Black Blade Blues by J. A. Pitts

Author:J. A. Pitts [Pitts, J. A.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Fantasy, Contemporary
ISBN: 0765327937
Google: 89D4rfcObhgC
Amazon: B005FOFYWU
Publisher: Tor Books
Published: 2010-04-27T00:00:00+00:00

Thirty-seven

MELANIE RUSHED TO THE NEXT ROOM, ANXIOUS AND DREADing the new patient. All she knew was they had a female drunk who fought the EMTs and, given the lack of pants, had most likely been raped. Another wild one to round out her perfect shift.

Only, when she pushed through the curtain to help the two nurses, who were obviously struggling, she saw it was Sarah.

“Jesus, Sarah,” she said, stepping up to grab a flailing leg.

“She’s out of control,” Nurse Alana said.

“If we can hold her legs, I can get this strap over her,” Nurse Carol said.

Melanie did the only thing she could do. She lay over Sarah’s legs, pinning them to the bed and allowing Carol an opportunity to get the strap over her left arm. Then it became a battle of attrition, one limb at a time.

Once Sarah was tied down, Melanie got an IV in her and got her sedated.

“Her blood pressure is out of control,” Alana said. “Heart rate is one ninety and not slowing.”

“Get a blood draw. Let’s see what she’s on.”

“My vote’s PCP,” Carol said, walking past the curtain.

The nurses did their job with efficiency. Melanie examined her. While there was no evidence of intercourse, there were bites and bruises on her that told her Sarah had been in a very bad situation.

Elevated alcohol numbers and an exceedingly high testosterone level surprised her. This was not like Sarah.

Sarah’s heart rate was not slowing, but at least they got her sedated enough to prevent injury. Melanie had never seen anything like it. Her breathing was deep and quick, like a marathon runner. Totally weird for someone asleep. Melanie stepped out to call Katie.

It was three in the morning by this point, and Katie answered just as Melanie was about to hang up.

“It’s Sarah,” she said. “We have her in the ER. She’s been assaulted. Lots of cuts and bruises, but nothing too damaging.”

“I’ll be right there,” Katie said. The shock was obvious in her voice.

Melanie tended to the other patients that came in, but checked in on Sarah often. When Katie arrived, she let her in as family.

“Nothing permanent,” Melanie assured her, but she wasn’t sure Katie heard her. “We just can’t account for the elevated heart rate and the breathing.”

“Sounds like she’s fighting,” Katie said, watching her tied to the bed. “She’s breathing like she does when she’s sparring.”

Katie sat by Sarah’s bed and held her hand while Melanie finished her shift. Sarah didn’t wake up, but after another hour, her body began to slow.

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