Chapter 5
Misty sat between Storm and Cable as they watched Bishop explain the various routes she could have used to leave the mansion.
Personally Misty thought it was a waste of time, because as she saw it, they all led to the same place.
Away from here.
It was quiet obvious that Claire didn't want to be found, so why didn't they just leave her alone? Wouldn't their time be better spent trying to find the professor?
"This is all fine and good bub, but after all this analysis, what have ya come up with?" Logan asked, chewing on his cigar.
Bishop retracted his pointer with a sigh. "That we have no idea where she is. There is no trace of her."
Remy snorted, "coulda told ya that mon ami, Claire not be the type to leave behind clues."
Logan nodded in agreement, "maybe not but she can't hide her scent, or her biosignitiure," he looked at Misty, "so from where I sit, I think we've got a pretty good shot at finding her if we get off our butts and do something."
For the first time since she had met the short Canadian Misty agreed with him.
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Claire followed Gerald through the forest, her feet were sore from walking without shoes, but for some reason it didn't bother her.
He turned towards the base of a cliff, and ushered her into the opening of a small cave.
"Do not fret my dear, we are almost there."
Claire nodded silently, wondering why her legs did not seem able to obey her commands. Her toe caught on a rock and she fell forward, piercing her palm on a sharp rock.
Gerald heard her hiss in pain and gently picked her up, cradling her once again in his arms.
"Perhaps this would be better, no? Wouldn't want you to injure yourself before we got there."
Claire wanted to resist, to tell him to put her down, but instead she felt so incredibly tired. So instead she laid her head against his shoulder and closed her eyes.
Gerald felt relief as he felt her finally drift off to sleep. She was much more strong willed than she used to be, and it took substantially more effort to keep her calm.
Part of him didn't want to bring her here. That part of him wanted to take her home, where it would just be them like it used to be.
However the other half of him, the part that ruled him, knew that he needed what she had, and thus sacrifices had to be made.
Gerald reached the end of the tunnel and stretched his finger out, pressing the button for the elevator, waiting patiently supporting Claire's weight in his arms.
With a gentle ding it opened, flooding the small tunnel with Florissant light, revealing the sterile metal enclosure. He got in and pressed the loan button in the box and felt the car begin to descend further into the earth.
At last, the end was almost near.
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Misty stood in the woods with Logan and Remy. Logan was crouched low to the ground, sniffing like a bloodhound hot on the trail.
"She be here?"
Logan shook his head. "Not anymore. The trail is cold, almost two days, maybe less. Hard to tell with the rain, it washes the scent out. But there was someone else here."
"At the same time?" Misty asked, wishing there were someway she could get a signature on them.
Logan shook his head, "Don't know, if there was then it really complicates matters."
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Gerald squinted as the bright lights of the lab assaulted his eyes. He stepped through, his dark coloring and clothing in stark contrast with the sterile white of the lab.
The scientist, who had been hard at work, stopped and stared, not at him, but at the woman in his arms.
She was the person they had been working so hard and long for. Gerald laid her on the table and nurses came forward with water and cloths and began to bath the dirt off of her face.
When the water touched her face Claire opened her eyes, the pupils contracting quickly at the light. Her hand shot out and she grabbed the nearest nurse by the neck, squeezing it hard with her hand.
"Who in the hell are you?" She growled as the other nurse dropped her pan and backed out of reach quickly. Gerald rushed forward, wrapping his hand over her wrist, prying her fingers loose.
"No, my dear, that behavior simply will not do. She was simply trying to help you, they all are." He motioned to the room behind him.
Claire sat up and looked around her, the place was filled with men and women in white lab coats.
"I hate doctors." She hissed.
Gerald nodded giving her a calming smile, "quiet understandable, a detestable breed if I don't say so myself, but killing them won't do any good. Like lawyers there are always more waiting in the wings."
Claire quirked an eyebrow at him, and he continued.
"You must be exhausted after our trip, not to mention dirty. Why don't I take you to a shower where you can clean up and change into some clean cloths."
Claire nodded, "and then what? Play time?"
Gerald gave a secretive smile. "Something like that."
