"I'm OK," I reply, "I tripped down the stairs and my wound reopened."

"Doc says you're gonna need help walking," Lily hugs me tighter, "but don't worry. I'll be here for you. When was the last time you ate?"

"I have no clue," I reply, "I was out for two days, then again for I assume a few hours, so, not for like three days."

"God dammit," Lily sighs, "OK, I'm just gonna order a pizza just so you can eat something. You like pepperoni?"

"Sure," I smile.

"Great," Lily lets go of me and dials a number into her phone and orders, "one large pepperoni pizza with extra cheese and pepperoni."

She listens to the person on the other end and asks, "what do you mean you can't deliver right now? We all know Purity strikes and disappears. He's not gonna strike again today, and my guess, anytime soon after all the blood he lost. Hell, I'm willing to bet the dude's dead."

The other person speaks to which Lily replies, "Purity doesn't strike without cause, and you don't seem like you have anything that would cause him to attack. Sir, please, I gotta get this pizza delivered. Someone close to me is sick and I need him to eat something and this is the fastest way to get food to him."

The other person speaks and Lily sighs, rolling her eyes, "if it's such a concern I'll tip you extra, OK? Just get down here."

The person on the other end clearly isn't cooperating as Lily again, more agitated, "look, Purity attacked a winery. You know what a winery is? They make wine. Purity hates booze, not pizza. Get the picture?"

With that Lily listens and replies with a smile, "thank you. Sorry for being rude. I'll make sure you get a good tip."

Lily hangs up and turns back to me. "OK," she explains, "we're the only ones here, so, be honest. Did you fall, or jump?"

"What?" I ask.

"I'm not stupid," Lily sighs, "did you fall down the stairs or did you throw yourself down them on purpose?"

"I fell," I reply, "I promise you I wasn't trying to get hurt. It just happened."

"And you're not hiding anything?" Lily asks, "like, I know have some issues but you're not doing anything... reckless are you?"

"Lie," Purity demands.

"Of course not," I reply, "I'd have to be crazy to go out like this."

"True," Lily replies, "but damn, that Purity dude came unhinged. Have you seen the video?"

"How'd you even know all that stuff about Purity?" I inquire, "while we're talking about him?"

"I'm getting closer to finding him," Lily smiles, "I already know who he targets and he seems to use a bike chain as his weapon, meaning a bike is probably his main mode of transport. In addition, he said he was attacking because he lost someone. I don't think this person is dead however, merely, as he says, impure. Whoever it was, they were very important to him. Family to him. However, this contradicts my theory about his family. Maybe by family, he doesn't mean blood ties? I'm not sure. That's where the trail goes cold."

"Well shit," Purity sighs, "she's onto us."

"I got this," I smile, "well Lily, maybe he's not what he seems? Maybe he gets along with his siblings and one of them died? Who knows?"

"That outta throw her off," Purity smiles, "nice work."

"It's worth looking into," Lily replies, "but it was clearly related to alcohol. Maybe he had sibling who died? Who knows?"

Sibling? Die?

"Richard?" Lily asks.

"Yeah?" I reply.

"Why are you crying?" Lily asks.

"I don't know," I shrug, wiping tears from my face, "probably my wound. Like, fuck. It burns."

"I take it I shouldn't suggest this," Lily replies, "but the doc has painkillers on him if you it."

"I'll stick to over the counter stuff," I reply, "I'll be fine."

"So," Lily sits on the end of the bed, "do you maybe wanna..."

"Hugs?" I smile.

"Yeah pretty much," Lily chuckles, "it just amazes me, how you can be so calm and sweet but also flip out. It's like there's two sides of you. Like, there's some sort of darker side fighting to get out or some messed up shit."

"And now's she's about to figure our I exist," Purity sighs, "can we just ditch this chick?"

"She makes me feel OK," I reply, "and I care about her. So, shut up. Same rules I set for Morgan apply to Lily. OK?"

"Fine," Purity sighs, "just lie again."

"Well we know I don't hear voices and I don't have some split personality," I reply, "so what do you think it is?"

"Maybe you're just repressing anger and it explodes out," Lily shurgs, "but as soon as you can walk, I want you to talk to Bertha. OK?"

I nod in response. "So," I ask, "hug time?"

Lily gets into the bed with me and holds me tight, the warmth of her body filling me with the pleasant feeling I still don't fully understand.

"Hug time," she replies, leaning into me, leaning on my shoulder. Thus isn't great for my wound, but it doesn't feel like it's gonna reopen, and I would rather feel a bit worse and see Lily happy so why complain. I wrap my arms around her and we simply lay there. Peacefull, blissful, until there's a knock on the door.

"Pizza's here," I hear William's voice.

"On it," Lily replies getting up.

Lily exits the room. I see William turn to her and explain, "I'm gonna check on him real quick."

"OK," Lily replies, "go ahead."

Lily leaves and William enters. "I almost forgot," William takes out my mask, "until you're actually healed, I'll be holding onto this and your bike chain."

"Dude I got shit to do," I reply, "I have to keep purifying. I have to get stronger. Purity needs to get more press."

"Bleach will handle that," William replies, "But if you go and die, you can't succeed in your quest, can you?"

"You're right," I sigh, "but Morgan..."

"Is fine," William replies, "you can settle things with her later. For now, eat, rest. OK? I need you alive. You're my one chance to-"

William catches himself and stops.

"To personal?" I ask.

"Some other time kid," William replies, "while I'm up here, you're in great pain, right? Want anything for that?"

"Hell no," I reply, "not that I don't trust a doctor but I just... hate drugs. You know? I know it's fine, and a medical situation but..."

"I understand," William replies, "and by the way, if Lily tries anything funny, tell her I told you not to."

"What do you mean?" I ask.

"Damn you are thick," William chuckles, "just like she said. Kind with a dark side. Just... don't do anything strenuous in that bed with her."

"Not sure what you mean," I reply, "but OK."

"Come on kid," William helps me up, "Let's get you some food."

William and I head downstairs. He smiles at me in a kind, slightly condescending way. Yet, it doesn't hurt. It's almost like he has wisdom in his age I don't and he knows it. I smile back, and something tells me the two of us are gonna get along just fine as I go to eat...