Chapter 3
A tall brown skinned man checked in at the front desk of the Detroit Hospital. He had a bouquet of flowers in his hand.
"Can I help you?"
"I came to visit Kara Bradley."
"Are you her husband or are you her brother?"
"I'm a friend."
The nurse pointed to the hall on her left.
"Right this way. She's in room 212."
The man walked in that direction.
Eventually he reached her room. A woman with short blonde hair and blue eyes laid on the bed in a white hospital gown.
"Hey!" he called out to her.
"Who're you again?"
"I guess that concussion really did a number of your memories huh?"
"The doctor is unsure whether or not they'll return at all."
She smiled.
"Guess that just means I have to make new ones. You can start by telling me your name."
The man sighed.
"I'm Luther. We used to be...no we're still good friends."
He smiled.
"One of my sister's kids might have accidentally thrown a ball at the back of your head. I hope you can find it in you to forgive them."
"You live with your sister?"
"Nah, I just visit her every now and then. You usually come over to babysit the kids when she has work."
"Oh."
"I brought you some flowers."
He handed her the bouquet of flowers.
"Thanks."
"They said they should be able to release me by this afternoon. I think they're trying to get ahold of my parents."
Luther frowned.
Just then the nurse came in.
"Ms Bradley, I'm afraid we can't get ahold of any of your family. All of them are marked as deceased."
"What? But-"
"You did have an emergency contact written in our records to get ahold of Luther Sutherson should anything happen."
Luther's eyebrows rose.
Kara had listed him in her emergency contacts? Why?
"I can call him if you like."
"I'm already here."
"And you are?"
"Luther Sutherson. I'm her friend."
"Oh I see. We'll need to inform you about all the details on her condition before you sign her release forms."
Luther listened intently as the doctor explained she would need someone to check on her frequently to make sure there was no lasting damage from her concussion.
After signing her release the two headed out.
"What a relief. I wouldn't have lasted for another second," Kara said.
"Really? I guess I should have came sooner."
He chuckled.
As they walked, Luther glanced around.
'I wonder if Kara's hungry. She's been in the hospital for a while. If I were her I'd hate eating hospital food everyday.'
Still there was a lot of food joints, Luther was unsure where he had wanted to eat.
Suddenly a loud scream cut through his thoughts. He turned to see Kara had stood completely still.
"Kara, what's wrong?"
A girl with long brown hair was running towards them with wet eyes. She was accompanied by a middle aged man.
"What-"
"Take the girl."
"Huh?"
"Take the girl with you."
"Why?"
"Just take her and hide her."
Suddenly a couple of people in black suits with blue arm bands ran towards them all wearing black helmets that concealed their faces. Kara pulled the girl in back of her.
"Luther," Kara whispered. "Help me hide her."
Luther looked down. He could barely see the girl hiding between them. Luther huddled closer to Kara placing his left arm behind her.
Suddenly the middle aged man in front of them keeled forward. What looked like a tranquilizer dart poked from his back only there were wires from where it was attached to their guns.
"Excuse me," one of the guards addressed Kara.
"Yes, what is it?"
The guard removed his helmet revealing a face that she had only seen on her tablet. It was one of the new RK-800 models known for doing jobs like being bodyguards, soldiers, SWAT squads, FBI agents, any word that had it's grounding in the justice system.
"Did you folks happen to see a little girl run past here?"
"No, why? Is she in trouble or something?" Kara asked, feeling the girl standing behind her clinch her hand.
"She's not in trouble. We were hoping to watch her while we question her guardian. We believe there might be a kidnapping at work here and that the girl was kidnapped from her family by this android."
The girl's hands quivered against her own. It made her feel uneasy.
"Well I haven't seen her but good luck with your search."
With that the guards picked up the man and carried him away. Only when they were gone did both turn towards the girl.
"What was that all about?" Luther asked.
"They're lying. My father didn't kidnap me. He was helping me escape. Those men killed my mother."
After the tense events that preceded them, Luther and Kara took the little girl over to a nearby food establishment.
Luther had finally decided on taking the two to the diner nearby.
He addressed the girl sitting across from him leaning against Kara.
"What do you mean those men killed your mother?" Luther asked, looking visibly disturbed.
The girl shivered.
"It's alright you don't have to talk about it if it makes you uncomfortable," Kara said.
"So what're we going to do now? We can't very well take her with us. We'd be accessories to kidnapping."
"We already were, the moment I decided to take her with us."
"Kara, I have family. I can't afford to spend my time in jail."
"Luther, she's scared. She doesn't want to go with them. I'm not going to force her to do something she don't want to do."
Luther sighed.
She turned to address the girl staring down at her with soft eyes.
"What's your name?"
"It's Alice," she said softly.
"Alice, huh?" Luther asked. "Like in Alice in Wonderland?"
"Yeah, I love that story."
"What are we going to do about her? She can't stay with my sister."
"I was thinking she could stay at my house. I have a couple of spare bedrooms."
"The doctor says that I'll need to check up on you everyday to see if there are lasting effects from the concussion."
"I don't see the problem unless it's a matter of gas."
"My recent funds haven't been the greatest."
"You still work for the Detroit Police Department right?"
"I sent in my resignation months ago," Luther said. "The atmosphere made me uneasy so I got a new job. I get less pay but at least it's work."
"Oh?"
"I work in construction work now."
"I see."
"Still the money hasn't been the best. It'd just be easier if I stayed with you for the time being."
"Are you sure that won't be a problem for you?"
"It shouldn't be."
"Alright, if you think that'd be easier for you."
After the three finished eating, they waited at the bus stop. Once they got on the bus, they were dropped off on the street where Kara's home was. From there it was only a little walk away.
Kara placed her hand on the panel near her door opening the front door of her house.
The two others followed her inside.
Luther looked around. Not much had changed since he had last visited her place. The walls were still that warm yellow color he had come to associate with Kara. She still had that afghan quilt his mother had given her for her birthday. It was spread nicely on her couch.
A walnut coated table stood inbetween the couch and the warm fireplace. A television remote set on top. The TV was pinned on the top of the fireplace.
He turned towards Kara who suddenly was clutching her head.
"Kara, what's wrong?"
"My head hurts a little bit. I'm a bit dizzy."
She slowly walked to the other side of her couch and sat down.
"I can fix dinner if you like.
"It's already that time?" Kara asked peeking at the clock above the fireplace.
It was 4:30. In thirty minutes, it'd be dinner time.
She grumbled.
"Just take it easy and leave everything to me. What do you want for dinner, Kara? Should I fix my mother's special jambalaya?"
"Not tonight. I'm not in the mood for death defying spicy food."
She turned to Alice.
"Alice, what do you want to eat?"
"Um, I don't need to eat."
"You want to grow big and strong don't you?"
"That's not it. I'm just not hungry."
"Well then what do you think I should eat then?"
Alice looked to the side.
"What about spaghetti and meatballs? My mother used to make them before she...she..."
"Alright. Did you hear that Luther?"
"Yeah, yeah," he said dismissively.
"Do I have any spare rooms?"
"Well you have two guest rooms alongside your bedroom. You should be able to tell your room from the others because they're the only ones unfurnished."
"Want to pick out your room while we're waiting?"
Alice's eyes lit up.
"Sure."
"Kara!"
"Yes, Luther."
"Come here for a minute."
"Alice, wait there."
Kara walked towards him.
"What is it?"
"If I remember right I think you told me my niece left some of her art supplies in the dresser in the bedroom next to your room. "
Kara smiled.
"I'll keep that in mind."
She walked back to Alice and led her to a hall with three rooms.
"The room furthest down the hall is my room. There's the room across from me or the one directly next to mine."
"Can I have the room next to yours?" Alice asked.
"Certainly."
Kara lead her to her room.
It was empty and desolate save for the dresser and the bed wrapped in clean white linen sheets.
A couple of cabinets were under the bed that she perused. Inside was several white blankets folded very neatly.
"Looks like I even got some spare blankets if you wish to borrow some."
"I think I'll be fine."
Kara opened one of the dresser drawers pulling out sheets of white paper and a box of crayons.
"I got some crayons and paper here if you want to color while you're waiting."
She set it down on the floor.
Alice smiled brightly looking up at her.
"Alright."
Kara headed back into the living room to sit on the couch. She removed the remote from the table and switched on the television.
"So how's Alice?" Luther asked.
"She's alright."
It appeared that she had left the channel on the news.
The news anchor was talking about President Warren having a meeting with NATO discussing about conflicts over the territories of the northern hemisphere fighting over the right to the thirium mines that were over there.
Luther turned and smiled at Kara.
"It's funny. You'd always talk about how you wanted a child of your own. Guess your wish came true huh?"
"Is that why I babysit kids?"
"Well you always were a natural. My sister asked you to take care of her daughters while we were in college. You needed the extra money to pay for tuition so you agreed."
"What'd I major in?"
"You took a course to receive training to be a handyman. I believe you told me it would give you something better to do than lounge around the house. You never seen the logic in getting a degree in something you'd never use."
"What about you?" Kara asked.
"I got a major in Law and a minor in Home Economics."
"So you know your way around the house then?"
Luther smiled.
"I guess you could say that though I wasn't expecting you to suggest spaghetti for dinner tonight of all things."
"Is that an unusual request?"
"No, usually I'm cooking some kind of pasta at your place but you always like it when I make pizza. You told me it was your favorite food."
"Well I could see why. You could put all kinds of different topping on it."
"Like pineapples."
Kara frowned.
"Pineapples have no business being on a pizza."
Luther chuckled.
"Neither do anchovies but you don't see me judging you. I think the spaghetti is about done. You should call Alice in here so we can eat."
Kara leaves to fetch Alice. She returned minutes later with Alice in tow.
"So what do you like on your pizza?" he asked Alice. "Are you a pineapple or are you an anchovies girl?"
"Pineapple."
"See even Alice agrees that pineapple goes on pizza."
Kara rolled her eyes.
"Alice, are you sure you don't want any spaghetti?" she asked.
Alice shook her head.
"I'm fine, Kara."
Kara and Luther settled down to eat in the living room just as more news came on.
"I see there talking about the tensions between us and Russia. The whole conflict is just stupid. We already have more than our fair share of thirium reserves. I think it's just another excuse for our president to start another war."
"War?"
"Yeah, I've heard President Warren has huge ties with Cyberlife Corporation. There is this theory that the President uses the tax payers money to fund the equipment used to make android soldiers in case there's a war between us and Russia."
After both Kara and Luther chowed down on their food, the two headed to bed. Kara ushered Alice back to her room to tuck her in bed.
"I know you said you'd be fine without them but I heard it's going to be really cold tonight. It'd make me feel more at ease if you were covered up."
"Alright, Kara."
Kara spread the covers over Alice and kissed her forehead.
"Goodnight, Alice," she said softly before heading out.
"Goodnight," Alice said in return.
After shutting the door behind her, she headed to her room noticing Luther standing by the door on the other side of the hall.
"Do you need something?" Kara asked.
"Goodnight, Kara," he said before going to his room.
Kara opened the door to her bedroom closing it behind her. She changed into some pajamas she found in her dresser before removing the covers and slinking into her bed.
"Goodnight Luther," she murmured under her breath.