Amidst the tall buildings of New York City, Francis Tudor walked. The chief doctor at Elmhurst noticed that Francis is experiencing abdominal pains, and ordered him to go home. Francis said he ate something bad. Only thing Francis could think about was running home to his blood-sucking girlfriend. He never thought he’ll be able to lust for something as he lusts for her. And these pains he’s experiencing are a small price he’s willing to pay, just to keep her – a dream came through.
As he entered the apartment, he rushed to his room so quickly that he failed to notice that he’s not alone.
‘’Francis!’’, Obadiah yelled his name. Francis closed the doors, and entered the kitchen. Obadiah’s face spelled bad news. He had that drunken, wide-eyed intimidating look on his face; mechanic of auto-destruction. And although Francis kept convincing himself that he’s superior to Obadiah in every way possible, to the extent humans are superior to beasts, he trembled to the sound of his voice. But, Obadiah’s voice was calm.
‘’There’s something I have to tell you. About the fact that you’re talking to someone who’s not there, when you think I’m not listening. With some girl that’s drinking your blood. I was really confused at first, I thought that you’re just playin’, or that you’re schizophrenic, or somethin’. But, I got it this morning. I know what’s going on with you, and it’s going to sound pretty crazy, but I’m probably not wrong. You’re infected with liver fluke – the parasite; you’re a doctor, I don’t need to explain you what it is. You probably got it from them shellfish and shit you eat. Those things are on your liver, drinking your blood, and they are the reason why you’re seeing the girl. It’s a warning that your body is sending to you through your subconscious. An image of blood-sucking monster, just that you got that signal all wrong. Anyway, simple blood test will prove me right or wrong.’’
Francis’s reaction pended for a couple of seconds, what Obadiah said really confused him, and he didn’t know what to think of it. He concluded that it’s some really strange way that strange man Obadiah is using to mock him, surely, envious of Francis’s happiness. He decided that the best thing is to laugh it off. Such reaction just further irritated Obadiah.
‘’You think that’s funny?! There are worms fucking up your liver, man, they will eventually plug your bile duct, and give you infection, or even cancer, you can die, man! If you think I’m making this shit up, google it out and see for yourself! Jesus, how can someone who went through med school be so fuckin’ stupid?!’’
‘’You’re saying that just because you hate me! You hate me because I’m finally happy! And loved! And you’re not, and you despise everyone else who are!’’
Obadiah grinded his teeth in disbelief of direction Francis just steered the argument in.
‘’SHE does not exist! Anywhere else but in your head! She is a fuckin’ flatworm incapable of love, or caring, or anything! The hand you jerk off with has more love for you than HER!’’
He pointed his finger towards the doors of Francis’s bedroom.
‘’There’s no one inside.’’ He wanted to open the doors, but Francis got in front of him and pushed him off. He has to protect her from him. If Obadiah let’s the sun in, it will kill her.
‘’Who’s face did you put on her?! Alexandra’s?! Kristen Stewart’s?!’’
He tried to push him off again, and they ended wrestling on the floor for the upper position. Francis managed to get his arms around Obadiah’s neck, but that didn’t stop Obadiah from hitting the doors with his legs until they opened. Some light entered the dark room. Francis tightened his grip, trying to make Obadiah’s neck snap, but, being weakened by the illness he allowed Obadiah to slip out, and once freed, Obadiah stung him in the face with his fist twice.
Francis stayed on the floor. Obadiah went into the room, and opened the curtains wide, filling the room with light. No one was there. Suddenly, before he managed to turn around, something hit him strong in the back of his head, and all the colors flashed before his eyes. He fell to the floor. The sight of Francis with the clothing iron in his hand appeared above him. He brutally hit Obadiah on the head with it and Obadiah’s whole body convulsed, he started blinking in a really strange way and then he wasn’t moving anymore. A puddle of blood started appearing around his head.
Murderer kneeled over his victim’s dead body. He was catching air. Stomach pained him greatly and his vision was blurred, but once it focused, he saw an orange haired girl kneeling next to him. He did it for her – his parasite.
She shone so real in the orange light, which didn’t seem to bother her at all, with such beauty that only fantasy could create, and for a moment Francis doubted her existence. He felt remorse for what he did, but she comforted him. They rolled Obadiah’s body in curtains and sheets, used the laundry cart to get him to Francis’s car, and dumped him in the first dumpster they came across.
They vowed eternal love for each other, naked and unconditional, wedded in Obadiah’s blood they dipped their fingers in. But, they didn’t even manage to get back to the apartment. Everything went blur and then disappeared, and the next time Francis opened his eyes he was in the hospital bed. Tinia was next to him, whispering soft words, and as his vision was failing, her eyes and hair changed their color, and indeed in that moment, she reminded of Alexandra.
During the day, Francis died of inflammation of his internal organs, caused by the infestation of flatworm parasites in his bile duct. It was too late for specialists to help him.
Later, a man with his head all covered in dried blood entered the same hospital. He was found in the dumpster by some homeless people. After waking up, Obadiah just walked to the nearest hospital. Concussion caused by blunt trauma, said the doctor.
While he was waiting for the police to come and question him, Obadiah saw dead Francis’s body being transported through hallway. He immediately went on a crazy rant about vampires being visions induced by the subconsciousness as a warning for liver fluke infestation. Doctor in charge was surprised that Obadiah guessed that the patient had parasitic flatworms inside of him, but refused to take Obadiah’s theories seriously. He went on the same rant when the police came, but their reaction wasn’t any better.
Nobody believed Obadiah. With a white bandage around his head he went back to the apartment. He stood on the doorstep of Francis’s bedroom, and stared at the bloodstain on the carpet. Tomorrow morning he’s going to pack his things and leave, he can’t stand to be in here anymore. He called his mom and dad and told them that they don’t call him on this phone number anymore; he will call them when he finds a new place for himself.
In the morning, he sat on the stairs in front of the building, with his bags around him, waiting for the cab. The whole morning he was thinking about all the ways he could make himself be heard, and share his revelation with the world. But, then he realized the weirdest thing. Maybe, just like Francis, that is what people want. Maybe, people wouldn’t mind keeping this parasite inside, if it would make their fantasies actualize. Francis was ready to kill for it. Maybe, if people knew the truth, they would be paying to get one inside. Maybe, they would become more popular than dildos. Maybe, it would become everyday thing, like coffee and cigarettes.
Maybe, Obadiah should keep his mouth shut.
There’s a poker game tonight he should focus his attention on. The cab is here.
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