Cotard Curse (#Wattys2016)

Chapter 7

Nichole was tired. Thoughts of tea and old home movies distracted her all through the week and by the time Thursday rolled through, she almost didn't believe it. 

"Nichole, are you okay?" Alec even asked. "You look so dead."

She found it rich coming from him, but she just smiled and forced her mind back into the present. "I'm fine. I'm just relieved tomorrow is a Friday." It was true. She had been working at the ward nearly every afternoon that week.

Alec and Nichole were in sync as they walked upstairs to Alec's room. It was nearly lights out time which meant Nichole could go home. 

"So you're not coming in this weekend?" Alec asked. 

"I don't think I am, but I never seem to know anymore," Nichole replied, shrugging her shoulders. Alec nodded absentmindedly as they reached his room. 

"I'll see you tomorrow, Alec. Be good, yeah?" Nichole said. 

"Are you implying I'm bad some of the time?" Alec replied, a cheeky glint in his eye. 

The boy in front of Nichole grinned and she grinned back. He was so different to the first time she met him. "You haven't exactly had the most pristine reputation." 

"It all means nothing when you're not alive anymore," he replied. Nichole didn't know what to say so she only waved goodbye and walked out of the room. She found Jared in the hallway and went to say good bye, but he talked first.

"Miss Reynolds, I was looking for you.  Before you come in tomorrow we need to go over something really quick, so come see me first." His words were rushed as if he had somewhere to be and he was speaking low.

Nichole felt like she was always having to see him and every experience so far had not been good. "What do we need to go over?" 

"I would show you now but I don't want you worrying about it all night as I imagine you will. It's just an incident protocol,"He spoke quickly. The conversation didn't feel finished but Jared walked away, leaving Nichole feeling more confused than before she asked. 

Incident protocol?

***

"Hot Andy was in at work yesterday. I said 'bless you' when he sneezed, but to be honest he's already been blessed with such a chiseled jawline," Michelle explained and Nichole giggled. 

"Did you get that photo of him yet? I want to put a face to the name 'Hot Andy' and I can't do that without a picture," Nichole replied swiftly. 

Michelle nodded excitedly, pulling her phone from her pocket. "You reminded me! Sadly I couldn't get his whole face, but I got a picture of him leaning against the bench and his muscles are so defined." Nichole looked at the picture and could see what Michelle meant by 'the face of a god'. He was a good looking, considering he only worked at Dominoes. 

She went to agree when her phone's ringer went off on the library table and she kicked herself for not turning it on silent as she swiped it from view. 

Absolutely no idea of any protocol. Jared isn't even bothered enough to put all his employees on a shift, let alone to give a protocol to one! You'll have too wait and see what it is when you come in this afternoon. My guess it's something to do with that poor patient

~Kate

Nichole had texted Kate about any protocol's in the ward and was confused with the reply. 

'Poor patient', who's that? Alec? 

~Nichole