Reintegration program - Elmax

Chapter 5 : Aspirin

Max hardly woke up this Sunday morning. She was regretting to have been at this party, it was exhausting and not really fun, she had to take care of Beverly and would have preferred not seeing all the prisoners in this house, like if she was condemned to see them every day! But for now, she had to go to work. Thankfully, on Sundays she was beginning at 11 p.m., allowing her to sleep more. She took the bus, and went to the only free seat inside, not understanding why nobody was on it as the bus was filled. When she sat, the people around had a loud gasp. She looked at them with a frown, thinking she did something wrong.

- You're not scared? asked a man with wide opened eyes.

- Scared? repeated the redhead, frowning more. Scared of what?

- Of...them, told the man, showing the sleeping person next to her.

She turned her head but she was still not understanding why she should be scared. It was just a man or a woman, wearing a green hoodie, the hood hiding the face, sleeping against the window. She watched again the others but this time, the man showed her their left wrist. It had a black bandana around it.

- Some people hide their left wrist because of the tattoo.

- The tattoo? frowned Max.

- Yeah, their registration number.

She wasn't sure what he was meaning by "registration number" but she was sure she had already seen this bandana the days before. She slowly raised the hood and discovered the face under. It was the Goblin, again! This story of registration number piqued her curiosity. Jane was certainly in a bad hangover and wouldn't feel her touching her. She slowly approached her hands to her wrist and began to untie the bandana, gently. But not gently enough apparently because the other girl opened her eyes and stared at Max with an interrogative look.

- What!? asked Max, who just got caught.

- What the fuck you do!? answered Jane with a hoarse voice.

- Nothing, just...admiring your...bandana.

Jane made a light movement with her head between the yes and the no before straightening on her seat. She noticed everyone looking at her and had dark eyes for them.

- You've something to say!? she snapped, making everyone startle and looking away.

Max was regretting more to sit here. Because now, she could enjoy the other girl's smell. It was a mix between sweat, cigarettes, alcohol and a bit of vomit. It was disgusting and it was making her feel nauseous. Goblin's face was so pale that she thought she was going to throw up at any moment! And just imagining it, made her feel worse.

- You know where there is a free water? In cup? asked Jane, pressing her head.

- You go in public toilets, there are taps!

- I can put aspirin in taps?

- Oh it's for that. Well, next time don't get drunk, told sharply Max.

- Fuck off Grumpy! Hills weren't feeling good too!

- Wasn't.

- What?

- She wasn't, not she weren't, "were" it's for plural, "was" for singular.

- Oh...she wasn't feeling good, then.

- Yeah...It was to provoke me.

- Why?

- It's not your business.

- Fine! You know where I can have a cup of water to put my fucking aspirin inside because I drunk too much!? asked angrily Jane.

- No! Can you leave me alone!?