❦Rose x James❦

James was sitting in the hospital's waiting room and around him a dozen of people were there too. Some were reading the magazines the hospital had on the table. All offering something to citizens: from the last beauty products to keep your skin clean to the perfect cake recipe for you on your birthday.

He paid attention to the woman in front of him. Her perfect red nails stood out of her dark grey dress and black shoes. Probably was older than her face said. Over 60, maybe, but she had no wrinkles so it was impossible to say. When you don't laugh, you don't have marks and she was one of those cases. Smooth skin not thanks to a surgery but to a life without happiness. The woman didn't looking at him, her eyes were focused on the article she was reading.

The familiar face of his brother made James stand up and walk to Jared's office. Looking at them it was hard to say they were brothers even if both had blue eyes. Jared had dark hair and he was ginger. Jared was also shorter than him. James knew Jared was smarter and hid his potential from his colleagues. Jared didn't tell him that, James knew it. Some things weren't safe to say out loud and as long as it wasn't something illegal that could put his life at risk for James it was okay.

Same as the rest of the hospital, Jared's office had white walls decorated with some plants. Above the bookshelf were his diplomas and some photos with important people.

"This girl," James said after Jared asked him "she's one of them. You know, the special ones. She doesn't take the killer."

"Don't call it like that."

"Everyone calls it like that!"

"Not here," Jared replied and James rolled his eyes. "So, she doesn't take Ademaresin."

"No."

"Only you can find one of the 0,75% of people that are among us. Is she the girl you met in the Paris Club?"

"You remember her."

Jared chuckled. "And unfortunately I also remember your tongue in her esophagus. How is possible that she lives now in your building?"

"Odd, right? It's just a coincidence, I guess."

"And what do you want me to do for you? Do you want my approval to fuck her? You're a bit late I think… you already did it."

"It's not that. I need to know what do you know about them. About people like her. Is it possible to lose the immunity?"

Jared frowned "Why are you asking that? Did she tell you something?"

"No. I'm just asking."

"Well, that's confidential and it's not your business. If this girl wants can come and talk with any of our very qualified doctors. How are your migraines? Headaches are pretty common, don't worry," Jared said writing something on one of his prescription pads and giving it to his brothers. "You will survive, Mr. Thorne. Take one of this every twelve hours, starting at eight."

This time the one who frowned was James, until he read the paper.

Can't talk. Wait me at Nightshade.

"This is not why I am here. I must find a new doctor," James said, putting it in his pocket.

"Maybe you should, Mr. Thorne. Remember your prescription. Starting at eight, don't forget."

James left his brother's office without looking back. He teared the paper in several pieces and threw them in three different bins he found in the streets.

Nightshade was a place right in the limit of the city and the underworld. It wasn't a place a doctor like Jared could go but it was a good place to talk. No one there made questions and no one was interested in the others business. Legally was part of the city but most of the costumers there probably weren't anymore. But where else were you going to find a drug dealer or a hired killer if it wasn't at Nightshade? Or a hot prostitute? Or and enemy turned into an ally? The good pizza, however, was the pretext all used when someone claimed they saw them there. The implicit motto, however, said that Nightshade didn't discriminate between saints and sinners.

When finished to work Jared went to his flat, but left the building again to go there not longer after. Walking was the only option to go there and he blessed the rain because the umbrella covered his face. The most of time he preferred places like the Paris Club, had to admit that Nightshade was the best place to talk. Sometimes, wasn't sure to make it in your own home.

Jared was still a baby when James was born, by that time their father was dead or so was what their mother said. Jared was Walsh because of him, but James was Thorne because there was no father around. They never cared. A very apathetic mother raised them or, in Jared's words, she was only there to change their diapers and make sure they didn't electrocute when were learning to walk. She jumped out of the window directly to the streets when they were 11 and 12, respectively and their uncle took them with him until both were legally adults but same as most kids, the brothers never experienced genuine love. Yet, the bond between them was unbreakable.

James was in waiting for him. The old pub smelled like tobacco and beer and also transpiration. The neon signs were illuminating the counter and the chairs near it, but most part of the pub was almost dark. Conveniently or not, the main lights in the ceiling, didn't work. A group of men were throwing darts in the back and two flirty girls were playing pool although it was clear they were there for another business. One of them winked at him but he shook his head before order one of the famous pizzas at the grumpy waitress that just came to his table.

Jared arrived thirty minutes late, soaking wet and sat on the chair in front of him without asking for permission. The pizza was already on the table and James had already eaten two slices and was enjoying the third one.

"I couldn't come in time, I'm sorry."

"It's fine. I didn't know you knew the existence of Nightshade."

"Nightshade is a church compared to other places you don't want to know about, James. I'm also sorry I didn't reply to you when you went to the hospital but I preferred to talk here. So, why are you worried about this girl? What's different?"

"Everything. I can see it, I can feel it. Something in her isn't the same as it is with the rest of the girls I knew before. Rose is unpredictable."

"Unpredictable?"

"I know what to expect when I meet a woman. One encounter, two maybe. Drugs, alcohol, sex at night and in the morning is over. It's like a job only that you have fun. I see the normality in girls eyes in the morning and I can see their souls being trapped again. Probably they see mine doing the same. But Rose… Rosie is, Jared… Rosie is different. Her eyes shine, she has that smile you can't ignore. I can't ignore it, at least and that's unpredictable because it never happened before. I never knew an immune. I don't know what to expect."

"Just ignore her. Close that door."

"I don't want to! For the first time the idea of not taking the Killer crossed my mind, but I'm scared to do it because I'm not stupid enough to don't know the consequences of it. I just want to know what do you know about them."

"James, you're playing a dangerous game," Jared said lowering his voice. "And this is nuts."

"I'm not playing any games. It's just sex and we have fun! It's not like we're doing something forbidden. Good company isn't illegal."

Jared wasn't sure. His brother never cared about those women who spent time with, and they didn't care about him. The same happened with himself and the men he decided to visit. Never until that moment he had to worry about James but he had to admit he was now.

"It's not as easy as people think it is, James. Even if they are truly immune, they are people not robots. They're not androids. Feelings are there in a way or the other. Some live all their lives like a truly miracle but I know that some of them aren't completely immune. I know that the ones in charge like to play with them. Is it reversible? Can we make you go back to the beginning? Who was the one who changed you? The weakest accept their destiny and become one of us, the rebels… you know what happened to them. Who is this girl, James? Why are you so interested in her?"

"Doesn't matter."

"It does matter to me! James, what are you doing?"

"I'm fucking a nice girl. She's fucking me. Just that."

Jared grabbed his brother's wrist. James could see the neon lights reflecting in his blue eyes. His face was serious "Tell me you're taking your pills."

"Every damn morning, Jared."

"Maybe you should take two. This girl, James… if you care about her then you should start thinking about her fate, too. She can be a threat for you, but also for herself."

"Maybe it was a mistake, maybe I shouldn't have tell you anything. I'm going to be fine, Rosie isn't a threat to my wellbeing. I'm not going to take two."

"No, it was good that you told me. Do what you think it's the best for you, but remember that sometimes a pill isn't enough."

"I'll remember that. I've to go, Jared. Thanks for coming."

"James, be careful ok?"

James put a bill in the tip jar before leaving Nightshade. The light rain at the beginning of the night was now a downpour and James used the store awnings as a way to try to stay dry but it was useless. He was soaking wet but there was some peace in that weather. He kept walking and eventually left behind the small and old stores and started to see the newest and modern ones. It was awesome how the landscape changed. The lights of skyscrapers were closer now. No one around him seemed to know that there was a forbidden place beyond the main avenues, hidden in some dirty corner under some trees. Beyond the luxurious flats and vehicles. Probably they heard of Nightshade but they thought it was a myth. Like the outlaws. Like the immunes. In his 33 years he had only met one… and she was putting his world upside down. There was so many things he didn't dare to say to Jared.

Jared, you know what? She makes my heart race like crazy.

It was a scary thought and it was even scarier to say it out loud.

The rain calmed when he was arriving at his own flat. James used his hand to dry his face so the scanner could recognise him easily. For a moment he thought about stopping at Rose's door and spend the night there with her but for his own sake he decided to ignore his wishes.

He took off his wet clothes and went to the shower before going to bed. His pillow still had her perfume, the same she was using the previous night. The memory of her body on his made him smile briefly. He didn't remember when he fall asleep but did it quietly.

There was an unread message in his device when he woke up the next morning. It was from Jared and only had a word:

"Two."

In the bathroom, James grabbed the blister pack and stared at it.

Two.