Chapter 3.15 - Midwest is The Best
[Present Day]
My entire body is on pins and needles, but worse. Every move
pains me, my body’s way of crying out for more blood. I got enough that my
senses are back to me, but I need way more if I’m going to get right. I don’t
need a lot to survive, but I’ve been frozen, staked, maybe shot, stabbed or
whatever for god only knows how long. Right now, I need information more than
blood. I’ve been wandering the streets, no doubt looking every bit of homeless
vagrant intent on robbery. I’ve spent maybe a few hours asking random people
where the closest library is. Most run away from me, I can’t blame them. I’d
run away from me too. But Detroit is still the Midwest, and Midwest people are
good people. Even if we do talk about you behind your back.
Eventually I make it to a library, eyes dart to me as I walk
in. I stop at the drinking fountain. I know the water won’t ease the pain much,
but it does ease the burning of my throat. I slide off to the bathroom and
splash some cold water on my face. I can use a haircut more than ever before;
my nails are long and ragged, bloodshot eyes, crusty lips make me complete. I
finally grew that beard I always wanted, but it could use some work. I struggle
to bite through my nails, really they’re more like claws. When I’m done they’re
jagged and chipped but an acceptable length. There’s a bloody hole in my shirt
from the stake, or bullet. I turn it around, knowing it’ll draw less attention
if the hole is in the back. I use the hand soap and paper towels to try to
clean some of the smell away. Instead of a burning corpse, I only smell like
burning. When I’ve done the best I can to make myself presentable I make my way
out the bathroom and head over and grab a ticket for the computers.
Thirty minutes should be enough for me to get acquainted
with my surroundings. The first thing I do is click the small clock reading
7/10 for the date. It quickly expands to a full colander reading July 10, 2020
and I almost fall off my chair. My last memory is 2008, New Years Eve in
Indianapolis. There’s more after it, but I can’t remember it clearly. Even
that’s foggy, but 2020, no. That’s 12 almost 13 years. I quickly scan the
internet for what’s been going on. Gay marriage is legal, recession, Black
president? I missed a Black president? A Black president named Barack Obama? I
have to be dreaming. I couldn’t get elected class president and my name is
Ma... That’s two letters I can remember now at least. This Netflix thing sounds
interesting.
I’ve only got thirty minutes before I have to wait in line
again, I need to focus on the task at hand. I print out some maps of Detroit, a
list of addresses and phone numbers. Enough that I can get where I need to go
right now. Thirty minutes is more than enough time, I used to be really good at
computers, but they’ve changed a lot.
“Ahhh,” I hear the man to my left.
Looking over, I’m disgusted. He’s holding what looks like a
small dirty pink naked mole rat covered in bumps in his hand as it spews a
thick yellow liquid. People looked at me as a monster just walking in here, and
here this guy is masturbating in a public library. He notices me watching and
finally zips up his pants.
“Like what you see? Too bad I ain’t into guys,” he laughs
and gets up.
I grab his arm as he walks past “I didn’t like what I saw,”
I squeeze harder as he tries to pull away, “If I ever see that thing again I’m
going to rip it off and shove it down your throat,” I don’t let go. Just stare
into his eyes.
The moment I feel his soul crushing is the moment I let go.
As he rushes out I realize I’ve drawn blood on his arm. That’s not me, I need
some blood. No, screw that guy. I finish up some searches about the current
year and get a feel for things. Climate change was big after Hurricane Katrina,
turns out it still is for most people, but nobody has really done anything
about it. Cost of living has gone way up; wages have stayed stagnant. Police
still killing people. 13 years and not a damn thing has changed. Except that
whole Black president thing. Still can’t believe that one actually happened.
Fiber optic internet cables, that was a dream, now it seems like they’re being
installed in more and more places. Net neutrality, going to make sure to keep
an eye on that one.
“Here you go,” the Librarian hands me the stack of papers I
printed.
“What about the fee,” I ask her.
“I saw what you did,” she responds.
“I didn’t do anything,” she’s confusing me.
“You got Penis Phil out of here,” she smiles and hands the
papers to me.
“Thank you, I’ll remember this,” I take the papers and head
out.
“Girl, it look like somebody pulled him out the grave. He
got a shotgun hole and his shirt and all,” the Librarian says to another
librarian when a normal person would be out of earshot.
“You should have saw him come in. Cleaned up in the bathroom
best he could, I guess. Bless his heart” she responds.
“Drugs are killing these young people.”
The two laugh, and I can’t say they aren’t funny. Midwest people, good people. Even if we talk about you behind your back. I’ve got what I need. I spread out the pieces of paper on the grass and hold them down with some rocks. A limited map of Detroit, but enough for me. I just need street names and where I’m at. Google maps, it was just starting out back then, but wow. Now it’s great. I was able to find a few different options, and map out a route with ease. If I’m right, my memory should sort itself out after this.
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