Dark Stranger

Scott - Part 2

Something wasn't right. Why wasn't I waking up? Brain damage? I didn't appear to be thinking strangely. Maybe I was speaking gobbledygook and only I could understand it. Times like these I wish I had someone looking after me. Someone who could be there and reassure me it was going to be OK. I hope I'm going to be OK.

Where's that voice gone? When I felt his touch on my skin, it was kind of cold. It wasn't unpleasant, just unusual. I wonder why, is it just me? Come back... please...

......................................

Zass's POV

When the nurse returned, she had someone else with her. Grief counsellor? Nope paperwork guy. I saw the folder of forms and thought this is why people hate administrators. Kris isn't even cold yet and already they want their pound of flesh. I took a deep breath and turned to face them.

"Mr......?"

"Call me Zass."

"We have you as the next of kin. You need to fill in some paperwork and tell us what you wish us to do with your... with Mr Kent's um... Mr Kent."

"You need to leave."

"But Mr... but Zass...."

"Leave the paperwork and go."

The nurse had initially rolled her eyes at the Administrator's awful attempts at giving me the paperwork, but by the end she looked mortified. She dragged him out of the room and then walked him down the corridor gesticulating at him. I could still hear them and what she was saying wasn't complimentary. She basically told him to get some sensitivity training. I would have smiled if not for the situation I found myself in. Kris and I had already discussed his plans for his funeral. His family is long gone so it will be just close friends I'll inform and invite to attend. I fill in the forms and leave them on the table pushed against the wall.

I can't leave.

In my grief, I have failed to realize the sun has made an appearance.

I'm not affected by the sun as much as new Vampires are. I don't stop still and look like I'm dead as soon as the sun makes it over the horizon. However seeing it made me grateful I was in a building that had tint on the windows. Where could I go? I couldn't stay in Kris's room. Shit.

I went down the stairs towards Scott's room and opened the doors. All clear. I ducked into his room and sat beside his bed. Thankfully I'd noticed the dust line and realized that his room curtains weren't opened. If I sat in his chair with my back to the window and my hood up I might survive the day. He didn't get many visitors and the nurses pretty much left him alone apart from changing the drip. It would be extremely uncomfortable, but I could rouse myself long enough to mumble to the nurse if necessary. Getting caught out in daylight isn't fun. Getting caught out when you're sleeping is even worse.

Since my last near actual death experience, I'd spent some time training with one of Misha's assets in keeping one eye open so to speak when I was asleep. So if need be I could rouse myself long enough to adjust the subject trying to wake me's thinking. They'd just be checking on a cute guy. They wouldn't know any different. It was fucking hard though. But beggars couldn't be choosers and it was my mistake to face the consequences for.

I settled in the chair next to him, adjusted my hoodie and made sure my hands were covered inside the long sleeves of my coat. I didn't want anything getting exposed. I remembered whose room I was sharing and greeted the silent figure in the bed next to me.

"Hey Blondie. How's it hangin'?

I didn't expect an answer and none was forthcoming. Hope this works. I focused on the entry to Scott's room and closed all but a slit of one eye. No one came into the room for a couple of hours. When Scott's I.V. got low, finally a nurse came in to check on him. She noticed me, smiled and hung a new bag then left. A romantic soul? Who knew, anyway I kept that sliver open and faded out again. Another two hours and another visit from the same nurse. No problems. Cool.

Next time it was another nurse. I picked up a different scent and made sure to shift slightly in the chair for her benefit when she changed his bag. I saw a stern frown on her face, but she left me alone, even though it was mid-day and I was still acting like I was asleep. Visits from her lasted another 3 bags until yet another shift change. When the sun went down again, I stood and moved around a bit to get things moving again. I was starting to feel hungry. Scott smelled enticing and there were other blood rich scents in the hospital, so I needed to visit the bio storage room for a withdrawal.

When I got back after my snack, I said hello to my host again and touched his arm lightly. Bang, there it was again. A visual of the Demon, and another man. The partner? He was wearing the same uniform. Oh no, he was the one shooting his partner. He hadn't tried anything with Scott laid out at the hospital so I hoped he was stewing in a cell waiting charges. I'm never right about those things though so I shrugged and sat down again.

............................

There's that cold touch and that word again. Who are you?

'Wh.........................o?"

............................

Did he just speak?