Shadow's Within

16 : A pharmacist?

On the road once again. We drive past countless roads to escape the horror. Mom's trouble condition troubles me. Her eternal benign face disappears in the night. I held her tight, unaware of the direction we getting through. The wound left her fidgeting, trembling.

I pop open the painkiller bottle and shove a pill into her mouth. That settles her aching and moaning. She's resting on my lap while I stroke. There's nothing more I could do to ease her pain. The drawback of being a fugitive, the constant running and fleeing.

The car bumps into a side road causing the car to quiver and mom heads trembling in the quake.

"CAREFUL!" I yell

"My bad" Chase apologize. "A dog just hops on the road, had to take a turn to avoid it"

I could draw Chase expression through the front mirror. He's terrified, fiddling as he drives.

"Where are we?" I ask

"5th avenue" he reply

He cuts the car through right and comes to a stop. I drop the window and stick my head out to see the wide panel of flamboyant field.

Central Park.

Chase didn't move nor did I. We just stay in our seat, cushioning our body to the warm base. We both catch our breath for everything we had been through tonight.

"So" Chase breaks the ice. "Where to now?"

"I don't know" I said. "Where can we go. They just send more reaper"

Chase perch his lips.

I look down and just see mom in a pitiful state. "She needs a doctor"

"We can't go to a hospital. They could track us down by the morning" Chase said.

"You're right." I said. I'm drawing a total blank in my mind. Mom needs medical attention. Stuffing painkillers would just reduce her pain but that wouldn't last.

Wait.

I got it! I order Chase to pump up the engine and drive. He starts the engine no questions ask and drive relentlessly.

"Where we going?" he asks.

I roll up the pour down window. "14th avenue"

"What's in 14th avenue?"

I bend my lips for a smile. "A favor"

We arrive at 14th avenue in just minutes with Chase hauntingly speed-like drive. For a man of his whining stature, I wouldn't have guess he could drive as good as that. I'm kind of impress.

Chase rest the car to a nearby parking spot and I exit the car, asking Chase to give mom some company while I sort things out. I stride over the pavement of an empty street. The empty chorus fills the night.

I walk past a couple of people, ignoring them until I come to a stop. A three-story building with a shop as its base. The shop ponders a sign laminating dead out neon lights.

JOE'S PHARMACY

I knock on the window with no courtesy. No answer.

Again I knock it, each time louder than the next. This time it works. The interior light comes alive and make way for a golden bright. Then the door slid open.

The man has bald head, stout eyes, and a plump figure. His eyes tore at the sight of me, opening bigger than I ever see a human could open their eyes.

He tries to slam the door in my face but I beat him to it, blocking the tight pit with my shoes. His resisting attempt to close the door fades when I hammer the door to his side, knocking him backwards.

"What are you doing here?!" he demands.

I enter, feet first. "I need that favor you owe me"

"NO!" he yells. "I could get serious trouble helping you. I heard from headquarters. You're a fugitive now! If they catch me just as breathe the same air as you, I'll be dead!"

Before he could react any further, I jump and cover his lips. "I'll promise. You won't get caught. I don't know where to turn to. You're the only one I could ask for help."

He musters something but my hands are constricting his voice. "Please..."

He blinks and cools down. I release my grip and let him breathe.

"Fine" he said. "I'll help you. Just because I owe you for that favor you help last year."

"Great" I smile.

"What kind of help do you need?" he got up, removing the dust from his shirt and pants.

"Medical"

"Show me you got yourself hurt"

"Not me"

He cocks his head to the side. "Then?"