Bloodlust
I braced myself against Sean’s movements; pain was searing with each step. We reached the top of the stairs and passed a few doors before coming to a stop at one opposite a luxurious pool. He opened the door to reveal Ari sitting beside Mateo, talking about who knows what.
“Shit, Emy, I can see your bone,” Mateo said.
“Holy crap.” Ari rushed over as Sean lowered me to the couch. “How are you still awake and talking right now?”
“We don’t all faint the second something freaks us out.” I laughed at her sheepish frown, then grimaced when my ankle spasmed. I took a deep breath before continuing. “I’m kidding, hun. Don’t feel bad. No one died.”
“Except the guy in the alley.”
“Oh, yeah. I forgot about that. Also, I’m in so much pain it’s not even funny. I’m trying to ignore it.”
“You should change so you don’t keep flashing everyone.” Ari opened my bag while Sean disappeared down the hall. “What do you want?”
“Uh,” I peered into it while she pushed things around, “those work.” She grabbed the boxers and stood, then waited for me to join. “I can’t walk,” I reminded her.
Sean’s laugh sounded from another room.
“How are we gonna do this?” Her tone was dejected.
“We can help,” Mateo said.
“We’d be happy to.” Sean was back in a flash, leaning beside Mateo with his arms atop the back of the couch.
Ari looked at them suspiciously. “Maybe we should wait.”
“Until when?” I asked. If she had some magical solution, I’d be happy to hear it.
“You’re right. That’s not gonna work. Who wants to help?” She held up the boxers in defeat.
“At your service.” Sean was beside her faster than he should be.
“Can you lift her or something? But only partway. Like enough to get the skirt off.”
“I’m very uncomfortable with this,” I said. Ari gave me a confused look as I started laughing. “I’m kidding. I don’t care. This is pitiful, though. I’d rather just stay in the skirt.”
“Are you sure? ‘Cause you’re seriously flashing everyone.”
“I’m not even.” I glanced down and adjusted my good leg. “See? I’ll keep them shut and be fine.”
“Hold on a sec,” Sean said, grabbing his ringing phone. “Hello?”
“Where’d Mateo go?” Ari collapsed on the couch beside me.
I shrugged. “The fuck if I know. They move so fast I can’t keep track.” I perked up when Sean mentioned my name.
“She’s fine,” he was saying, “we’re about to change her clothes to boxers. I don’t know.” He glanced at me while Dennis—I assumed—said something back. There was a brief pause before Sean asked, “Are you sure that’s not too much?”
“What’re you guys talkin’ about?” I asked. He ignored my question and kept talking, then left the room completely. I glanced down as something tugged my skirt.
“Can you at least keep it zipped?” Ari fussed. I lifted my arms to let her zip both sides. “Much better.” She moved back as Sean returned.
“Okay. Yeah, sure. She’s all yours,” he paused.
“No, I know. You can if you want. I don’t care.
I have my own.” He looked at Ari and smiled cutely, then laughed at something Dennis said and walked into the kitchen.
He opened a cabinet and pulled something out.
“I’ll give it to her.” He ended the call, then poured a glass of water and got something from the freezer.
“Was that Dennis?” I asked.
“Yeah.” Sean returned and motioned for Ari to get up. He placed a large ice pack and a cup of water on the small table in front of us, then stacked a few pillows atop it. “Scoot back a little?”
“Didn’t he say not to get blood on anything?” I was barely able to scoot myself back. There was no way those pillows would go unscathed.
“Shit. I forgot.” He looked at my bloody ankle before shrugging. “It’s fine. I’ll clean it later.” He moved my injured leg atop the pillows and gently placed the ice pack over it.
I sucked in a sharp breath, gritting my teeth against the pain. “I’m gonna die. I’m officially dying. Don’t let anyone have my organs. Those are mine.”
“You’re so dramatic. No one’s taking your organs.” Ari kneeled and rested both hands across my thighs.
“Take these.” Sean handed me the water and three pills.
“These are massive. I dunno if I can swallow them.” I turned them over in my hand. I may be a professional pill popper, but I wasn’t quite that talented.
“That’s a first. You swallow all the time.” Ari laughed as I pushed her over.
“True, but shut up.” I placed a large pill in my mouth and took a sip of water, then had to chug another third of the glass before it went down.
“I hope those are pain killers,” Ari said, not bothering to sit back up. She was spread out with both hands behind her head.
“No, those were roofies. They work about the same,” Sean said. They stared at each other for several seconds before he grinned. “It’s Vicodin.”
“And you gave her three?” She sat up. “Are you trying to kill her? That’s gonna make her totally delirious! Isn’t the normal dose two every few hours?”
“Is it gonna put me to sleep? I’m tired of being conscious. It hurts too bad.”
“You’ll get delirious but trust me, you’ll need it. You guys were gonna have a movie marathon, right?” Sean turned on the tv while I grabbed the bag of snacks.
“Can we start with that one?” I pointed to my favorite cartoon movie as he scrolled through options. “I need cheering up. This has not been a good day.”
“Sure. I’ve never seen it.” He selected the movie and sat beside Ari on the floor.
“I have, but not since I was little.” Mateo was seated on the other couch without having walked back in.
I decided the popping up wasn’t worth complaining about and snuggled against the couch.
“Try not to worry so much. I’ll be fine.
” I placed a hand atop Ari’s head. She nodded but I could tell my words hadn’t helped much.
We were a few minutes into the movie when Dennis strode inside. I waved as he shut the door.
“You look happy.”
“I think her medicine’s kicking in,” Sean said.
“Already?” Dennis watched me as Sean nodded. “That’s good. It’ll make things easier.”
“Easy peasy lemon squeezy! Better than hard pard lemon shard,” I said. Ari giggled as I patted her hair. “Your head is soft.”
“Thank you?” She smiled up at me. “What’d you get from the store, Dennis?”
“Some bandages and stuff.” The bag rustled as he began pulling things out. “And this.”
“Ice cream!” I nearly died of happiness when he held up the same kind the ground had stolen.
“Just for you.” He smiled. “But you can’t have it yet. Not until we bandage your ankle.” He stashed it in the freezer and grabbed the other supplies before coming to my side.
“Do you know how to bandage this kind of injury properly?” Ari asked.
“Yeah, do you know how to do the thing? I think we should leave it. I’ll survive. It barely hurts anymore.”
“Because you’re drugged,” he said. “We still have to clean and bandage it. And I know how because my mom was a doctor. I’ve seen her do this kind of thing a million times.”
I prodded at the pile of gauze, three bandage wraps, and two metal contraptions Dennis had set down. This did not seem fun.
“Are you sure you know what you’re doing?” Ari was eyeing the supplies, too.
Dennis nodded and waved for her and Sean to move. They moved to the other couch on either side of Mateo while Dennis sat on the table facing me.
“Can someone grab me a towel?” He carefully pulled the ice pack off my ankle, which was swollen to twice its normal size.
“Here you go.” Mateo appeared with one.
“Thanks.” Dennis set it aside. “I’m gonna push your bone in before I clean and bandage this. It doesn’t have to be perfect, but it needs to be somewhat positioned before it heals tomorrow.”
“You’re not gonna wanna see this,” Sean warned Ari. She started to protest but reluctantly agreed at the sight of my bone peeking through. “I’ll give you a tour of the condo while they’re doing that.”
“Can you put these in the guest bathroom while you’re there?” Dennis tossed Sean the collection of supplies as he passed.
“Good luck.” Ari gave me a sympathetic smile before following.
“I don’t like this plan.” I tensed when Dennis placed my injured leg in his lap.
“You don’t trust me?”
“I haven’t decided yet. Probably?”
“Good enough. Put this in your mouth.” He gave me the towel. “We don’t need neighbors calling the police.”
I did as I was told, even though I wasn’t sure how it was supposed to help. He lightly pressed my ankle and I bit down on the towel, which barely muffled my cries. My eyes squeezed shut to curb the nausea.
“Are you sure the medicine’s kicked in enough?” Mateo’s voice came from across the room.
“She’s tough. She’ll be fine.”
I opened my eyes to glare at Dennis for disregarding my feelings, but he wasn’t paying me any attention. He touched a couple more places before looking up.
“Ready?” he asked. I violently shook my head. “Would you rather me do it slowly or fast to get it over with?” He waited for my answer, but I kept shaking my head. “Okay. Fast it is.”
I was about to say no when he placed a thumb on the bone and pressed. The towel hardly muffled my scream; it sounded like someone was being gagged and murdered.
“Are you okay?” Ari came running into the room as Dennis pressed another spot.
The towel smothered another shriek—the sharp, convulsing pain was back. My nails dug in as I fought to get my voice under control. The room was spinning.
“I’m guessing you fixed it?” Sean casually walked in.
“I don’t think we let the Vicodin set in enough,” Dennis said.
“Told you.” Mateo came to inspect me.
“Time to rinse it off.” Dennis was trying to hide his reaction, but I could see it. I could tell.
“You think this is funny, don’t you? Are you fucking sadistic?”
“I am. And your screams are turning me on.” He picked me up and carried me from the room, brushing past Ari along the way.
My nails dug into his neck as another spasm took hold of my ankle. We entered a large bathroom and he set me on the counter.