened to me.”

Lisa tilts her head, as if curious and wanting to hear more.

ɭ “Can I ask you a question?” ɭ

“What is it?”

ɭ “Do you remember exactly what happened?” ɭ

My blood freezes and starts to run cold.

Is she working for them?!

ɭ “You look stressed and tired. Maybe don’t try to recall. I was just curious as you’re not one of my patients. I was just wondering if you’d remembered anything to be in your condition. I’m really sorry, Edison; for bringing it up. Also, sorry for laughing earlier; you know me. Stupid stupid, stupid.” ɭ

No… she cannot be working for them. This is Lisa we’re talking about. She’s just an innocent teenager as me. I can trust her.

“Don’t worry about it. You didn’t offend or hurt me. You know I love dark humor as the next dead guy. I’m just exhausted. It was so sudden, even I don’t remember what really happened. I just know one of the doctors told me I was hit by a car.”

ɭ “Anyways, here. I brought you your carriage, madam; and a warm wool blanket to keep your panties warm.” ɭ

“Oh, why thank you. I will make sure to give you a raise after my fabulous party.”

She’s still the same. Heh. Please, never change.

ɭ “You’re too kind. Now, let me help you out. We wouldn’t want you to get your hands dirty.” ɭ

We both giggle and burst out laughing as we cannot control ourselves from pretending. It’s something we tended to do in middle school when we were put in group projects and we got bored of “working”; life was good.

“Thank you, Lisa. I needed that.”

ɭ “Who is this Lisa you speak of? Are you so dense you’ve forgotten my name? I’m your loyal servant, Butt Butinworth! Now, now. Let’s get you back to bed.” ɭ

She really is taking me back to that room.

“Lisa, wait.”

ɭ “You sound serious. What’s on your mind?” ɭ

“There’s something I need from you and you’re the only person in this entire hospital that can help me... I’m going to sound crazy.”

ɭ “How bad did you hit your head?” ɭ

“I really don’t want to ask you... You’re going to see me differently.”

ɭ “Edison, just come out with it.” ɭ

“You see… I need blood.”

ɭ “Blood? Do you feel light headed? Are you bleeding? Let me check your temperature.” ɭ

“No, no. It’s not for me… It’s for someone else.”

ɭ “Someone else? Who? Is there another patient in your room? Is that the reason why you were crawling through the hallway?” ɭ

“No… It’s… I really want to tell you.”

ɭ “Woman! Come out with it! This is my job after all.” ɭ

“Okay, okay. Just please promise me you won’t freak out or think I’ve gone insane.”

ɭ “Edison, I’ve been working here all Summer and I feel I’ve seen it all now. I doubt you can surprise me.” ɭ

Should I really tell her? There’s no going back after this…

ɭ “If you don’t want to tell me, it’s alright. I’ll just take you back to your room and you can tell me after you feel like it.” ɭ

“No! I really need your help!”

ɭ “Ah hah! So you don’t want to go back to your room, but why?” ɭ

“That’s part of it…”

ɭ “Did you kill someone in there?” ɭ

Kill... I actually killed someone today… With my bare hands… I even ate their intestines and their poor pet…

ɭ “Well, here we are in front of your room. Hello? Earth to Edison?” ɭ

“Huh. What? No. Lisa, please promise me you’ll believe me.”

ɭ “That’s what a crazy person would say. I cannot promise something I don’t even know.” ɭ

“Please, it’s very important to me. Just promise.”

ɭ “Did you not hear me? I’m starting to suspect you really did hit your head hard. Why are you so paranoid? You’re in a hospital, you’re safe here, and with a pretty girl.” ɭ

“I’m sorry… I… Just trust in me.”

ɭ “Of course, we’ve known each other since way back. I know you wouldn’t say something stupid… I mean, you wouldn’t say something unless. Now tell me why you want blood? Are you a vampire?” ɭ

I unconsciously feel my neck…

Das bit me with the intention to kill.

“I don’t think so… Let’s not drag anymore time this is how it all started…”

I first began to stutter as I couldn’t believe what I was telling her. My heart raised for cover wanting to shield itself from shame. I sounded phony but I’d continued as I saw it in Lisa’s eyes she was carefully listening and digesting what I was saying. Who knows what went through her head while I gave her what I’d remembered from my morning experience.

“… and that’s the reason I need blood. I need it for Das, so she can recover and regenerate my body. I know, all of this sounds insane but look at my forehead! I can still feel the scar. That’s where the javelin pierced my forehead! I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for her. She’s not a demon but she needs blood to survive in this world.”

Lisa opens her mouth with her index finger up but retracts as she continues to process everything.

She’s probably thinking of how to convince me to go back into that room; so she can get a psychiatric to take me away to an asylum with maximum security… I’m sorry Das, I have failed you.

After two full minutes, Lisa decides to speak after pondering with the insanity in my head.

ɭ “Edison, I’ll be honest with you. I really do think you’ve lost it… but, I’ll take you to our blood bank; only to try and calm you down. I don’t want you to feel like I’ve betrayed you. That’s how good of a friend I am. Okay, Edison?” ɭ

I want to cry. I feel a jab in my belly and a sharp dagger in my heart.

She believes I’ve gone insane and is only doing this out of pity but it’s better than nothing.

I thank her as she wraps me with the wool blanket while covering my entire head. She says it’s for both of our safety. She doesn’t want to lose her job or get her mother in trouble; for taking out a patient from their room or reporting in. Lisa and I begin our quest to the blood bank.