A doctor rushed by closed curtains rooms, the sounds of wails and groans converging together in a chaotic cacophony of distress. Things were never really easy at Bellevue Hospital, yet with the recent Drive-By; things were already reaching Code Black.
Or at least that is what Phoenix was told. She never really had to visit one throughout her life. She always managed to heal from nearly any injury without worry. Seeing the aftermath that was mainly targeted at her, she couldn't help but feel remorse and guilt… almost insurmountable guilt.
She slowly got back up from the leather chair, making her way back to the front desk.
"Excuse me." She began, the nurse looking up at the fiery being. "I am a survivor of the recent Drive-by, is it ok for me to visit with the ones that are still here?"
The nurse looked calmly at Phoenix and shrugged.
"Well sweetheart, we do happen to have a lot of people that were injured, most of them already went home. However, we do have a few, I just need to know you do not have any weapons to hurt them. They are all pretty well guarded right now."
Phoenix sighed. It was normal protocol for witnesses to be safeguarded after an event like this. Especially for mafia situations, it was usually sent much higher up. To the F.A.B. Luckily for her, the one that always comes to her territory was on the payroll. They will be able to sniff out who did this soon enough.
"I never needed to carry a weapon with me. I just want to make sure that they are ok."
The nurse looked her up and down once more and sighed.
"Alright, let me pull up a list here hun…. here we go.."
She handed her a sheet of numbers to Phoenix, which only answered half of her questions. Just as she was about to ask, the nurse answered it for her.
"Doctor-Patient Confidentiality, I could be getting in trouble already as it is just for giving you the room numbers. just make sure to destroy the list afterward."
She said with a wink, burying her head back into the mountain of paperwork beside her.
Phoenix just smiled and went on her way down the hall. When no one was looking, she pulled out the list and began to read the numbers. Most of them were relatively empty, except for one that was circled. Alongside it, a sloppily scribbled footnote was next to it.
"Constantly asks about a red-haired dame and black-haired male… That's a bit odd… Something tells me to save that one for last."
She muttered, making her upstairs to the room of the first victim.
—---
Hours and hours blurred away, her heart weighing heavier and heavier with every room she entered. She almost became used to the smell of Formaldehyde and Antibacterial Cleaners that were commonly implemented. She has seen the whole spectrum. From beings that with a scratch, to one's crying over a white sheet. Each one she spent hours with, hoping to offer them help in any way that she could. Some were grateful, others needed to vent and a shoulder to cry on.
Now, after all the suffering she endured; she stood at the door of the final room number.
She gathered the last bit of her worn courage and stepped inside.
It was nearly the same, the smell of cleaners, the stoic white paint, even the eggshell-colored sheets that were waist-high on the person. The only difference seemed to be that a young woman was sitting on his and a vase of flowers by the table.
"Excuse me, I got word someone was looking for me?"
Her voice was a bit tentative, a bit worried as to who was inquiring. The couple looked over, their faces of worry turning into beaming smiles. The female rushed over, hugging her.
"Oh goodness, it seems as if he was telling the truth. I'm sorry that I did not believe you, brother."
Phoenix looked at the woman that hugged her. Their tightly coiled copper locks complemented the emerald green loose-fitting dress and sash they wore. With onyx-colored frames, it wasn't too hard to figure that she was a catch.
"My name is Danya, I had to rush from my workplace when I got word he was shot. Now, where is the strapping lad that helped save my brother?"
Phoenix was a bit stunned. This was the polar opposite of what she was expecting. She tried to shake off the shock and smiled.
"He is helping me with some business in Manhattan, the company I work for sadly can not afford to take any days off."
She replied and sighed, before holding out a hand to Danya.
"My name is Alyssa, I work for Marik Industries. We recently acquired some businesses to help better build the Boroughs one street at a time. "
Danya seemed a bit shocked, hearing how high up in the working world she was. She gratefully shook her hand, her mood seeming to lift even more as she heard the filtered lies.
"My oh my, you do see this place as a Land of Opportunity." She stopped and looked at her watch. " Deary me, I have to get back to work. I hope to see you and the darling mystery man sometime later. You rest up well now, ok Brother?"
She said before she ran out like a gust of wind, the clacking of her heels quickly fading away. All this left was the Phoenix, the being in the bed, all the insurmountable air of awkwardness.
"Sorry about my sister, she is always running around like there is not a second to spare."
The person said, chuckling a little bit before coughing a lot. Phoenix slowly came over and sat down on the bed, a slight smile coming to her face.
"You were the Waiter who was shot in front of me, weren't you?"
The man took his time to regain his breath, moving the gown down a little to reveal the gauze that was a slight pink color.
"I'm surprised you remember me, most Mafioso do not care for civilians like me."
Phoenix sighed, she knew that there was not a lie that could be told.
"Well, as the Don that resides in the Bronx. I do whatever I can to take care of my territory and the people that reside in it."
The waiter chuckled, only for another coughing fit to ensue. At the end of this one, specks of blood covered his hand. Phoenix felt panic for the third time in her life.
"Let me get a doctor, they can-"
She started to stand up, but his hand kept her at bay.
"Don't, I feel it's already too late."
A weak smile formed on his lips.
"A shame really, I would have loved to get to know this Fiery Vixen that came to meet me."
She looked down, her heartstrings already beginning to tug. This man was at the Doors of Death, and he was trying to flirt with her. He didn't deserve to die like this, not to die because she was the target.
"What is your name?"
She asked, looking up at the man with tears in her eye.
"...Alexander Cranell… but people call me Alex.."
She stood up, gently holding his hand.
"...Mine is Katrina…but people call me Phoenix."
He chuckled, his chest already beginning to move forcefully
"Ah, a beautiful girl with the name that suits her best… Heh… It was nice meeting y-"
"Do you trust me?"
Her head lowered, and the hand he held was shaking. Fear? Sadness? He did not know why.
"What do you me-"
"Do.. you trust me?"
She cut him off again. Her eyes, though fiery they may be… held indescribable tears that streamed down her face.
"What the hell… Yes.. yes I do."
He said, a slight smile returning to his face. To him, there was nothing else he could do in these final moments.
"Then… close your eyes and open your mouth. Whatever you do. don't open them."
Alex stayed silent. Yet despite the red flags that he could see, he did as he was told.
Phoenix slowly let go of his hand, her breath trying to steady as she looked at the vase. Christian told her long ago how she was resurrected, and what he had to do. Would it work on a still-living body?
It was her only chance, and she did not want to watch him die.
She grabbed the vase, and in one deft flick of her wrist, she shattered it against the table. Alex flinched, yet he still kept his eyes closed, fearing what he may see would only cause more pain.
Phoenix grabbed the biggest shard she could find, and began to grunt, forcibly cutting her palm open. In that instant, a wave of heat began to fill the room. Each drop of her blood sang the floor, yet her eyes remained calm.
It was now or never…
She placed her bleeding hand to his mouth and gripped his other hand. Only one word escaped the desperate Rogue…
"Drink…"