Tasteher.
11
THE POISONER
Achill raced up my spine, the hairs on my neck vibrating as they stood erect at the sensation. I shivered and leaned forward to flick the roach from my cigarette holder into the water.
I had been here long enough. The frost would start to nip at my face if I daydreamed any longer. I patted the white flakes from my garments as I rose from my seat, turning to head down the pathway. The walk was pleasant, just not as much as it would be if all the trees were not dead and everything was not turned to many hues of black and white.
A loud clicking made me freeze in my path. It trilled again, and I spotted a woodpecker up in the tree along the walkway.
I tilted my head at the creature. “Look at you, proof that I haven’t gone colorblind.” I smiled at the bird, and his head tilted at me as I spoke to him. He was probably wondering what this large creature was doing talking to him. He was a beautiful specimen, sporting bright crimson feathers at the crest of his head. “I will leave you be, do not worry, fellow,” I mumbled and continued on my way.
A familiar scent graced my walk. Maybe someone’s cigarette from far off, but the winter air played tricks on your senses like a mirage. Sometimes when I used the venom, the colors were brighter or the smells were stronger. This morning’s dose had been a larger one than normal, as the morbs were hitting me harder this winter. It must have been resurfacing some nostalgic scents for me today, how kind of my senses.
I went to the hospital to see Edith. I wanted to see how she was faring. Today she worked two shifts, so I brought her something.
The building was made of a light brick color. It was quite bleak and intimidating. I was wary of hospitals, though at ease knowing Edith was caring for people inside. They had finished an expansion not too long ago. It was all very exciting, as an expanded hospital meant more resources, hopefully. I stamped the snow off my boots on the rug past the front door.
The front desk area had a nurse working away.
“Looking for Edith?” the nurse piped without a second glance.
“How did you guess?” I grinned. “Just dropping something off.”
“Second floor.” She smiled in return.
The upstairs had tall ceilings and a long hallway lined with doors. For each large room, there were two entrances and maybe three windows. The number of patients per room would vary, but typically, there were many beds with curtains in between.
Upon entering the room, I could see the beds were full. Many patients did not look well, but they did not look in pain. That would be thanks to me and the effort of my girls.
I smiled at the thought. It was one thing to know what the drug did, but another to see it work.
“Alina!” Edith chimed as she extended a curtain. She wore all white, a skirt and blouse with a high neck, paired with a bandana to hold her hair back. She also wore a smock with a few stains at arm’s length, most likely from wiping her hands on it.
“I brought you something to hold your stomach over,” I whispered, reaching into my basket and handing her a bottle of freshly drawn blood from this morning.
“Bless you.” She smiled.
“How is your supply?”
“I am a few liters into what you gave me last time.”
“Already?”
“It is winter. People do not fare well in the cold.”
“Right.” I sighed. “Let me know when you run out.”
“I will.” She nodded.
“I will see you at home, then,” I said before stepping back into the hall.
The day had made me feel uneasy. Even with venom, it had been particularly long. A migraine was percolating, causing dark spots to bloom in my vision.
I would return home and sleep until supper, just in case.
12
