006

— the movie star and the red rose —

THE LIGHT GLOWED GOLD, LIGHTING THE INSIDE OF THE MANSION LIKE A SCENE FROM AN OLD MONEY MOVIE. Cliff and Larry brought the food out, filling the table with all types of meals and sides. Rachel had taken her place at the table, but Hazel stopped to look at a movie poster, Gar running upstairs for a moment. He walked up the winding stairs to the top floor.

Gar paused by the door and knocked softly. "Rita?" Gar called softly, the echo of the old TV the only sound coming from inside the room. "Rita? I don't know if you're feeling well enough to come down and join us for dinner, but, um, we have some guests." Gar paused for a moment. "Her name's Hazel. I'd really love for you to meet her."

Gar stopped again, waiting for Rita to answer but when there was none, he quickly called out, "If you think you can leave your room today. If not, it's totally okay. I- We'll bring up dinner later."

Gar picked up the tray covered in dirty plates, bowls and cups and carried it downstairs. He slid it onto the kitchen counter before bringing out the last of the drinks. He set the bottles down before sitting next to Hazel who was looking at all the food in wonder. "Larry's cooking is the best," Gar assured.

"I don't doubt it," Hazel laughed. "I used to help my mom cook, but she works late, and I had music, so we'd normally end up eating two-minute noodles."

"Well, I promise it's better than noodles," Larry spoke up, leaning between Rachel and Hazel to set a tray down. He pulled the lid up revealing another mound of breakfast food, the centrepiece of onion rings shaped like a man.

"It looks like the marshmallow man from Ghostbusters," Hazel joked.

"You see my vision," Larry laughed. He set the covers down at the end of the table before sitting next to Cliff. "All right then."

"Let's eat!" Gar smiled.

Hazel moved to stand but Larry quickly stopped her. "Sit down. If you want something Gar can get it," Larry ordered, staring at Gar.

Hazel nodded and settled in her seat again. "Can I have a lobster and salad please?" Hazel asked, looking up at Gar. He nodded quickly and reached for the platters, sliding them closer to Hazel.

"For God's sake, Cliff, stop staring at the poor girl," Larry ordered as Cliff stared down at Rachel.

Cliff sighed and tapped his plate with his fingers. "So, are the waffles crispy on the outside and gooey a little bit on the inside with just the right amount of butter?" Cliff asked in a soft voice.

Rachel cut into the waffle and took a bite. "They're perfect," Rachel confirmed while nodding.

"Yeah," Cliff hummed. "What about the lobster?"

Hazel finished off her bite, nodding to herself. "It's not soggy, and it's perfectly boiled and surprisingly, doesn't taste like fish," Hazel relayed. "And the garlic butter is amazing."

Cliff hummed, and he could smile, his bronze cheeks would break. "Try the chicken," Cliff insisted. Rachel grabbed the plate of fried chicken, putting it between her and Hazel. Hazel took a wing and Rachel took a leg, biting into it at the same time. Cliff stammered, looking between the two. "What's that taste like?"

"Crunchy and moist," Rachel nodded with a mouthful.

"Larry, did you put paprika on this?" Hazel questioned and Larry looked around nervously.

"Yes..."

"You are amazing," Hazel said with a smile, grabbing a second piece.

Larry and Gar laughed, and Cliff groaned, leaning back slightly. "Oh, God! I used to love fried chicken," Cliff spoke. "I loved to eat, swim, love to dance. I used to love dancing."

"Why can't you dance?" Rachel questioned, tilting her head.

"Oh, forget it. You're young. Nobody's dancing with this," Cliff mumbled and hit his fist against his head, making a clanging sound.

"I would," Rachel said nodding, setting her food down. Rachel started to hum as she swung around, dancing like a robot.

Larry laughed and Hazel couldn't help but chuckle, as did Gar. Cliff straightened and nodded. "She can stay."

Suddenly the doors were thrown open and everyone looked up at the woman in the doorway. Her bright red, fifties-styled dress and white gloves were perfectly pressed and worn. "Sounds like everyone's having fun," The woman exclaimed. "I'm so sorry I'm late."

"Oh, Rita," Larry exclaimed, quickly standing and taking Rita's hand. He passed her an empty plate and she smiled sweetly at him.

"I was putting myself together," Rita waved off. "You know it takes some time." Rita sighed, starting to reach for different foods, loading her plate as much as she could. "Hmm. I hear we have some guests from the outside. How wonderful. I'm Rita."

Rachel wiped her hands and smiled, "Rachel."

"And you must be Hazel," Rita said with a wide grin, sparring a glance at Gar. Hazel sat straight and nodded.

"Yeah, uhm yes. It's nice to meet you," Hazel stammered slightly. "I love your dress."

"Oh, thank you, dear." Rita looked down at her dress, fluffing the layers. Rita reached across the table and pilled spaghetti and waffles on her plate. "I'm famished," Rita explained, noticing Rachels eyes.

"You have to try the lobster," Hazel urged, reaching for more food for herself. "I've never tasted something so amazing.

"Oh definitely," Rita hummed, moving to her seat next to Rachel at the head of the table. She set her food down and pulled her dress out to sit properly on the proper chair. "Thank you." Rita smiled as Larry passed her a burger and lobster. "My condition requires a particularly high caloric intake," Rita explained as Hazel eyed her food.

"No, no, you don't need to explain. I didn't know there were burgers," Hazel said in a rush, looking to the end of the table. Gar hopped up and grabbed a burger, passing it to Hazel. "Thank you."

"Can you pass the gravy, please?" Rita questioned, nodding in front of Hazel.

"There's gravy too?" Hazel whispered to herself. Hazel pushed the onion man aside, grabbed the silver gravy cup and handed it to Rachel who passed it to Rita who smiled sweetly.

Rita poured gravy over her dinner before scooping up her spaghetti and taking a large bite. "Mmm. Mmm. Well, this is absolutely delicious, Larry," Rita commented.

"Someone kiss the cook," Larry joked making the table laugh. "Seriously. Anyone, I'll take it from anyone. Anybody?"

Hazel finished her mouthful and smiled. "If Rachel dances with Cliff," Hazel reminded making everyone laugh harder.

Rita's laugh melded into an uncomfortable sound and shuddered. The skin on her arms and side of her face started to sag, making squelching sounds. "Are you okay?" Rachel asked, her voice filled with concern.

"Rita?" Larry called and Rita's hand moved quickly to cover her face.

"I-" Rita's voice caught in her throat, her voice coming out distorted. "I should have stayed in bed."

Rachel shuffled closer to Rita, placing her hands on Rita's that rested on the table. "It's okay," Rachel said softly. "I'm not afraid of you." Rachel smiled, holding onto Rita's hand tightly.

Hazel stood from her seat, walking around to Rita's side. She held her hand out, a bright red, perfectly bloomed rose growing from her hand. She plucked it off and Rachel took her hands back so Rita could take the flower. "For the movie star," Hazel said with a smile. "Still just as beautiful."

Hazel turned back, sitting beside Gar again. "Hmm Larry," Hazel called, moving the conversation on, letting Rita pull herself together again. "You should try making Albondigas. Its Spanish meatballs severed with spicy tomato sauce."

"You'll have to give me the recipe," Larry said with a nod.

The doors slammed open again making everyone jump. A man with a white beard and long grey coat walked in, surveying his table. "Who are these people?" The man questioned, looking at Hazel and Rachel.

Gar glanced at Hazel and stammered. "Chief. Uh, I uh, I can explain," Gar stuttered, looking up at Chief.

"Later," the man dismissed, waving his hand. "I have a new patient."

All at once, everyone but Rachel and Hazel stood and followed after Chief. Rachel tossed down her napkin and she and Hazel followed after them. 

The others raced down to the basement, running down the stairs so fast Hazel was afraid they would fall over each other. A woman with frost-burned skin was laid out on a medical table, her breath coming out in puffs of smoke. Hazel and Rachel stood on the balcony looking down at the girl and the others racing around. "Who is she?" Cliff asked, walking behind Larry and Rita.

"Her name is Shyleen Lao," Cheif answered, pulling on a pair of gloves. "Cliff, the O2, stat. Rita, run the IV. Gar, my case."

"Okay," Gar called, grabbing a silver briefcase.

"Larry, any time," the chief spoke up.

Larry nodded and pulled back the sheet that covered Shyleen. "Oh, she's hot. Even for me," Larry commented.

"What happened to her?" Rita asked.

"A protest she organized turned violent," Chief explained, looking at a machine displaying her vitals. "A nearby tanker exploded. She was engulfed in liquid nitrogen. The doctors treating her said there was nothing they could do. But she's a good soul, one worth saving."

"Poor thing," Rita soothed, connecting the IV to Shyleen's bloodstream.

"This serum should help stabilize her body temperature," Chief explained, injecting the serum into the IV bag. "Mmm-hmm. There, I think."

The monitor started to beep at a rapid pace and Shyleen started to shudder and her breath came out in shallow pants. "What the fuck?" Cliff questioned looking at the statistics on screen.

"Chief?" Larry called.

"What's happening?" Gar questioned.

"Her body is reacting to my serum," Chief explained, opening Shyleen's eyes and shining a light, watching her pupils.

"It's freezing in here," Rita recognised, her arms encasing her body.

"She is altering the temperature around us," Chief recognised. "We need to keep her warm. Blankets!"

"Can you calm her down?" Hazel questioned looking at Rachel. Rachel nodded and spun, running down the stairs, Hazel following behind her.

Shyleen woke up and started to thrash around, yelling in Vietnamese. "Hey, uh, does anyone speak whatever that is?" Cliff asked as the group fought to cover her in blankets and keep her in place.

"Let me go!" Shyleen shouted, her voice breaking and shaking. "Where am I?"

Hazel rushed forward, pushing past Rita. "Hazel-"

Hazel ignored Gar and stood over Shyleen. "My name is Hazel," Hazel explained, her Vietnamese slightly broken and uneven but Shyleen looked at her. "You're safe. Your protest turned bad... um." Hazel took a breath her mind racing to find the words. "My friend and me can help you. Uh, take the pain away. Can we do that?"

Shyleen nodded, the tears falling from her eyes, freezing against her skin. "Please."

"Rachel," Hazel called.

Rachel ran to Hazel's side, grabbing Shyleen's hand. Rachel's eyes turned black with veins running down her cheeks as she focused. "I can help ease your pain," Rachel explained in a distorted voice, Hazel explaining it to Shyleen as smoothly as she could. "I know you're frightened. It's okay. It's okay." Once Shyleen's breath started to calm down Rachel nodded at Hazel.

Rachel let Shyleen's hand go and Hazel laced her fingers through Shyleen's, her other gently grazing her cheek, her skin chilling Hazel's. Hazel's eyes flashed green and green lights ran through Hazel's arms, down her hands and onto Shyleen's skin, starting to heal worse parts of the nitrogen burns.

The monitor started to ease in its beeping and Shyleen's temperature started to go back to normal. "Breath," Hazel whispered, nodding softly.

"Get sedation," Chief ordered to Rita, his eyes bouncing between Rachel and Hazel.

Rita took a needle and inserted it into Shyleen's arm and the grip Shyleen had on Hazel's hand loosened. "You can rest now," Hazel said softly.

"And she's stable," Cliff called, turning to face the others.

Hazel set Shyleen's hand down, keeping her gaze on Shyleen's slowly closing eyes. "She needs to rest," Rachel ordered, everyone's eyes moving away from Hazel to her. Hazel took her hand from Sheyleen's cheek and the colour faded from her eyes, returning to dark brown.

— gods —