Nocturne No. 8: Hate to Say It, But Each Other's All We've Got
General Summary
Sept. 29, 1995 - Friday
The blood from Eva's mangled arm seeped into the back-seat cushions, the hunter shrieking with pain every time Aimee tried to tourniquet the wound with a seat belt. Father Harding kept his eyes on the road, offering prayers and praises in between the screams. "You did the Lord's work back there, Eva," the preacher said, weaving past the blaring horns of a minivan as they raced up the 580. "The people of Oakland will sleep well tonight with fewer monsters lurking in the night." "Shut the fuck up and drive, Harding," Aimee hissed, pressing her jacket to Eva's wound to stanche the bleeding. "If Eva doesn't make it you're not going to see the morning either." "Never doubt the Lord's plan," he replied, swerving off the highway and into the parking lot of a dilapidated rehab clinic. Within moments the nurse on duty raced over to the car, helping to lift Eva out of the car and into the nearest bed. Aimee followed along until Father Harding put a hand on her shoulder, shaking his head and handing her the car keys. "There's a garage out back, park the car and keep watch," he ordered, walking away to join Eva and the nurse. "I'll do everything I can to help Eva." Aimee wanted to object, the doors of the clinic were already slammed shut by the time she could argue. She parked the car and wiped as much of Eva's blood off of her as she could, pacing around the parking lot for any signs of movement in the night. Her pack of cigarettes was crumpled but still usable, smoking through half a dozen as the night dragged on. How long until morning? She tried to keep her mind off of what she'd seen in Oakland, the people with beastly fangs and super strength racing through the streets. One wrong move would've seen them all torn to shreds, but Father Harding seemed to know exactly where each of them would be hiding. He came prepared, but would it be enough to save Eva? How much darkness lurked in this world? For two years now she'd seen monsters, magic-users, and atrocities imcomprehensible to the average person. But she was still no closer to finding out what caused the disappearance of her family, her house, and the life she used to live in North Carolina. She didn't notice the cigarettes smoked or the hours passed until she heard the front door creak open as Father Harding stepped into the morning air. He saw the worry on Aimee's face and gave a single nod, stepping over to her side. "Eva will live," he said, letting Aimee process the good news before moving to the bad. He knew she wasn't the type for hugging, so he stood there patiently while she shed some tears and took some deep breaths. "We had to remove her arm in surgery," he continued, pausing once more as the anguish sweeped across Aimee's face. "She's under heavy sedation for now, but I already have my contacts working on getting state-of-the-art prosthetics for her." Aimee wiped at her face with the sleeve of her hoodie. "She lost her right arm to a magic user. These monsters have turned her into the fucking Venus de Milo." "The path we're on is not a pleasant one." Father Harding agreed, knowing that sweet nothings and words of encouragement would do little to comfort Aimee. "We do this for our families, our friends, our communities, it could've just as easily been any one of us to take the blow depending on a million variables." No response from Aimee while she stared stone-faced at the sunrise illuminating the bay. He stood there a little longer, saying a silent prayer for the two of them before shifting away. "I have business in town to deal with, but you can stay by Eva's side for as long as you need. I'll have some food and fresh clothes delivered, the nurses here will take good care of you until you're ready to work again." He was halfway through the parking lot when he heard Aimee call his name. "San Francisco. Coit Tower. Now that the vamps are dead we go straight for the wizards now. It's the only fair thing for Eva." Father Harding calculated the number of vampires still lurking in the shadows of the Bay Area, but seeing the determined expression on Aimee's face he knew it'd be foolish to question one of his best soldiers. "You have my word that the mages of Coit Tower will have their day of reckoning." Aimee nodded, and Father Harding got into a car and started driving away from the rehab center. He caught a couple more glimpses of Aimee standing in the parking lot, her body wracked with sobs and tears glistening in the sun.
The blood from Eva's mangled arm seeped into the back-seat cushions, the hunter shrieking with pain every time Aimee tried to tourniquet the wound with a seat belt. Father Harding kept his eyes on the road, offering prayers and praises in between the screams. "You did the Lord's work back there, Eva," the preacher said, weaving past the blaring horns of a minivan as they raced up the 580. "The people of Oakland will sleep well tonight with fewer monsters lurking in the night." "Shut the fuck up and drive, Harding," Aimee hissed, pressing her jacket to Eva's wound to stanche the bleeding. "If Eva doesn't make it you're not going to see the morning either." "Never doubt the Lord's plan," he replied, swerving off the highway and into the parking lot of a dilapidated rehab clinic. Within moments the nurse on duty raced over to the car, helping to lift Eva out of the car and into the nearest bed. Aimee followed along until Father Harding put a hand on her shoulder, shaking his head and handing her the car keys. "There's a garage out back, park the car and keep watch," he ordered, walking away to join Eva and the nurse. "I'll do everything I can to help Eva." Aimee wanted to object, the doors of the clinic were already slammed shut by the time she could argue. She parked the car and wiped as much of Eva's blood off of her as she could, pacing around the parking lot for any signs of movement in the night. Her pack of cigarettes was crumpled but still usable, smoking through half a dozen as the night dragged on. How long until morning? She tried to keep her mind off of what she'd seen in Oakland, the people with beastly fangs and super strength racing through the streets. One wrong move would've seen them all torn to shreds, but Father Harding seemed to know exactly where each of them would be hiding. He came prepared, but would it be enough to save Eva? How much darkness lurked in this world? For two years now she'd seen monsters, magic-users, and atrocities imcomprehensible to the average person. But she was still no closer to finding out what caused the disappearance of her family, her house, and the life she used to live in North Carolina. She didn't notice the cigarettes smoked or the hours passed until she heard the front door creak open as Father Harding stepped into the morning air. He saw the worry on Aimee's face and gave a single nod, stepping over to her side. "Eva will live," he said, letting Aimee process the good news before moving to the bad. He knew she wasn't the type for hugging, so he stood there patiently while she shed some tears and took some deep breaths. "We had to remove her arm in surgery," he continued, pausing once more as the anguish sweeped across Aimee's face. "She's under heavy sedation for now, but I already have my contacts working on getting state-of-the-art prosthetics for her." Aimee wiped at her face with the sleeve of her hoodie. "She lost her right arm to a magic user. These monsters have turned her into the fucking Venus de Milo." "The path we're on is not a pleasant one." Father Harding agreed, knowing that sweet nothings and words of encouragement would do little to comfort Aimee. "We do this for our families, our friends, our communities, it could've just as easily been any one of us to take the blow depending on a million variables." No response from Aimee while she stared stone-faced at the sunrise illuminating the bay. He stood there a little longer, saying a silent prayer for the two of them before shifting away. "I have business in town to deal with, but you can stay by Eva's side for as long as you need. I'll have some food and fresh clothes delivered, the nurses here will take good care of you until you're ready to work again." He was halfway through the parking lot when he heard Aimee call his name. "San Francisco. Coit Tower. Now that the vamps are dead we go straight for the wizards now. It's the only fair thing for Eva." Father Harding calculated the number of vampires still lurking in the shadows of the Bay Area, but seeing the determined expression on Aimee's face he knew it'd be foolish to question one of his best soldiers. "You have my word that the mages of Coit Tower will have their day of reckoning." Aimee nodded, and Father Harding got into a car and started driving away from the rehab center. He caught a couple more glimpses of Aimee standing in the parking lot, her body wracked with sobs and tears glistening in the sun.
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18 Jun 2024
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