The Best Laid Plans

The air in the car was tense, almost stale. The meeting at Melanie’s house was quick. She gave you and Maisie visitor badges that would come back to the fake name she would be giving the right John Doe. Everything was set. At least, as much as it could be given the situation. It was about 10pm when your phone lit up.

“Show time” you say, nudging Maisie awake.

The two of you walk into the emergency department waiting room, hyper aware of every single security camera. You approach the desk.

The clerk gives a half smile and says, “How can I help you?”

“We’re hear to see my Uncle, he just came in a little while ago” you reply with the most confidence you can muster.

“Jack”

“Last name?”

“Shit” You think, realizing you forgot to memorize that.

Thinking on the spot, you say, “One second, he just got divorced not too long ago and changed it.”

You dig through your phone and have to stop yourself from facepalming.

“Danielson…Jack Danielson” You say.

The nurse raises her eyebrow but looks in the system and simply says, “Room 14, third door on your left.”

She presses a button behind the counter, and the double doors open wide.

You hesitate for a brief moment. You could turn back now and regroup later. Maisie squeezes your arm as if reading your mind and gives a look that says “too late now”. With that, you walked down the hall.

You take a breath and step into room 14. Instantly, you’re hit with the rancid smell of **** and urine. A man in his mid-forties is laying in the bed.

As you enter, he looks at you and slurs, “Who the hell are you?”

“Uncle Jack, you remember me. You’re drunk again; we talked about this a week ago.” You reply, relieved there’s no one else in the room yet.

The man mumbled something incomprehensible but seemed to accept the explanation. While you wait, you get a text from Melanie.

“I’ll be walking in, in 5. Be ready.”

You show the text to Maisie and she nods. Time to get the show underway.

You shake the man gently and whisper in his ear, “Hey, you remember my girlfriend Maisie, don’t you?” The man nods despite having no idea who either of you are. “Well check this out. I just found out her and her cousin have a curse that forces them to do anything they’re told. You just have to say their name before the command!”

The man’s eyes opened wide and you get a little concerned that he understands too well.

“Bull, you people just don’t want to help me” He mutters.

“No, I’m serious, watch. Maisie, turn into a trading card”

As expected, Maisie transforms and lands neatly in your hand. The man nearly falls out of the bed.

“Holy shit son, let me try! Maisie, go back to normal!”

Nothing happens.

“It doesn’t work that way, Uncle. I’ve already claimed her. But her cousin is a nurse at this very hospital. In fact, I made sure she’s your nurse. When she walks in, just say, ‘Melanie, turn into a trading card exactly like Maisie’”

The man looked at you like you were crazy but nodded.

Two minutes later, Melanie walks in. Before she can even close the door the man practically yells out the instruction. The transformation happens almost instantly and you pray no one in the hallway saw.

The card lands on the floor and you pick it up. Before you hand it to the man, you can’t help but admire the photo. The curse was having fun it seemed. There was Melanie, kneeling with her legs out wearing scrubs. The left shoulder was hanging down dangerously close to exposing her breast. You hand the card to the man.

Before you can ask to have the card, he starts convulsing. The machines he’s connected to start beeping wildly and you start to panic. You grab the card that is Melanie and put it in your pocket. You run out to the hallway and call for a nurse who comes rushing in. As she starts working on the man, more doctors and nurses rush in, one of them ushers you and Maisie to the hallway. You decide to evaluate your options. You have Melanie, the best bet is to get out in the confusion. You pull Maisie toward the door and you slip out to the parking lot.

Ellie spots you and pulls up to the door. The two of you practically jump in and she starts driving away.

“Please tell me it worked” Ellie says.

You pull the card out of your pocket and show her. She breathes a sigh of relief as you set the card down on the back seat.

“Melanie, turn back to normal” you say.

You all wait in silence.

“Brad, why isn’t she changing back to normal?” Maisie spoke for everyone.

“Melanie, change back to normal, that is a command.” You say, more forcefully.

Still nothing,

“Oh shit” you mumble.