Ritchie returned to the lobby from the lavatory, hiding the pain of a small accident with his zipper quite well. He was pleased to see the other nurse and doctor had vanished with his trip to the lav.Feeling slightly better, Mera shuffled her way down the hall to relieve the nurse at the desk. Tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, she ruffled through the charts, setting the paperwork in its proper bins.
The ganger spotted Mera returning to her station and could barely control his glee even as he idly shambled over. Smiling that disgustingly charming smile at her, he said, "Evening, Beautiful."
Glancing up from her work, she noted the gang-banger and nodded with a slight smile. "Good evening."
"Busy night?" This was idle chit-chat. He’d soooo rather CUT to the point.
Starting to lower her gaze once more, she looked up again at the sound of his voice. "Yes ... quite busy." Wondering why he was so talkative of a sudden, she asked, "Is there something I can help you with?"
"Yeah I got this ... pain." He trailed off, adding a tinge of embarrassment to his voice.
She nodded curiously. "Oh? Where does it hurt?" She rose from her chair and at that moment she saw Doc O’Bannion out of the corner of her eye. He came striding to the desk to pick up another clip board, as he listened to Mera and Rich.
Ritchie forced a blush out, glancing sideways at O’Bannion while trying to tell Mera quietly, "Umm ... well ... down there ..." He looked away from her then, embarrassed.
O’Bannion made a note on the chart to have the man in 3C moved. He snorted at Rich's answer and turned away, then mumbled to himself, "Probably scabs." He chuckled silently to himself as he made his way to the kitchen. He nodded to Dr. Jansenn who had just come on ER duty as he passed him in the cafeteria. "Evenin’ doctor."
"Evenin’," Both doctors were occupied with their meager portions and overloaded cases and an orderly, drifting by the Cafeteria, kicked the doorstops out ... closing off the lobby view.
Mera couldn’t help but blush herself. "I see ... well ... we can ... uhm ... take a look ... follow me..." Ritchie nodded and followed her, blushing the whole way himself. He was a consummate actor as they made their way into one of the private exam areas and she pulled the curtain for her patient’s comfort. "Now, shall we have a look?"
"Yeah," he grinned. "Let’s." The knife came up, poking into her stomach. "But first...we need to go somewhere else. Now, don't yell or anything if you value your existence. I have bigger plans for you, but I won't hesitate to drop you here, gorgeous."
She glanced from his eyes down to the knife ... her eyes widened in fear. Feeling the sharp point of the knife, she knew she couldn't get two words out if she wanted to.
Az followed Salomae’s gaze to the floor, still playing soft chords on his stringed instrument. Though she searched desperately for some distraction she found none. Az too stared at the floor tiles. He smiled just the tiniest bit, looking up to Sal. "Somethin' interestin' down there?"
"Hmm?" She turned to face him with one of those oh-so-artificial half-smiles at her lips. "I... I guess not..."
He shook his head, not fooled by her expression. Through the window of the cafeteria doors, they saw Ritchie walk by and the overly nervous Mera. He sighed, shaking his head again and looked back to Sal, still strumming away quietly. "How do you stand him?"
Her smile softened and grew more genuine as she shrugged. "I don't tolerate him, Azrael. It's more than that. . ."
"Oh? So what is it, then?"
"I don't know. . .I never really thought about it. . ."
"Maybe you should."
"I'd rather not. . .maybe someday, when I'm old and withered and wiser than I am now. . . But not today."
"But why not?"
"Because," she said quite clearly, "it isn't necessary to know. . ."
"If you're gonna follow this guy, it'll prob'ly be nice ta know why."
"I feel for him, something more profound and more enigmatic than anything I could ever understand. . . It's better not to think of it. . ."
Azrael shrugged. "Weird. I never got women, anyway." he offered a bit of an easy grin.
"I can tell," Sal said back, her smile gentle as she stood.
"Gotsta go?"
"Yes. . .I'm going to go home. . ." A thin smile replaced the gentle one. Her offer almost too obvious. "Would you like to come?"
"Sure," he said at first. "Nothin' ta do here, anyways." He let the song dift off on an eerie chord, and then swung the instrument around onto his back. He thought a moment and then said, "Actually... I'll hafta say no. Can I take a raincheck?"
"Sure thing, Azrael." She'd been surprised that he'd accepted anyway, though she hadn't shown it and she pressed her lips to his left cheek momentarily."
"Just 'membered, got stuff ta do fer Ritchie." He blinked a bit at the kiss, and then his lips slowly formed a small smile. "'Night, Sal."
"Okay. Goodnight." She walked quietly out.
Az stretched a bit ... at least, as much as he could, what with the large rigid instrument on his back restricting his spine's movement and then made his way for the exit.
===
About the same time Bliss decided to take a ride on her bike and Azrael was playing and trying to convince Sal that life wasn't all so bad, Lex Berikk made his way from the back of the hospital to the cafeteria. His desert cloak billowed slightly, as he walked with his backpack swinging from one hand. His White hair starkly contrasted his suntanned face. He pushed into the cafeteria and looked about. He dropped his pack on a table ... made his way to the serving line and spooned up a bowl of phlupp stew. He drew a cup of water. With deliberation, he took his seat, for a last meal, before departing on his night trek back to Malenn'drraa Gorge. As he ate, he listened to the sounds of the musical instrument being played. It was a gentle contrast to the sounds of death and dying usually heard. Dr. O’Bannion came in and couldn't help but get into a short conversation with Lex, who never introduced himself. They had themselves a quiet chat in the closed door cafeteria about being new to the job, which O’Bannion was, and about how young men garnered fully white hair, which Berikk had, long before their time.
"Now..you're going to tell me if there is a quick way out of here... A way where we won't see a lot of people."
"I ..." I... uh," her voice was nervous and shaking. "The...ambulance bays..."
"That's through the lobby isn't it?"
"There is a door through the ER," she told him, her throat dry and her palms were sweaty.
"How far away from us?" The point of the knife went a bit deeper, poking her but not dangerously so.
"A ...about forty feet...to the left." A whimper escaped her lips.
His expression grew meaner, threatening. "Keep the voice low, Gorgeous. Now ... you lead, baby...one wrong move, and I gut you...got it?"
Mera nodded and swallowed, slowly parting the curtain and stepping out into the ER. He followed behind her, the knife held low. If she did anything wrong ... he could cut her throat in a second.
"Act normal, baby," Ritchie whispered, "and nothing funny..." Mera walked ahead, her steps almost too measured ... she eased her way through the room, to the door. "Go on...outside..."
Several people saw Ritchie and Mera go by the cafeteria. Dr. Jansenn, Dr. O’Bannion, even Az and Sal who probably had some idea of what he was up to. No one stood to find out where the young woman was going. Dr. Jansenn missed her glance his way through the cafeteria door’s windows by scant seconds.
Mera turned before she stepped through. She glanced back hoping to find at least one friendly face; but she saw none. She stepped out into the bay. Ritchie followed close into the bay, shutting the door behind him. He grabbed her wrist, tightly, brandishing the knife in the other hand. "Let's go, you have a date with destiny, Gorgeous." Her eyes widened as he took her arm and she looked about hopefully. In her mind she screamed for help but there was no one to hear.
Ritchie dragged her forcefully into the streets. "By the way, names Ritchie, Ritchie Valentine. Don't worry, I don't need to know yours. Tonight it'll be whatever I want it to be ... and when the sun rises, only the gods will care what your name really is."
"Where are we going?" Her chestnut eyes took in the streets before her ... watching for landmarks.
"Into the bowels of the city...into the Reaper's Den..." He stopped in place. "I really don't think you'll actually escape; but," he lifted the knife and struck her upon the head. "One can't take unnecessary chances, can they?" As the knife handle impacted her head, her legs collapsed beneath her. Her eyes closed as she lost consciousness. He let her fall to the ground, then slid the knife back into his belt. He hefted the unconscious Mera and stalked off into the night, hideous rituals prominent in his mind. "Maybe I'll give Worm a round with this girl ... I think he'd like her." He grinned viciously and disappeared into the night.
Lex Berikk Finished his meal ... drained his cup of water. He rose from the table ... and left a couple of lomm'berill on the table... a tip, as it were ... or payment for his meal. He shouldered his backpack, then made his way from the cafeteria, toward the lobby. As so many others had done, he slipped out one of the side entrances, the main one under repair. He approached the street in front of the Hospital and paused to survey the area. Shadows, windows, all were under his watchful eye before he made his way down the street; keeping to the shadows and the walls of ruined buildings.