Picfest Vol 2

Picfest – Volume II

Chapter Four

A Turn for the Worst

Syrena felt much more relaxed after her encounter with Sid. Alex offered another dance, but she felt she should sit this one out and kissed him on the cheek in thanks before goingto find Michelle. Colin and Michelle were sitting out the dance at the bar, each with a pint before them, talking softly as Colin rolled another cigarette.Syrena tapped Michelle on the shoulder. "Hey, 'chelle." They turned and chatted for amoment, reminiscing about the dancing until Syrena changed the subject. "You missed allthe excitement before. Hando and Sid were raising some hell, and they're locked in the back room." Michelle looked surprised but then thought about the two of them together and nodded sagely. "Sid's module is out, and Hando's tied up pretty good, but they're soquiet back there. Wanna come with me to check on them?"Michelle nodded, "Yeah, let's go, Sy."They turned and made their way through the crowd to the door of the back room, andSyrena opened it carefully. The sight before them struck to their hearts: Sid lay on thefloor with a hole in the back of his head where the module had been, nanogoo

surrounding him in a surreal halo; Hando lay prone near Sid with his face pressed into theconcrete and the flesh around his bonds torn and bloody. The back of his jacket wassaturated and a small pool of blood had formed on the floor."Shit, 'chelle, we've got to get him out of those! Shit! Where's the key?" Syrena turned tothe door and yelled over the sound of the band. "John!"John glanced up from behind the bar and noticed Syrena waving him down. He crossedthe room quickly and entered the back hallway. "What's up?"Michelle's voice came out of the back room.... "Sy, hurry!!!" John stepped forward insurprise and glanced into the backroom, immediately noticing the blood on the floor."Holy shit...""His pulse is very weak John... He's lost quite a bit of blood!" Michelle looked with a panicked look."Let's get him untied and off this cold floor." John pulled out the key and undid thechains. Carefully, he lifted Hando over his shoulder and carried him down the hall andinto a tiny room. Michelle and Syrena followed, pulling back the covers on the small cotthat lay in the corner."I'll go grab some water..." Michelle scurried out the door.

"And clean bandages!!!" Syrena yelled after her. Together her and John peeled off Hando's white suspenders and T-shirt, both red with blood . Syrena grimaced as she sawthe blood had soaked down to his white jeans as well. "Oh God, John... please let him bealright!!""He's going to be fine... just fine..." John spoke calmly as he removed the blood soaked jeans and tossed them into the corner with the other clothes. Hando groaned softly, hiseyes fluttering open and he gazed hazily around him."What am I doing here..." He sighed, his voice echoing the pain he obviously felt."Just relax, Hando. Everything'll be okay," John said, turning to grab a couple blanketsfrom a stack in the corner and spread them over Hando's thin form. Syrena sat on theedge of the cot carefully and took Hando's left hand gently in hers, shuddering at how icycold his skin was to touch. Blood smudged her fingers and caused her to wince. Helooked up at her with confusion in his eyes, the look of systemic shock, and she smileddown at him and gently smoothed his brow."You'll be fine, Hando. Just hang in there," her voice was laden with concern. He closedhis eyes and let out a deep sigh. She watched him carefully, waiting for his chest to risewith his next breath, and squeezed his hand when the breath didn't come quickly enough.His eyelids flickered, and his chest rose haltingly. "John," she whispered urgently. "He'slooking really bad. What can I do?"