City of Decay: The Cleaner | MxM

Chapter 8: The Aftermath

"I'm not having this conversation, Eon. It's a matter of minutes now till we get the signal, and as soon as we do, you leave and get back to the station."

"I can still finish my job, Thomas."

"I know you can, and I know you would, but did you see yourself? The doctor is right; you need cleansing as soon as possible and a good rest. I called the station to send another cleaner over as soon as the fog has passed."

I sigh. It's useless, I can't argue with him. Not like this anyway. Getting back up here felt like a journey to the Ashen mountains, I'm not really in a state for clear thoughts and rational reasoning. So...

"Fine."

"Thank you." I hear him sigh in relief. He cares too much about my well-being, but I guess someone has to in this city. It's not like Thayer cares, or anyone else around me.

Well... maybe some do. But I have a hard time believing it has anything to do with me as an individual. The Shadow cares because I'm someone who doesn't attract any problems to his missions, but I'm sure there are others like me.

It's just easier to have me around than to go through the whole process of meeting someone again. And Doc cares because it's his job. He had left with Mrs. Lane in the blink of an eye despite the approaching fog. He had just weaseled his way through the sewer systems.

Not that the fog can't reach them, but the deeper the tunnels, the safer they are. There's a reason the easily accessible sewer tunnels are filled with homeless people. It's the only place that keeps them relatively safe. They still suffer, they still have health issues due to the fog, but at least they live.

I close my eyes, listening to the ticking of the oversized clock, till it vanishes into the background of my head in its ever-so-steady rhythm. I refused to sit down, so I'm standing here, with my back leaning against one of the marble pillars, waiting for the sound of the horn.

I lose track of time, I can't really hear anything, my ears are filled with the hissing sound of the sea. There's no sea around here, but my head feels like it's trapped in a vacuum, canceling out any other noise, or maybe it gets mixed into the pile. Who knows.

Finally, a sound arises. It takes a moment for me to catch it, to actively understand what it means, but then my head catches up. The fog horn. Signaling that the streets are safe once more.

"Doc, Mrs. Blair?" I open my eyes and push myself away from the pillar, to nod toward the two of them. "Thank you for your time. I'll be on my way back to the station."

"Don't mention it, Mr. Cleaner." Mrs. Blair's voice is soft, accompanied by a warm smile. "Get well soon." She adds, then her focus goes right back to Mrs. Lane who hasn't moved once. Is she going to be alright?

"If you don't mind, could you have someone call us once you get to the station?" I have to strain my ears to hear the ever-so-calm and quiet voice of the doctor.

"I guess I can't really say no, can I?"

"No."

"Tz," I would chuckle in self-irony if I had the energy to do so, "I will."

I would like to know if people in need of medical attendance get to their destination safely. So I can't blame him for his request. They probably will be stuck here for a little longer. Thomas had called the station for a cleaner to take over what was left of Constantin and the crime scene, as well as the clinic, requesting help for Mrs. Lane's transportation.

The doc still wants to move her as fast as possible, but what little strength she had left to walk up here has long since gone. While her eyes are open, her body is limp and therefore hard to move. And I would know; I move bodies for a living. There's no chance Mrs. Blair and the doc would get her to the clinic any time soon.