Chapter 15: After the Battle

I looked at Ray, puzzled by his face. It was something like what you would expect to come from right out of a cartoon. His mouth was hanging open, and he looked like he had seen the ghost of Andrew Jackson. I couldn't help chuckling at the sight.

"Morning to you too! Where's breakfast? I'm famished!" I rubbed my furry hands together, waiting for the tray of food that should get here any moment. I felt like I hadn't eaten in a week, and my stomach hurt with hunger.

As I looked around, I noticed with dismay that my cell stunk, and it was dirty. "Was there a party or something? This place stinks..."

Ray shook his head. "You're... you're back?"

This puzzled me even more. "Have I been gone somewhere?" I looked everywhere to see if there was food, but I had no luck. "Listen, I don't want to sound demanding, but I'm starving. Can I go eat something?"

Ray shook his head. "I...I'll go. You stay here." He left the cell, still shaking his head.

Why is he acting so... weird?

-.-.-

Ray stopped in front of the professor's office. She wouldn't believe him, not at all. He knocked on the door.

"WHAT?" came an exasperated voice.

"Professor, you might want to check the monitors out. You'll be surprised..."

-.-.-

A short while later, a very stunned professor stared at the sight on the monitors, unable to comprehend how it could happen. A couple of hours ago, they were wondering what to do with a crazed morph. Next thing they know, she's back to normal and demanding food.

She wrote down a note on the clipboard, one meant for scientists and psychologists. "This is veryinteresting... you may go now." She had rudely dismissed Ray, but she needed time to think things through by herself, without having the trainer butt in.

Things were back on track once again.

-.-.-

Ray brought me a tray with an apple and toast, not quite filling but at least I wouldn't die of hunger any time soon. I had to force myself to chew properly, I was so hungry I wanted to just swallow it all whole, but I knew that wasn't the smartest thing to do.

"So... what about the cell?" I asked, playing with the apple's core. Ray looked at me warily, and I found myself elaborating on the question. "I mean, it's a mess!"

"You don't remember? Nothing at all?"

"Should I?" I asked, getting the feeling that something was wrong.

"Well, yes and no. You were... well, 'gone' for a while, and I thought you'd remember why..." he trailed off as he looked at me.

"What?" I followed his gaze and saw metal bracers. Stainedmetal bracers. My mind raced to recall where I'd gotten those. It hit me all of a sudden.

The fight. The morph. The blood. A metallic scent in the air, mixing in with the scent that I had wondered about earlier. Pain, anger, revenge, but more than anything, blood, and an all-consuming rage.

My head reeled, and I had to lean against the wall to keep from falling. I was shaking all over now, afraid to ask the question. "What happened?"

"You lost it out there," Ray said bluntly. "You went berserk on the Scyther morph and tore her to pieces."

"How is she?" I was afraid of the answer, but I had to find out.

"Doctors say she'll be better if she survives the night. They're working hard to stabilize her." He picked at his watch.

I stared at the metal bracers, unable to comprehend what had taken place. "But... why? How?"

He shook his head, averting my eyes. "We... don't know. We think it might be somehow linked to the base specimen used for the transformation. It was triggered by the scent of blood, fueled by pain and frustration."

"Do you think I could, uhh, visit Rita?" I asked warily, not knowing what answer to expect to this question.

"I don't think that would be a good idea..." Ray answered, thinking his answer through and picking his words right. "First off, we don't know how the other morph may react. That in itself is bad enough. Then there's the...psychological trauma seeing the damage done could cause," he rushed through, hoping to have his words heard by no one but himself. "And it's ultimately up to the professor. I could swear she's not going to let you."

I sighed, half-relieved and half-worried. Part of me wanted to avoid facing what I had done, and yet another part of me knew I owed it to Rita to at least show that I was sorry. And why was Ray so sure the professor would not let me see Rita?

Ray interrupted my inner debate. "Is there anything else you need?"

I thought for a second, but my mind came up blank. "Only a way to change the past and a shower, but neither is possible..." I trailed off wistfully, trying my hardest not to look at the caked blood that adorned my fur. I was past filthy now. I was covered in blood. What else could happen to make it worse?

"Well, I don't believe it is humanly possible to change the past, at least not according to my knowledge of current developments. However, about the shower... You have been assigned to a new room, and, in accordance to the promise made to you at the time of the competition, it is much better than this one. You won't have to worry about this mess for much longer, since you'll be moving in there soon." He took another look at me, eyeing the door tentatively. "Are you alright then?"

"I... guess I am," I answered, painfully aware that, while I had received a couple of scratches and bruises, I had sent another morph to the intensive care unit of the facility. But it was so blurry in my mind. Why couldn't I remember it clearly?

Ray nodded and stepped outside, the door slamming shut behind him with an ominous thud.

Author's note:Hey guys, I know I haven't really updated this story in liiiiike… three years. I figured I might as well put up what I had left a long time ago. Yes, it's short. No, I can't really tell you to expect any more. Sorry :/ Thanks to all those who messaged or reviewed in that time period.