The Princess and the Papoose

Chapter 6

Soon, the gentle sound of water and the warm afternoon caused the Princess and the Papoose to fall asleep. As they slept, the dark clouds in the sky grew darker, and it began to rain.
Across the lake from the dark water caves came the Purple Dragon. He was a terrible sight as he flew about the sky, frightening all who could see him. During his show of terror, he swooped down on the sleeping Princess and snatched her up! He carried her away to his cave.

He next day consisted of lots of driving. First, Mohinder arrived early and offered to take the girls to breakfast. Seeing as how they'd had nothing but hotel food for the past few days, they gladly accepted. The restaurant was right up the street and around the corner, but the drizzle was heavy enough to warrant a car trip. Next he took them to see his lab, but first they had to make a stop at the motel because Rain forgot her sweater. After that they went to visit a friend of the doctor's, but he was otherwise occupied, so they drove back to the hotel. There they discovered that Bethany had left her purse at the laboratory, and they headed back quickly to get it before finally coming to a stop and settling for some TV at the motel while Mohinder did paperwork. He claimed that he was close to finding an answer, and as such sat brooding over his work.
It was 5:00 now, and though there would still be another hour and a half or so until the sun set, the sky was turning an ugly dark brown color. The weather man predicted severe thunderstorms, to which Bethany said, "Duh!"
Around 6:40, Mohinder pulled himself away from his work long enough to take the girls to dinner at a nice restaurant - the tab for which Rain insisted on paying.
It was 7:52 when they got back and finally, really settled for the night. It took Rain exactly forty-five minutes to take a hot bath, change into pajamas, crawl into bed, and crash.
Bethany didn't have such an easy time. Ten o'clock rolled around, and she still lay awake in darkness, staring at the ceiling. City night sounds filled her ears; sirens, music, people talking and arguing, and a particularly loud group of people in the room above them. Eventually, Bethany stood up, restless, and paced the room. She took a drink of water, used the bathroom, and laid back down. Still, she had no more luck getting to sleep. She got back up and crept to the door that separated her and Rain's room from Mohinder's. She listened for a moment, trying to determine whether he was awake or not, but all she could hear was soft flute music. That could mean anything. Eventaully, she made the decision to tap gently on the door. A moment later, it opened slowly.
Dr. Suresh was in his night clothes, but it didn't appear as though he'd been sleeping. There was no light except for the glow of a laptop monitor.
"Bethany!" He said, quietly. "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine," she said, wrapping her arms aroud herself. "I just couldn't sleep."
Mohinder glanced past her at Rain, who was far away in dreamland, then invited Bethany in. He closed the door then pulled another chair up to the small hotel table-made-work-desk, and the two of them sat down.
"I couldn't sleep either," Mohinder said, "So I worked some more on this."
"What is it?" Bethany asked, pulling her chair closer.
"A way to get you back." He said. "I think whatever brought you here was related to your abilities. Your sister was right, there was an energy surge, at the moment you connected. I believe if we can re-create that moment we should be able to send you back through to...is something the matter?"
"Me? No...I'm just...thinking about going back. My old job, my old house, my old lack-of-food, no mom, etcetera."
He looked at the floor, and Bethany suddenly felt bad for spilling that on him.
"I'm sorry," she said, "I just kind of like it here, and I know I can't stay."
"You like it here?"
She nodded.
"Even with Sylar lurking around every dark corner waiting for you?"
She looked up to see him smiling, and laughed.

The rainfall was getting thicker.
"Nice place," Sylar muttered to himself. He was standing outside a ratty, cheap old motel surrounded by nicer businesses that really made the place look like a dump. Moving across town was an interesting maneuver, but so unoriginal! Anyone could predict that! Especially since the foolish doctor had left his father's cab parked right across the street.
Their lack of creativeness was disappointing. More than that, he found himself a bit surprised by the fact that, after three years, in a town full of old, abandoned buildings, the 'heroes' (as they arrogantly called themselves) had not yet set up an underground hideout. No base of operations! Then again, perhaps that would be too predictable. Almost as much so as crossing town to hide from the boogeyman. Pity.
He approached a room door: 101. It seemed appropriate, perhaps this was it. Carefully, quietly, almost artistically, Sylar pressed his ear against the door.
Nothing.
Wait-there was breathing. Steady, like someone who's asleep. One person. Surely the Ticket sisters had enough sense to stay together? Lightening flashed in the distance, and a few seconds later, thunder rolled. The rain crashed down harder, and Sylar realized that the room's privacy curtain was not one-hundred percent closed. Peering inside, he saw only the blanketed feet of a dozing person near the end of the bed. He recognized the purse, though, sitting in the chair. This was the right room. Why the girls would separate he wasn't sure, but at least this mystery worked to his advantage.
"Hey! What are you doing?"
Sylar spun around to face a short, round man. He was wearing a hotel uniform; his nametag said 'Jack'.
Sylar had to think quickly. Not too hard, the situation wasn't that bad.
"My, uh, girlfriend locked me out." He brushed his wet hair from his face. "It's my fault, I told her I had my room key, but I left it in my other pants...if I could get a spare-"
"You think I'm stupid, boy?" The old man shouted.
He did think so, but knew that saying so would not help his situation any. "Sir, please-"
"I'm calling the police!" He exclaimed, pulling up his cell phone.
Sylar cringed. "I really wish you wouldn't do that."
Backing up, Jack may have been dialing 911, but his phone suddenly crumbled to pieces.
"I didn't wanna have to do this." Sylar said, sincerely.
The following morning, Jack's body would be found on the roof of the McDonald's across the street; however, poor Jack's fate is not important.
Once Sylar was rid of the distraction, he decided the best course of action would be to borrow a key from the lobby, program it for room 101, then go in quietly. He could always just break the electronic lock off and trick the tumblers into turning, but where was the creativity in that?
Sylar swiped the forged key, praying silently that it would work. The red light on the door turned to green, and he quietly opened it. The eldest girl, Rain Ticket, slept soundly on the bed nearest the entrance. Another queen-sized bed sat across the room. It was unmade, but no one slept in it. The younger girl? Perhaps.
Sylar couldn't work here. He had to get her away from the other one first.
Carefully, he lifted Rain out of her bed. The blankets slid away from her slender frame, showing off her silk top-and-pants pajamas. Her in his arms, sleeping like a baby, Sylar left the hotel room to find somewhere quiet.
Somewhere quiet and alone.

Whether it was the music or Mohinder's rambling that did it, Bethany had fallen asleep on her arms on the table. It was midnight, and Mohinder decided that he should probably be off to bed as well. He shut his laptop. Leaned back. Stretched. Bethany remained peacefully asleep at the odd angle. Mohinder stood up and snatched a blanket from the bed, then gently placed it over Bethany's shoulders, positioning it so it wouldn't fall.
"Goodnight," he whispered, then crawled into bed and fell asleep.

Was it moments? Hours? The next thing Mohinder saw was Bethany Ticket, pulling him from a deep sleep. Her eyes were wide with panic. There was a red line on her cheek from her sweater.
"Mohinder!" She cried. "Wake up!"
"I'm awake, I'm awake!" He sat up and rubbed his eyes. "What's the matter?"
"Rain!" She stuttered a bit, then finally aranged her words in a way that made sense. I had a nightmare about her, so I went to check on her, and she wasn't there! The door was open, and-and-"
"Calm down!" Mohinder put his hands on her shoulders, and instantly she collapsed onto the bed, breathing heavy. "It's Sylar, isn't it? I know it is! He already killed her!"
"Bethany!" He shook her, and she stopped babbling. "Calm down, we have to assume he took her alive."
Her breath was shallow and shaky, and she appeared as though she were trying desperately not to cry.
"We'll find her.

To be continued...