Chapter 17: More Hospital Chatter

Kai had arrived back in town today. He had received an urgent letter from the Mayor and rushed right over. Mayor Thomas hadn't said what the problem was, only that they needed his help badly. There was an eerie feeling about the streets. All the usually happy townsfolk were locked inside there homes. It gave him the willies.

He walked up to the mayor's house and rapped on the door, "Anybody home? Kai here!"

Mayor Thomas opened the door a crack and immediately rushed Kai inside and began telling him about the bad news...

Jack entered into the hospital. It was time to go visit Carter. Scythe was in hand, but not to kill anyone this time. He was supposed to be the town guardian, so he had to keep his weapon at hand at all times. He walked around the large curtain separating the patients from the waiting room. He looked in at Mary, Cliff, and Carter. They were all unmoving. Mary was crying softly over Carter.

Jack leaned his scythe against the wall and pulled a chair up beside Mary. He placed a hand on her back, "You know, Carter wouldn't want you to cry over him."

Mary looked up in surprise at Jack and her heart skipped a beat. She hadn't noticed him come in, "I'm not crying over Carter. I know that would break his heart. I'm crying over... something someone else did."

Jack felt his heart warm up a little towards Mary, "What do you mean? Did somebody hurt you?" He was ready to take up his scythe again if need be.

Mary quickly stopped that road of thinking though, "No of course not. That's not what happened at all."

Jack noticed his hand was still on Mary's back and quickly pulled it away. Mary wished he hadn't. "Mary, tell me what happened."

"My mom, she punished me for staying here with Carter instead of doing my job at the library. I love books, but not as much as I love my friends. They mean everything to me. Even you Jack." She quickly looked away in embarrassment.

Jack blushed a bit too. He'd make Anna pay for hurting Mary. That's what he would do, "So you don't like your mom? You might not be so sad if the murderer got to your mom?"

Mary shrunk back from Jack. There was something very creepy in the way he just said that, "Never! I'd never want anything to happen to my mom! She gave birth to me. I was born from her body. I could never hate her."

Jack thought fast, "I didn't mean it like that. I wasn't accusing you of anything! It was just sort of a really bad joke. Guess it wasn't very funny. Sorry about that," Jack frowned. That didn't mean he still couldn't get Anna to behave more properly. Wouldn't be too difficult at all.

"A joke, that's all," Mary forced a laugh, "Funny one aren't you Jack?"

"Well I'm sorry Mary, but I really have to go. You know, patrolling the city and all that as the new police officer of Mineral Town." He got up and took hold of his scythe from where it rested.

Mary leapt up, "Wait Jack!" She wrapped her arms around him, "Bye, and good luck." She kissed him quickly on the cheek and sat back down in her chair ashamed of herself.

Jack was blushing too, "Uh, I have to go. Bye!" Jack marched away cheerfully. Time to get to work. Mary would be happy tomorrow!