---10 am Saint James Hospital
William hadn't slept, which was fine with him, he didn't really sleep much to begin with. Bai had left to pick up a few supplies.
William stalked the rookie officer with his eyes from his chair, he was annoyed at how it was a rookie standing guard for Gwen's room, a young baby-faced rookie; but to William everyone looked young. He tried to find comfort in the idea that maybe Stone knew something he didn't. Marci had left to clean up; she had Gwen's blood all over herself still. That left William to make sure her safety. He got up from his chair and made his way to Gwen's room. Her condition had not improved or worsen since she arrived, her condition is listed as stable, and stable was good. He knew she was a drift in her own mind. Locked away in her own personal hell most likely, and that broken his old heart. William stood next to her bed, he could do a great many things, his life had blessed or cursed him with so much knowledge but he couldn't help her.
1030am Marci's Apartment
Marci allowed the hot water to run over her skin, the shower floor had a pink tint to it when it circled the drain. The Bathroom filled with steam, the exhaust fan was loud and working hard. The sound almost drowned out Marci's crying. She didn't even know why she was crying, she just needed a release of all the emotions from the last few hours and tears seemed the easiest. With no change to Gwen's condition Marci wanted to hurry back to the hospital, but at the same time she wanted to figure out who did this and why.
Marci turned the water off and wrapped herself in a towel as she step out of the shower.
Marci shuttered as a sudden chill when up her spine, as if someone was stepping over her grave.
*Ding, Ding* her doorbell let out, the sudden noise startled her.
Marci threw her bathrobe on and made her way her door, before reaching the door she made sure to pick up her XDE handgun from the corner table.
*Ding, Ding*
Marci, carefully peeked through the peephole, on the other side was the familiar face of Bai.
"Bai, hi, come in." Marci allowed the curiosity to flow with her words
"I took your address from your last take out order, I hope you don't mind." The old man said as he entered.
Marci couldn't help notice Bai was still sharply dressed, this time in black slacks that where embroidered with black dragons, a white shirt, and a black jacket with red embroidered dragons. He was carrying a wooden box about the size of a pack of playing cards.
"I come bearing a gift." Bai said lifting the small box up.
"You may know my people are a superstitious lot, so I bring you Gourd Charm," he said as he handed the little box to Marci. She open the box to see a small gold charm on a black leather lace. The oddly shaped charm had some Chinese characters printed on it; the shape rather looked like a figure 8.
"In China, the calabash, or "bottle-gourd" plant, has long been used as a food and medicine, and its hard shell as a bottle, a dipper and even an ancient musical instrument. Gourds are traditionally used to carry medicine, wine and "magic" elixirs; Gourds were also tied to the backs of children when on boat to serve as life preservers. The gourd is popular as a charm to ward off evil spirits and disease because its first character (hu lu) has the same pronunciation as the word to "protect" or "guard" (hu ) and the word for "blessing" (hu )." His description made Marci feel like he was there during its creation; she lifted the small pendant from the box, it was warm to the touch; it seemed heavy in her hand.
"Wear it at all times until this mess over. Promise me?" It seemed like Bai was pleading with her.
"Of course" Marci quickly put the charm around her neck; she received a small static shock when the metal touched her skin. Bai had noticed the shock,
"See you later at the hospital. I have one for Gwen too." Bai said has he turned to head back out to the hallway.
"Be careful and weary of your surroundings Marci." Bai said while looking over his shoulder.
1130am Saint James Hospital
Bai had returned to the hospital and stood at Gwen's bedside while reciting a little prayer has he place the Gourd Charm around her neck. William had made his way to the room; he knew Bai had returned.
"When did you get here?" the Rookie stood from his chair and was generally shocked to find Bai in the room
^Fool, I am only seen when I want^ Bai's thought made him chuckle
"Sorry Office, I brought you a cup of coffee, cannot have Detective Stone seeing you asleep on duty." Bai said has he extended a small white paper cup to the officer, the officer clearly confused, took it and returned to his seat. William grinned ear to ear.
"You know he's going to drive himself crazy trying to figure out how you got pasted him."
"Wait till he tries to figure out where the coffee came from" Bai replied with a coy shrug. Once William was bedside, he saw the Charm.
"My, My. Old friend, you are more concerned than I realized. Those are extremely rare to find these days" There was no way William could hide his shock. Gourd Charms where powerful charms and once given they could never be taken away, only gifted to another.
"She has brought us so much joy; she has a way of just making us better. I enjoy who I am because of her." Bai's voice soften has he spoke. Like a grandparent speaking to a child.
William nodded in agreement; sometimes it was easy to forget how impactful people are to your life; but not when someone completely changes it.
The Void
Gwen had decided sitting in the darkness screaming was pointless, so she started to wander. At first, she crawled along the floor, fearful of some unknown ledge that she would fall off. Once that became tiresome, she walked slowly; like something out of a Frankenstein movie. Arms out waving for anything that could potentially get in her way. Finally, she decide to run. She ran hard, but she couldn't tire herself out. She never seemed to get short of breath.
{I wish this were how I felt on the treadmill} Gwen jested to herself. Suddenly she felt a small shock, the kind of shock you experience when you drag your feet on a fuzzy carpet.
{What was that? Wait I felt that!}
Then suddenly she could have sworn she heard a voice, so soft she couldn't understand what it said, or who had said.
{It is official, I am going mad} feeling defeated, Gwen fell to the ground and laid on her back looking into the vast nothing. This darkness was like nothing she had ever experienced in her life. So dark she honestly could not tell when her eyes where open or closed.
Gwen felt a breeze that seemed to come out of nowhere. It had no scent but she felt her hair move.
Something in the conditions set here had changed. She did not know what, but something had. Gwen didn't know whether to feel hopeful or dreadful.
1145 pm Saint James Hospital
Time seemed to crawl on by for Jacob. He had returned to the hospital at sundown, he failed to get any meaningful rest at home. His mind racing, to keep himself entertained he had read todays paper from front to back. Solved the crossword puzzle, lost more times than he wanted to admit to Mr. Jing in dominoes. He even knew it was 64 steps from the elevator to Ms. Greene's room. He wasn't looking for a fight, he was ready if one did occur.
~Maybe I jumped the gun on asking to stay on this detail~ Jacob just shook his head, as if he was trying to shake the idea out.
~You owe it to Detective Stone~ so with a huff, he slumped into his chair.
End of Chapter 9