Farmer's Market

Something's Wrong

The following morning the weather seemed to change drastically. The sky had gone grey and the wind was blowing, and it certainly wasn't helping that Monday and Toby have been keeping their window open since 5 AM.
-Doesn't this city make you sad? Monday asked out of the blue.
-I don't... understand you. 'Not only now. Most of the time.' thought Toby.
-I mean, do you realise it's a graveyard? We're a graveyard and a freak show altogether.
Toby stayed silent.
-I died, you did so too, and the Lady, and Marlene, and the people I passed on the street. We're dead. And Mr. Griffin's invisible and Salvador keeps his own head in a jar.
-Would you rather he keep someone else's? Toby couldn't stop himself. It seemed that whenever Monday was in a mood he was in... the opposite one.
-It wouldn't make a difference to me, she shrugged. Who knows what kind of freaks lurk in the shadows of this town.
Monday got up and streched once again. She was a little bit taller than Toby. Outside of their room they could hear voices talking, but couldn't make out what was being discussed.
They had their schdule planned out for the day. Almost everyone wanted to go to the library. Except for Pica and Maisie, who were out for a stroll in the city. And, well, Salvador, who only got out of his room to go to the kitchen, put an empty bottle next to the trash can and get a bottle of water. With bags under his eyes big enough to store the contents of a small supermarket, he just shook his head at the possibility of joining the others.
-We gotta keep an eye on him today. Make sure he eats at least once and doesn't touch another drop of liquor, sighed the Lady.
As the weather worsened she had to borrow some warmer clothes, and unfortunately Salvador was the only one whose clothes fit on her. 'Well, you can't be 6'3 in a house of 5'7s and not expect any throwbacks' she thought.
She couldn't just waltz right in and take a sweater from his closet, as Griffin usually suggested, so she made her request as short as possible. Salvador didn't mind.
The only other one who needed something warmer was Toby, but he had more luck. A raincoat was simply borrowed from Griffin and he was done.
Speaking of Griffin, he had his head pressed against the coffee table, as he had been having a terrible headache. He managed to bury himself into a sweater that looked like it belonged to someone at least a foot taller, which was because it did. It hung weirdly on him, considering the fact that he had no discernable form once again.
-Griffin, sweetie, remarked the Lady, maybe you should get visible again. You scared the librarian real bad last time, remember?
The other got up, mumbling something about being dizzy. He seemed wobbly, and the Lady tried to help him as he went up the stairs, but he shook his head. For a minute or so the others stood in silence, unsure of wether or not they should speak. And then it happened. The lights were on, the TV was on, and then they started flickering. The wind was roaring, the house felt like it might collapse. And as a horrible, painful shriek was heard from upstairs, the Lady shot up and rushed up the stairs, with the others following.
Griffin's room. And in the doorway stood Salvador, calmly inspecting the scene.
The room was immaculate, electrical machinery and chemicals arranged on the desk. And on the floor, in the middle of it all, Griffin.
The shriek had turned into a choked sob. He was oscillating between visible and invisible, shaking from head to toe. The room reeked of rubbing alcohol. His veins were clearly visible, and it was a horrendous sight.
-I am going to die! he spat out, sobbing. Something's wrong, wrong, again!
He was clawing at the top of his own hands, so hard he drew blood. He pressed his forehead against the rug and seemed to throw up a bit.
Salvador dug frantically through his drawers, and unwrapped a syringe. He took out a small vial, containing a liquid. He pierced the top and drew from it.
Griffin looked up with wide, red eyes and seemed perhaps a bit soothed when he saw it.
-Where do I inject it? Salvador calmly asked him as he lowered to his eye level.
-Is this, the Meda, you- you know, Mezadol?
'Midazolam' whispered the Lady, elbowing Toby. No one made a sound.
Griffin shakily extended a pale, bony wrist. It was... almost transparent. You could clearly see veins and bones, but that was about it.
Salvador seemed oddly calm about the situation. He counted the seconds between each doze, and it must've taken about 2 minutes. Griffin seemed to calm down, and stopped shaking. In the meantime, he made Griffin drink from another bottle, which had a light blue tint.
-Thank you, he whispered softly.
Salvador picked him up and laid him on his bed. His face was ghastly white, and some parts of him were still invisible to different degrees.
Lady Alligator was the first to break the silence.
-What in the world just happened?
-I'll get back to that in a minute, Salvador barely managed to answer before he quickly made his way to the nearest sink, in the bathroom down the hall, and threw up. Perhaps he wasn't as calm as he seemed.
He practically collapsed on the nearest chair as soon as he came back, and let out a sigh. Griffin was already unconscious by now.
He then got a small pack of bandages and bandaids, applied a disinfectant and started patching up the other's hands.
-This happened before, he sighed. Only once. He walked me through the process. This thing does something to his blood. If I was too slow he could've died before I even got to him. His heart would've stopped and... that was it.
He took Griffin's hand and looked closely at the blue veins that seemed to be floating above his hand.
-The chemicals I gave him, with the blue tint, are there to somehow fixate him. They keep him in his current state. Although, he was fully visible when it last happened.
-It must've been because of how the power kept going on and off earlier, stated Adalana. I remember him telling me once about something to do with electricity, I don-
-Hold on! Spoke up Salvador. He. Told you? he squinted. I've known him for years and he spoke about it only once. You've known him for about a day.
The Lady's expression could only be described as 'I shouldn't have said that.'
-Adalana, he pressed on. How long have you known him for?
-He... worked with me for a bit, she shrugged.
-How long?
-Aaaaabout a year? she grimaced. But you can't blame me! You know I keep my work private. He's a damn good physicist and was useful in some cases.
-''Can't blame'' you? I can! he shouted. He's my best friend. You're my best friend too, he groaned. And, you two? The hell!
-It was work! Why are you so worried? she mused. You're way too protective with him, let the man have a life! The worst that can happen is for him to get hypothermia, AGAIN! Adalana rolled her eyes. And you already know how to handle that one.
God those poor souls in the doorway, who felt like they were watching their parents argue with no idea why.
-Let's just... leave mom, dad and our unconscious weird uncle to themselves, sighed Marlene. Come on, let's go downstairs. I want coffee and don't know how to make it.
A few minutes later, down came the Lady.
-What 'appened? asked Toby.
-Well, one thing's for sure. He sure ain't coming with us. He almost collapsed while talking, so I tried to take him to his room. But nooo! Our dear Griffin might wake up disoriented and panic! So long story short I moved in an armchair from whichever room was closer and he's trying to sleep in that one.
-And? piped up Pygmalion. We're still going to the library or not?
-As soon as we're all ready.
Which they were, so all 5 people managed to fit into the Lady's car, with Monday having shotgun privileges. Mainly because she was quiet.
Salvador was woken up by the sound of the doorbell, and the very weak shake of a hand on his shoulder.
Griffin still felt a bit confused when he woke up. And dizzy. He looked down at his hands. Patches ranging in visibility. They looked quite sickening to him. And on an armchair next to his bed, Salvador. His head was still exposed, he had been way too busy to even remember putting it back in its jar. Was he upset by him? He surely hoped not. Oh, that would hurt quite a bit.
And then came the horrid sound of the doorbell, echoing through the house. It almost pained Griffin, who was still adjusting to lights and sounds. Without thinking, he reached forward and lightly shook Salvador by the arm. Even sitting up still seemed quite an effort to him.
-Vince, he whispered.
He wondered if it came out wrong. It seemed too friendly for their situation. Still, ''Salvador'' seemed too cold.
-Vincent, he repeated. The door. Wake up.
The other opened his eyes and stared at him intently. They made an interesting contrast with eachother. Red eyes and green ones, white and black hair-
But that's not what matters right now.
-How do you feel? asked Salvador.
-I'm ok. Not in pain anymore, so that's better.
-You've gotten careless with your transformation, Jack. This is serious. And one day it could kill you.
That also seemed an interesting choice of names to Griffin. Yes, Salvador had quite a variety of names to choose from for him. ''Jackson Claude Griffin'' he remembered Salvador repeating after him when they first met. First and last time he heard him say it. Salvador prefered something shorter. ''Griffs'', in public mostly. ''Jack'' was... it felt weird. It was for the serious moments. Aaaand he was overthinking things again.
But even if he wasn't, he still wouldn't have an answer to give to him.
Salvador got up, and went to answer the door.
-Don't get up, he ordered.
He walked across the yard. The air was pleasantly cool, and it felt quite nice. For the first few seconds, because afterwards it just felt cold.
He opened the small gate. But instead of a familiar face, there were-
Two masked shapes. Shit. The blow of a bat, and Slavador was out cold. Laughter.
-Let's drag 'im into the house, hissed the taller one. Rabbit mask, feminine voice.
-And if he's not alone? asked the one with the cat mask.
-Nothing violence or chloroform won't solve.
These two were clearly either careless or incompetent. Might have had something in the system. Two masked criminals, in broad daylight, who... rang the doorbell.
The first thing Griffin heard were loud voices, which were normal for the area. Might have been hooligans knocking something over. He was almost right. Poor guy only understood what was going on when it was too late.
Just as he went down the stairs and rested on the couch for a moment, Rabbit slammed the door behind her as Cat dragged Slavador into the room.
-Don't try something funny, she warned him. Know you're just an inconvenience for us.
Rabbit was headed for the kitchen, and lazily hummed a song as she worked on... something
Cat propped Salvador up on the couch. 'Here's my chance' thought Griffin. He had to do something. He tried to grab the feeble butter knife rested on the coffee table. Better than nothing. But before he could even get up-
A hand grabbed Griffin by the collar. The tip of something sharp and cold was rested on his back.
-Sit down.
Atta boy. Rabbit's back.
His mouth was covered by a damp rag
-Breathe in this. It'll be enough for us to have a talk with your friend right there, who's been napping for- she checked her watch -3 minutes. Musta' been a mean punch, you wouldn't want the same to happen to you.
'Chloroform,' thought Griffin as he finally remembered the name of the substance. 'Oh for God's sa-'