SUMMARY: Even normal events can mean something, as Dinah soon finds out when a new girl enrolls at her school. Soon what the trio knows is turned upside down and they're in a fight to save not one but two girl's lives...
Just a note before the story. I've revised the presentation of the chapters a bit for your viewing ease. Words surrounded by are italicized. I also italicize thoughts, so watch out for that.
DISCLAIMER: I don't own any of the original characters of Birds of Prey, Batman, or any related... um... stuff. I don't plan on making any money off of this fanfic, and I only write for the enjoyment of myself and others. I only own the characters I make up, so don't sue me!
Now that that's out of the way, Bonne Appetit!
CHAPTER 1
.:Predator of the Storm:.
A teenage girl lingered in the shadows behind the New Gotham High. Loitering around, most people would think, but she wasn't. She was waiting, though for exactly what she didn't know.
"This is getting pathetic!" she said quietly to herself as she looked around the deserted schoolyard.
A dark shape slinked into her field of vision.
"It's about time, where have you been? I've stood here waiting for an hour!" she exclaimed loudly, then looked around as if someone might hear her.
"I was delayed," was all the shadowed person said.
"Are you going to tell me what I want to know," the girl asked," or will I have to beat it out of you?"
The shadowed person took a while in answering, but finally he replied. "I only came to tell you not to contact me again. It's become too much of a risk for both of us. Goodbye, and I hope you find what you're looking for."
The outraged teen's voice cut into the surrounding darkness. "That's it? So you're not going to tell me anything! You shouldn't have bothered coming."
" I didn't think you'd take kindly to waiting all night for nothing. Sorry."
A moment later the shadowed person had disappeared into an alley across the street, but the girl knew he was still there. He always lingered a while after meeting someone, and besides: she still had that tingly feeling at the back of her neck which always indicated someone was watching her. Her instincts were as finely tuned as a wild animal's. They were never wrong.
*******
"Hey Gabby!" Dinah called out. It was lunch, and the school cafeteria was loud and packed with students.
"Grab a chair, this seat's saved." Gabby said over the noise.
Dinah looked at her friend in surprise. "For who?"
"The new girl… oh, here she comes now. Dinah, meet May. May, Dinah."
A startling flash of light brown hair and a baby blue sweater announced the arrival of May.
" Hi!" Dinah greeted May cheerfully, then added, "I'll be right back, gotta buy my lunch."
Fishing a $5.00 bill out of her pocket, she grabbed a slice of pizza and a soda and stood in line for the cash register. After paying for her lunch, Dinah headed back to the table.
"So what did I miss?" she asked of no one in particular. Sitting down, she looked across to May. "So where are you from?"
" Well, I'm originally from this small town a couple hundred miles from here, Pinto, Missouri- you've probably never heard of it. I left when I was about 13, and I've been moving around since, so I'm not really from anywhere anymore. I just came in from Metropolis."
Not wanting to pry into anything to personal, Dinah didn't inquire any further about all the moving around May had done.
The three chatted a bit more, and Dinah found out that May had the next class with her and Gabby. When the first bell rang the trio headed to the Science wing.
Dinah and May walked into the science class and sat at a table near the back. In ones and twos other students walked through the door. Dinah pointed out each person as they walked through the door.
"And that's Amanda, she usually sits with Rebecca over there…"
When the bell ending class rang Dinah asked, "So what's your next class?"
I have, um, let me see…" Taking her timetable out of backpack she searched for 4th period." Ah, here! I'm in Ms. Gordon's class next."
"Oh, you have Barbara next! I'll show you to her class, it's on my way," Dinah replied with a smile. "I had to talk to her anyway."
Looking mystified, May asked, "Are you this close to all your teachers?"
"No," Dinah replied, "I live with Barbara."
"That explains it." May didn't really think she could feel comfortable being on first-name terms with her teachers.
Saying goodbye to Gabby the two headed for Barbara's classroom. They walked into the class and Barbara, absorbed in something on the computer screen, didn't look up.
"Just go sit quietly until the bell rings, I'm busy right now."
"Hey Barbara. What's up?" Dinah peered over the teacher's shoulder at the monitor, and seeing the Delphi symbol flashing on the screen quickly went to the other side of the desk.
Barbara looked up at the young girl's voice, and saw May.
"Who's this?" she asked Dinah.
Dinah smiled and said, "This is May, a new student in your class. May, this is Barbara."
"Hi, nice to meet you," Barbara said, then looked at the clock. "The bell's going to ring in about 20 seconds, I'd get going if I were you. You don't want to be late."
Dinah looked up at the clock then dashed out the door. "See you later, May. You too Babs!"
"She forgot to say bye to me," said Gabby, pretending to be deeply hurt.
*******
Breaking away from the mass of students exiting the school together, May headed for a relatively peaceful spot against the school building to wait for her newfound friends. Sadly, she watched the chattering pack of girls as they walked down the path.
They don't have a clue about this city. They all shut their eyes and hide from what's in plain view. They can't handle the truth, so they ignore it.
The teenager's gloomy thoughts were interrupted by the arrival of Gabby.
"Hey, where's Dinah?" May asked, coming out of her thoughts.
"She had to stay awhile and help Barbara. But hey, we still get to walk together, eh?"
Raising her eyebrows at her friend's enthusiasm, she replied "Yeah, sure. You feeling all right?"
"I'm just kiddin' with ya," Gabby said cheerfully.
They started walking towards Gabby's house near the edge of the city, exchanging stories of their first day at school. Finally they reached Starnes Street, which was where Gabby lived, and said goodbye.
"You sure you don't want me to walk to your house with you? I don't have anything to do, and it might be kind of lonely, don't you think?" Gabby knew the answer she'd get before she asked the question- they had already discussed this.
True to Gabby's guess, the answer came immediately. "I'll be fine on my own, don't worry. I'm not likely to get lonely."
So, leaving Gabby at her front door, May continued on towards the outskirts of New Gotham. The sun was already starting to set when she reached an old abandoned warehouse. A flare of red, gold, and orange accented by the dark purple clouds of an oncoming storm provided a stunning background for the derelict-looking warehouse. Looking around quickly May headed to the door and opened it, wincing at the protesting squeals of the hinges. With a final look behind her shoulder she ducked into the darkness of the warehouse and pulled the door shut.
Once in the darkness of the warehouse the teenager calmed down, sensing the solid, familiar masses of machinery around her. Behind a labelling machine was a door, which led out of the manufacturing area and into the offices. Down the hallway and through a door marked 'Greg Sullivan, Chairman' was where May had slept for the past week. Now considered her home by the only one who knew she was there (who happened to be herself) all the girl's clothes lay in neat piles around the walls. As soon as she entered the room she slung her bag onto a chair and took her binder and pen out of it. Laying these on the table, she pulled up a chair and started on her homework.
*******
In the clocktower, Dinah was not doing her homework. Not even close.
"Have you got your comset?"
"Yes."
"Good. Now remember, it's the corner of Tenth and Michael Street. Got it?
"Yes already! Can I go now?"
Barbara was finishing up her brief of her latest assignment for Dinah. Impatient as always Dinah was only half listening, though it really didn't matter because she listened the first two times.
"Alright," Barbara reluctantly sighed. "But remember, don't turn off your comset this time. I don't want you turning into another Helena, one's enough."
Dinah had one thing to add before leaving. "Don't worry, I'll be back soon, then you won't be alone. And Helena's shift ends in half an hour."
"I'm not worried about being left… alone." Dinah had already stepped into the elevator and closed the doors. Barbara tried to get a signal from the comset, but… "That girl, I told her not to turn off her comset."
*******
Dinah was walking through the empty streets when the rain started, gently at first, but then gathering power. Within ten minutes she was sloshing through puddles and getting water dumped on her head by fire escape and architecture alike.
Ducking under a shop overhang she suddenly remembered her comset was still off. Tentatively turning it on, she heard Barbara on the other line.
"Dinah! How many times have I told you…"
"I get the point," Dinah mumbled, "Won't happen again."
"You better hope not, you'd never believe some of the punishm…"
A hand grabbed hold of Dinah's mouth, preventing her from talking. At the same time her comset, her only way of getting help, was clipped out of her ear in a fluid movement of a gloved hand.
*******
Walking back to the clocktower, Helena was reflecting on her day at work.
...how am I ever going to get these stains out? This is my favourite shirt, and those stupid drunks possibly ruined it!
A bar fight had broken out among some obviously very drunk guys, and when Helena informed them that they had had enough they had turned on her. It wasn't a problem for her, but fights like that one scared away business, especially when the bartender was the one dealing out most the damage. Many new customers would not be coming back, much to her boss's dismay and displeasure. All Helena had to look forward to for a long time at work was 2 hours of overtime every working day and on weekends.
"Huntress, you there?" Barbara's voice came flowing into her ear from the comset.
"Yeah, what." Helena replied shortly.
"It's Dinah, she's... gone. I can't explain it. One minute I was talking to her, the next she just wasn't there.
And her comset's still on."
Helena immediately cheered a bit- the thought of possibly beating some kidnapper senseless and not getting in trouble for it was very appealing at the moment.
"On my way, Huntress out. Wait a sec… where am I going?"
Helena could swear she heard Barbara sigh. "She broke off contact at Bramble and 10th. Just get there, all right?"
With one last look around Helena leaped up a fire escape and started climbing.
And I didn't even get a chance to change my shirt! Maybe all this rain will wash the stain out. Suddenly something occurred to her. This rain is going to make it damn hard to track in.
*******
Placing the pen on top of her English homework May rubbed her eyes. Time for a break. Turning on a small TV she flicked to the news. This TV had once helped its owner keep track of the stock markets- now it did something far more important. After a couple of minutes the local news came on.
"A rash of kidnappings has suddenly started in New Gotham's west side. Already known to have a bad reputation these abductions are just another item on the list to some. To others, it's a matter of great and horrible importance."
The screen changed to a view outside a home, where a distraught mother was relating how her only daughter had suddenly disappeared, nearly under her nose.
"We were just walking by this alley on 10th street. One minute, she's there. The next she's not! My poor baby, she just disappeared into thin air!"
The screen switched back to the newsroom where the news anchor began relating details.
"Citizens are warned to be vigilant when travelling in the area of 10th street and to stay away from dark alleys. In other news…"
May listened for a minute more to see if there was anything else, then switched of the TV and grabbed her jacket. She walked out into the deserted hallway, through the door to the factory, in between the huge machines and out into the rain. A flash of lightning ripped through the sky as the lone teenager began to make her way to 10th street.
*******
"Mmm mm mm mm!" Dinah's cries were muffled by a gloved hand, whose owner was behind her, dragging her away from the street.
Still struggling wildly she bit the palm of her captor's hand. As he let go of her she spun around and dealt him a neat punch to the jaw. As he let go of her arm she leaped backwards and aimed a sidekick to his stomach. Falling backwards with the force of the kick, he was slammed into the side of a building. Looking up he saw his attempted abductee; with a blaze of anger burning in her eyes Dinah advanced on him.
"I hope you realize you're never going to do that again." As Dinah spoke she didn't see the guy reach inside his jacket and pull out a deadly black piece of machinery.
The instant Dinah saw the barrel of the gun leave it's haven inside his jacket she blanched. Raising the gun to her head the child abductor made ready to end his opponent's short life… when a streak of black fell on him from above. Cruelly curved claws and glistening fangs, backed with the power of a sleek, lithe, black fur covered body ripped the gun out of his hands and flattened him to the ground almost too fast for the eye to see. Sheathing it's claws the mighty jungle cat cuffed the man over the head, knocking him unconscious. Having effectively dispatched it's adversary the graceful mass of black fur and glittering green eyes leaped up onto the fire escape and disappeared onto the rooftop.
Dinah, still in shock, didn't realize someone was shaking her.
"C'mon Dinah, snap out of it! Don't think for one second I'm going to carry you back to the clocktower!"
"Enough already, I'm fine. And don't think for one second I'd let you carry me back to the clocktower!" Snapping out of reverie, Dinah looked back at the fire escape. "Did you see that? It just… leaped off the roof, knocked the guy out, and disappeared again.. and all in about 15 seconds!"
"Yeah, I was here, remember? What I want to know is where it came from. It could attack innocent people, someone should really catch it." Helena said.
Dinah slowly shifted her gaze from the fire escape to Helena. "Didn't you see it's eyes? They looked almost… human."
Helena's eyes showed concern for the younger girl, something which used to be so alien to her but which was showing itself more and more often. "You've had a traumatic experience, we really should go. I have to change anyway."
Dinah let herself be led off (not even noticing the largish beer stain on Helena's shirt), but she couldn't push the part of her sentence that she never said out of her mind.
I've seen those eyes before.
Helena meant well, but if I had said that she'd probably think I was insane. Those eyes... I've seen them recently, but who or what do they belong to?
Just a note before the story. I've revised the presentation of the chapters a bit for your viewing ease. Words surrounded by are italicized. I also italicize thoughts, so watch out for that.
DISCLAIMER: I don't own any of the original characters of Birds of Prey, Batman, or any related... um... stuff. I don't plan on making any money off of this fanfic, and I only write for the enjoyment of myself and others. I only own the characters I make up, so don't sue me!
Now that that's out of the way, Bonne Appetit!
CHAPTER 1
.:Predator of the Storm:.
A teenage girl lingered in the shadows behind the New Gotham High. Loitering around, most people would think, but she wasn't. She was waiting, though for exactly what she didn't know.
"This is getting pathetic!" she said quietly to herself as she looked around the deserted schoolyard.
A dark shape slinked into her field of vision.
"It's about time, where have you been? I've stood here waiting for an hour!" she exclaimed loudly, then looked around as if someone might hear her.
"I was delayed," was all the shadowed person said.
"Are you going to tell me what I want to know," the girl asked," or will I have to beat it out of you?"
The shadowed person took a while in answering, but finally he replied. "I only came to tell you not to contact me again. It's become too much of a risk for both of us. Goodbye, and I hope you find what you're looking for."
The outraged teen's voice cut into the surrounding darkness. "That's it? So you're not going to tell me anything! You shouldn't have bothered coming."
" I didn't think you'd take kindly to waiting all night for nothing. Sorry."
A moment later the shadowed person had disappeared into an alley across the street, but the girl knew he was still there. He always lingered a while after meeting someone, and besides: she still had that tingly feeling at the back of her neck which always indicated someone was watching her. Her instincts were as finely tuned as a wild animal's. They were never wrong.
*******
"Hey Gabby!" Dinah called out. It was lunch, and the school cafeteria was loud and packed with students.
"Grab a chair, this seat's saved." Gabby said over the noise.
Dinah looked at her friend in surprise. "For who?"
"The new girl… oh, here she comes now. Dinah, meet May. May, Dinah."
A startling flash of light brown hair and a baby blue sweater announced the arrival of May.
" Hi!" Dinah greeted May cheerfully, then added, "I'll be right back, gotta buy my lunch."
Fishing a $5.00 bill out of her pocket, she grabbed a slice of pizza and a soda and stood in line for the cash register. After paying for her lunch, Dinah headed back to the table.
"So what did I miss?" she asked of no one in particular. Sitting down, she looked across to May. "So where are you from?"
" Well, I'm originally from this small town a couple hundred miles from here, Pinto, Missouri- you've probably never heard of it. I left when I was about 13, and I've been moving around since, so I'm not really from anywhere anymore. I just came in from Metropolis."
Not wanting to pry into anything to personal, Dinah didn't inquire any further about all the moving around May had done.
The three chatted a bit more, and Dinah found out that May had the next class with her and Gabby. When the first bell rang the trio headed to the Science wing.
Dinah and May walked into the science class and sat at a table near the back. In ones and twos other students walked through the door. Dinah pointed out each person as they walked through the door.
"And that's Amanda, she usually sits with Rebecca over there…"
When the bell ending class rang Dinah asked, "So what's your next class?"
I have, um, let me see…" Taking her timetable out of backpack she searched for 4th period." Ah, here! I'm in Ms. Gordon's class next."
"Oh, you have Barbara next! I'll show you to her class, it's on my way," Dinah replied with a smile. "I had to talk to her anyway."
Looking mystified, May asked, "Are you this close to all your teachers?"
"No," Dinah replied, "I live with Barbara."
"That explains it." May didn't really think she could feel comfortable being on first-name terms with her teachers.
Saying goodbye to Gabby the two headed for Barbara's classroom. They walked into the class and Barbara, absorbed in something on the computer screen, didn't look up.
"Just go sit quietly until the bell rings, I'm busy right now."
"Hey Barbara. What's up?" Dinah peered over the teacher's shoulder at the monitor, and seeing the Delphi symbol flashing on the screen quickly went to the other side of the desk.
Barbara looked up at the young girl's voice, and saw May.
"Who's this?" she asked Dinah.
Dinah smiled and said, "This is May, a new student in your class. May, this is Barbara."
"Hi, nice to meet you," Barbara said, then looked at the clock. "The bell's going to ring in about 20 seconds, I'd get going if I were you. You don't want to be late."
Dinah looked up at the clock then dashed out the door. "See you later, May. You too Babs!"
"She forgot to say bye to me," said Gabby, pretending to be deeply hurt.
*******
Breaking away from the mass of students exiting the school together, May headed for a relatively peaceful spot against the school building to wait for her newfound friends. Sadly, she watched the chattering pack of girls as they walked down the path.
They don't have a clue about this city. They all shut their eyes and hide from what's in plain view. They can't handle the truth, so they ignore it.
The teenager's gloomy thoughts were interrupted by the arrival of Gabby.
"Hey, where's Dinah?" May asked, coming out of her thoughts.
"She had to stay awhile and help Barbara. But hey, we still get to walk together, eh?"
Raising her eyebrows at her friend's enthusiasm, she replied "Yeah, sure. You feeling all right?"
"I'm just kiddin' with ya," Gabby said cheerfully.
They started walking towards Gabby's house near the edge of the city, exchanging stories of their first day at school. Finally they reached Starnes Street, which was where Gabby lived, and said goodbye.
"You sure you don't want me to walk to your house with you? I don't have anything to do, and it might be kind of lonely, don't you think?" Gabby knew the answer she'd get before she asked the question- they had already discussed this.
True to Gabby's guess, the answer came immediately. "I'll be fine on my own, don't worry. I'm not likely to get lonely."
So, leaving Gabby at her front door, May continued on towards the outskirts of New Gotham. The sun was already starting to set when she reached an old abandoned warehouse. A flare of red, gold, and orange accented by the dark purple clouds of an oncoming storm provided a stunning background for the derelict-looking warehouse. Looking around quickly May headed to the door and opened it, wincing at the protesting squeals of the hinges. With a final look behind her shoulder she ducked into the darkness of the warehouse and pulled the door shut.
Once in the darkness of the warehouse the teenager calmed down, sensing the solid, familiar masses of machinery around her. Behind a labelling machine was a door, which led out of the manufacturing area and into the offices. Down the hallway and through a door marked 'Greg Sullivan, Chairman' was where May had slept for the past week. Now considered her home by the only one who knew she was there (who happened to be herself) all the girl's clothes lay in neat piles around the walls. As soon as she entered the room she slung her bag onto a chair and took her binder and pen out of it. Laying these on the table, she pulled up a chair and started on her homework.
*******
In the clocktower, Dinah was not doing her homework. Not even close.
"Have you got your comset?"
"Yes."
"Good. Now remember, it's the corner of Tenth and Michael Street. Got it?
"Yes already! Can I go now?"
Barbara was finishing up her brief of her latest assignment for Dinah. Impatient as always Dinah was only half listening, though it really didn't matter because she listened the first two times.
"Alright," Barbara reluctantly sighed. "But remember, don't turn off your comset this time. I don't want you turning into another Helena, one's enough."
Dinah had one thing to add before leaving. "Don't worry, I'll be back soon, then you won't be alone. And Helena's shift ends in half an hour."
"I'm not worried about being left… alone." Dinah had already stepped into the elevator and closed the doors. Barbara tried to get a signal from the comset, but… "That girl, I told her not to turn off her comset."
*******
Dinah was walking through the empty streets when the rain started, gently at first, but then gathering power. Within ten minutes she was sloshing through puddles and getting water dumped on her head by fire escape and architecture alike.
Ducking under a shop overhang she suddenly remembered her comset was still off. Tentatively turning it on, she heard Barbara on the other line.
"Dinah! How many times have I told you…"
"I get the point," Dinah mumbled, "Won't happen again."
"You better hope not, you'd never believe some of the punishm…"
A hand grabbed hold of Dinah's mouth, preventing her from talking. At the same time her comset, her only way of getting help, was clipped out of her ear in a fluid movement of a gloved hand.
*******
Walking back to the clocktower, Helena was reflecting on her day at work.
...how am I ever going to get these stains out? This is my favourite shirt, and those stupid drunks possibly ruined it!
A bar fight had broken out among some obviously very drunk guys, and when Helena informed them that they had had enough they had turned on her. It wasn't a problem for her, but fights like that one scared away business, especially when the bartender was the one dealing out most the damage. Many new customers would not be coming back, much to her boss's dismay and displeasure. All Helena had to look forward to for a long time at work was 2 hours of overtime every working day and on weekends.
"Huntress, you there?" Barbara's voice came flowing into her ear from the comset.
"Yeah, what." Helena replied shortly.
"It's Dinah, she's... gone. I can't explain it. One minute I was talking to her, the next she just wasn't there.
And her comset's still on."
Helena immediately cheered a bit- the thought of possibly beating some kidnapper senseless and not getting in trouble for it was very appealing at the moment.
"On my way, Huntress out. Wait a sec… where am I going?"
Helena could swear she heard Barbara sigh. "She broke off contact at Bramble and 10th. Just get there, all right?"
With one last look around Helena leaped up a fire escape and started climbing.
And I didn't even get a chance to change my shirt! Maybe all this rain will wash the stain out. Suddenly something occurred to her. This rain is going to make it damn hard to track in.
*******
Placing the pen on top of her English homework May rubbed her eyes. Time for a break. Turning on a small TV she flicked to the news. This TV had once helped its owner keep track of the stock markets- now it did something far more important. After a couple of minutes the local news came on.
"A rash of kidnappings has suddenly started in New Gotham's west side. Already known to have a bad reputation these abductions are just another item on the list to some. To others, it's a matter of great and horrible importance."
The screen changed to a view outside a home, where a distraught mother was relating how her only daughter had suddenly disappeared, nearly under her nose.
"We were just walking by this alley on 10th street. One minute, she's there. The next she's not! My poor baby, she just disappeared into thin air!"
The screen switched back to the newsroom where the news anchor began relating details.
"Citizens are warned to be vigilant when travelling in the area of 10th street and to stay away from dark alleys. In other news…"
May listened for a minute more to see if there was anything else, then switched of the TV and grabbed her jacket. She walked out into the deserted hallway, through the door to the factory, in between the huge machines and out into the rain. A flash of lightning ripped through the sky as the lone teenager began to make her way to 10th street.
*******
"Mmm mm mm mm!" Dinah's cries were muffled by a gloved hand, whose owner was behind her, dragging her away from the street.
Still struggling wildly she bit the palm of her captor's hand. As he let go of her she spun around and dealt him a neat punch to the jaw. As he let go of her arm she leaped backwards and aimed a sidekick to his stomach. Falling backwards with the force of the kick, he was slammed into the side of a building. Looking up he saw his attempted abductee; with a blaze of anger burning in her eyes Dinah advanced on him.
"I hope you realize you're never going to do that again." As Dinah spoke she didn't see the guy reach inside his jacket and pull out a deadly black piece of machinery.
The instant Dinah saw the barrel of the gun leave it's haven inside his jacket she blanched. Raising the gun to her head the child abductor made ready to end his opponent's short life… when a streak of black fell on him from above. Cruelly curved claws and glistening fangs, backed with the power of a sleek, lithe, black fur covered body ripped the gun out of his hands and flattened him to the ground almost too fast for the eye to see. Sheathing it's claws the mighty jungle cat cuffed the man over the head, knocking him unconscious. Having effectively dispatched it's adversary the graceful mass of black fur and glittering green eyes leaped up onto the fire escape and disappeared onto the rooftop.
Dinah, still in shock, didn't realize someone was shaking her.
"C'mon Dinah, snap out of it! Don't think for one second I'm going to carry you back to the clocktower!"
"Enough already, I'm fine. And don't think for one second I'd let you carry me back to the clocktower!" Snapping out of reverie, Dinah looked back at the fire escape. "Did you see that? It just… leaped off the roof, knocked the guy out, and disappeared again.. and all in about 15 seconds!"
"Yeah, I was here, remember? What I want to know is where it came from. It could attack innocent people, someone should really catch it." Helena said.
Dinah slowly shifted her gaze from the fire escape to Helena. "Didn't you see it's eyes? They looked almost… human."
Helena's eyes showed concern for the younger girl, something which used to be so alien to her but which was showing itself more and more often. "You've had a traumatic experience, we really should go. I have to change anyway."
Dinah let herself be led off (not even noticing the largish beer stain on Helena's shirt), but she couldn't push the part of her sentence that she never said out of her mind.
I've seen those eyes before.
Helena meant well, but if I had said that she'd probably think I was insane. Those eyes... I've seen them recently, but who or what do they belong to?