L. Hot Cocoa

Raine’s POV:

I cannot believe it.

That damn homeless shelter inserted something into me.

I lifted the leg towards my face, and my eyes narrowed. The hole is too small to be a tracking device. But, I need to make sure.

I threw on the rest of my clothes and rushed out of the building.

“Pardon me,” I said to a couple. “Do you happen to know where the nearest hospital is?”

“There’s one, two blocks away.”

“Do you happen to know if it’s governmentally funded or private?” Governmentally funded are free, but privately funded required identification and insurance.

“The nearest governmentally funded is five blocks away,” the man responded. He proceeds in giving me direction. “There is also a pack hospital, also free, but that’s ten blocks away.”

I nod, “Thank you. Thank you so much.” I bowed towards them before I did a fast walk towards the hospital.

The walk wasn’t the problem.

It’s the line.

Governmentally funded programs always have a line.

Four hours later, I reached the front of the time.

The man in the front smiled, “May I help you?”

“Well-” When I saw someone familiar, I involuntarily took a step back, “Nevermind.” I turned around and walked away.

It’s the lady who worked at the homeless shelter. She’s inside the hospital. I should’ve known governmental facilities work together.

“Damn government. Dirty in any world,” I mumbled towards myself. “What do I do now?”

Pack...Pack hospital.

I turned towards the direction of the pack hospital. From what I read, pack hospitals are different from governmentally funded and private hospitals.

The only question is: will they accept me?

“The worst they can do is say no.” I marched towards the hospital.

In front of the small building, I couldn’t help but twiddle my fingers. After a few deep breaths, I opened the glass door, and a light ring appeared.

The man looked up, “Hel-” he smiled, “Hey there run away.”

A few of the patients looked up from whatever they’re doing before returning to it.

“Sonny?” I walked closer, “What are you doing here?”

Sonny flicked the nametag on his shirt, “If I want to eat. I have to be useful. I work here.” He rested his elbows against the table and scooted forward, “Why are you here?”

“I’m here to get a checkup.”

“Alright.” He turned towards the computer, “Let’s check you in. Identification.”

I cleared my throat, “About that.”

He took a few blinks then cleared his throat, “Right.”

I leaned inward, “Is there anything else I can do to get check-in? It’s kind of an emergency.”

Sonny scratched his head, “I don’t know. Policy and all that.”

I exhaled, “Right. Policy.”

Sonny’s eyes went around the room, and he moved closer towards me. “Meet me out back in twenty.”

I nodded, “Okay.”

After twenty minutes, Sonny popped open the back door. I stood up and made my way towards him. Is he going to check me inside the hospital out back?

Sonny smacked his hands together, “Alright. So what can I help you with? I can do a simple checkup like prescribed you some medication if you’re sick or something. But, if you need surgery, I’m going to need a few hours to gather up the materials.”

“Excuse me?” I question. “You’re a doctor?”

“Not really, but I read a few medical books.”

My face scrunches into the ugliest form possible.

“I’m assuming you’re willing to stand in a dirty back alley with me because you have no one to turn towards.” He rests his hands on his waist, “Now, what’s going on?”

I exhaled sharply, “Alright. But, quick question.”

“What is it?”

“Are you working with the homeless shelter?”

“No?”

“Really?”

“I barely want to work one job, so why would I pick up a second one?”

“Alright.” I look around for a place to sit. I found a wooden box and flipped it over. After I sat down, I took off my shoe and sock. “Look.” I lift my leg in the air.

Sonny went down on a single knee and narrowed his eyes. He rubbed his chin and tilted his head. “I’m going to write a prescription for a pedicure.”

“Ha? No! I mean, look at the bottom of my foot!” I point at the area where there is a dot.

“Oh? That’s a peculiar place to get blood withdrawn.”

I lower my foot, “Blood withdrawn?”

Sonny stood up, “Well, I’m not an expert but they gave you a shot or withdrew your blood. It’s one or the other.”

“I didn’t get chipped or anything?”

“No?”

“Those bastards,” I mumbled. “They took my blood.”

“Who?”

“That homeless shelter, that’s who!”

“Pardon?”

I put on my sock, “Have you ever been inside the homeless shelter?”

“Well, I’ve been homeless before.”

“But, have you ever been inside a homeless shelter?”

“Here? No.”

I slip on my shoe, “Okay. Is it weird to you if you went inside a building and then you felt sleepy?”

“That is highly suspicious.”

“When I stepped foot inside the homeless shelter, I got really sleepy!”

“So, you’re telling me the homeless shelter took your blood while you were sleeping?”

“Yes!”

Sonny didn’t react. Could it be? Is he working for them? That would make sense since he was the one who introduced me to that place.

“If you’re thinking I’m working for them. I’m not. And what’s the big deal with them taking your blood?”

“They did it without my consent!”

“They did give you a place to sleep and food to eat,” he responded. “I mean, a little blood as payment doesn’t sound too unfair to me.”

“Dude!”

“What? I mean, think about it. Do trading in a bit of blood for a comfortable, clean place to sleep, and food sounds like an unfair trade to you?”

I stood up, “I mean, it doesn’t sound too unfair now that you say it out loud.”

“Yeah. I mean, while you were in a deep sleep, they could’ve dragged your body out back and harvested your organs or sold you. And no one would know.”

I chuckled awkwardly, “Yeah.”

“So? What are you going to do?”

I scratched my head, “Do you think they will retake my blood if I went back?”

“Truthfully?”

“Yeah.”

“Absolutely. They probably used your blood sample for experimentation.”

“You just said you didn’t know the homeless shelter took blood!”

“I didn’t. I’m analyzing the situation from the information you provided, then came to a conclusion.” He leaned against the brick wall, “By the way. You trust people too easily. You should’ve run away from the hospital the moment you saw me inside. After all, I am the one who referred you to the homeless shelter. For all you know, I may be working for them.”

“Yeah.”

“You’re really at a dead end, aren’t you?”

I nodded.

In the Black Forest Pack, I have no one. I have no families or friends, and I’m surrounded by werewolves who can tear me apart at any second. Even better, I don’t have any identification or money.

The only thing I have is my clothes, and half of what I’m wearing isn’t even my clothes. Well, all of them. The other half is purchased from Leon’s credit card.

Anyone would’ve drowned in sorrows by the bad luck by now.

Sonny exhaled, “My offer,” he said. “It still stands.”

I look up from the ground, “Why?”

He smiles slightly, “I know how it feels to hit rock bottom. No family. No friends. No, where to go.”

My eyes flicker back towards the ground, and I kick a small pebble. “Is it okay?” I asked. “If I stay for a few days until my friends get here?”

“Good friends?”

“I don’t deserve them.”

Sonny exhaled and patted my shoulder, “Cheer up. I’m a good chef. I’ll cook you a warm meal tonight, and you don’t have to pay me with your blood.”

I chuckle once, “Sounds comforting.”

“I’ll be done with my shift in two hours. Inside the hospital, there is a small waiting area with hot cocoa. Go there.”

I nodded, “Thank you.”