Chapter 9

"Good-bye, Amanda." He said.

"Bye." She mumbled. Their lips met momentarily, then he was gone. She could still smell his intoxicating cologne, even after he was out of the room.

She inhaled deeply, closing her eyes. She sighed and opened her eyes. She picked up a stray wrench from the table and hit it against the palm of her hand. She threw it onto a nearby table where it clashed with the metal.

Amanda went to her room and sat on her bed. Eventually she fell asleep.

When Amanda woke up, she could tell it was late in the day. T was about 3:00. Amanda got up and walked tiredly to John's room. He was resting soundlessly. Amanda took his hand in hers and brought it to her face. She touched her cheek to his hand and was surprised at the temperature difference.

Amanda let go of his hand and sat down in a chair next to his bed. She watched him sleep for awhile before drifting off again.

This time when Amanda woke up it was about 5:30 pm. John lay awake in his bed, looking at her.

"Did you sleep well?" John asked. Amanda nodded, ignoring the knot in her neck. "Did you know you mumble in your sleep?" He asked. Amanda's eyes grew wide.

"Don't worry. Nothing to important. Just something about suffering." John smiled. Amanda remembered that day in Kerry's apartment. She had told Hoffman to, "Suffer" once he got greedy. She hoped she hadn't said anymore.

"I'm sorry." Amanda stood up. "It's time for your medicine." She said. Once John took his pills, she sat back down. "How are you feeling?" She asked.

"Fair." John replied. Amanda frowned. She stood up and looked at him.

"Is there anything I can do?" Amanda asked. John shook his head.

"Then I'm going to run to the hospital and get some more medicine. We're running low." Amanda said as she left the room.

"Be cautious." John called after her. Amanda went to her room and changed quickly. She brushed her hair, then grabbed her duffle bag and left.

Amanda walked through the alleys and avoided the security cameras as she walked to the hospital.

"Hey you!" Someone called. Amanda turned. Sitting against the alley wall was an older homeless man. He had a long shaggy beard and a dirty trench coat. "Have you seen my brother?" the man asked. His voice was hoarse and soft. Amanda shook her head. The man stood up.

"The name's Skip. My friends call me Skipper." he said.

"Amanda."

"So, Amanda, what's someone like you doin' 'round here?" he asked, taking a step forward.

"Walking," Amanda replied. Skip smiled. His teeth were rotted and most had fallen out. "I'm gonna go now." Amanda turned. Skip grabbed her arm.

"Hey," Amanda yelled as she spun around. "let go of me, fucker." she yanked her arm back.

"Wait!" He said. His eyes begged her. "Please. Please help me find my brother." he pleaded. Amanda sighed.

"He said he wanted to go find some food. He headed to that building over there." he pointed toward the direction from which Amanda just came. "He had a trench coat like this. And a stalking cap." he said. Amanda gave him a look of sympathy.

"He's dead." Amanda told him. The man's eyes widened. "He attacked me. I-"

"You killed him?!" Skip cried. "You murderer!"

"No! I didn't-" Amanda was cut off as he swung a metal pipe at her head. She ducked and he hit the wall.

"Wait! Stop!" Amanda cried. The man kicked the back of her legs and she fell. The lead pipe came down on her stomach. She cried out in pain.

"Take that, Bitch!" Skip yelled at her. He brought the pipe down on her stomach again. Blood filled her mouth and she coughed onto the pavement. She heard the metal pipe clash down next to her. Skip grabbed her shoulders and pulled her to her feet. His fist flew at her face; his knuckles colliding with her cheekbone. She fell to the ground again. He kicked her side.

More blood filled her mouth and she coughed more. She reached her leg out and hit him. He tripped and hit his face against the brick wall. He landed on his knees, blood dripping from his face. Amanda struggled to get to her feet. Then Skip kicked her side again. She coughed up more blood. Skip picked up the pipe again and swung at her. She rolled out of the way. The pipe hit the ground next to her again. There was a small rusty knife laying on the ground behind the garbage can in front of her. She grabbed the knife and rolled onto her back. She stabbed Skip's ankle. He fell to the ground.

"Bitch!" He cried. She reached over and stabbed his stomach. Blood filled his mouth. He coughed onto the pavement too. She stabbed him again. He laid on the ground and looked at her sadly. Amanda cried as she watched the life slip out of his eyes.

She breathed heavily as she used the wall to support her as she stood. Her legs trembled beneath her and she coughed more blood to the blood stained cement.

She leaned against the wall. She slid to a sitting position. She felt faint and rested her head against the wall.