Night Ward: Welcome to Amity House

Amy’s Temper

As soon as Amy left Drake and the others to hear Vlad’s gruesomely sad tale, Misty, the new nurse, stood waiting for her at the Nurses station. Since Misty was new to the ward she still chose to wear the white regulated uniform whenever she was on shift. Misty was also a naturally nervous person, though Amy was sure that beneath the surface was strong woman just waiting to get out.

    As Amy came closer she took note that Misty was fidgeting with her short cap of blonde hair, an action she had come to know as a bad sign. Amy knew this could only mean she had been sent with a message. Rolling her eyes inwardly Amy placed a bright smile on her face and stopped in front of the blonde. “Misty, how are you?” she asked knowing the girl would never tell her anything other than the standard “fine” all of her nurses had adopted.

 Misty gave a timid smile saying only “Um, Amy, ma’am. Um,” Misty continued to sputter out, “The thing is Dr. Hughes asked if you would join him in his office.” Lord but the girl was nervous Amy thought to herself.

 Still smiling Amy asked “Was there a specific reason did he say?” Misty only shook her head then quickly looked away.

 Amy had noticed over the course of her employment many of the nurses on staff chose not to look her directly in the eyes. She was fine with it of course, knowing that her purple eyes tended to make them a little uneasy. But just once she wished her staff would do something other than visibly cower in front of her.

“Thank you Misty, I’ll go up now.” At the look of sudden relief on the girls face Amy almost wished she could hug her. However, that would be straight violation of her own “Thou shall not touch Nurse Amy” rule. She went around the Nurses station to the elevator. Right as she was about to step on she all of a sudden remember something she needed done. Since no one was around but Nurse Misty she silently cursed herself for what she about to order. “Misty,” she called to the girl putting her hand to eyes for only a moment.

“Yes ma’am?” Misty replied.

“Could you please,” Amy paused for a moment as another thought hit her just then smiling brighter she looked at Misty and started again, “Misty could you please let Darla know that Vlad will need assistance this evening?” the girl looked a little disappointed and shifted uneasily.

 “Couldn’t I do it? I mean, I’ve been here for a while and I know the routine.” Amy was shaking her head at her.

“Misty, I would rather you go down to the Archives and pick up some notes for me. Could you do that?” she asked knowing she just gave the girl a run around errand, but damn it, Amy told herself, she wanted this particular Nurse to stick for awhile.

  Still disappointed Misty smiled sadly and nodded her head saying “As you wish.” Amy couldn’t help but feel a little a bad over this but she allowed the elevator doors close and pushed the button for the main floor.

                                   ****

  Amy’s head had started to hurt by the time she reached the main floor so when the doors opened and she saw Marge there she gave a little humph before stepping out. Marge just rolled her eyes and stretched out a beefy hand opening it to reveal three pain killers. Amy grinned, “You know they won’t work.”

  Marge’s eyes lit up and she replied “Even so they will take off some of the edge.” Amy huffed a little but took the pills offered her.

“So?” Amy asked as Marge walked with her toward the office.

“So?” Marge countered. Amy rolled her eyes but found herself grinning more. She always like Marge, in fact, Marge was one of the only Day Ward Nurses she could stand. Of course she knew Marge felt the same way. These two women had always had a kinship between them.

“You know he’s mad.” Marge said laying out.

“When is he not mad?” Amy asked with sarcasm.

“Oh I know,” Marge agreed then looking around lowered her voice, “Stein’s looking for someone

else.” Amy raised a brow but said nothing as Marge continued. “He has been looking for the past few months. He says Hughes has become a liability that he can no longer afford.”

“Marge, are you telling me, Hughes has out lived his usefulness?” Amy asked more interested then she was letting on.

“Of course.” Marge nodded.

“Hmm, I’ll take that into consideration. What about the others?”

“They continue to wait.” Marge pulled to her to a stop at the office door. “Amy,” she said with a little more urgency, “You know the time is almost here. Stein knows it too. To tell the truth I’m surprised he is going to let this meeting with you and Hughes take place. He is not happy with old Howard.” Amy understood what Marge was getting at which made her head start to pound again.

“Marge, tell me, is Stein thinking I’ll…?” she let the question drift.

   Marge shook her head, “Oh honey, Stein doesn’t even know his head from his ass, let alone know what and who you are. All he knows is what they continue to tell him. Amy you take your time hon.” Marge said squeezing her hand.

   Closing her eyes Amy smiled grateful for the contact. “Thank you. No I mean it, I appreciate it.” Marge had started to deny her when Amy squeezed her beefy hand back. Sometime it was easy for Marge to feel sorry Amy. There were not many who know what this girl was capable of and what she was responsible for. Marge gave her a toothy grin of her own then left her to meeting.

  Amy waited for a moment to collect herself before she pushed the door open to reveal the sparsely furnished office completely empty. Irritation rose quickly as she stepped in and looked around her. Leave it to old Howard to make her wait. Closing the door she walked over to the vacant chairs that were set up to look outside. Amy took the one closest to the window know that when he finally showed he would choose the one in shadows since he didn’t like the sun light.

 Howard was a paranoid man who couldn’t stand anyone to see him in any unflattering way and light touching his skin was definitely unflattering to him. Amy began to study her perfectly manicured nails. Today they were painted with silver tips to match her silver jewelry she wore. Amy was not the girly type but she did like nice things. She enjoyed wearing jeans or sweats but she also enjoyed being a woman and having the accessories that goes with it.

  She waited in that office thinking about nonsense for almost two hours before her aggravation became the better of her and she got up to leave. She was almost to the door when it automatically opened revealing Hughes on the other side glaring at her. He was wearing his usual pressed suit but today the tie that normally went with it was missing. Amy thought that was a little odd considering how much of a neat freak he was. He was constantly ragging on her about order out of chaos.

 Right this moment though he looked more chaos then order has he continued to glare at and step thru the door slamming it shut. “So how has your day been?” he asked slurring his words, another odd thing Amy noted right off, the man normally didn’t drink.

“It’s been peachy and yours?” she asked trying not let to the disdain for him be overly obvious.

Hughes wasn’t buying it.

“You have been naughty lately,” he said as he began to back her into a corner.

“Oh?” she asked with innocence.

“Yes, I know what you have been doing.” He told still slowly stalking her to the far wall. “You have

been gallivanting around the Night Ward, with that pathetic excuse for a doctor.” Saying nothing Amy just gave him a look of curiosity. “You have been helping him.”

“You have been drinking.” She accused him as she stopped backing up and faced him straight on.

“No, I’ve been feeding.” He told her with a dangerous gleam in his eye. Amy had a sudden clarity hit her at his words.

“Feeding?” she asked him with a growing feeling of uneasiness.

“Oh yes.” He almost moaned.

Amy saw red at this “you have been feeding from them.” Not a question but a statement.

 Hughes smiled viciously “Of course I have. I’ve been slowly bleeding them for the last decade.” He answered. As Amy stepped around him she felt the anger building in her almost exploding when Hughes took her by surprise and grabbed her. “You’ve put them together. You’ve been helping our lapdog of doctor and why may I ask have you all of a sudden decided to stick your pretty little nose in now?”

 Amy’s smile was sweet as she took hold of his hand and began applying pressure, “Because it is my job and I always do my job.” Still smiling she heard bones crunch and felt the snap of a break.

  Hughes yanked his hand roughly from hers and snapped “You stupid twit, you will ruin everything.” He turned his back to her so quickly he missed her eyes flash a silver then red as she narrowed them on him.

“Excuse me?” she demanded slowly following him keep a slight distance.

“Nobody asked or even told you to interfere.” He ground out thru clenched teeth.

Keeping her voice calm was becoming difficult the more he spoke but she was able to say smoothly, “You mean you didn’t ask or tell me. You know, Howard, I work for and with other people besides you.” He backhanded her snapping her head to the left. Amy stood there in disbelief as she felt a trickle of blood at the corner of her mouth.

 She closed her eyes trying to remain in control of her emotions as he spoke over her. “You have known your place.” He said again turning his back on her. “You stupid whore.” He threw over his shoulder, “If you Stein ever found out about this…”

  He never had a chance to finish the sentence as Amy’s eyes turned red and she moved with inhuman quickness behind him placing both hands on his head she twisted hard and heard the deafening snap then felt his torso fall with a thump to the ground.

“If Stein were to find out, he what, would kill you?” she asked his lifeless head, then smiling wickedly into his still large shocked eyes she leaned down to whisper in his ear. “Oops, it’s a little late.” She said then dropped it to the floor. Cautious of the blood she gently step over the body and walked over to the wall where she leaned her still pounding head against it trying to regain the control she so obviously lost.

  Putting a hand to her forehead to rub it she picked up the phone with her free one and began to dial. As she waited for the line to be answered she found herself looking once again at her nails. They had grown in to black razor sharp points then as she started to calm down she watched as they once again returned to the perfectly manicured silver tips.

She was smoothing her clothing when the line was finally answered. “Hello?” the voice came over.

“Hey it’s me.” She said breath still ragged.

“Amy?” the voice asked worried. “What’s wrong? What’s happened?”

 Looking toward the ceiling she answered, “I think I may have made my choice.”

“What?” panic flowed in her ear.

“Hughes is dead. I need a clean-up. Stein will know before the day is done.” She said steadier.

“Will he know it was you?”

“If he does it won’t change anything. I just.” She sighed before continuing she grabbed the receiver with both hands. “Look, I couldn’t let him continue. I didn’t. Oh god I didn’t think.”

“Amy it will be ok. You took out a threat that was going to be taken out any way. Calm down, go back to work and I’ll have someone do the dirty work.” Just as Amy was going to respond the line went dead. Taking one last look around her she straightened up, put the smile back on her face and walked out the door.

 Passing Marge on her way to the elevator she noticed that the woman had questioning stare on her face. “It’s done.” Amy told Marge, who silently gave a nod of the thanks to her. Amy shuddered a little as she nodded back. Once in the elevator she felt the events of the day get to her and she almost collapsed. All she needed to do she kept telling herself was make it to her rooms.