2

Persephone's POV

Rain. I remember hearing it and feeling it on face and my body before suddenly nothing. I felt lost. I remember voices in my head, all around me. But I cannot make out the words. I never could. Christopher. I remember Christopher.

"I'm sorry."

My eyes opened slowly and I saw beige above me. I blinked a few times feeling warmth around my body and I slowly looked around some more. More beige. It's a soft color. Soft and warm. Not the usual silver and grey that sucked emotion out of me. I sat up seeing large blankets that were covering my body. They provided the warmth. I looked up and saw I was in a room. There were dressers and a closet and another room with its door open. I could see a bathroom. I looked to my left to see a balcony. An actual balcony was in this room? I looked to my right to see a brown door which I could imagine led out into somewhere else. But my attention was pulled from it as I turned and looked to see the mirror above the dresser at the front of the room. I could see my reflection and my eyes widened as I finally got out of the bed.

I remember Christopher taking a knife to my hair. I moved over to the mirror and saw my short little curls poking out of my head. I was in a long white gown. It was not what I was wearing when I was taken that I knew. I also saw the medium sized dot in the middle of my forehead. I raised my hand so my fingers could gently graze the soft flesh. Immediately flashes and gunshots could be heard and my eyes widened as I remembered their guns going off. So many of them died. So many of them innocent. I closed my eyes and ran my fingers into my short curls. My life… it was taken from me. I raised my head to the ceiling and yelled out in pain for those who died. I crouched some feeling tears dropping off my face and disappearing into the carpeted ground.

But maybe with me gone, they won't be hurt anymore. I looked up and around at this warm room I was in. Where was I? The door to the right of me began to open and I tensed and backed away. I had to hide or escape. I turned and ran over to the brown doors that lead out to the balcony. I tried to open them but the doors would not open. They were locked. I turned and placed my back into the door tensing as I prepared myself to… fight. The door opened and a face peaked its head in and before I could really see the face of the man I raised my hands now in a light motion and as I did, a long strip of water formed and began to spread as I spread my fingers.

As the man's entire form entered he paused and raised one hand out to me the other on his hip where I could see his gun.

"Woah woah easy there. Take it easy. I'm not going to hurt you." he said and I raised my arms out wider making the water grow as I took it from the air. Now the man raised both his hands up. "Hey I'm a good guy!" I looked him over some. He was lean and well-built and looked to be of some Asian descent. The water that flowed through his body is the water of Japan. He has Japanese water. I looked at his face noticing the large scars across the left side of his face. He was scarred like me. My hands arms shook already. I was still very weak. I began to pant heavily as I couldn't hold up my arms any longer. My arms dropped swiftly and I dropped to my knees.

The man moved carefully over to me and I tensed and looked in the direction of the bathroom and saw the tub. A good source of water. I crawled over to the bathroom swiftly and hurried inside. I quickly crawled for the bathroom only for him to move right between it.

"Don't even think about it." he said, and I quickly got to my feet and ran for the door only to be blocked by a wall of red. My eyes widened as some monster looked down at me.

"Hi there!" he said. I screamed heavily and backed away only to be caught by the man inside. I held him tight pointing at the monster.

"A monster! A MONSTER!" I screamed.

"Get out of here you're scaring her!" my captor yelled and the monster quickly darted down the hall. I was losing my mind.

"Easy, it's okay. You're alright, Persephone." he said. I looked at him with wide eyes now. He knew my name. I looked his face over some taking in every feature of him.

"My name." I finally said and he nodded, his arms still wrapped around my body.

"Your name is Persephone." he said. He knew my name. Christopher said I would be safe here and to hold on to the folder he slipped beneath his jacket and into my hands. He said I would be safe here. Yet my heart still beat hard with fear. I focused my mind on the man who held me and slowly reached up to him. His eyes sharpened on me now as I did this. Skin to skin contact, water to water, that is how I made my connection. My fingers were inches from his scars and immediately he leaned back from me, finally letting me go.

"You shouldn't do that." he said firmly looking away from me. My shoulders tightened at his words and I looked away. "Your name is Persephone." I looked back at him to see him watching me closely. I nodded.

"I am named Persephone." I replied. He nodded.

"My name is Benjamin Daimio, but everyone calls me Ben." he replied placing his hand over his chest. I watched him do this and placed my hand over his chest mimicking him. He nodded. "I'm not going to hurt you." I shook my head watching him with caution once more.

"I don't believe you." I replied and he raised his arms.

"How can I prove to you?" he asked. I reached out to him.

"Skin to skin. Water to water. Connect with me and prove it." I said. He seemed stunned by my words but cleared his throat and nodded.

"Alright." he said and held out his arm to me, his hand stretching out to me. I looked at it for a moment before slowly stepping closer to him, watching him still with visible caution. I placed my hand over his and let my hand touch his. Finally I felt his warm skin and immediately I could feel him, read him. I closed my eyes and gasped gently. He was different, but I could not figure out how. My body felt warm and my insides felt calm now. I moved closer to him opening my eyes and watching as he gazed down at me in mild admiration. Our eyes remained connected as I raised his hand finally to my cheek as I looked down as if reading something.

"You have felt pain. You have felt death… but death could not hold you. You are a warrior." I said rubbing my cheek against his bare palm. "You are dangerous, but you are also beautiful." I looked up at him finally and he just stared at me long and I felt his hand start to cup my cheek willingly.

"Does that mean you trust me?" he asked. I sighed gently.

"You bring my body to a state of calmness. Like Christopher. You are good." I replied letting his hand go now. His hand lingered against my cheek for a minute before quickly removing it finally looking down clearing his throat some.

"Christopher… um is that the guy who brought you here?" he asked finally. I nodded slowly looking around.

"He said I would be safe here. Am I safe here?" I asked looking back at him. He nodded.

"You are." he replied. From our contact I can feel the movement of water in his body and I can sense how everything works. Nothing changed in his answer. He was not lying. I looked around for a moment running my fingers over my newly short curls.

"Where am I?" I asked.

"You are at the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense in Colorado. We are a government that specializes in things non-human. We protect the world from any creature who tries to hurt the human world." he said. I looked at him glancing at his scars.

"Are you human?" I asked. He nodded once.

"Yes." he said. The water shifted in his body, his heart increasing in beat just a bit. I looked down in thought of why he would lie. "Persephone. You were brought here for your protection and safety. But my job is to protect those in this building. I know you are an elemental human. I need to know you are not a threat to anyone here." His voice was firm and serious and I nodded.

"I am not a threat. I don't want to hurt anyone." I replied and he didn't seem convinced.

"And how can I trust your words?" he asked. I walked up to him again and took his hand placing it over my heart. He winced slightly at the action.

"I can make connections with anyone who has water in them. Christopher was the only one I have ever connected to- allowed myself to connect to. He was good. Now that connection is severed, and I have made a connection with you and only you. You will be able to feel if I am ever hostile. I will allow only you the ability to sense where I am as a sign of good faith that I would not hurt anyone here." He said. His skin feels warmer than when I had first touched it. His eyes seemed to soften on me. We share an agreeable nod. Christopher said this place would be safe and I had to believe it was.

"Persephone." Ben said with a nod as his hand covered mine. I gave a thankful smile in return.

"Ben." I replied calmly and a soft knock made us both step back and look to the door. There was a young girl with long locs who smirked as she entered. She was in a grey t-shirt and jeans. She smirked and crossed her arms.

"Oh really making friends, huh Ben?" she asked. Ben scoffed.

"Oh shut up, it's not like that." he said. I glanced at his feet as I felt the change in his body upon hearing his response. The girl came in and I was mildly tense, but her smile seemed genuine. She raised her hand to me.

"Persephone, right? Alice. I'm a medium." she introduced. I blinked at her hand and took it and nodded. Medium. She was experienced in the dead. "Don't worry there are no dead around here."

"Alice." I replied before glancing at the door upon seeing another flash of red, but it hid. I backed behind Ben, hiding behind him.

"It's the monster." I said quickly. Both Ben and Alice smirked. Ben looked back at me.

"More or less, but he's actually your biggest fan." he said. I looked up at him confused.

"Fan?" I asked heavily confused.

"Come on in Red." Alice said to the door and in came the large creature. I finally saw the tall red man with a tail and what looked like broken horns. He was in a big black shirt and matching jeans and I just glanced around Ben's body at him.

"Persephone this is Hellboy. He is… complicated." Alice said warmly. The creature chuckled.

"Well don't stop now keep the compliments coming." he said and I could see the genuineness between he and Alice. Ben finally stepped out of the way exposing me to the tall demon.

"It's okay Persephone. He's one of the good guys." he said. No lies. Now Hellboy approached me and we both just stood there before each other and he just observed me as I did him. He had some water in him. I could feel that much. His large size intimidated me a bit.

"Don't worry, he grows on everyone." Alice said.

"Speak for yourself." Ben said. Hellboy had a big face, long side burns that sculped his face. I tilted my head some as I looked him over.

"Nice to meet you, Persephone. Sorry I scared you back there." he said holding out his large hand to me. I looked at it for a moment before looking up at him and nodding taking his hand and letting him shake my hand. The water in his body was hot, very hot.

"Nice to meet you. All of you." I replied kindly looking around at all of them. Another form came into the doorway. It was an older man with dark grey curls.

"Now that you've met the small team, Ms. Persephone, I was hoping you'd talk with me now." he said. I looked at the man and Hellboy smirked.

"Don't worry, my dad doesn't keep the scary façade up for long." he said. Dad? Now that definitely caught me off guard. The older man gave nod.

"My name is Trevor Bruttenholm, but you can call me Prof. Broom. I am the head of this organization." he said. I walked around Hellboy and moved up to him. So he was the boss. I held my hand up so he could take my hand. I did not have to read Hellboy or Alice to know them, but I wanted to know him. I could read the water inside him. He had been through quite a lot. He has experienced quite a lot in his youth and it has shown in his aching body. I released his hand and nodded slowly.

"Prof. Broom." I replied and he nodded with a warm smile.

"My dear it seems you were brought here because you needed protection, and here at the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense, we happily grant that protection." he said. I looked him over before looking back at Ben to see if this were true. The man nodded with a professional smile and I looked at Hellboy and Alice then turned to Prof. Broom and nodded.

"Thank you. I am very weak and I need a source of water." I replied. Prof. Broom nodded.

"Of course. Let me show you around the facility. You will have free roam and then we can get you that water." he said moving to walk down the very long hall. I was curious of this place already. Sensing Ben's truthfulness, I could feel there was no ill intentions. This was a safe place. But for how long it could remain this way for me, I did not know.