NOVEL WEB Chapter 5: Immortality – Part Seven.
Nurse White walked over with a smile on her face and a thick set of paperwork in her hand. “Ms Collins. You have a very dedicated doctor.” She winked and handed Casey a copy of the release orders. “Typically I would go over what you need to do. This time all that I have to give is the instructions on meeting with Dr Moreau at her office later.”
“Thanks for looking out for me. I just want to get out of here and into a hot shower.” Casey scratched lightly at her frizzy and ash covered hair.”
“Protocol says I have to take you out of here in a wheelchair, but there are none available. As you can tell we are still very busy. The exit is right this way.” The nurse turned and headed for the exit.
Casey pulled the hood on her jacket in the attempt to hide her face from the cameras in the hospital. Giving a quick and forgetful wave, the ward walked out of the hospital and spotted the taxi immediately. Walking quietly to the driver’s window, she knocked lightly and the gentleman rolled the same window down just enough to talk. “Are you Daniel?” Casey asked quietly.
“Yes, Ma’am. Your friend from the other night paid a handsome amount so I could get you safely to 17th street.”
Casey nodded in approval to the cabby when he voluntarily mentioned the street number. She slid into the back seat and pulled her hood fully over her youthful visage. “Thank you for helping us, it has been a very long day.”
Daniel gave Casey a thumbs up and closed the small window between them, letting go of the breath he’d been holding. “Whew.” He exclaimed and took another breath of fresh air. “Smelled like a brewery last night and tonight smells like soot and rot.” he muttered to himself as he wrinkled his nose.
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Casey pulled into her college parking lot for the second time in one evening. The swimmer shut off the engine of the expensive sports car and laid her head on the steering wheel, and let the events of the evening pass over her for a couple minutes. Her exhausted mind didn’t replay the actions of the evening, rather she started to feel the emotional toll of it all. -You wanted excitement and to be reckless, Rivers. You got it, didn’t you?- Until this evening she’d never killed anything, and what frightened her the most is that she did it without hesitation. “What does that say about you, Rivers? You did what you were told to do, not to think.. Just act. Now look at you.” She whispered to herself, a small tear running down her cheek. Smearing the streak of water from her cheek, she reached for the door handle. “Fuck, you don’t have your crutches.” Casey decided to forget about the illusion of her injuries for the moment and get into her dorm room. Walking the well lit path up to the building, the ward couldn’t shake the feeling of being watched. Turning to look through the planted trees of the student courtyard and using her new heightened sense of sight, the young ward focused on the shadows and only glimpsed a couple sitting on a bench kissing. She shook her head, “Now you are seeing things in the dark.” Sighing and rolling her eyes, she showed her student ID to the guard and went to her dorm room.
Closing and locking the door behind her, Casey made her way back to her chair where she dressed earlier in the evening. Tossing her jacket on the floor, she flopped in the soft chair and expelled a heavy breath.
“Casey?” Brian sleepily muttered.
“Hey.” She replied, her voice lacking any enthusiasm.
Brian pushed himself up and peered in the direction of the chair, scrubbing his eyes. “Everything alright?” He inquired gently, having memorized his girlfriend’s overtone.
“Just a very long night, Brian.” She echoed and thought, -Long night doesn’t remotely describe it, Rivers.-
“Do you want to talk about it?” He asked just as the scent from the corner reached him. “What the hell is that smell?”
Casey groaned a moment and started pulling off her shoes. “That’s me. Give me a second and I will take a shower.”
“Should I even ask why you smell like that?” Brian asked as he finally focused enough to see the ash-blonde in the corner. “Jesus, you look..”
“..I get it.”
Brian smiled and walked over to his girlfriend, “No. You don’t.” He wiped a soot stain from her cheek, then leaned down giving Casey a quick kiss. “I was going to say..Jesus, you look like you need a kiss.”
The ward sighed once taking in the hulking form of her boyfriend before stripping out of the mess of clothing she was wearing. “Brian.” Casey’s voice cracked as she hugged him tightly and whispered, “Hold me.”
Brian watched for a moment as Casey held on for dear life and started crying softly in his arms. “Whatever you need, Casey.” He whispered back, kissing her forehead.