Eight
Madeleine
It felt like hours before I heard anyone step inside the McDonalds. I had hid beside the freezer, squatting behind boxes with a knife in my hand. The entire time, my heart beat was racing, and my breathing was short, but I wanted to save as much of my inhaler as I could just in case the situation got worse.
The glass crunched under a set of boots. I crawled quietly until I was behind the front counter, and then I lifted my head just enough for me to see what was going on. I gasped quietly. The Mog who had ran out of the rubble was now setting a body on top of a table gently before tearing his gray hoodie down the middle. The monster, who didn't look like the others, was mumbling to himself. He had a lanky frame with shaggy dark hair. His skin was tanner than his warrior counterparts. Something told me that he was different than the others we had seen before. I watched him silently.
"Why the hell did you send me here, Nine?" I heard him whisper.
My lip began to quiver, but I bit down on it sharply. I felt the blood squirt onto my tongue before the coppery taste filled my mouth. No. There was no way... Anger bubbled inside of me. That jackass was not going to get away with hurting him. I thrust out my hand and watched as the force field wrapped around Nine's body. It's electric shock tossed the Mogadorian backwards. He hit the counter with a groan, holding his left arm as he rolled painfully on the ground. I let the shield fall away as I hopped the counter and made my way quickly over to Nine's side. My lip quivered as I saw the blood pooling all over his midsection.
"Nine?" I called quietly, pushing his hair gently away from his cold face. No response.
I gripped the knife in my right hand. I looked up at the Mog, who held up his hands as he coughed.
"You did this?" I growled.
He shook his head. "Let me explain!" Coughs wracked his body.
I stepped around the table and made my way towards him. I was determined to kill him. He did this, I knew it. I was mere feet away, ready to electrocute him for the final time before I slit his throat, when he looked up at me. His eyes grew wide.
"You're Madeleine."
I hesitated. "Nope." I held my hand up, ready to blast him.
"Yes, you are!" He shakily stood. "Your parents - I spoke with them! Your mom, Anna - she was a healer!"
"And how do you know that? Are they working with you?!" I snapped harshly. It wouldn't surprise me if they were. He was my age, maybe a year older. There was no way he'd remember everything that happened during the attack on Lorien, especially when my parents weren't even there.
"That legacy is hereditary, Madeleine. You probably have it, too, if you just try." Shakily, he stuck out his pale hand for me to shake. "My name is Adam. I know Sam and Malcolm. I'll explain everything soon, but right now, Nines's going to die if we don't do something now."
"If you try anything - anything - suspicious, I ain't going to hesitate to go Medieval on your ass."
"I'd expect nothing less."
My mind was screaming for me to go check on Nine immediately, but I didn't trust this guy. Could he actually be the Adam that everyone has been talking about? I decided to risk the odds and say yes. I pointed the knife at him before hurrying back over to Nine.
I had to lean in close to be able to hear his shallow breathing. I quickly kissed his forehead. "You're going to be okay," I promised. Then I began to examine his wound. It was a gaping hole through his middle. His skin was ashen and cold from blood loss. I quickly pushed up my sleeves before placing both of my hands on top of his wound. His blood pumped through my fingers as I prayed for something to happen.
Nothing.
"It isn't working!" I hollered over at Adam. He began to panic as well.
"It has to work!"
"Well it isn't!"
"Just - just - think about how your mom used to do it!"
I let out a frustrated "Ugh!" Before closing my eyes and trying again. I thought about how much fun I had today up until the attack. I focused on all of the laughters and memories we had just made. I wanted that back so badly, because I knew deep down in my heart that if everyone else was gone, and I couldn't help Nine, Lorien was screwed. The Mogs will win. And it will all be my fault.
Come on, Nine, I thought desperately. I need you. Everyone needs you.
Then my hands began to tingle and heat up. I gasped and opened my eyes. Slowly, I watched as Nine's muscles began to fuse together and the bleeding practically stopped. The color began to arise back in his face and body. His breathing became stronger as I felt tears spill down my face.
"Is it working?" Adam called. He looked out the window, keeping an eye out for any intruders.
I didn't answer. I barely allowed myself to move just in case I lost focus. After a few minutes, the last piece of torn skin stitches itself together, and I allowed myself to intense. I threw my arms around his neck in a hug.
"Oh, Nine!"
The only response I got from him was slow, heavy breathing. I leaned up and saw he was still unconscious. Gently, I rested my head on his muscular chest and let out a few quiet sobs.
"You did it!" Adam said cheerfully, whooping loudly. He was grinning from ear to ear when I looked up at him.
I nodded as I wiped my tears off of my face. "Where's the others?"
His face clouded. "Most of them were kidnapped and taken as prisoners. They... They had no use for Malcolm. They left me and him inside the building while they shot it down. We tried to escape, but I just got lucky. I couldn't find him."
My heart hurt. That poor man... He had been so nice to me for the week I had known him, and from the little I had been told about his close relationship with Adam, I couldn't imagine how he was feeling.
"I'm sorry," I said barely above a whisper. "What about Sam?"
"They took him, too. All of us fought like crazy, but there was just too many of them."
I pointed to the ceiling. "Are they still here?"
He shook his head. "They left while Nine was killing a squadron of their men."
I nodded before looking back down at Nine. I squeezed his once injured hand before bringing my lips to it for a quick kiss.
"We need to get out of the city before the police start showing up. They saw me hurrying away with Nine, but I just slipped away from them," Adam said softly. "I know you don't trust me, but-"
I shook my head. "You're right, but we don't have a car."
"Leave that to me," he said, looking over his shoulder to the streets. "There's enough stranded cars around, I'll get one no problem. Just wait here with him, and I'll be back in a few minutes."
"No funny business," I reminded quietly.
He smiled, but yet there was still hurt behind his eyes. "No funny business. I'll be right back." With that, he stepped through the glass-shattered doors and headed out of view.
I slid over a metal chair and sat beside Nine, my leg bouncing nervously. I could hear my breath begin to wheeze, but I ignored it. All the adrenaline that my body had built up over so quickly was now beginning to fade. I could feel the soreness in my muscles more so than five minutes ago. I was beginning to notice how exhausted I now felt. This legacy was going to take its toll on me far worse than the force field; however, it made me wonder what other legacies I might inherit. Like my mother, I was going to be a late bloomer. Perhaps I might be able to learn my fathers Ximic or Light Manipulation. Him and my grandfather were some pretty powerful guys. Maybe I could one day have that strength with a little bit of training...
My wheezing was beginning to make me cough. I leaned my forehead against Nine's bicep and shut my eyes.
"It's going to be okay," I repeated quietly. "Just wake up soon. Just... Please." I sat up and kissed his cheek. Then, we waited for Adam.
Where we would go now, I didn't know. But I finally understood the Loric's hatred for the Mogadorians. Every one of them but Adam seemed to have a death wish against us. They had taken the others, and who knew what they have planned to do with them. Would they kill them? Would they experiment? Would they try to take their legacies like they had done with One? Now, it was going to be up to me, Nine, and Adam to try to find them and put an end to this.
I rubbed my forehead.
What had I gotten myself into?
