Franky Is Lucky

I whipped around to face the source of the commotion and there stood a withered man in a hospital gown he released his hand from its the place on Amy’s stomach. I looked in horror at the discharged syringe protruding from her waist.

Matt collapsed onto the floor next to Amy. He had used all his strength to complete this act of malice. I looked in horror from him to Amy and then back again. I was sure what he had done but I had to be positive.

“Tell me you didn’t?” My voice was hoarse and strained.

“I did.” He croaked his eyes starred at me intently so much hatred was behind them.

I had to act fast. I dove to the ground, pulled out the syringe and ripped open Amy’s shirt. I didn’t care about the social norms that I was breaking as I laid my lips to her stomach and began to suck. I had to the get the blood out. I had to save her.

Very little came from the small puncture wound caused by the needle so I bit and sucked more. She screamed as I did this and flailed her hands and legs. I grabbed hold of her and spit out the blood and went down for another mouth full. I had no idea if this was going to work. It saved people from snake bites, but could it save them from human blood? I had no assurance and no way of knowing whether or not I was doing her a favor. After a few minutes I stopped and ripped the bottom of my shirt and placed the fabric on the wound applying pressure with my hands.

We had to get out of here now, there was no more I could do at the present moment. I helped Amy up off the ground and told her to apply pressure and stay alert. I swiped the pass card and opened the door, not looking back at the dying man on the floor. He had made his choice.

Amy and I hobbled to the elevator and pressed the button but I realized just as I did that the elevator was not going to work. We would have to take the stairs. We exited back into the hallway and continued down. I found an out of place doorway in the wall and opened it with the pass card. Inside was the stairway.

We climbed up the stairs with gusto just hoping to make it to the main floor. When we finally saw the doorway I swiped the key card and we tumbled out on to the marble floor of the lobby. We were let out right by the elevators. Only problem was the lobby was full of people.

We stood up looking to see if anyone had seen us. Of course they had. And they were all starring. There had to be at least twenty people in the lobby, and I could hear sirens in the distance. I did the only thing I could think of.

“Get out the building is not sound! It’s going to collapse!” With those words everyone panicked and rushed to the front doors. I grabbed Amy’s arm and headed in the opposite direction. There had to be another way out of the building.

We ran down corridors and hallways and we headed to what I thought was the east side of the building. There was a street along this side and there had to be a second entrance, a loading dock or something. We ran and hit dead end after dead end. We were never going to get out.

Finally, I saw the bright red hallelujah sign reading “Exit” above a metal door and we bolted through, out onto the darkened street. We were in a loading area or alley way. I couldn’t tell and I didn’t care, I could hear the building moaning. It was about to collapse.

I grabbed Amy’s arm and began running. We ran until we got to the other side of the building where I had parked the car. People were everywhere and the fire trucks had arrived. In the confusion I unlocked the car and helped Amy into the passenger’s side. I ran around to the other side and got in. I put the keys in the ignition and revved the engine to get the people out of the way.

The cops hadn’t shown up yet so no one was around to stop me. I put the pedal to the metal and when we were out of sight of the building and all the people, I slowed down to five above the speed limit. I had to get Amy somewhere safe but where was safe?

I still had my bag slung across my chest, I had almost completely forgotten that they had been stupid enough to give it back. I stopped at a red light and began rummaging through to see what I had. They had given me my wallet minus any cash. Those bastards there had been at least two hundred dollars in there! My ATM card was still there and so were my credit cards. Now to find a hotel.

I drove looking as I went. I knew most of the hotels were located in the downtown area but I had to stop for another reason, I needed supplies for Amy’s wound. I stopped at a drug store a few blocks later and got out. I was in and out in about fifteen minutes.

I got back in the car and drove away. We drove for about an hour until I found a decent enough hotel on the outskirts of town. One where I was sure they wouldn’t mind me not using my real name, but would be cautious enough not to give out my room number. I left Amy in the car and walked in. I walked up to the front desk as I did the clerk looked at me suspiciously. I checked myself in the mirrors behind the desk why she was starring and saw that I looked like a hot mess. I looked back to her a little ashamed but resilient.

“I need a room for tonight. With two beds if possible.” The clerk typed on the computer she didn’t seem too happy about having to work. I looked around the lobby and didn’t see a soul and when I had pulled into the parking lot there had only been a few cars. If this was a normal circumstance I would have taken my money and walked out but it wasn’t so I dealt with the rudeness.

“We have a room with two queen beds available they are going for one oh nine a night plus tax. Would you like to take it?” Normally in a place this dead I would haggle a little but like I said this wasn’t normally.

As she was clicking her mouse and typed, I had the presence of mind to remember that Amy and I couldn’t share a room.

“Actually, I am really sorry can I do two rooms with king beds. Sorry.” She looked at me with annoyance.

“Sure do you have a method of payment and I.D.?” I reached into my satchel.

“This is my card but can we put the rooms under a different name?” She looked at me skeptically. I hoped that I was draining her because she was frustrating me. I kept calm though. I needed to be able to stay here.

“That’s fine. What name would you like to put them under?” I paused to think of what name. She looked at me with impatience this time.

“Mallory Gaston.” I said after the name popped into my head. She typed in the information and then ran my card.

“Can I have those rooms close by each other, by any chance?” She looked at the computer with a scowl.

“Sure ma’am let me get you checked in now.” She handed me two sets of room cards in envelopes and a piece of paper to sign. I signed it and took the keys. The room numbers indicated that Amy and I were either right next door to each other or across the hall. I walked out to the car and got in. After I parked grabbed the drug store bags and helped Amy out we went in through the side door of the building. We followed down the hall to the elevators and went up stairs to our floor. I helped Amy into her room and then looked to locate mine. It was right across the hall from hers. We went into Amy’s room and I helped her onto the bed. I grabbed the ice bucket and took it to the bathroom, I washed my hands and then filled the bucket with water I grabbed the bag with the medical supplies in it and began the task of disinfecting and cleaning Amy’s wound.

Once I got all the blood and dirt out I swabbed it with rubbing alcohol. She hissed in pain as I did. I winced but I had to do it. Once the bite mark was clean I placed a large water proof bandage over the top of it.

“I am sorry Amy.” I moved away from her and threw all the wrappers and used gauze in the trash. When I got no response I went to the bathroom and dumped the water into the sink. As I walked out of the bathroom I caught Amy’s eyes and she responded.

“What did he do to me?” She was quizzical but behind the curiosity I could tell she was scared. I pulled a chair up next to the bed and sat down. I hunched over my elbows on my knees and I ran my hands through my hair and then I looked up. Her face had transformed, she was definitely afraid now. I leaned back in the chair rubbing my hands over my thighs trying to gain traction on what I was about to tell her. I finally got a hold of myself and let the words go.

“The man in the basement, his name was Matt. He was an experiment done by Dr. Adrian Aster, one of the founders, to figure out the effects of my blood on other people. He was trying to find out whether what I am could be diluted into another body and possibly not be as dangerous. He was wrong. After he injected my blood into the Matt, he started to deteriorate. I don’t know how rapidly and to what extent because they have done several treatments in order to help him. What he injected into you, or at least what he said he did, was my blood. I tried to save you. I am so sorry.”

She rolled her head and starred at the ceiling. She talked to it instead of me.

“So he went after me trying to kill me with your blood? Why me?” She didn’t seem sad or somber just contemplative. I leaned forward again with my elbows on my knees and I talked to the floor.

“I told you. I am too lucky for that. He couldn’t have killed me with my own blood. I don’t know how he got it in the first place. I had only sent them a vile and they said they used it all.” And then I looked down at my arms I sat up with a start and rolled up the sleeves to my shirt and saw the needle mark in my right arm and the bruise slowly forming.

No.

They had taken my blood and Brent had known. That is what he was trying to warn me about. My blood was a biological weapon that could be spread to countless individuals through a single inoculation. How much did they take? How much had they planned too? Who would they use it on?
I got up from the chair taking the keys to my room out of my pocket. I placed one on Amy’s end table.

“I have to think. There’s my room key if you need anything just come get me. I also got you some sweats and toiletry stuff at the drug store. Feel free to charge room service to the room.” I went to walk out. I couldn’t sit there and look at her, she was the consequences of what I was. I grabbed my half of the toiletries and clothes and as I grabbed the door handle I stopped.

“I am sorry Amy, you have no idea how much this kills me. I never wanted this to happen to you. I am going to do whatever I can to make it right, I promise.” And I walked out of the room and across the hallway to my own room. Once inside I flung myself down onto the bed and buried my head into the pillow.

I was back where I had been earlier in the day. Once again Amy’s life held in the balance of things but this time I had no confidence that I could save her. Why couldn’t it have been me? I would have been fine with that.

I looked at the clock it was close to eleven the news would be coming on soon. I turned on the television and found the local news and I grabbed the bag of toiletries and headed to the bathroom leaving the door open so I could hear. I hoped in the shower and about five minutes in I heard the distinct voice of a news anchor come on.

“In breaking news tonight mayhem in downtown tonight…. The downtown head quarters of the AGH Genetics building collapsed after a massive explosion in the basement occurred this evening. At this time there are no causalities but a few members of the staff are in intensive care. We will update as the news comes in.”

What did he say? Did he say no causalities?

It is probably not good to be unhappy people are alive but I had hoped that the destruction I had caused would put me in the clear. I was hoping at the very least everyone who knew about me and my abilities had left this world for good so I could go back to living my life. I thought what I was would be inclusive enough to pick off not only the people I loved but the people I despised as well. It seemed that was not the case.

So I had another problem on my hands. Not only did I have to save Amy I had to get my life back. This was turning out to be the worst weekend ever.