Epilogue
Adam looked around him at the quiet halls of the hotel. It seemed odd being back here, in the place he had first found Shalimar. Especially now. And he felt exposed here without Jesse or Brennan to help if anything went wrong. But they were working on other projects and the owner had left a message for him once again, two young girls this time rather than one, and no frequent male visitors to leave them bruised and ashamed. Memories stirred by this return made the back of his eyes itch, threatening tears.
A door lay in front of him and he was almost surprised to see that it wasn't the same door. Knocking smartly and standing straight he waited. A teenager answered, no older than fifteen. Dark hair graced darkly tanned skin and deep brown eyes examined him quickly from head to toe. She watched him, seemingly waiting for something, with a curiosity which was so reminiscent of Shalimar's gaze he had to label her as a feral. When he offered the girl no greeting or sales pitch an eyebrow was raised in question.
"I'm Adam Kane. I'm part of a group called Mutant X, we help people with special gifts like yours. Can I came in?" A raised lip and a feral growl was his only response. At least his assessment of her mutancy was correct, only ferals could make noises like that. Perhaps the young feral couldn't talk he mused.
"Someone has told me you have a friend here who is hurt." He brought out a medical kit, noticing how she eyed it distrustfully. "Can I come in and help her."
She looked behind her into the room, voicing a soft whine. She obviously received some sort of reply as she opened the door further and stepped into the room, leaving him to close the door and follow.
Another girl, maybe a year or so younger lay on what might have once been a mattress. She was deathly pale and a large makeshift bandage was tight around her waist, stained dark with blood in one patch. The girl's light blond hair was greasy and matted, her eyes closed. Beside her there was a bowl of water with a flannel in it which the other girl had obviously been using to cool her brow.
The feral stayed close as he worked, occasionally approaching and watching what he was doing, sometimes pacing the room uncertainly. The second girl made no sound as he treated her, nor did she open her eyes. When he was finished he stepped away, watching as the feral took his place at her side, a gentle hand on her shoulder, quiet noises shared that meant nothing to him. The older girl turned to him eventually.
"She needs proper medical attention. I would like to take her to Sanctuary where I can treat her properly." Adam began.
"We will come with you." The voice was soft and weak in his mind and he realised that the second girl had to be a telepath. Looking past the feral he found shocking blue eyes staring back at him. Moving back over to lift the injured girl the feral quickly moved into his path, a hand restraining him. When she was happy he would stay where instructed she turned and lifted the girl herself. Her strength was startling. The other girl, though thin, couldn't be much less than her own body weight. The blond's eyes were shut again and he realised that this was her own way of controlling her powers.
Quietly Adam lead the two out of the hotel, wondering if it was perhaps time to take on some more trainees.
Stir Crazy - sequel to Catching Teardrops - Coming soon!!
