Emily wrinkled her nose at the television and did her best not to check the clock on the mantle.  For the first forty-five minutes, she’d been certain Mary’s movie pick at been a joke.  Now, as her friend leaned forward with a keen intensity, she wasn’t so sure anymore.  Granted, it was supposed to be a ‘girls’ night in,’ and thus required a fitting movie, but ‘Steel Magnolias' was the last thing she’d expected.

Just as she was about to get up to very slowly refill her glass of water with vodka, there was a dull thud from the front door.

Emily: “Did you hear that?”

Mary: “Yeah, but it’s probably just a stray cat or something.”

Emily: “Pretty big stray cat.”

Mary: “Maybe it’s a stray lion.”

There was another series of thuds, and this time Mary paused the DVD.

Emily: “Was that a knock?”

Mary: “It could have been.  I’ll go see who it is.”

Emily: “Should we really be opening the door at this hour?”

Mary: “Probably not.”

A third series of thuds came then, this time taking on a desperate quality.

Mary: “I don’t think they’re going to go away.”

Emily: “I’ll come with.”

The girls crept cautiously to the front door, first peeking out before Mary quickly undid all the locks and swung it open.

Mary: “Markus!  Is everything OK?”

Markus: “No, it isn’t.”

He only managed to make it a few steps inside before doubling over.  Emily grabbed him by the arm and led him over to the couch, where he collapsed.  She was stunned to find his shirt was covered in blood.

Emily: “What happened?  It looks like you got attacked.”

Markus: “I don’t even know where to begin, how to talk about it.”

Mary: “Do you need us to call the police for you?”

Markus: “The police can’t help with what happened; the guy who did this to me is more or less above the law.  I guess now I am, too.”

Emily felt her heart sink, while color drained from Mary’s face.

Mary: “Maybe we should call the guys.  They’d be able to help you more—“

Markus: “No!  I can’t; not yet.  I need some time still.”

Emily: “Have you at least talked to Serge?  He called earlier; he’s worried to death about you.”

Markus: “I came here as soon as I got away.  I don’t know how to tell him.”

Emily: “At least let one of us call him so he knows you’re all right.”

Markus stared down at his badly-shaking hands without saying anything for a few seconds.

Mary: “Markus?”

Markus: “Yeah.  I’d appreciate that.”

Emily: “Markus, you do not look well.  Can I get you some water or something?”

Markus: “I need something a bit thicker than water, Emily, but it’ll do for now.”

Emily nodded and walked quickly into the kitchen, still listening to the conversation as she filled a large glass from the faucet.

Mary: “No offense, but you’re not getting any of that from me, and I won’t let you get it from Emily, either.  I don’t even care if she volunteers.  I don’t see why you won’t let us call one of the guys.”

Markus: “I don’t want to burden them with something they can’t do anything about.”

Mary: “You didn’t seem to have any trouble involving us.”

Markus: “I didn’t exactly want to drag you two into this either, except I didn’t know where else to go, and you lived the closest to where… to where it happened.”

Mary: “They know what you’re going through now, more or less.  They can be a hell of a lot more help than either one of us.”

Markus: “Mary, please.  I don’t think it’s something you can really understand.”

Mary: “You might be surprised.  Listen, I don’t really mind helping, but I don’t know where you expect us to get you blood.  It’s not like they sell it at the 7-11.”

Emily: “I know where we can get some.”

Mary: “You do?”

Emily: “Sure.  Markus, can you walk next door?”

Mary: “You’ve got to be shitting me, Em.”

Emily: “I don’t see what the big deal is.  I also don’t see that we have much choice.”

Mary sighed heavily and shook her head.

Mary: “No, guess not.  Doesn’t mean I have to like it.”

Emily: “Good thing I’m not asking you to like it.  So Markus?  Can you make it next door?”

Markus: “I walked all the way here; I’m sure a few more feet won’t be the end of me.”