A Hidden Past

Chapter 7

The journey to sanctuary remained pretty much silent. Adam held Shalimar tight and while she didn't seem as agitated as she was when they first met, she did not relax in his arms. Adam rocked her gently throughout the trip, constantly trying to reassure her but her facial expression gave no sign that she even heard him. She merely looked worn and tried; her eyes held an age that Adam thought most Adults wouldn't even reach.

"Shalimar?" Nothing, no response, she seemed to stare into nothingness, drained of life, but Adam felt there was a need to tell her what was going to happen, so in case she was listening she would be prepared.

"Shalimar when we get to sanctuary, there will be someone else there, his name is Harrison Blake he's going to help me make sure you're ok. He's a good friend of mine, he won't hurt you ok."

Shalimar did not reply. She did however hear him, and although she wasn't sure about this man she didn't know she trusted Adam, despite everything she did trust him. She remembered him in their therapy sessions when she was more than a baby, he had made her laugh, played with her, she felt safe with him. She wouldn't fight him, even if she wanted to she didn't think she could. She had no fight left in her.

"Shalimar, Shalimar wake up we're here." Shalimar woke, she hadn't even realised she had fallen asleep. Adam lifted her in his arms once again and cradled her to his chest.

"We're going to go to my lab. We'll see if we can make the hurt stop."

They walked out of the Helix and into sanctuary, Shalimar's eyes darted around taking in the new surroundings.

"Harrison! I have her, is the lab ready, she's not looking that good."

"I'm ready Adam bring her in."

Adam walked through into the lab and placed the weightless child on the bio-bed.

"Okay Shalimar we're going to scan you. There will be a beam of light that'll go up and down your body, it won't hurt but you'll have to remain very still."

He gained no response, but then he didn't really expect one. He gently stroked her matted hair and squeezed her hand before going to his command console. Harrison started up the scanner. This startled Shalimar but she soon calmed and let the hum of the machines and electronics relax her as she closed her eyes.

Chatter began as they waited for the scan.

"So how old is she? 8, 9?"

"11 actually. She's very malnourished, she's um 4ft 1, a probably underweight for that."

The scan finished with a beep.

"Okay Harrison what have we got?"

"I'm sending it to you now Adam, but it doesn't look good."

"Okay, we have a fractured leg, broken arm, cracked ribs, a few skull fractures, onset on pneumonia in the left lung, cut and abrasions to 80 of her body, some nasty burns and the scans shows she hasn't eaten in 5 days." Adam said slowly, when he finished he dropped his head and massaged his forehead.

"And you say she attacked you?"

"She did. She fought tooth and nail before she realised who I was. But I wasn't finished."

"You're kidding."

"No I'm not, there are signs of repeated sexual abuse, as well as physical and mental."

"My God, It's horrific what humans are capable of, or what the human body can withstand, but what sick pervert would want to test that."

"This isn't just a human body Harrison, this is a ferals'. It can withstand far more than the average human and has greater regenerative abilities; Shalimar is one of the strongest ferals ever recorded. Her mutation is probably the thing that has kept her alive."

"Where should we start?"

"I want photographs taken of all her injuries, then we'll wash her, start her on antibiotics and painkillers, dress her wounds but we'll have to put her asleep to set her bones."

As the photos were taken, Shalimar acted as if catatonic, staying in any position they placed her, with an expressionless face. Once they had finished the photos they slowly removed her shoes, trousers and t-shirt. They were again met with no resistance, but were appalled by what they saw, abrasions didn't cover the welts found in the backs of her legs. They gently washed her down, trying not to cause any more pain not that they could tell if they had, Shalimar remain unresponsive to anything they did.

Adam and Harrison cleaned her up, getting rid of most of the abrasion as if they never existed. They knew they could do a good job of getting rid of the physical appearance but each mark and scar held its own emotional damage, which was much harder to heal. They sat her up to look at her back and saw the massive burn mark, the raised scar covered the span and length of her back, welts carved in and out like pox marks.

Once she was washed Adam laid her down.

"Ok Shalimar I'm going to put you to sleep now. You won't feel a thing."

Shalimar didn't reply but enjoyed the feel of sleep wash over her, not really caring if she never woke up.

TBC

One more chap to go I think