Grandmas House

"Any information from the first responders?" I asked one of the nurses urgently.

"No, they found him lying on his chest a block away and rushed him here." The nurses finally got the restraints on him, and his violent thrashes turned into a stiff board-like posture as his eyes rolled to the back of his head. I froze in horror, watching the pained squeaks push out of hard-clenched teeth. More and more, the noises sounded mouse-like, and my head began to spin as the haze from earlier began to fall over me. The man's head warped and shifted in front of my eyes. He grew a long snout with whiskers, and his ears elongated with a sag, his thick beard becoming more like brown fur crawling to cover free spots of skin.

Soon I was staring at a human-sized rodent retrained to the gurney. A sharp pain began behind my eyes whenever I looked directly at its face. I could only compare it to having a migraine and trying to stare directly at any light. The memory of the haggard old lady and the black-eyed boy rushed through my mind making me reach deep into my pocket to grip my pill bottle. Leo must have noticed my freeze-up because she quickly took control of the situation, making snap decisions and demands.

"I have this under control, Miss Reinhart. You tend to yourself." I timidly shake my head in affirmation and scurry away, popping another pill shakily.

I waited in a bathroom stall for my nerves to settle and for the effect of the pill to take hold. The haze slowly lifted, and I didn't fight for the memory this time. Instead, I helped where I could, allowing the shift to pass and avoiding Leo as hard as possible. At the end of my shift, I gathered my things and tried my hardest to slip out quietly, but Leo promptly caught me.

"Thank you for your hard work today Miss Reinhart..." She paused, watching me warily, which was more exhausting than just asking her question.

"I won't ask about earlier, but if I may make a single request, would you be willing to allow Miss Lilith to escort you home tonight." My face grew hot, and Lilith, who sat nearby, refused to make eye contact with me when I glanced at her.

"I know you have a set of rules you follow since-

-I won't be going home tonight. I have to visit my grandma nearby." I quickly signed, hoping she would leave it at that. She seemed to realize something at this news as she promptly disappeared behind the nurse's station and back with a small paper bag and a bottle of old-looking wine.

"This is for your grandmother." She hands me the bag and wine, and I can tell in the paper bag is a small bottle semi-filled with something that rattled.

"What is it?" I ask inquisitively. Leo had never asked me to deliver anything to my grandmother before, especially not undisclosed pills and wine. I sat holding the gifts with confusion on my brows.

"The pills are her regulars, and the wine is a favor I owed repaid." She said firmly as if that would satisfy me.

"Also, forget my last request. Your grandmother is protective of where she calls home and strangers knowing, so I won't press the matter." Taking this all as a cosmic pass to escape, I thank her and turn to leave.

I watch, making sure Leo doesn't see me crossing the street, heading to my usual bus stop and not toward my grandma's house. Today was exhausting, and I just wanted to sleep it away. The bite of winter chill chased me as I power walked to the safety of the bus stop. The plastic walls served as some form of shelter from the heavy wind as I waited in the dim light of the moon and half-flickering street lamps. The silence of the city was deafening. Not a single car passed, nor could be heard approaching as I hid deeper in my hood.

I huddled inward as I hugged myself, attempting to keep warm. I stared at my shoes, wishing I could scroll through my phone to take my mind off the cold, but I felt like my fingers would freeze and fall off if I did. After a moment, the rev of an engine broke out over the roar of the wind, and the sound of shrieking tires filled the air. A shiver ran down my spine, and the hairs on my arm stood.

I peeked out of my hood in the direction of the noise, realizing the vehicle hadn't rounded the corner yet. I pulled hard on the sides of my hood and tucked and hid as much of my hair as possible. The sound grew louder as the car was now on my street. Keeping my head down and body hugged and huddled, I prayed the car would pass quickly, or the bus would be right behind it if not. Listening closely, I can tell the driver has picked up speed and approaching the stop rapidly, far too fast to stop at this point. The closer it gets, the harder it is for me to release the sharp inhales I've been taking.

The car passes with force enough for me to feel it as it goes. I finally exhaled all my anxiety and prepared to relax my posture.

*SHRRRRRRRIEKK*

Panic gripped my chest. The car now idled at the end of the street, spewing plumes of thick white smoke. I scanned the buildings around, and to my horror, they all were closed and devoid of workers. The car engine purred to life as it began to reverse to the bus stop. I fought back the tears and tried swallowing through a bone-dry throat. I prepared the most fierce face I could manage. When the car pulls into view, I realize my face has betrayed me. I catch the reflection of my terror in the pitch-black tint of the window before it slowly slides out of place. Behind the tinted window was a handsome face flashing pearly whites at me.

"Now, where are you off to? Precious." The voice was velvet, smooth, and confident sickening me to my core.