A Crazy Plan

The trio walked in and waited in line for the front desk. Maisie was clinging to you as if she was afraid you would run away. As the line moved forward you realize the girls could just text her in case she was busy.

"Girl's, come over here" you say as you step out of line to a off corner. "Why don't you just text her?"

"Well, because that would just make sense" Maisie laughs as she pulls out her phone.

You never like hospitals, so the faster you could get this conversation over to get out, the better. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Melanie comes out of the big double doors.

"Hey guys, perfect timing. I just got on lunch. Follow me, we can talk in the cafeteria." Melanie turned and started walking without waiting for a reply.

As everyone sat down, Melanie started in, "I think I thought of who to use for this whole switcheroo plan. Well, not exactly who, but a general idea."

You raise an eyebrow and say "This is a pretty big decision, probably biggest decision of your life. Care to share who this 'general idea'" you put in air quotes, "is?"

"First of all, Mr. Air quotes, I'm well aware of what's at stake here. I've only had time to thing about it every night since I was five. Every time I close my eyes I wonder if today is the day I get claimed. The only reason we're even having this conversation is because Maisie and Holly both vouched for you."

You're stunned, "I'm sor..."

"Save it.", she cut him off, "You couldn't have known. Anyway, I've been thinking. The way this plan works, is you get someone stupid drunk in hopes they won't remember it in morning, right?"

You simply nod.

She continues, "Right, but so far that has only been possible because you were getting drunk with them. Excuse me if it doesn't fill me with confidence the guy who's supposed to save me has to do it while piss drunk."

Maisie interrupts, "It's worked out so far".

Melanie sighs, "I know, and I'm happy for you guys, but it was a super close call last night and I don't want you not being able to think on your feet. So anyway, what if the person was already drunk when you got to them?"

You lean in, "Where are you going with this?"

"I work in the ER on Saturdays. We get drunks like crazy. **** poisoning is so common here. What if we picked someone who was blind drunk and I snuck you into the room to do the thing?"

You lower your voice, "That has got to be the craziest thing I ever heard. You want to trust your freedom to a random drunk? What about your job? How are you going to sneak me in? This is 2026. There's fuckin AI watching the cameras that send alerts to real people now! Never mind the fact that those people are here to get sober. How can you be sure they forget the next morning?"

Melanie gets an expression that scared the crap out of you. She looks you dead in the eyes and with a steady, monotone voice says, "I can have a syringe of morphine ready. Not a deadly does, just enough to ensure what we need. I won't be able to give it to them though if my research on the curse is correct. Once he claims me, I won't be able to take any action against him. It will have to be you. The way I see it, there are two possibilities. Best case, I lose my job. Small price to pay if this works. Worst case, this doesn't work, I lose my job anyway but it doesn't matter because I'm just somebody's sex toy anyway. I don't HAVE any guy friends, let alone guys I'd trust to do this kind of thing. This is my best chance and I'm asking you to help me take it."

You sigh heavily, thinking everything over. You realize you don't know anyone else that drinks that much and doing it to the same person twice was too risky. Finally, you speak up, "Maisie, Ellie, one at a time, I want you to tell me honestly what you think of this plan, Maisie first."

"It scares the shit out of me, Mel" Maisie instantly responds as if she'd been waiting for the chance to speak, "But, there's no good plan left. I understand it and I think it could work."

Ellie puts her head in her hands and just says, "Ditto, everything Maisie just said."

"Well" you say, "The concerned masses have spoken. So how do we pull this off?"

Melanie looks surprised. "I'll volunteer for the overnight shift. You guys will hang out in the lobby. Once I get a good prospect, I'll get him admitted under a fake name and text it to you. Once that's done, go to the front desk and ask to visit your family member with his name. I guess from there we just...play it by ear?"

"Holy shit, you've thought this out" you say.

"It's kind of the biggest decision of my life" She shoots back. "I've gotta get back. I'll text you later."

With that, she stands and walks off. Maisie looks at you smiling, "I guess we've got time to go test that latest command, don't we?"