If I don’t talk to Finn now he’ll keep hassling me. “Okay.”
We head back to the hospital cafeteria, the same as the first time we chatted, and sit in a quiet corner amongst the vacant tables. Finn brings me another coffee. Every person who enters the room I glance at, expecting Alek to appear at any moment.
“Were you okay yesterday after I left?” he asks.
I twist the cup around in my hands, unsure what to say to him. “I’m fine.”
“I hope Alek hasn’t hurt you? I worry about his mental state.”
Finn won’t meet my eyes. Does he think I didn’t hear their conversation? “You said some mad things, too, Finn.” No response. “About demons killing people at the hospital and about being here because of me.”
Finn sinks back against the chair and rubs a broad palm across his face before studying me. “Do you believe anything you’ve been told recently?”
“When Alek spoke about this the other night, I honestly thought he had mental health issues. Now you’ve said something, too, and I’m not sure anymore. It’s not as if you could be conspiring, since it’s clear you don’t like each other.”
“He’s the one with the problem. I don’t care enough about him to dislike him. I’m only bothered if he threatens you.”
“Why would you be bothered about me? I don’t want you to be!” I say harshly.
I can’t fathom Finn’s expression at my words. Although his face is as inscrutable as ever, his eyes betray much more. There’s a strange sadness in them.
“I don’t want to care either,” he says quietly.
This makes no sense. “Do you want to kill me?” I ask outright. “What are you?”
A muscle twitches in his jaw as he considers his answer. “A Reaper.”
“You forgot your scythe.”
“Ha, ha, Rose. This isn’t funny.”
“Oh, believe me, I don’t find this funny at all. Apparently I’m a half-dead vampire who sucks energy from people.”
Finn sighs. “Sorry, I screwed up. I let you live by mistake.”
“Okay…How did you do that exactly?”
He rubs his head, frowning. “I gave you your life instead of letting you die. I had to help you; I couldn’t leave you to your fate.”
The shock of his words and his proximity set off the buzzing in my head. I shift my chair away; as the familiar grey clouds my eyes at the memory of the night, I tense. Go away. Everything. “So, you need to fix your mistake and you’ve come to kill me?”
“No! Yes…kind of.”
“That’s a fairly noncommittal answer, Finn. Maybe choose one?”
“Okay, I’m supposed to, but I can’t. You’re here and alive, not dying by the roadside, or in a hospital bed like the others I help Over. I believe it’s wrong to kill you now.”
I inhale sharply at his admission; at least he’s conflicted about it. “Alek says you’re killing me every time we’re close.”
“He’s lying. I can’t do anything without touching you.”
My body remembers the dangerous cold of his touch as the cool edges into my veins, and I shudder. The consternation in Finn’s face isn’t that of a man who wants to kill me; he looks lost.
“What happens if you don’t do it?” I ask.
He shrugs. “No idea.”
I rub my face with both hands. “I’m not sure if that makes me feel better or worse.”
“It’s not me you’re in danger from.”
Oh, here we go. “Alek?”
“As much as I’d like to say yes, no. Something else is happening in the hospital, and there’s danger around. People are dying when they shouldn’t, and I think your housemate is involved somehow.”
“I think you’re involved,” I blurt.
Genuine shock in his wide eyes, Finn says, “Me? I don’t kill people!”
“The patient, the day you touched me…”
“Her time came and I did nothing to hasten her death!”
This sounds dubious. “So, who’s killing people?” I pause, “You said Lizzie last night. I can’t believe that.”
“I’ve seen her with someone I’m suspicious about at the hospital. You want to warn your lover, she’s not what he thinks.”
“He’s not my lover,” I reply, probably too hastily.
“Yeah? Sure. Well, he’s not safe from her either.” Finn studies my face, a small crease on his brow. “You’re in danger, too, if you stay at that house.”
“And I’m in danger from you.”
“No, Rose, I said I don’t want to hurt you.”
“Don’t want to, but you have to. That’s not a good combination to me.”
Finn shakes his head. “If you need me, you’ve got my number. I’ll see you around the hospital; I’ll stay away from you and your psycho boyfriend, if that’s what you want. But I’ll still keep an eye on you.”
My heart skips. I’m not sure I want him to stay away; not because I’m attracted to him, but because he’s one of my only friends.
Finn picks up his coffee and stands. “Thanks for listening, and sorry I just made your crazy world crazier.” He gives me a weak smile.
“Great name by the way,” I say.
He pauses. “What?”