4. "There's... not really time for a story, now. I got the generator, can you X-Ray me?"
"What happened to you? It looks like you've seen a ghost," Jacob says, looking at your face as you take your sunglasses off.
"Almost. Come on. Can you X-ray me, or not?"
Jacob nods. "If you've got the generator."
"It's in the car," you say. "In the trunk. Do you know how to hook it up to power the building? I don't know shit about stuff like this. I was barely able to get it unplugged."
"No," says Jacob, "But David might. He's an electrician, or was, I think."
The two of you head out to the car and grab the generator. Jacob peeks inside the car. "Shotgun?"
"Nevermind that right now. Come on, let's go."
You carry it inside. "I'll go get David to hook this up," Jacob says. "You go into the X-ray room and lay down."
"Alright," you say, and set the generator on the floor.
Jacob leaves and you head into the building to the X-ray room.
The room is cold. You shiver and put your arms around your chest. Then, realizing what you're doing, slowly lower them.
Jacob appears a few moments later. "David is hooking it up as we speak. He says he wants to talk to you after this is over," Jacob says.
"Sure. At least if I explode into vines it'll be next to him," you say.
Jacob tsks. "I don't want to hear that kind of talk."
"How's Nicole? Is she asleep?"
"Well, yes. She's resting now. She did wake up once. She seemed a bit dazed, which is understandable. Asked where you were. I told her you were out trying to get us electricity."
"Her arm?"
"I put it in a sling. It should heal, though I don't think she'll be able to lift her arm past her shoulder for the rest of her life."
"Damn."
"She got off lucky, really. We all did. You shouldn't have pushed David that far. I warned you," Jacob says gently.
"Hey, he's the one who fucking shot a ten year old girl. I just wanted some information about what the hell is going on around here," you say angrily.
"Alright, alright. It's over and done with. All I ask is that you try to make up with David. I don't want us falling apart."
You sigh, and nod.
The lights turn on.
"We're in business," Jacob says. "Lay down. Here, put this over your... you know."
He hands you a lead lined bib. You place it over your genitals. You feel like you're at the dentist. Laying back, the machine slides you under.
Jacob stands behind the wall, and you hear him pushing buttons. "Close your eyes..." he says.
Eye, you think. Eye. Only got one left.
that's how they got in
they? still thinking it's someone else?
they come when you're asleep and they crawl in the hole and into your brain and they--
There's a clicking noise. You open your eyes.
"...Hey. Hey, are you there? Can you hear me?" Jacob's voice slowly floats in, banishing the other voices.
"Yeah," you say, groggily. "I'm alright."
"OK, you can stand up. It's over. I took the X-ray."
"And?" you say, getting to your feet. You ache all over.
"And we have to let it develop. Come on. David wants to see you, remember?"
**********************************
1. "Alright. I'll talk to him."
2. sssssssssssssssssssssssss
3. "Where's Nicole? I want to see her first."
4. "Actually, can we talk? I'd like to hear your story."
5. ssssssssssssssssssss
**********************************