Once things calmed down, Dr. Kinski started to help me. She got me some scrubs and booties (normally for protecting your shoes, but I didn't have any anymore), and then she called my folks. "Mrs. Lee, this is Dr. Kinski, from the Coroner's Office. I have someone here who is anxious to talk to you." She handed me the phone.
I took a deep breath, and it felt unusual for some reason. "Mom?"
"Janelle! Oh, God, it's good to hear your voice, baby!"
"Yours, too, Mom. You wouldn't believe what happened to me."
"As long as you're alright, sweetie, that's all that matters. Let me put your father on."
Dad came on. "Janelle? Are you alright?"
"I think so, Daddy. I've had quite a scare."
"I think we all have, honey. Caller ID said it was the coroner. That can't be right, can it?"
"That's where I am, alright, Daddy. I woke up right before the doctor was about to go to work."
"I think we'll chalk this up to a lesson learned. Your mother, Courtney, and I will be there soon. See you then. Love you."
"Love you, too, Daddy. Bye."
After I hung up, I handed the phone back to Dr. Kinski. "I know this is going to sound weird; but something smells delicious, and I'm starving."
She pointed to a room off to the side. "I've got some pad Thai. If you don't mind vegan food, you're welcome to half."
I paused just long enough to give her a kiss in gratitude, then I walked over to the other room. Heating up the pad Thai, I sat down to eat.
As I put a forkful into my mouth, I realized that something was wrong. Pad Thai is spicy and flavorful; but this tasted like warm Styrofoam. What is going on?
I swallowed, and I immediately regretted it. I ran back into the autopsy room. "What's wrong?" Dr. Kinski asked.
Instead of answering, I just ran to the sink, where I threw up. When I could open my mouth without puking, I asked, "What is wrong with me?"
I felt two hands on my shoulders. "I'm a doctor," Dr. Kinski said. "Let's find out."
She guided me to a chair, then brought out some familiar equipment. She wrapped a blood pressure cuff around my arm, put a blood oxygen meter on my finger, and stuck a thermometer in my mouth. Then she turned it on.
When the machine beeped, Dr. Kinski looked shocked. "What is it?" I asked.
She turned the machine to me.
Temperature: 55°. "That's the temperature of the room we're in," she said.
Blood pressure: 0/0.
Blood oxygen level: 0.
"I would expect these readings," she said, "if I had hooked this up to one of the people in the drawers."
"How is that possible?"
"I don't know. All I know is,... according to this, you're dead."
My jaw dropped. "What is going on?"
"If you don't mind me asking,... Where did you get those?"
"What?"
She handed me a mirror. And I was shocked.
I woke up in the morgue. I had the vital signs of a corpse. And I had fangs.
Put it all together, and it spells one word: Vampire.
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