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Nova

Chapter 11: The Woman.

Meryl

The blue-haired woman lay on of the bed, silent, except for her labored breathing. She had yet to regain consciousness. I stared at her face, images of Legato forcing those men to hold gun to me and Milly's heads coming back full force.

Vash, and Knives stood at the foot of the bed, saying nothing. Vash kept glancing back and forth between the woman and Knives, who had a very thoughtful look on his face.

That jerk. His freaking superiority complex was enough for ten kings, and their Prime Ministers. I really hoped that he wouldn't cause trouble. But knowing himeven as little as I did, it seemed inevitable that he would.

I shook my head and looked towards the door just as it opened. Milly entered with a white box with a red cross on it in her arms. "I got the med-kit, Meryl." She said.

I nodded, and stepped closer to the sleeping woman to examine her injuries a little better. Her left arm was broken in a couple of places, and she had multiple bruises.

It was hard to tell but I thought she might have a slight concussion, not to mention that she had a large gash across her side. It was bleeding pretty badly.

"Vash. You and Knives better leave so Milly and I can wrap her side."

Vash looked worried, "But Meryl, what if she wakes up?"

"Don't worry, Vash. Anyway what makes you think she's anything like... Legato?"

"Well... I don't... but...."

"Leave, Vash. Seriously, don't worry, that's my job. Look if it makes you feel any better wait out side the door and I'll call if she causes trouble."

Vash nodded and left, Knives followed not far behind.

"Let's get this cape of hers off." I said.

I pulled the cape away and a small wallet fell out of a hidden pocket.

"Oh, look," said Milly, "It might have some ID in it, Meryl. Would it be wrong to look?"

"I don't think so," I said and picked the wallet up.

I opened it up, all I found was money. And a photo.

In the photo, there was a family. An older man with white streaks in his blue hair along his temples stood in the background. Two young women sat cross-legged in the foreground. The younger of the two woman I recognized as the woman currently laying on the bed in front of me.

"Looks like there's writing on the back." Milly noted.

I flipped the photo around and read the writing on the back.

'Dad, Aria, and Kestrel. Marian's birthday party CY 129.'

"There are two name's here that could be hers," I said, "Either Aria or Kestrel."

"Is there anything else?" Milly asked.

"No, nothing," I slipped the photo back into the wallet and placed it on the table that was between the two beds.

"She's bleeding pretty badly, Meryl."

"Yeah, I'm going to go get some water and some clean towels to clean the wound. "

Kestrel

.... Voices...?

Where...?

"Milly, hand me those bandages."

That voice again.

Who...?

Crap, why can't I move?

What in the hell is going on? I should be dead. Right?

Those creatures... they were right there. So, why am I not dead?

Did someone save me?

"Meryl she's waking up." Another voice?

I blinked my eyes, rapidly trying to gain some ground on my bearings. The first things I saw were two people.

Two women.

"Where...?" I managed to croak out.

"You're at a hotel. About ten blocks from that bar."

I shot up and immediately regretted it. The pain in my side was ten-fold.

I grunted and laid back down, "Ten blocks? I... I can't stay here. If those creatures come for me--"

"Then we'll deal with them when they get here. Don't worry, with Vash here we'll be alright"

"Who?"

"Vash."

"Mr. Vash is Meryl's boyfriend." The other woman piped up.

"She doesn't need to know that!"

"Oh, sorry, Meryl."

I flicked my gaze back and forth between the two. How strange, "How did I get here. I was sure that I was a goner."

"Oh, Vash and his brother saved you." Meryl said.

"Oh."

Meryl smiled, "I'm Meryl Stryfe, and this is my partner Milly Thompson."

Milly smiled.

"I'm Kestrel, Kestrel Bluesummers."

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