The Red Cough (Blood and Red Dust Book 1)

by Anthony Loveson

  “Got you.” Michael and Sheila said in unison.

  “Good. Let’s move.” The paramedics entered wearing biohazard suites. Michael looked at one of the paramedics and remembered he had seen this particular paramedic before. It was last night when he was kicked out of the shelter and he had met the man who vomited blood and passed out. He looked towards the bathroom – a good quick hiding spot from them, but he had been spotted by the paramedic before he could enter the bathroom.

  “I’ve seen you before. Have you been exposed?” The paramedic asked.

  “Nah…I just walked into dis’ shit.” He sneered.

  “Sir, this is the second time I have seen you in an exposure area. I’m going to have to ask you to come with me.” The paramedic motioned towards Michael and two biohazard suited paramedics entered and proceeded to grab Michael before Arthur stepped in between them and flashed his badge.

  “Sargent Arthur Rick, SPD. You are here to take this woman to the hospital. That’s what you’ve been called here for. Do your job and only your job before she gets worse. This man is none of your concern. He’s property of SPD, you touch him or this young lady in here and we’ll be so far up your ass you won’t know how to get us outta’ you. Now, ladies and gentleman, get to work.” Arthur commanded. The show of authority turned Michael on even more.

  Dis’ dude handles business… Michael thought. The paramedic glared at Arthur and signaled the two paramedics to move the woman onto the stretcher and load her into the ambulance.

  “If there’s nothing else here you guys need, be on your way.” Arthur spoke coldly to the paramedic. He looked at Michael and narrowed his eyes at him.

  “I’d better not see you at another exposure site. I’m not going to be so…forgiving.” The paramedic exited the shower and laundry facility quickly, speeding off in the wailing ambulance. Michael, Sheila, and Arthur stood there in silence for a few minutes.

  Arthur broke the silence. “So you’re homeless, Michael?” He turned and looked at Michael.

  “I have to close.” Sheila said quickly. Going to a closet and returning with a mop, bucket, and floor cleaner.

  “A’ight, I’ll be out. Yeah, I am. What chu’ askin’ for?”

  “Looks like things are crazy out there for you. You’re coming with me.” Arthur said.

  “I’m comin’ wit’ chu’? You sayin’ dat’ shit like I’on got a choice.” Michael said. Da’ fuck this nigga think he is?! He thought as he blankly stared at Arthur.

  “Let’s be honest, you don’t have a positive alternative. If any of those Biohazard paramedics see you, you’re going somewhere that you may never return from. You’re better off ataying at my house. We have a guest room and my wife loves it when people stay over. She likes taking care of people. You can get cleaned up, get some much needed rest, and get some clean clothes and whatever else we can give you. It’s better than being hauled off to wherever, not knowing what’s going to happen to you.”

  Michael stood in thought for a couple minutes, thinking it over. He finally opened his mouth. “I guess…” Leaving his lips reluctantly.

  “Okay then,” Arthur said. “Sheila, do you need any help before we leave?” She shook her head and continued mopping up the blood vomit. “Alright then, please be careful, Sheila.

  We’re taking the light rail to my house. Don’t worry about your ticket, I got you.” Arthur gave Michael a pat on the back and they were gone.

  ****

  “Did you enjoy your nap? You were sleep for a while. I knew you’d be falling asleep with that big breakfast we had. How was the bed? I hope it was comfortable.” Arthur asked. Michael nodded his head.

  “What time is it?” Michael asked with sleep in his voice.

  “It’s a quarter to six.”

  “What!?”

  “Yep, it’s almost six. I did think to wake you, but you looked peaceful sleeping so I left you alone.” Arthur said as he packed his bong.

  “The fuck? What chu’ about to do with that?”

  Arthur looked at Michael confused. “I’m about to smoke…what does it look like? Oh, you think that because I’m a cop I don’t ‘blaze’ as y’all call it. Well, I do. I’m not on duty and last time I checked, I’m human. Plus, it’s Seattle…relax.” Arthur hits the bong hard. “’Ere” escapes his mouth along with a wisp of smoke as he passes the bong to Michael, who is weary of smoking with a cop. “Dude, I’m not going to arrest you.” He laughs, relieving Michaels mind. He hits it and coughs as hard as he hits it. Arthur, who is now stoned, laughs hysterically at Michael. “You better be careful. That’s top shelf medical marijuana.” Michael looks at Arthur perplexed. “What? I have a back injury that I had to have surgery on. It still hurts like hell, so I smoke to ease the pain.”

  “Man…you’re cool as hell” Michael and Arthur share a friendly look and laugh. The news is on, and they notice it’s a breaking story.

  Arthur turns up the volume on the TV:

  “… jumped off the top of a twenty story building. The man has been identified, but we are withholding that information until the family has been notified. We are unsure as to why this man jumped off of the building. Sources say that he was screaming to the top of his lungs as he stood on the roof, and fell as if he had relaxed into the fall. Police suspect no foul play. This has been Robert Roberts, back to you in the studio, Diane.”

  “Thank you Robert. That is, indeed, terrible news. In other news, The ‘Red Cough’ is continuing to spread…” Arthur turned down the volume.

  “That shit was blowing my high.” Arthur said as he packs a bowl this time.

  “You smoke a lot huh?”

  “Only when I’m off duty. You hungry? I got the munchies.” He laughs. Michael grabs the TV remote noticing they’re talking about the suicide jumper.

  “…We’ll now go back to Robert Roberts, who is our reporter on the scene.”

  “Thank you, Diane. I have just learned that the man who jumped was infected with the ‘Red Cough’ he had been hospitalized just a week or so ago. We were told by the officers that upon impact with the ground his chest burst open and produced a large cloud of red dust that covered everything within fifty feet. HAZMAT is on the scene and it looks like we’re being told to leave. I’m going to go in and see what’s going on.”

  “Alright Robert, be careful out there” Diane said. Nervousness crept into her voice but she maintained her professional cool composure. Robert moved stealthily past the blockades whispering his every move as if it could not be seen on camera.

  “Maaaan….These reporters be fulla’ themselves” Michael said before taking a heavy hit of the bong. He tried to stifle the ensuing cough but could not, hacking the weed smoke out of his lungs.

  “Put your hands up.” Arthur said. Michael shot an alarmed, confused look at Arthur between coughs. “Just do it.” Arthur insisted. Michael, who was still coughing like a lung was going to fly out, slowly put his hands up. His coughing slowed then ceased.

  “Thanks man.” Michael said, feeling even higher than he had been before. He looked at Arthur, who had a sheepish grin on his face. His eyes were blood shot red from the marijuana. He looked happy. Michael looked Arthur up and down with no shame. He’s an attractive man, possibly a few years older than Michael with a toned worked out body. He exercises regularly at the precinct gym but not too much. Michael’s eyes stopped at Arthurs lips.

  “Want a drink?” Arthur awkwardly walked to the bar, poured himself a shot and took it straight. SMACK! “Shit! WHOOOOOOO!!! Goddamn…”

  “Hell yeah! That’s some top shelf Tequila!” Taking the drink Arthur had already prepared, Michael takes the shot. “SNnss…mm…Damn…THAT’S good as hell, man, fuck! You are one cool ass white dude.”

  “I’m not white. I was born in Puerto Rico. Some lineage shit.” He takes another shot.

  “Mm… Look, I found some of my old stuff we never unpacked in the move. I think you’d look great in a lot of the stuff”

  DING DONG!! T
he doorbell rings. They both freeze in fear.

  “I’m not getting it. This is your house.” Michael said.

  Arthur stood and walked to the door. “Who is it?”

  “Uhh…the pizza man. I got your pizza.”

  “Oh shit. Hold on! Hand me my wallet.” Arthur opens the door.

  “Hi! Two large pizzas, an order of bread sticks, an order of twenty four wings and two sodas. That’ll be forty-three dollars and seventy-three cents.”

  “Here’s sixty; keep the change.” The delivery man smiled widely and handed Arthur the food.

  “Thank you Sir! Have a good night!”

  Arthur smiled and nodded his head. “Thank you. You be safe out there, stay healthy!” The delivery man smiled again, nodded his head, walked towards his car, and left. Arthur and Michael ate like ravenous piranha, nearly devouring the entire two pizzas. They ate every bread stick, wing, and drank the last drop of soda. They belched loudly, looked at each other, and laughed. Arthur’s attention turned to the TV.

  “They’re still talking about that suicide?”

  “Yeah, the reporter’s been moving closer to the scene. It looks like he got closer.”

  The reporter had in fact gotten closer to the scene of the suicide and was within viewing range of the scene. There was a large amount of blood still on the ground. Yellow caution tape encircled the area and police officers were moving about, taking pictures and taking samples.

  ”We’ve made our way to the scene, and it’s quite gruesome folks. If you have children, I advise you to take them out of the room.” The reporter said. He was cautiously and nervously looking around, still avoiding discovery. A person in a HAZMAT suite was collecting samples of the red dust, which covered the air in a red haze for many blocks, and had spotted the reporter and his camera man.

  “What are you doing here!? Absolutely NO media allowed! You have less than three seconds to exit the premises or you WILL be shot!” The person in the HAZMAT suit commanded. He moved quickly towards them drawing a gun. The reporter turned to the camera man and was about to speak when his body jerked forward and fell to the ground. Blood pooled beneath him. Before the camera man could even process what had happened, his life was ended as well, the camera fell to the ground and went off. A silenced gunshot had ended them both.

  Arthur and Michael sat there in silence for a few minutes in disbelief and shock. The newscast abruptly cut to commercial.

  “I need another hit.” Michael said hoarsely.

  “Yea.” Arthur nodded his head and passed the bong to his still shocked friend.

  End of Book One

  To continued in the Red Cough:

  Book 2 Cordyceps