Christy stared at the hospital floor tiles and pushed back tears, she couldn't cry, for Megan's sake she couldn't cry. Looking up, Christy saw Megan's chest rise in a shuddering breath. Suddenly, she couldn't stand it. Watching her sister waste away, drifting in and out of consciousness, was too much. Christy jumped up and yanked the door open. She rushed down the hall and into the cool night air. She collapsed in the dewy grass in tears. She couldn't stand it, she couldn't. How could her sister leave her all alone with their foster parents, it just wasn't fair.
Christy slammed her fist down in frustration. "Hello." Christy's head snapped up and she was immediately alert as she started to rise.
"What do you want?" Christy reached for the switchblade she had tucked in her back pocket as she evaluated the man before her. He was tall with graying hair that was slicked back from a widow's peak. He was dressed all in black and he carried a silver cane. Christy eyed him suspiciously and his eyes seemed to flash.
"I want to make a bargain." Christy stared at him in indignation.
"Look dude, you can leave if that's what you're looking for." The man frowned and his eyes flashed again.
"No, Here's my bargain, your sister will get well, if you work for me."
"How did you know about my sister, and what sort of work are we talking about here."
"I know a lot of things. Lets just say that if you work for me, your talents in the shadier arts will be put to use." Christy eyed him. Maybe he was one of those rich dudes who worked the poor neighborhoods looking for hit men. Christy thought of her sister lying on the bed, frail and unnaturally still. Looking at the man, Christy didn't know if he could help her sister or not, but maybe…
"Alright, whatever." The man smiled and Christy sensed a dark undercurrent that she couldn't explain. The man pulled an envelope out and handed it to Christy. She brushed her blonde hair out of her eyes and took it.
As she opened the envelope and pulled out the paper that was in it, her finger slid against the paper and a small cut appeared. A drop of blood welled up and dropped onto the paper, which looked to be a contract. The man smiled again and snatched the paper back.
"That should suffice. I'll be seeing you Christy Schaffer." Before Christy could say another word, the man turned on his heel and vanished into the darkness. With a sense of foreboding, Christy watched him go.
As she re-entered the room, Christy noticed an immediate difference. The room seemed brighter and the sounds of labored breathing were gone. She grinned as Megan sat up in bed and grinned. "Where have you been, you missed the miracle. A couple of minutes a go I coughed up a bunch of gross blood, and I was fine!" Christy laughed and thought back to the dark stranger. "That's great, a real miracle."
"And that's not all, Sarah and Rob said you could have your Birthday at Fat City! Sixteen is a big one!" Christy grinned and sat down across from the bed, forgetting about the stranger for now.