September 5th
Alejandra Jonas let Clara's fingers slip through her own, setting them gently back down on the bed. Clara was sleeping peacefully. She needed time to rest. AJ already had some time to herself over the past several days. Most of it she had spent in the hospital. Doctor Reséndiz was the cheapest there was, and they already had somewhat of a discount due to their business relationship. Even still, the 5000 dollar health free was enough to drive the two sisters into the ground. Doc was not a man to be trifled with, he always got paid. Both of them knew that. Everyone knew that. Doc was a very respected man.
Alejandra decided to make use of the time she had so she could present Clara with a plan. She produced an investment she had made a long time ago, a simple smart phone. There was a world of possibilites from this little thing. Buying it was wiser than stealing it. But internet and phone plans were out of the question, however, so AJ had to make that happen with her alternative techniques. Fortunately, it wasn't that hard. The Doc had wifi set up, so AJ assumed he wouldn't mind if she used it aswell. He'd never find out she had used it regardless, so it didn't matter.
She had put together a picture of what had happened over the course of the days following the attack. That's what is was, a gas attack. Thousands had been affected around the area of Empire State University. Social media was practically on fire. Nobody knew who did it. Doc either had decent bedside manners or wasn't fully aware of the symptoms. Pictures of symptoms had already been circulated in some of AJ's groups. Vommiting blood, flue-like symptoms, weird veiny black shit. It was horrible. It had a high, high fatality rate. Most people were still experiencing those symptoms. AJ's eyes once again scanned over Clara's face. She looked totally fine. A little pale, a little sleepless, but other than that she looked healthy. Clara must be one of the lucky ones. Despite the enormity of bad luck required for Clara to be near the site of the attack at all, AJ knew when to count her blessings. It was reasonable to assume that Clara was one of if not the only person in Doc's hospital who had been afflicted with whatever this disease was. Anyone at a University would almost certainly have access to a legal hospital. Plus, only someone like Clara would be skilled enough to navigate safely home without being caught and questioned by the police.
AJ had no idea how they were going to get that money. They lived out of a tent. The only real piece of tech she had was this smartphone. AJ had been working on some things, but without a real workstation her progress was basically zero. Still, she had recently completed a credit card scanner. Place that next to a credit card and it swipes the information, which they can then sell on the black market. Maybe even hacked directly. Riskier, but certainly less risky than letting Doc take Clara's kidney. But it wasn't enough. Her mind and heart was racing. The only sounds in the room were the buzzing electric lights, Clara's rhythmic breathing, and Alejandra's thunderous heartbeat. They had to play things riskier from here on out. But Clara was going to do something stupid. Some do or die stunt to get 20k all at once. AJ didn't want to see Clara get put in jail, or worse. After that it was all over. She'd never see Clara again, and she'd have to go back too...the thought was too much to bear. She had to focus on getting out of this, not the consequences of failure. That's something Clara had taught her.
Ironically, in order to make money, AJ was beginning to think they had to take out a loan. They had nothing right now, they needed capital to make some moves. Clara had quick hands and a quick wit, and AJ could do some tricks with her phone, but one has to spend money to make money. With, say, 5000 dollars at their disposal, they could buy favors. Buy tech, a temporary storehouse, grease some wheels. Clara would know what to do. After that, they could join a crew. Do a big job. They could pull it off. If everything worked out, they would come out of this better than when they entered it. Adversity is the crucible to success. Who would loan them five thousand bucks? Clara must know a few loan sharks. If not, they could find one. 5000 dollars isn't that much, they would just have to convince the shark that they could pay up. Big risks, big rewards. They could do it.
Clara stirred. AJ had been frantically tapping on her phone, but she turned it off and slid it into her back pocket. The woman on the bed's eyes fluttered open. For her, everything was in razor sharp focus. Must be high or somethin, she thought. Putting the heel of her hand on her forehead, Clara groaned.
"Jesus, I have a headache. Did I really pass out again?" AJ nodded. "Yeah. How're you feeling?" She asked, leaning forward.
"I feel fuckin' great. Never better. Like I could dance on the ceilin'." She lied. Her head was killing her, and she was starving. But at least she felt lucid. Like she wasn't going to pass out again.
"Clara, I'm being serious." AJ said earnestly. "You got gassed. We're low on money, and we need to get more. I'm not sure how. My plan is we're going to take out a loan, that way we can earn some extra capital and use it on making more money to pay off our debt. And you need to start taking your health more seriously. You got hit on the head, you could have got brain damage or worse. So what am I supposed to-
"Hey. AJ." Clara cut her sister off and looked her in the eyes with a serious conviction the younger girl hadn't seen before.
"I'm alright. It's going to be alright." AJ flung herself over Clara and began to sob. "Oh, God, Clara. I thought I'd lost you." She said, burying her face into Clara's shoulder. Clara smiled sadly, staring up at the ceiling, wrapping her arm around AJ's body.
"Not gettin' ridda me that easy." Her heart hurt. It pained her to see AJ so worried. Clara was supposed to be someone AJ could look up too. She would just have to do better. Going forward, Clara would make sure nothing like this would ever happen again.
"Doc'll get his money. You an' me are gonna make it, okay?" AJ withdrew herself from Clara nodded, wiping her face and plopping back into her seat, clearly exhausted.
"You look like shit, AJ." Clara observed.
"Says the zombie." AJ retorted, sniffing. Her black lipstick had faded, and the mascara had started to run down her face. Her black hair was all messed up, but Clara imagined hers wasn't much better. AJ was probably exhausted. When was the last time she had slept or eaten?
"What time is it, anyway?" Clara asked, glancing around the room for a clock.
"4:21 in the afternoon." AJ rattled off automatically without looking at her phone.
"Fuck. How about you an' I go home." "Clara," AJ chastised. "You're still sick. You have a concussion."
"I just gotta bit of a headache. I'm fine, really." Clara said pushing herself into a sitting position. Fine was one word for it. The headache was strange, and her whole body felt tingly. Strangely enough, she felt oddly refreshed. Once again Clara assumed it was just the drugs wearing off.
"Clara-"
"I'm hungry, I'm thirsty, you're tired and who knows what else. We're going back to the tent, okay? We'll buy somethin' to eat along the way." She said, standing to her feet and turning her back to AJ. AJ quickly averted her eyes.
"Man, they really got my ass hangin' out." Clara stated simply, turning over her shoulder.
Aj had raised her cargo coat to cover her entire face, curling into a ball on the hair. Clara clicked her tongue against her teeth.
"Well, whatever. Where my clothes?" She glanced around the room. AJ, mortified, pointed over to the corner. Alejandra had left at some point and brought in less blood-covered clothes. Sitting on the chair were fresh underwear, sneakers, jeans, an orange t-shirt and yellow baggie hoodie.
"Ain't gotta act like that, AJ." Clara reprimanded, quickly undressing and putting her new clothes on. She laughed from underneath her hoodie as she slid it over herself. Pulling the hoodie down over her hips she raised her eyebrows at AJ.
"You can look now, Christ. What are you, 12?" "Have you no shame, woman?" AJ peeked out from underneath her dark green coat, relieved.
"Shame is for pussies. Come on, we're checkin' out early." Clara announced, exiting casually into the hallway. Man, she really did feel great. The black market hospital is a repurposed and refurbished motel. From the outside it looks like any other abandoned motel deep in the city. Grease the right wheels and nobody comes to check. Doc runs a tight ship, and probably makes a lot of money. He earns it though. Earns it fair and square. Doc was standing at the desk and looked surprise to see Clara striding down the hallway.
"Cabello, get back in your room. You can't leave so early." He began approaching.
"I'm fine! See?" She responded, gesturing proudly at herself.
"Clara-" He began, putting a hand on her shoulder as she walked past. Instinctively, Clara wrapped her fingers around his wrist and pushed his arm away. It was shockingly easy, no contest at all. Infact, the Doctor winced from the pain and looked surprised down at Clara.
"Hey, sorry," Clara nonchalantly apologized, wiping the small act of violence off on her hoodie.
"But, look, how am I gonna pay my bills from in there? I feel like a million bucks, and soon you're gonna feel like 20 grand, 'cause that's what you're gettin'. Now relax. Thanks for fixin' me up, I'll be back in here with the money you need in no time. Sim?" The man narrowed his eyes, retracting his wrist into his pocket. "Very well, chica. I just can't get payments from a dead woman."
"Don't worry, I gotchu. I got it under control. Whatever you did worked big time, so I'm gonna go out there and earn some cash. See you later, Doc." With a confused AJ trailing behind, Clara practically skipped out of the side entrance of the repurposed motel. The headache was strange. Headache might be the wrong word for it. It was almost like she was
too clearheaded. Like her brain was going to become light and fly away.
"Hey, Clara, wait up!" AJ shouted, stumbling out of the motel. Clara was already far ahead. As AJ rapidly approached, breathing heavily, Clara put her hands on her hips.
"I'm thinkin' we grab some pizza. How's that sound?" "We don't have any cash. How are we gonna afford it?" AJ asked, composing herself.
"You got my wallet, right? Prolly shoulda asked for it earlier." "Uh, yeah. It's right here." AJ reached into one of the inner pockets of her muted green cargo oat and fetched the wallet from within, handing it to Clara.
"Thanks. Look, see, I got 20 bucks right here. That's enough." "Clara, that's almost all of the money we-"
"What did I just say, AJ?" "Huh?"
"What did I just say?" Clara repeated. Her tone was friendly enough.
"I don't-"
"I said everything is going to be alright. We're gonna get some fucking pizza. It's gonna be fucking delicious. Okay? How's that sound? 'Cause it sounds fuckin' great to me. Now quit your bitchin' and come on." Grinning, she turned began walking down the street.
AJ shook her head but followed behind. Alejandra never knew how the thief could act like this, even in the worst times. Some things never change. When they first met, Clara's devil-may-care attitude is what drew AJ to her. But recently AJ wondered if it was just a facade, something to keep AJ's spirts up. Hard to say. Especially now, Clara looked like she was compensating extra hard for all the shit they just went through. At the same time, they had always overcome any obstacle. So many it didn't matter if it was fake confidence or not. Maybe she should just buy into it and eat some god damn pizza. To be honest, pizza did sound pretty good. On cue her stomach rumbled. AJ picked up the pace and the pair vanished around the corner.
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