* * *
When I woke up with a start, it was much later in the day. I wasn’t sure at first how I knew that, but checking the time, I found I’d been asleep for more than three hours. The good news was, I had full control over my arms and legs, no sign of paralysis. Apart from a throbbing headache, I felt better, but I was still far from normal. Despite Bishop’s warning against doctors, I decided to visit the school infirmary, if only to have a place to lie down for a while before I braved the walk home. There was no way I’d make it to my one on one with Professor Wright, but I didn’t think I could manage to walk and text my apologies at the same time without getting dizzy.
The infirmary was understaffed as usual. Not that there were that many students looking for medical care at once, but the harried receptionist was more than happy to let me lie down in one of the rooms with the understanding that it could be a while before the nurse practitioner got to me.
As I lay there, I realized I could hear the conversation in the examination room next to me as plainly as if I was in the room with them. The nurse listened to the student talk about his worsening cough and other symptoms. I even fancied I could hear the wheeze of air through his lungs as he took several deep breaths for her. Had the walls always been that thin? Losing interest with that exchange, I let my mind wander and picked up another conversation with the receptionist on the phone down the hall, making a call to the pharmacy. There was no way I should have been able to hear her at the front desk. I could tell she spoke in hushed tones, but I still heard her, clear as a bell.
Another stomach cramp doubled me over, and I braced myself for a round of dry heaves, but instead, I felt almost hungry as soon as it passed. Someone must have brought their dinner with them, because the most delicious aroma wafted through the air, drawing me to my feet in search of it. No longer feeling weak, I cracked the door open, tracking the scent to another room, the door only open about an inch or so. Not able to hold myself back, I had to see whatever it was they were eating and find out where I could get some for myself. I pushed the door open, surprised to find it deserted. So where was the delicious, tempting treat luring me through the halls?
My eyes lit upon a plastic bowl on the counter, whatever it was, the delectable smell seemed to be coming from there. Mouth watering, I leaned forward, only to recoil in distaste when I realized the tantalizing smell came from a wad of bloody bandages left behind from the last patient. Oh God… what was wrong with me? Suddenly I knew I had to go before the nurse got to me. Tucking on my sunglasses, I ducked out of there, not even bothering to let the receptionist know I was leaving.
The sun was less painful, lower in the sky, but I kept the glasses on while I walked home, deep in thought. Since waking up in the morgue, I’d been experiencing sensitivity to light and sound, enhanced sense of smell, my eyes and ears were sharper, and I hadn’t been able to keep any solid food down. I had ‘died’ of blood loss from a neck wound, and risen that same night without a trace of the injury. It no longer felt like I was coming down with the flu, I felt… wrong. I felt… hungry, desperate for something I couldn’t identify.
Yes, you can…
I shoved away the inner voice reminding me that I knew exactly what I was craving, because it was too horrible to admit, even inside my head.
My body craved blood.