Hercules (Rated R)

8.

The air of my bathroom thick with the condensation from my shower, a feel of a thousand hot droplets of water land onto my naked skin like a fiery kiss, I winced from the stinging sensation yet found comfort enough to not move or adjust the temperature. Or perhaps maybe was too numb to move, the water massages my face rolling down like mini streams down my forehead before they land in my eyes. Hadn't it been for the natural protection of the human body I would have kept them open, too afraid to blink or close my eyes for a second too long. Unfortunately, I don't have the power to stop something automatic, and for what felt like the hundredth time I sniffled sadly at the vision of his forest green eyes.

Only in my dreams does a man so beautiful exist, it was like the universe heard my thoughts and brought forth a creation. Morning has just begun but now I can only hope to come home and rush to bed, I groaned. With the daylight meant a new day at being me in Greece, but today is work, My shift at the clinic. Thanks to the high demand of people having unprotected s*x scarce and pregnancy scares I am overseen in the office and is actually treated like a person but frankly I'd rather stay in bed and at least reminisce the beautiful man once more, at least let me wrap my arms around my pillow and smile to the thought of him, but once again it was in my dreams.

Wiping the water from my face, I stood in the middle of the tub in silence, the applause sound from the roaring waters came to an end, fog escapes above the curtain, my n*****s erect from the cold and hot of the temperature. I'm stalling for far too long, Pheobe will have my ass if I don't keep it moving, I can only hope Monica will not be joining us in the future. Oh wait, my pictures. I'm ready to pull open the curtains when the sound of a creaking door fell on the silence.

"Hello?", Silence. "Pheobe?" I knew it couldn't be her but a part of me wished it could. Silence but the hard breaths of my shudders. Slowly I move about, eyes locked on the door, never make too many drastic moves and make your presence nonexistent. My door is locked at all times, it shouldn't have been possible for anyone to get in, hence why I am fully convinced it was a dream last night regardless of the real prints that still reside on my skin. I'm frozen on the carpet in front of my tub hearing the door creak open sickly, maybe wind? but by what? The sound dissipates while I looked at the hall into nothing waiting for another sound, to my luck it ceased. Peering out to the hall with an inch of my head I find nothing, everything as they were, the door of the red room closed, Odd. The heat in my chest turned cold leaving my legs to wobble.

The sound of my phone blasting snatched my soul from its confinement. Pheobe, still uneasy I head to my phone with my jelly legs swallowing the fear. "Hey, I'm sorry I just woke up an -"

"Is there a reason why you aren't getting the proper sleep? because it wasn't a problem until recently for you to be punctual, little by little keep it up and I'll just show up." I winced at her stern threat.

"Pheebs I-I'm sorry I had an ... interesting dream and woke up late." I giggled.

"Ooh don't tell me ... you finally let me prove what this tongue could do to you in the dream right?" she beemed. Luckily for her there were some tongues involved so I could let her have this win.

"Welp, you could say that" I cheese. It wasn't even an act; my cheeks were tearing wide from my smile.

"Humph well than I'll let this slide but hurry up and get here before I come get you myself."

With a sly smile I coyly pick at her, "Yes ma'am." But a thought soon came to me, "Hey phoebe?"

"Yes, I will marry you."

Good, she hadn't hung up yet. "I need to speak to you about Monica."

The sound of car horn makes me pull my ears away, she tells me to hang on while she cusses at the driver in her thick tongue, though I can't understand it I winced, whenever my mother cusses at me in our native tongue It seems to hurt more. "Pheobe you alright?"

"Sorry hon these guys were cat calling me." Ah, Yea never do that. "But what were you saying again?"

"I wanted to speak to you about Monica, I'm not going to be around her much just letting you know."

She thanks someone in her native tongue before speaking back to me, "Uh who hon?"

"Monica"

"Monica?" her tone in question, but then again if you don't mean much to her, trust me you will be forgotten in seconds; never to be brought up again, I could say this was a good sign, I'm going to keep it that way. "Uhh, I don't know who you're talking about babe, did I meet her?"

"It's ok, forget it. I'll be down soon." I smiled. Today might be a good day, despite not getting to see that man again. Having forgotten the creepy sounds from earlier I am fully dressed in my burgundy scrubs wanting to take a look at my pictures from the day before. Me red room used to be my escape but lately I became uneasy looking at it, the familiar sound of the door creaking open made me wince, a void Darkness before the room lit with a glowing faint red, with the little time in I had left one by one they hung accordingly on the line. The water drips Clearing the image, continuously I glanced back and forth at the clock. Anxious, "alright guys I guess I'll see you tonight I shrugged."

The thoughts of my pictures helped distract me from the eerie feeling of the forest I stroll through, my backpack and lunch on my shoulders with my head down. Uneasy and on edge, even in broad daylight I could sense ominous things around me, bushes rustling behind me with the occasional snap of twigs on the ground. In the words of Dory 'Just keep swimming' or in this case walking. My little humor comes to an end, I giggle to myself by the movie and the current motto I set for myself just to get my Mind off the situation.

It's really All in my head, at least some things were worth smiling for. Monica will no longer be around, I won't be the town's Witch today but someone who will be lending aid, I'll rejoin Phoebe again, my pictures and ... him. My heart leaps with joy and A smile were ready to break, my stomach in knots with excess heart beats just at the mere thought of him. A distraction was all I needed; The trail to society was seen, that eerie feeling evident but my mind refused to stay on it. Suddenly Matters took a course in its own hand when my ears rang with a sound of what resembled a demonic shriek, so loud and powerful a group of crows flew away with terror.

Though my Bones shrivel in fear my legs launched with great speed I run to the exist, bushes rustle furiously behind me ready to enclose me in its grasp when I tumble onto the sidewalk, my backpack and lunch falling from my shoulders. A few squeals from a group of girls before the whole crowd around me turns to look at my state, I always wondered what I looked like through someone else's eyes this wasn't my imagination or anything that could be conjured I heard this loud in broad daylight. I dare not look up, afraid of the looks until little feet came to view; Embarrassed and scared my breaths couldn't keep up. The wind changing directions when she Crouches down to my height; A tiny blue dress blew to my view, there she looks at me with sorrow big dough eyes and red plump lips.

Like looking at a tiny Guinea pig, dark hair strands curving at the end of her puffy cheeks. I forgot what a genuine smile looked like, but she reminded me by stretching her lips so wide her eyes squinted. With my courage returning I smiled back prepping for the worse, there they looked at me the usual disgust and fear.

"The demons are ready to have her blood." A man spoke to the crowd loudly having a few of them erupt in laughter, the young child's mother softly pulls her daughter away seeming to fear the comment, Though I can't understand, I just know it's nothing good.

From all these adults only, a child gave an act of human decency. Tension dies and everyone slowly returns to their business, walking away or returning to the conversation, no aid or anything. A breath released from my chest, that's one down, glancing back to the forest; Another one to go.

"My goodness are you ok?" The cold air of the A.C. in the office blew me away at the door, my goodness that wind feels good.

"Yes, sorry just took a fall."

Pheobe helps me remove my backpack and lunch box, "It's ok Hun I'm glad you're ok, but the next time you trip, and fall can you just make it's on my face ok." A statement more than a question before she winked mischievously.

I couldn't help my giggle, "Noted." The office is packed. Since coming in I was met with a line of women with a few men, natural ivory complexions drained, eyes distant with large bags under neath, it was like staring at zombies, scary. Natural ivory complexions drained leaving certain fingertips and body parts with cyanosis. "Wh-what's going on?" Discreetly I try and speak to Pheobe, they don't appear to have any conscious but one of them stood out like a sore thumb, there she was. Stunning complexion of gold and chocolate, she appeared to be the shortest of everyone around her but an aura around her made it known she was above all of them without even trying. I couldn't help but stare just a little bit, it felt good seeing others that look like me.

Though I am fascinated by her presence and beauty I couldn't help but question her attire, her back against the wall, long brown hair down to her curvy waist with strands of white highlights, almond shaped eyes, button nose and thick glossed lips all placed perfectly on an oval shaped head, I bet when she takes a picture, she doesn't worry about which angle that suits her best. Perfect shade of eye shadow with neatly cut brows, an outfit with a strap that ties behind the neck, breast filling the cups while the sat high, skirt with a cut on the right thigh showing off her smooth oiled leg. Thick in all the right places, a true beauty to behold, as if she stole the sunlight; ethereal and radiant the only one that seemed to be alright.

"I hope she comes into my office." I hadn't realized I was staring to hard when Pheobe's voice came in like a muffled song. I have noticed a pattern, when beautiful women walk into Pheobe's Nurses office, they always end up falling in love, Strangely I hoped she did stick around just to keep admiring her. My goodness what am I thinking?

The woman's eyes look down at something, voluminous lashes fan her cheeks with the perfect curves, the design of her eyeshadow made me question her whole appearance, she had time to look like a model why is she here? "Do you think that she's for another testing?"

"Hmm, whichever. As long as I get to touch her" Pheobe jokes but I wasn't laughing. The sound of a thud caught both phoebe and my attention, lying face down was a young man that groaned in pain, blood leaking from the side.

"Don't touch him, watch out." Came the thick accent of our physicians. Springing to action they surround him on the side, tiny bites all over his neck, Ants? to the side they move him my chest turns cold at the sight, his orbs turning an icy pale, but they landed right on me. Dr. Drakos checking every vital spot before shaking his head.

"D-did he just die?" My voice broken and shaken with fear.

"Yes." I glanced towards phoebe who didn't have the same expression of fear, her mom being a detective I'm sure she has seen the pictures and maybe even visited the sites. Stoic she remains not letting any fear be shown. Wrapping her arm around my shoulder, she spun me around. "Don't look sweety." I'm glad she did, I would have forgotten how to blink. My nose buried into Pheobe's shoulder, in her protection and warmth I got lost in until my eyes found Her's, out of all people in the clinic, her eyes were intent on mine.

"Alright sweety start with the first patient and make sure you have gloves on, let me know when you need me."

I nod, but never moved my eyes away from her until phoebe nudged me. "Oh yea". I smiled. "let's do this.

Into my department I enter, a nod from my colleagues; they traveled far from America and across Russia to study, Anna, Irina and Mauli, always found it weird how her name is spelt the way it is when her name is 'Molly' but to each their own. I would have thought coming from across the world they would have seen me in a new light yet, they still managed to keep a small distance from me. Though the patients are the main focus of the day it was still annoying how they find time to believe rumors.

"I bet you it was her and her magic". The strong roll of her tongue gave away who the person was instantly, Russians have a way of dominating an atmosphere simply by speaking, I don't even need to try and understand what is being said. They spoke English.

I stand there three feet away from them listening to the pathetic whispers, biting my tongue for my sake. "I mean it all started when she got here right? Why haven't they arrested her?" Ah, Mauli, her voice is soft as day. Ginger waves of her hair always bouncing when she spoke, simply because she can never stay still when she speaks. It hurts coming from her, I was the one that trained her, even took her out to show her around.

"You'll be cursed if you touch her, we're at risk for being near her right now."

"You Guys need to learn to gossip better, I think bodies are dropping so Mind doing your jobs?" Biting my tongue helps no one, not speaking is dangerous, I draw the line at Anna, especially since she helps push the narrative because she's Achilles' cousin. My downfall is what she prays for, Dark brunet hair full of lies, how can you be a feminist but choose to stay silent about everything that doesn't concern you and only you?

With fright and anxiety Mauli launched upwards, blood rushing to her cheeks. "I'm so sorry Megan we aren't talking about you. Mean they were but I was only listening and - "

Pulling down my gloves, "you hear that thud? Bodies Are dropping. Patients please." I make my irritation known.

Always remember Mauli is a snitch.

Repeatedly I took in deep breaths trying to calm my nerves. Sweat already gliding down my palms. Everything seems to be going in slow motion, I watch with blurry vision Irina opening the door, the wind blew in a horrid stench that seeped right through my mask. There I see the young man, two physicians hold him upwards like a drunk person physically and mentally incapable.

Dry chapped lips with red stains in between the cracks, so thin it looks as if he hasn't eaten in eons. Eyes distant and lifeless, yet his feet supported him as much as they could. It didn't help ease my fear that he looked like he was staring at me, the physician muttered a few words in English and everyone moved to the side opening the bed. Maybe It was the chilling sensation of the image I was gazing upon but suddenly all the hairs on my neck stood, Terror and an urge to crouch away. Am I being watched? So intently and so darkly until my eyes landed at the door.

There she stood, leaning against the wall. Eyes locked on me until the door comes to a complete close, not before allowing my eyes to witness something move around her neck.

"Vitals. Immediately." Was what we would hear all day, probably cause that's all they one how to say. The Day moves forward with patients after patients, my job is calculating blood pressure, Mauli height and weight, Anna heartbeats and Irina injections. There Is a look that we given each other All day, it couldn't be our machines? Manual didn't work either? It was if ... not of these patients were alive.

Frustratingly the physician steps out of the operating room, face red with what seems to be a glint in his eyes. As the door closes In the background the sound of the man on the operating table Groaning was loud as Day. Though discreet I can Dr Draco's fingers shaking violently. Again? Eerie.

"No pulse, no heartbeat And no blood supply." He speaks in his recorder. Voice shaking, that's the twentieth patient this morning, my chest turned cold.

"Dr ... I -"

He squeezed his fists almost annoyed with her next predicted words "Anna ... l ... *sigh* I don't want to hear it about some folklore alright? This is real life, I might add to you of someone is truly what you believe them to be, why would they position themselves in a situation knowing people might point fingers?"

In other words, if I am truly a witch, why am I hear helping? I would have fled town or anything like that but I walked right into my own fiasco? Like we presumed, bullshit. So far down anyone's business she doesn't stop and think. I sent a nod to Dr Draco's and he responded with a wink. The groaning man inside groaned louder and we all took a step back.

"I'm sorry boss I can't do this, I didn't sign up to mess with the dead." Out flings his physician assistant mimicking the sign of the cross before speaking in his native tongue. With no further argument Dr Draco's placed his hands on his hips before nodding. I have never seen an old man run so fast and frankly that is a scary thing to imagine.

"Irina we're you able to get a proper organ?"

"No sir, they clotted inside."

"His skin?"

"They tore the minute I touched him with my gloves." He nodded.

"Anna?"

"Not a single heartbeat sir."

"Mauli?"

"His bones are shriveled at the bottom sir, there is no proper height." He nods before glancing to me softly.

"Blood pressure ... zero over zero." Even my own words that came out of my mouth rendered me frightened.

"Yet he was standing outside on his own." He wipes his mouth in concentration.

"Do you think it got worse after?"

"Than why is he in there groaning if technically he isn't supposed to be alive?" The room went silent, we all glanced at each other in worrisome. "I'm going to make a call go to lunch ladies."

"Wait there is still one more patient sir."

"How is she feeling?"

"I mean she looks alright to me" Mauli's thick Scottish accent makes s****l innuendos when she speaks sometimes.

"Than Meghan, help her please. I'm going to restock the injections."

Like a child Mauli runs behind her "Don't leave me by myself"

Alone with Anna I was, her eyes on me in distaste. "If you want to help, then make yourself scarce. You'd be doing me a favor." I speak in one breath adding on a new pair of gloves.

"I know your behind this, what? Couldn't get Achilles in bed with you anymore so you became a witch? My desperation at its finest, you can rot for all the monstrous things you have caused in my homeland." I don't get to respond until she opens the door. "Please come in we will see you now."

"I'm not do -" my words were stolen from my voice, the young woman stealing my breath away, in she struts like a model. Lower body rippling after every step with her bouncing titties. Eyes locked on me as she opens her mouth, a sultry voice of beauty.

"Hello, I am Jessy."