The Pain Killer

Hillary lied on the bed and rubbed her stomach as if it was going to make the white hot coals burning in her gut suddenly cool. This just didn’t make any sense. She had been to the doctor and he had claimed that he couldn’t find anything that could give her this type of pain. Regardless of what his exam and tests show, her insides were on fire and getting worse. What had started as a simple upset stomach now felt like a volcano was about to erupt in her abdomen.1

Adding to her disappointed was that the over the counter medication she had gotten from her pharmacist hadn’t done a thing to improve her problem. In the past Old Ed Larsen had always been so reliable at recommending some non-prescription cure that work miracles. Not this time. Ever since tried his option she just felt terrible.2

She got up from her bed, staggered into the bathroom and figured she would try some more of the tablets he had given her. Maybe she hadn’t taken enough. That could be the problem. Hillary hoped that she had simply misunderstood his instructions.3

While reaching to open the medicine chest an incredibly fiery pain nearly doubled her over in agony. Then, to make matters worse, she felt like something was crawling around on her insides. Lifting her nightgown nearly caused her to scream when she saw several lumps on her stomach and they were moving!4

Dropping her nightgown, she covered her mouth to keep anyone hearing her. Hillary just could stop from screaming because of the pain and horror of knowing something awful was apparently feeding on her insides. Falling to her knees, the agony crippled her to the point she couldn’t stand.5

Crawling towards the bedroom, she tried desperately to get to the phone. Inch by inch she cried and screamed all the louder. Only she never made it to the receiver. Her strength gave out and she fell prostrate on the ground with the pain so unbearable that she was sure she was going to die at any second.6

Suddenly the lights to her bedroom went out. Somebody was standing behind her in the darkness, but she had no idea who. With the way she felt at the moment she wouldn’t even care if it did happen to be an intruder. Death seemed more appealing than this continued horror.7

She felt the intruder roll her over on her back and pull up her nightgown. Then the person placed a cold palm on her abdomen, which gave her a stingy feeling. Oddly, she suddenly felt paralyzed and unable to scream or move. Hillary could tell from the size of the hand that it belonged to a man. He seemed to be groping to feel for those horrible moving lumps that were eating at her gut. Afterwards, she felt the intruder remove his cold palm and in replace he fitted the mouth of what she thought was the mouth of a glass jar on her stomach. There was a humming sound and then she felt as if her stomach was exploding. 8

Yet for some bizarre reason she still couldn’t scream or resist. Hillary had the sensation of her flesh being ripped open and the lumps gushing out of her body along with lots of blood. A few seconds later, by some means she had no way of understanding, the opening suddenly closed and she felt the jar being removed from her stomach.9

The faint sound of footsteps moving slowly down the hall would be the last sounds Hillary would hear. Seconds later her heart finally stopped from the trauma, loss of blood and pain, which incredibly would be ruled as a heart attack. 10

Slowly the intruder opened the front door and closed it. The death silence of midnight guaranteed in this quiet neighborhood that there was nobody around to even notice. He walked calmly away from the house, towards a car and got in. Starting the black Lexus, its engine purred far too softly to wake up anyone. Without turning on the lights till around the corner, the driver once again, like on other occasions, has managed to evade notice during his gory chore.11

Two days later, the door to Larsen’s drug store opened and in walked Mrs. Stella Gates. She was huffing and puffing as if she had just been jogging. At her age it was a consequence of too much weight, fast food, not enough exercise and just plain getting old. Despite feeling terrible, she managed her usual infectious, optimistic smile.12

“Why hello Stella,” the lady behind the cash register said. She can be in a grumpy mood sometimes, but never with Stella. The poor soul has had enough pain in life what we trying to survive as a widow’s limited income. “How are you doing for a Wednesday?”13

“Just fine Gladys.” Stella lied, of course. She was known for being upbeat and cherished the reputation. It was an odd source of pride for her. Driven primarily by pride. That was to be expected from having grown up in a home with people who were naturally pessimistic. So she had vowed to be different. Stopping at the counter to catch her breath she asked, “How’s your mother doing these days? Is she still suffering from that pain in her back and knees?”14

“Yes, I’m afraid she is. The doctors say they can’t do anything for her. They say it is just the consequence of arthritis and nothing is going to improve the problem. Oh they did give her a prescription for some pain killers, but it doesn’t seem to help.”15

“Have you asked Ed for help? He may only be a pharmacist, but he just seems to be such a genius at knowing the kinds of medication that really help.”16

“Yes, I know Stella. He is my boss, after all. I have spoken to him. Ed’s given me a special medicine that doesn’t require a prescription that he says helps with pain,” Gladys says holding up a small white bag. “I’m taking it to my mom at lunchtime.”17

“If Ed recommends it I’m sure it will help. He is such a dear at understanding pain.”18

Gladys nods. “So um is there anything I can do for you?”19

“Oh I’m looking for a birthday card for my nephew, but before I do that I think I’ll go back and say hello to Ed.”20

“Okay. If you need help though just let me know.”21

“I will Gladys, thank you,” Stella replies before letting go of the counter she had been using for support. Then she turns and waddles down the aisle, stopping to look at the birthday cards. Why she told Gladys it was her nephew’s birthday she wasn’t sure. It was a stupid lie and now she would end up having to buy a birthday card she didn’t really need. All to keep from admitting the truth that she was really there to see Ed. Stella just hated to admit when she was in pain. Complaining to her was the same as being a pessimist.22

“Why hello, Stella,” Ed Larsen says, looking up over his bifocals from the prescription he is filling.23

“Hi Ed.”24

“I’ll be right with you,” he promises while finishing putting the tablets into the bottle and placing it in the white bag. After he files it in the customer basket under the letter of the alphabet, he walks over to the counter. “So is there anything special I can do for you?”25

“Oh maybe. Do you have one of your miracle cures for joint pain?”26

“Hmmm,” Ed says as he strokes his chin. “That’s one of those pains I’ve never had a whole lot of success with I’m afraid. I think I can give you something for the pain that might help,” he promises, reaching below the counter and picking up a small white bottle. “It’s a special blend of herbs and won’t need a prescription of course.” He puts it in a small white bag and hands it to her.27

“Um how much do I owe you?”28

“No charge.”29

“Really?”30

“Of course. This is one of those old family recipes I’ve been trying to improve upon. Honestly you don’t need to pay me for it. If it helps with the pain that will be reward enough for me.”31

“Oh my Ed that is so generous of you. Thank you so much,” Stella sighs before putting the bag in her purse.32

She hurries back towards the front and totally ignores the birthday card section. As she walks passed the counter Gladys asked, “Did you find the card you want?”33

“Oh um, I didn’t really find the right one. I just forgot there is an errand I need to run, I’ll come back later.”34

“Have a nice day, Stella.”35

“Thank you and I hope you have a good one too,” Stella replies before waddling towards the door.36

Stella gets home and hurries into the kitchen. She pours herself a glass of water, takes two tables out of the bottle and gulps them down with several sips of water. Then as an after thought, she takes two more tablets. Going into the living room to lie down on the couch, she hopes to finally stop her pain and get some rest. Hopefully, the pills won’t take too long to work.37

A few minutes later instead of feeling better she feels worse. Not only does her joints still bother her, but now her stomach is on fire. Stella is too weak and exhausted to move. She hopes it is just stress. If only she didn’t have that feeling of something crawling around on her insides. Closing her eyes she prays that sleep will help.38

In the middle of the night a black Lexus pulls into the alley behind Stella’s house. The driver gets out carrying a small box that looks like a fishing tackle box. Walking over to the back door to Stella’s house the driver goes inside. The back door is unlocked. Stella never locked the back door, which the driver happened to know. A few minutes later the ma comes out of the house having repeated the process he did at Hillary’s house. As before, nobody is around to notice the visit.39

The black Lexus pulls into the garage at Larsen’s house. Ed gets out and uses the remote to close the garage door. He then enters the house and goes into the room he calls a den. It looks more like a laboratory.40

Sitting in a chair is a man dressed in a blue jogging suit. He puts down the papers he is holding and also ends his cell phone call. Looking up at Ed, he notices the fishing tackle box and asks, “Everything go alright?”41

“Of course,” Ed comments before placing the box on the counter. Opening it, he removes the small glass vacuum device. Inside the glass container there are several small disgusting looking creatures, which look like huge and glowing lime green cockroaches. They are covered in blood.42

Ed takes the container, removes the lid and pours the creatures into a large jar. Tapping on the side like there were some kind of fish to get there attention, he looks like he’s observing some cute and cuddly animal instead of an ugly crawling pests.43

“So Ed when will this batch be ready?”44

“My pets should be ready for conversion into powder form in about a week. Not before I have allowed them to produce their larvae though.”45

The other man nods. “Tell me, Ed, does it ever bother you knowing what you have to do in order to bring your pets to life?”46

“That sounds like an odd question coming from man in your line of work. It isn’t like you are in the business of saving lives.”47

“No, my roll in the agency is more of an exterminator. But you are a pharmacist and I guess I was just curious if you were the least bit disturbed to publicly have that image as a great and loveable person considering how you help our agency?”48

“Oh it might, but I do try to remain focused on the greater good. The medication produced from the powder I make does offer incredible healing. I wish I had an option to get the larvae to mature first. I just found that human stomach juices and blood produces the most bountiful results. So for the greatest good, I accept that a certain amount of sacrifice is required.”49

“That’s true. Plus, we can hardly go public with your cure. We have had to respect the revenue needs of the those trying to creature wonder drug cures. Our agency does not want to upset the efforts of them to raise fortunes for curing all the diseases that your powder can in reality already heal. Besides with your powder in limited supply due to your process, we do see the merit in reserving it just for the people the agency feels are deserving of long life. Namely, the elite who in their view are true patriots. So we reward them with making sure they enjoy a very long life.”50

“That’s one way of looking at it I suppose. Of course, your superiors are also practical people. My larvae also aid the cause of patriotism in helping to occasionally get rid of a someone deemed a threat to national security.”51

They both smirk as his visitor leaves. He has a full schedule before getting back to the agency. There are several more “modest” and creative people he has yet to visit with other equally useful contributions to the greater good.52