Injection

Alice Melville stood against the counter, her back to the condemned, whose name was much too familiar — Alen Daemons. He laid behind her, strapped to the chair. Not making a sound. She didn’t dare to look back at him. The hood that fell over her face made sure of it. She mixed the injection drug together carefully, measuring each and every ingredient. The she placed the flask down. It was time.

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She had volunteered to do this. She had to do it. She took the flask and poured it into the IV bag. Then she took the IV lines and brought them to the small table next to Alen. He glanced at her as she placed them and went back to the counter for the syringe. “It’s time, isn’t it?” He said. She said nothing and continued to pour different drug into the needle. She could hear him breathe in. “Can I ask for one last thing?”

“The condemned don’t get favors, Alen Daemons.” She told him quietly. She could hear a small laugh behind her.

“Of course, you would be the one, Alice. Of fucking course.” He cursed. She pushed the syringe down, it splashed out the liquid. She then started to sterilize all the needles with alcohol. It’s scent burned the back of her throat. “You know, they wouldn’t let me drink alcohol for my last meal,” Alen grunted, as if he could see the disgust on her face from the smell. She grabbed a swab and dipped it into the alcohol, then brought it to Alen. She dabbed it onto his arms. They were pale and looked almost translucent, allowing his veins to be seen easily under his skin.

He looked up at her face as she did this. It had no emotion, but inside, she knew he was feeling something. Something that he would keep hidden to his death. Fear. “Is that favor still in thinking?” He asked. Alice made a mistake of glancing down at him. His blue eyes locked on with hers. She looked away. “No?”

“What is it?” She asked, picking up the syringe.

“Can I at least see your face before I go?” He said. She hesitated. The hood was the only thing from hiding herself from him. Once she took it off, he could read her like a book. He always had. But, unconsciously, she did it. Immediately regretting the decision. “Thank you.” He whispered.

Alice took the first IV tube and Alen’s right arm in her hand. She pushed it’s needle into his skin, then taping it on. She took the other and did the same on his left arm. He didn’t fidget once. “The first time I get an IV, and it’s for this.” He laughed bitterly. “Can you believe it?” He looked to her for a response, but she said nothing. The syringe was now in her hand, and the moment it goes into the IV, he’ll be dead within moments. Alen took notice of this and went quiet.

“You’re really going to do it.” He commented. She went towards him with the needle. His hand twitched slightly. “Are you really going to do this?” Her eyes flickered. When she still said nothing, he said: “Alice?”

The syringe remained in the same place. “Yes,” was the only word she could choke out. She wanted to back out. Then and there. But she couldn’t. No, she had to. She promised.

Alen turned his head towards her. “Then, make it quick.” His voice was firm. She had to give it to him. He was brave. She had always liked that about him. She still does. The needle went into the IV tubes slowly. It felt like eternity. They both held their breaths, it seemed. When she pulled it out, his eyes were closed. She wanted to close hers too.

The Holter monitor still beeped, but it had slowed. And soon, it will stop. “Alice?” He asked.

“What?” She replied. Allowing last ounce of her empathy she had for him in it.

“I’m sorr–” He started. He took in a gasp that would never finish. The monitor’s beeps slowed to nothing. Hot tears flowed down Alice’s cheeks.

Alen Daemons was dead.