Reaper - The Curse

|Fourteen|

June 14th, 2015
Fairview General Hospital
Fairview, Pennsylvania

The boat party was brought to a quick close when a bout of food poisoning ravaged through the majority of the guests. Fortunately, Neil had not tested the cuisine before being pulled away from the action. However, Veronica was not so lucky. She stayed the night at the hospital with her husband close by her side.

"I told you it would be an ok night," Vee patted Neil's arm that was on the side of her bed.

Neil patted her hand and laughed, "Oh yeah, that was a boat party to remember. I don't know which part I enjoyed more, the early end to the evening or the projectile vomiting of overpaid executives." He leaned back in the chair with a smile on his face.

"Ok, you were right. We should have just stayed home." She hung her head and brought her hands together in her lap, "At least you didn't get sick."

Neil scratched his head and sighed, "Yeah. That's something, I guess."

Neil's phone nearly jittered off the table. The screen lit up, and an alarm sound went off. He grabbed the phone from the bedside table and kissed his wife's forehead, "I have to take this call, baby. I'll be right back."

"This is Leonard Carter. We spoke late last night on my boat. I hope I am not interrupting anything. I heard your wife was also brought in. This is what happens when you hire three-star caterers, the whole party turns into a disgusting, but well-dressed fountain of stomach contents."

Neil listened to the man speak like his words were gold. He dared not talk on the off chance, he interrupted. This man was his only living connection to the origin of the whole ordeal. His father proved to be less than capable of handling his wife's death. Neil knew that visiting his father at Fairview Mental Care Facility would only raise more questions.

"Are you still there, son?"

Neil refocused himself, "Yes sir, you said you knew Daniel Morrison Jr. I think he was my great-great-grandfather."

Mr. Carter cleared his throat loudly into the phone, "Not over the phone." He lowered his voice, "Twelve thirty, tomorrow, at the end of Fair Lane. There is something you need to see."

"Ready to go?" Veronica said. She tapped Neil's shoulder.

A feeling of curiosity and fear courses through Neil, his wife's unexpected presence made him twitch, and his phone slammed to the hospital floor.

"I'm sorry, but I told you that silly phone wasn't worth your time. At least, you can get an upgrade now," She picked it up from the floor and put it into his hand face down as it had been on the floor.

Neil held it for a second, hoping he hadn't heard the crunch of glass on impact. He closed his eyes and slowly turned it over in his hand. He opened his eyes and saw that the screen was splintered beyond recognition. The power button could still be pressed, but it didn't do what it was designed to do. The screen was black with shards of glass shattered but successfully holding themselves in place. Even still, it was nothing more than a brick now.

Neil tossed it in the trash can and followed Vee to the checkout desk. He wasn't upset about his phone, though he probably should have been. All of his contacts and work documents, it was all lost. He could replace that, but he couldn't shake the feeling that he only had limited time with his new friend and source, Leonard Carter.