Quick Fix by Louise Cypress

Author:Louise Cypress [Cypress, Louise]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Owl Hollow Press
Published: 2021-09-05T14:00:00+00:00

Ellie

8:20 a.m. ~ July 25th

Cole and I danced on The Royal Racer, just the two of us. Right when we were about to kiss, my phone vibrated. I rolled over in my covers and snatched it off my nightstand, annoyed with myself for forgetting to turn on silent mode last night. I switched off the sound and buried my head in my pillow, willing myself to fall back asleep. But it was no use; I was already awake.

Was Cole awake too? I reached for my phone again to find out. That’s when I saw the text from Marley.

Need help! I’m dying! Please come!

I was wide awake now, that was for sure. I leaped out of bed and rushed to my dresser, throwing on the first pair of shorts I found. I ripped off my nightshirt and put on a bra and t-shirt. I called Marley back while I shoved my feet into canvas slides. “What’s the matter?” I asked her. I collected my keys and purse off my desk.

“Ellie,” she croaked. “I’m so sick. Help me.”

“Where’s Cole? Or your parents?”

“Cole’s out jogging and doesn’t have his phone with him, and Mom and Dad are on The Royal Racer.”

“What are your symptoms? Do you have pox?”

“No,” she moaned. “But I can’t—” I heard the sound of retching.

“Stay put.” I flung open my bedroom door. “I’ll be right there.” I raced down the hallway to the living room where I ran smack into Mom and Dad. Both of them had their lab coats on and bore severe expressions.

“Ellie.” Mom held her palms out. “Stop. We need to talk.”

“I can’t talk now, Marley’s in trouble!”

“That’ll have to wait.” Dad held up the front page of The Seattle Times. “We need you to stay home today.”

“I can’t stay home. Marley’s sick!”

“What?” Mom’s looked at Dad. “Oh no, Warren, you don’t think…”

Dad’s face paled. “I certainly hope not.” He turned to me and spoke in a command. “Ellie, sit down.”

“No! Marley’s dying, and she needs my help.” I pushed past them.

Mom caught me by the elbow and Dad shoved the newspaper in my face. Avoiding the headline was impossible. Purpuralvos outbreak in Seattle!

“It’s safer for you to stay at home,” said Dad. “We don’t want you infected.”

I ripped the paper out of his hands and scanned the article. “Over a hundred purpuralvos cases have been reported at a homeless encampment at Lake Union,” I said. “But Marley lives in Capitol Hill, not Lake Union. She’s all alone right now and needs me.”

“You’re not going anywhere, young lady!” said Mom.

I glared at her. “What are you going to do? Hide me away in the narcosis room again? I don’t think so.” I flung the paper at Dad and headed for the front door.

“Wait!” Dad called. “I’ll come with you.”

I paused, my hand hovering over the doorknob and my heart beating hard. “Okay, great. It sounds like Marley needs a doctor.”

A few minutes later we were in Dad’s Mercedes, inching our way through traffic from the Seattle Center up to Capitol Hill.

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