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Post by citizenmike on Feb 17, 2009 4:08:46 GMT -5
Johnny cradled Veronica in his arms as he kicked the roof door open and walked down the staircase.
Couldn't understand how he could care for her so suddenly... He was going through whatever motions came towards him. Maybe she's saying something... Maybe she has the answers... What if she was the answer... Johnny had to know.
Johnny held her in one arm as the other reached out for the knob to the nearest door he found.
His jaw dropped as he walked inside. Its was lighted, well ventilated, and there were people here. Roaming, walking. Doctors and nurses going through regular motions.
Johnny approached a doctor. “Please, help her.”
The doctor looked at him. He looked like he had all the life sucked out of him; he seemed so numb. The doctor nodded towards a nurse. She too seemed lifeless. It was like they were zombies.
The nurse approached them with a gurney.
Johnny placed Veronica over the gurney as the nurse led them to a room.
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Post by citizenmike on Feb 17, 2009 12:04:07 GMT -5
Looking up at the ceiling, Veronica caught the sudden yet dim sharpness of the overhead halogen light. The motel room... The city... The church... The angel?... and Johnny... Was it all just a dream?
Veronica closed her eyes and pulled the sheet over her head.
Somewhere, somehow, she as at home, in bed... Where was home.
Veronica shot up to a sitting position and found Johnny sitting on a chair beside her.
“It wasn't a dream?” Veronica asked.
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Post by citizenmike on Feb 17, 2009 12:06:01 GMT -5
Johnny wasn't surprised to see Veronica jolt when she woke up. Kind of expected it to happen.
“No, I'm afraid it wasn't.”
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Post by citizenmike on Feb 17, 2009 12:07:43 GMT -5
Veronica let herself fall back into bed. Didn't want to leave...
“How did I get here?”
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Post by citizenmike on Feb 17, 2009 12:08:28 GMT -5
“The angel flew us to the roof.”, Johnny replied.
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Post by citizenmike on Feb 17, 2009 12:10:15 GMT -5
“You broke in?” Veronica asked.
In turn Johnny turned his head.
“Then what happened?”
Just then a doctor walked into the room.
“There are people here?”
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Post by citizenmike on Feb 17, 2009 12:10:35 GMT -5
"Not quite.", Johnny replied.
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Post by citizenmike on Feb 17, 2009 12:10:55 GMT -5
"What does that mean?", Veronica shot back.
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Post by citizenmike on Feb 17, 2009 12:11:25 GMT -5
"Look at him." Johnny said, nodding to the doctor.
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Post by citizenmike on Feb 17, 2009 12:16:53 GMT -5
Veronica watched as the doctor checked her signs. There was something about him that wasn't right. He wasn't even talking, it was almost as if he was doing what he had to do without a single thought. It was like he was on pure instinct and nothing else... Wasn't even concentrating, he was just working.
The doctor gave her a nod of approval, a shrug, and walked away.
“Am I alright?” Veronica asked the doctor.
The doctor turned his head and nodded.
“Can I go now?”
The doctor nodded.
“Who are you?”
The doctor shrugged again and walked out the door.
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Post by citizenmike on Feb 18, 2009 7:13:55 GMT -5
Leaving the hospital, Veronica didn't say a word. She still seemed pretty shaken by the sight of all those lost souls going through mindless motions. They became zombies. Something happened to them, and Veronica figured if she let this city ever get to her, she'd end up just like them.
Johnny walked towards the door, just a couple feet away from her.
Veronica caught up with him, and tried to keep herself close.
Johnny looked at her and smiled, and in kind, she smiled too.
“How long was I out?”, Veronica asked.
“Maybe a couple hours.”, Johnny replied.
“I don't understand how that happened, really...”
“Could be on account of stress.”
“Maybe.”
“I mean, who wouldn't be stressed out to wake up in a place like this?”
“Those people...”, Veronica began. She had a train of thought she couldn't find the words for. “I can not let this place get to me.”
“We'll get used to them. I starting to.”
“You shouldn't. The more you accept what they are, the sooner you become one of them.”
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Post by citizenmike on Feb 18, 2009 7:22:00 GMT -5
Johnny wondered if maybe Veronica was on to something. It never came across his mind. She knew something...
“Where do we go from here?”, Veronica asked.
“I don't know. Are you hungry?”
“Actually, I am.”, Veronica said laughing.
Johnny held the door open for Veronica and walked out after she stepped through.
“You think we can find something decent?”, Johnny said, almost jokingly.
“With people like that, we'll be lucky if we do!”
“You see that?”
“See what?”
“What you said just now.”
“What about it?”
“This place is starting to get to you...”
Veronica chuckled as she turned her head.
“I don't know about you, but I'm in the mood for a burger.”
“I can use one too...”
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Post by citizenmike on Feb 18, 2009 7:39:05 GMT -5
Veronica walked past him, skipped her way down the steps and stood on the sidewalk with her arms crossed. He was making her feel better... She liked that.
“Hey Roth,” Johnny began.
“Yeah?”
“You're beginning to like this place...”
“Shut up and find somewhere to eat!”
Johnny descended the steps, as they heard the sound of an explosion in the distance. The earth beneath them began to shake. Veronica hit the ground, as Johnny held on tightly to the railing. Small bits of debris hit the air, as Johnny jumped onto the pavement and stumbled into the ground. Johnny crawled his way to Veronica and shielded her with his body.
“Are you ok?” Johnny asked.
“I'm alright. What's going on?”
“I don't know... And just when we were starting to get used to this place!”
Veronica giggled. Johnny saw that sparkle in her eyes that despite what was going on around him, she couldn't help but giggle.
Johnny looked down at Veronica's smile and smiled too.
Something was happening...
Johnny leaned in close as Veronica titled her head as high as she could. Those lips... He wanted to touch her.
Johnny and Veronica drew their heads closer when a second tremor in the ground sent them rolling a couple feet down the street. Johnny and Veronica held on to each other as tight as they could.
“I don't understand this...” Johnny found himself saying aloud.
To which Veronica replied, ”Neither do I..."
Johnny held her tighter.
He didn't want to hurt her... He didn't want to lose her...
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