“Do I look like I eat a lot?”
“You look different to last time I saw you, not as ill. Did you feed on a ghost? Or are you feeding off people?”
“What the hell?” I make to stand and he puts his hand on mine before withdrawing it as if I’ve burnt him.
“Not on purpose; you can’t help it. You absorb it from those around you. That’s why people don’t really like you much.”
I open my mouth to retort and look back into his intent face. “Are you going to put this information about me on the internet?”
“No, I have the links about your... kind if you want to see.” He rips a corner from his notebook and scrawls a web address. “Thing is, Rose, I think something dark is happening. I’m not sure what, but more people are dying at the hospital than statistically should be.”
Statistically? Is he keeping count? “What’s happening?”
“That’s what we’re trying to find out!” he says, putting his pen on the table. “Will you help? And can I help you?”
“Help me what?”
“Stay out of it, survive.”
Finn. The uneasy feeling he could be involved re-enters. “What do you know about Reapers?”
“Reapers. Ooh. What are they? Like four horsemen?”
Obviously not. “It doesn’t matter.”
“Are they like you?”
This gangly, auburn-haired guy could be my only human ally; although, I doubt he’d be much use against an army of supernatural creatures.
“I have to go,” I tell him.
Tom glances around as if he’s a secret agent then pulls his phone out. “Can I have your number?”
“I don’t think so.” I picture a tribe of nerdy paranormal investigators stalking me.
“Okay, here’s mine.” He scrawls on a beer mat and slides it over. “If you need help, or more information, let me know.”
I gawk at his proud confidence. From what he’s told me, I don’t think he realises what he’s dealing with.
Chapter 13
After meeting Tom, I take my confused self back to work and hope I can avoid Finn. I’m unsure if this is because I’m embarrassed about yesterday or because I believe Alek. Finn never denied anything and they said some weird things to each other. As each hour passes, the believability of this weird scenario increases. The work shift is a confused haze as I attempt to come up with a solution. The most sensible idea would be to leave the house permanently, but the more I think about the situation, the more sense some of Alek’s explanations make.
As I head toward the elevator, on my way home, my phone vibrates.
<I need to see you>
I ignore the text from Finn, heart thumping as I glance around in case he’s lurking amongst the hospital visitors. Then I decide this is stupid; I doubt he’s waiting to drag me off and kill me. My phone buzzes again.
<Please. I’m not what he says>
The icy touch that shoots to my heart, the fog that comes when I’m near him–these aren’t positive connections to him. It’s six pm and the day darkens already. I never used to be concerned about what lurks in the shadows, but now I’m not too sure.
My phone vibrates for a third time.
<Why aren’t you back, Casper?>
Now, a text from Alek. How? I never gave him my number.
<I’m busy> I text back.
<I’m coming to get you. Wait somewhere public>
I stare open-mouthed at the phone. I moved to this city and took on a new job to get away from people fussing after the accident and telling me what I can and can’t do. Now I have supernatural creatures pursuing me instead?
<I’m fine. I’ll get the bus>
Alek doesn’t respond and I shove my phone back into my bag. He’ll have to find me first. I head for the bus stop, but the recent bad weather conspires against me. Halfway across the car park, the dark clouds open and rain falls. Well, not so much as falls but blows horizontally into my face, the kind of rain an umbrella would be useless for if I were logical enough to carry one. Pulling my jacket to cover my head, I run back into the hospital. I buy a cup of coffee and sit at a table near the window, waiting for the weather to clear.
And, of course, one of my stalkers appears. Finn. I look away and stand to leave.
“No. Wait.” He holds a hand out and I step back before he can touch me. “I’ll buy you another coffee?”
“No, thanks.” I edge around him.
“Rose. Please let me explain my side!”
A couple of nurses passing watch us curiously and whisper; clearly, it appears we’re having a domestic. I shake my head and walk away. Finn catches up to me before I leave the building; we stand outside the gift shop.
“Please, let me talk to you. Then I’ll leave you alone, if that’s what you want.”
The normally-confident, smiling Finn has been replaced by a sagging-shouldered, paler-than-usual guy. If Finn is insistent on talking to me, then having the conversation somewhere public makes sense. Whatever Alek says, he’s not about to kill me in a crowded hospital. How insane do I sound?