The Curse

Chapter Four- His Only Hope

"...I just can't do it! There has to be someone...anyone else!" the receptionist states, exasperated.
"No, there isn't! Like he said...you're his only hope!" I shout, starting to worry she may actually not give in.
She stays silent.
Finally, she sighs, shaking her head.
"Ugh...f...fine. To...to save a life." the woman says, nodding reluctantly.
"Yes...!" I gasp. "Thank you...thank you so much."
"Yes, thank you. That is wonderful!" the doctor says. "Please, follow me."
We run back to Kuroji's room.
When we get there, Karen and the doctor are ushered in by another nurse.
The last thing I heard before they shut the door was, "Hurry! He doesn't have much time."
I sniff and blink back tears.
I try to keep positive though. He really does have a chance now, no matter how small. I have hope.
About a half-an-hour later, the doctor steps out, trying to conceal a sad expression.
The doctor finally speaks, in a grave tone.
"We got him enough blood. He'll be okay...in that way. But we found another...completely different issue."
"What? What is it?" I ask eagerly.
"Somewhere along the way, he bashed his head. The concentrated blow crushed part of his brain, and...well...his brain is...how do I say it in your terms?" he pauses, rubbing his hands together. "It's...gradually shutting down. He will lose his memory bit by bit until..." he fades out.
"He'll...he'll forget about me?" I gasp. "He'll forget...everything?"
I...I just can't believe this.
How could...how could that happen...?
"...Yes. You see, after his brain reaches its breaking point, he'll have to start over. Make new memories. The crack in his skull should heal, but come to me if he starts getting intense headaches," he says. "Don't worry, he will live. He'll just lose his memory."
His attempts at comforting me don't work.
I burst out in tears. All those years of laughing. All those years of friendship.
Gone.
Not yet, anyway. But they will gradually disappear. And...he's an orphan. He has no mom or dad to retell him his life story. He has no one but me.
Which is going to be hard given what I've become. What if I hurt him again...!?
"Uh...Nobara...? Earth to Rosie!"
Oh...I must've been lost in thought.
I snap my gaze up at him and immediately smile.
"Kuroji! Thank the Lord you're okay!" I squeal. I jump up and hug him.
"Whoa, take it easy! I just, y'know, cracked my skull!" he says, winking.
"Ha, ha! I know, I know...but you should know by now I don't go easy on you, even when you're injured!" I tease. He laughs.
"Then I may have to break out my affection-blockers." he holds up his fists boxing-style. We both laugh.
I'm relieved. Yet I'm afraid. And I'm guilty. Not just feeling guilty.
I really am guilty.
I really almost killed my best friend.

As we walk home, Kuroji gets a little annoyed with me.
Mostly because I keep saying I'm sorry, like, a billion times.
"Listen! It's okay! You're going to make my ears bleed in a second...and...well, if anyone should be sorry, it should be me. I'm...so sorry, I really am," he says, looking at the ground.
I am shocked.
"Why would you be sorry!? I...I struck first, and—!"
"You didn't have control. I did." Kuroji cuts in.
"You were fighting for your life!" I argue, my voice cracking in sadness.
Kuroji pauses.
"Alright, we're equal. Sound good?" he says, tired of going back and forth.
"...Sure." I lie.

I let Kuroji stay in a spare room in our house.
Mom and I have a little talk in her room before I go to bed.
"Listen, honey. I know you're afraid you are going to mess up again. I've done it plenty of times, too. But listen. That's only because you just turned into a vampire. As you get used to this, you'll gain more control. I promise!" Mom assures me, smiling.
"Thanks...that is good to hear." I say, sighing.
"I am...so sorry I brought this upon you." she breathes, looking away.
"...It's fine. It is what it is, and we can't change it. It's just who I am now." I say, nodding.
Mom pauses.
I am about to ask what's wrong, when she says, "Yes. Yes it is. Good night, honey."
"Night." I say.

I wake up from another bad dream.
This time, I was running away from a beast with sharp teeth.
But when it stopped the first-person-view imagery, it turned out I was Kuroji running away from a beast...and the beast was me.
I tip-toe over to Kuroji's temporary room. I shake him.
"Hey! Hey, wake up!" I whisper-shout. "Ugh...what is it...?" he mumbles, his eyes not open yet.
"I couldn't get to sleep. I need company." I say.
"Okay, what do you want to talk about?" he says when he realizes it's me.
He sits up with a grunt as I stand by him.
"Hmm, how about...the strangest memory you remember of my mother?" I suggest.
"Ha! There are many moments." he laughs. "How about the time when I stopped by to visit you when I was 8? Your mom just opened the door and shouted, We don't want any cookies! and then slammed the door shut!"
"She was having a rough time with girl scouts that day." I say, giggling.
I pause.
"Y'know, my mom isn't a complete weirdo. She's had my back in my worst times, loved me, and...she has been a good mom, overall."
"Yeah, even the weirdest of moms can be awesome." Kuroji agrees, nodding.
Then he sighs.
"Yeah...knowing my mom would be awesome." he mumbles, barely audible, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Kuroji..." I say, not knowing how hard it must be for him.
That's one thing I have always had that I've taken for granted...a parent to turn to.
He just has a bunch of crabby people who are paid to take care of him till he turns eighteen.
"It's fine. Besides...your mom is practically my mom with how much she's looked after me all these years. And you're always there for me, so...I'm all good!" he smiles, resuming his usual upbeat expression. "Now...let's get some sleep!"
"Okay. Night, Kuroji," I say.
I lay on the top bunk, he sleeps on the bottom.

     I've pretty much given up on sleeping, so I just lay here thinking about everything that has happened these past couple days.
Whenever he rolls over below me I hear him groan in pain from his bandaged wounds.
Then suddenly, I hear Kuroji yell.
"Ouch!" he cries through clenched teeth.
"What is it!?" I yell, sitting up.
"Nothing...I think I just cut myself on something sharp sticking out of this stupid mattress. Stupid loose springs..." he grumbles. That's weird.
I can...I can smell his blood.
And it smells delicious.

"Oh...no. This is bad. The HeadMaster tricked me!" Mom snaps.
I just finished telling her about my strange ability to smell Kuroji's blood.
"What? What are you talking—?" I start.
"He told me you would be a vampire when you turned fourteen. I should've told him to be more specific! I was hoping you would be a vampire like me. A vampire that is able to control itself...most of the time. He made you into a...a...oh, no." she cries.
"Mom, you understand I still have no knowledge of vampire custom, right!?" I yell, anger and fear building up inside of me.
"Honey, you're not going to get better," she sighs. "You're...going to get worse."