CHAPTER 11
The Coates freaks' hands were positively disgusting after being plastered; Cleo had got round about half of the plastees by now and healed the worst of the wounds and was seriously tired after using her power non-stop for so long but kept going, keen to do her bit to help out after feeling like such a traitor for being on the side of the people who had done this to everyone. Her powers couldn't reach beyond the surface of the skin however, and her heart broke as she saw the state they were in and knew she could do nothing about that psychological wound. She walked up to Sam and took his hands, as she had taken everyone else's, ready to heal him next. He's only been plastered for a few minutes, but his hands looked red and raw and after rescuing everyone, Cleo thought she owed it to him to give him priority in the healing queue. But Sam pulled his hands away.
"No, I'm fine. Go and heal the others." Cleo hesitated for a minute, but he looked so sure that she nodded and turned to go and heal someone else. But then Sam grabbed her arm, stopping her.
"Yes?"
"Cleo…thank you." Cleo smiled.
"No problem, y'know I think it should probably be me thanking you…" Sam shook his head.
"No honestly, I didn't do anything, if it wasn't for Lit- err…the cement disappearing, we'd've all been screwed!"
"Yeah…how did that happen?" Sam shrugged, not making eye contact.
"No idea…lucky though, eh?" Cleo nodded and smiled.
"Anyway, better get back to work…" They both smiled and then Cleo carried on with her healing round, but now with a smile on her face.
They finally arrived back at Perdido Beach, buzzing with a new excitement as Sam had talked of a war between him and Caine's lot. The plastees had filled their concave stomachs and filled with a hatred and want of revenge, Cleo was glad she was now on their side. She took Sam to one side when she had the chance, which took a while as everyone was always surrounding him, asking him endless questions. But finally there was a gap and Cleo took it.
"What's up Cleo?" Sam asked, looking generally concerned, although Cleo wasn't sure what she could trust after Caine's big act. Sam seemed different though.
"Um, you haven't talked to me about my bit in the big battle?" She said.
"That's cos you don't have one." He said sternly.
"But I want to help! I can't just sit back and watch, I…I…" She sighed. "There's something I didn't tell you." Sam said nothing, just waited for her to tell him in her own time. "I wasn't exactly kidnapped by Caine, I…well, I was but…before that, I…I helped them." She looked at the ground, too ashamed to meet Sam's eyes, but he put his hand on her shoulder comfortingly.
"Hey, Cleo, we all liked him in the beginning. We all let him come to power. You weren't to know…"
"But he said stuff about you…lied, and I believed him! After knowing him for a couple of days! I've been at school with you for years!"
"Well that's what he does, he's good at lying. Look, stop beating yourself up about it. That's in the past now. You gonna help us in the present?" Cleo finally met his gaze.
"You just said I wasn't allowed to fight!"
"I know, you have a different role. Take your dog, take your sister, get out of here, hide out somewhere. Wait for it to all blow over and then help pick up the pieces. Heal our people. That's your job. Ok?" Cleo nodded, feeling awful. She'd completely forgotten about Oskar and Pippa!
"Do you know where they are? Pippa and my dog?" Sam shrugged.
"I've been out of town, but last I knew they were at the daycare." Cleo nodded.
"Thanks Sam!" She said, pulling him into a hug without realising what she was doing, he stood there awkwardly for a second then he hugged her back. "Stay safe." She said seriously and he smiled.
"I try…" He said and Cleo smiled back. Then she broke into a run in the direction of the daycare.
