Burning New Pearson (1)

"I really wish I was just being paranoid." Rhodes couldn't help but laugh helplessly. He didn't commit any crimes, but he did evade Lionel and New Pearson. He could reason with the hospital, but dealing with that aggressive man was a different matter. That guy might attack Deresita and Frieda on sight.

He sighed and turned to the sobbing girl. "Don't waste your efforts and lose focus. You need to pass that exam to get into your friends' school. Don't think about me for now. I'll be fine."

Frieda pouted and took deep breaths. She leaned against her seat and looked through her phone to ground herself again. On it was a short reviewer Rhodes made for her. Even if Frieda wasn't the studious type, she made a point to get a degree from a prestigious university. She was part of the Coles family regardless of not being in the main branch. It would be a good combination for her in the future.

As much as she knew, Rhodes and her mother earned a degree from Wester-Coles University. She wanted to achieve something close to that. It was also quite a thing among her high school peers. 

In the middle of her last-minute review, she received a message from one of her friends. She looked up at her mother through the rearview mirror. She said, "Mom, Michelle wants to see me later after the exam. Can I meet her?"

"At this point, it really depends on your mood after the exam, dear." Deresita smiled at her. "Let me know if you're going when we pick you up for lunch."

"Okay." Frieda glanced at Rhodes. "Erm, she might want to meet you, too, Uncle. Are you okay with that? Do you know? When they found out who my uncle was, they almost killed me for not telling them sooner. I didn't say anything about your amnesia, so they'd expect something close to what you were, I think. Oh, gosh, what am I saying? I shouldn't let them find out."

"Thanks. I don't want to show off my face here in the capital, either." Rhodes chuckled and curled down as if evading streetside cameras. "I won't avoid them if you bring them to the hotel though. No sightseeing, however. I think we have enough amenities to entertain a group of teens."

Frieda twisted her lips. She sunk into her seat while texting her friend. "I doubt they'll come. Menorosa is too old-fashioned for them. They'd rather drag me to a cruise. Can I have that as a birthday gift, Mom?"

Deresita glanced at them through the rearview mirror again. She smiled. "Bring that up to your father again after you settle your college admission. We won't know if you're available for a birthday weekend. Also, you might join a sorority. You can also celebrate your birthday with them instead, dear."

The daughter sighed and stuck to her reviewer again. "This exam dictates a lot of things in my life. Uncle Rhodes, give me courage, give me luck…!"

"You can have all my courage, but don't take all my luck." Rhodes laughed, earning Frieda's pout. "I don't want to run into an ex today. He will act like one if he sees me. I don't even like him that way."

"Shucks, fine. Just let me have half of yours and Mom's." 

Frieda didn't gasp or shriek at the matter, unlike what Deresita thought. However, the mother figured Rhodes didn't hide it. He could have casually mentioned how much he missed this Vanya person he was looking for. Then again, Deresita never heard Rhodes speak about him again. Did the doctor find a new conquest? Alternatively, had they met already?

…

A three-hour wait didn't bother Deresita and Rhodes. The mother found free parking and stayed in her car for the entire wait, snacking on food they bought from a fast food chain. Rhodes didn't mind waiting, either. They watched a movie on Deresita's tablet, which was fixed on the dashboard with a special tool.

They barely spoke about anything, simply because Deresita discussed the day every dinner. There was nothing to ask about since she knew most of what happened to Rhodes, Frieda, and Giles. Right now, she was simply passing the time with an action movie. Rhodes kept watching movies in his free time, too. The only difference between them was that Rhodes normally fell asleep.

Rhodes randomly stirred from his sleep. He opened his eyes and found himself leaning his head against the car's window. Deresita was stuck to what she was watching, not paying attention to him. Since a hood obscured his head, Rhodes didn't think someone would recognize him.

"…Frieda hasn't asked us to fetch her yet?" Rhodes softly yawned. He closed his eyes again, reaching for his handkerchief to clear them.

"Not yet." Deresita had a quick look at her phone. She smiled at the doctor, who just woke up. "Good morning! Heheh, how was your sleep? You were knocked out an hour into the movie. Was it that bad? I remember you liking films a lot."

Rhodes sat up properly and moved his back to relieve bad posture. "I think I do… but the sounds lull me to sleep. It doesn't matter which film I watched. Do you still have some food I can eat?"

Deresita paused the movie on her tablet and rummaged through their big bag. She handed Rhodes a boxed hotdog and some napkins. The doctor ate mechanically as soon as he opened the carton box. Deresita returned to her movie as soon as Rhodes looked out the window.

When Rhodes's eyes closed in sleepiness again, a loud siren blared across the street. The stunning sound of a fire truck clearing the path woke Rhodes's spirit. He moved his head to see where it was headed. He couldn't see black smoke on the horizon, so he figured they were quite far from the burning building.

"Oh, my God…" Deresita's gasp made Rhodes turn to her. She reached to the side without looking. "Take out your phone, Rhodes. They're doing a flash report about it. New Pearson is on fire!"

"The hospital is burning?" Rhodes did what she asked and looked for relevant news streams. He found one and watched how a huge fire ate a side of New Pearson Medical Center. 

Big red engulfed the white building in the heart of the city. Everyone was screaming in fear and begging while the fire department evacuated the people on the first floor. The fire truck from earlier joined the others in blasting water into the higher floors. From the windows, the viewers could still see doctors calling for help through the glass.

Rhodes's eyes stared at the picture. He barely recognized those faces, but his fingers twitched at the perceived sounds of their screams. He worked at that hospital for years, but his brain forgot about everyone. However, it felt like his entire body revolted at the sight.

Only to be saved by Vanya's voice. "Do you want to jump?"