“Because the more people involved, the less hidden we are. Come on!” He attempts to take one of my hands again, and I fold them under my arms. “Fuck, Rose...” He stomps off.
I hesitate and Tom inclines his head after Alek. “Friendly guy. You going after him?”
“No, I’ve had enough of him for one day.”
Tom nods slowly then checks his watch. Who wears watches anymore? “I need to get back to work. Come down and see me when you get a chance; there’s other things I want to talk to you about.”
He wanders off in the same direction as Alek. I remain on the bench, watching people walking in and out of the hospital, kids kicking through autumn leaves, and close my eyes. I focus my senses on the sounds and smell of autumn in an English city. What curveball will they throw at me next?
Chapter 17
A few hours later, I stare at the notices in the hospital, not paying attention to what I’m reading. There doesn’t seem much point studying the gym membership offers, discount restaurants, and how to recognise the symptoms of a heart attack posters when they have no relevance to my screwed-up version of life.
As I follow my list of rostered duties, my mind churns. I’ve accepted a hell of a lot of what Alek has told me, and with good reason, because I’ve witnessed and experienced the things he spoke about. But I’ve also heard a lot I have no comprehension of. I can’t Google my new “condition” and discover how to manage it. Although I bet, if I type in ‘energy vampires’ in a search box, some bizarre Tom-type theories would come up.
Vampires.
I’m not a vampire.
Am I?
No texts arrive from Alek, following his decision to walk away from our conversation with Tom. I’m disgruntled partly because of the attitude and partly because a deluded part of me thought taking our relationship to a physical level would change things.
The elevator door clunks open, opposite the flaking paint wall in the coolest part of the hospital. I head over to the desk Tom sits behind and halt. A man leans across the desk in hospital blues, talking to him. From behind and in the shapeless hospital blues, it’s difficult to see much of him apart from his neatly trimmed brown hair and imposing height.
I deliberate whether to turn back to the lift but before I do, the man appears to sense me and turns. There’s nothing remarkable about him; he reminds me of so many doctors I’ve met and then forgotten. He’s attractive but not in a way that would stick in your mind; the kind of attractive that comes from a friendly smile and confidence. The man flicks a gaze over me, registering who I am before pulling his features into those of someone who’s pretending they don’t know. I examine my trolley full of manila files as he passes then head toward Tom.
Tom’s usual jovial greeting is absent, his whiter face either the result of fright or lack of chocolate.
“You okay?” I ask him.
He chews a nail. “Are you?”
“Why wouldn’t I be?”
“I’m worried about you ‘cause you’re... new to this.”
“What? Being half-dead?”
Tom leans forward and looks down the hallway, but there’s nobody else around. “Being caught in this weird shit. Come and stay with me,” he blurts. “I have a share house. Get away from them.”
“I don’t think that’s the answer, Tom. Won’t I accidentally hurt you with the energy draining?” God, that sounds weird coming from my own mouth.
“Yeah, I didn’t think. You just seem so normal. I’m scared for you living with this Alek guy.”
“You talk as if I’m human!” I hiss and tears prick at my eyes as I comprehend I’m not.
Tom shifts in his seat and looks at his desk. “You are to me... I mean, not in a weird way, but because you still are in how you behave.”
“I need Alek because I need him to show me how to cope with what I am,” I say softly. “I have to stay around him.”
Tom inhales and shakes his head slightly. “Listen, come over to mine tonight.” I give him a dubious look. “There’ll be a couple of other friends of mine there. I can show you what information we’ve gathered on Reapers so far.”
“I don’t know...”
Tom straightens as a blonde-haired nurse approaches and greets him. I step away, locating the files I have for him in my trolley and slap them on his desk.
“You have my number?” he asks.
The nurse giggles softly as I step away.
***
The last place I need to visit before my shift finishes is the last place I want to go. ICU. My desire to avoid the place has doubled since I discovered my new friend, Finn, could be my assassin. Even thought he also admitted this, I’m torn between wanting to see Finn and hoping he’ll stay away.
To my relief, Chloe is on the ward front desk and I glance around looking for Finn as I chat.
“Are you okay?” she asks.
“Yes.” Footsteps squeak on the tiled floor behind, and I turn sharply. A stocky man carrying a bunch of white flowers passes by; I relax.
Chloe watches. “Is this about Finn? Are you avoiding him? I thought he’d been grumpier than usual.”