Chapter 6

"Where are we?"

Remy stands in front of the doorway of the cell he had broken into only seconds before. He had heard her sobbing sometimes and asking for her momma. He had wanted to see who else was in the strange place with him. He was afraid, but he was also lonely and her accent reminded him of home. It wasn't difficult for him to pick the simple cell door locks and slip out unnoticed.

He shrugs in answer as the girl in the corner sniffs. She's sitting on the concrete floor in the corner, hugging her scrawny pale legs to her chest.

The girl is barefoot and Remy wonders if she's cold, wearing nothing more than a white tank top and faded jean shorts. She looks 12, maybe 13, the same age as him. She has strange hair; auburn waves that hang down to her shoulders and pure white bangs that hide her face. She looks up at him, pushing the white behind her ears; shining emerald green eyes stare up at him. Remy is awestruck.

She's beautiful.

She blushes and looks back down. Remy remembers his own demon eyes and also looks away; embarrassed. She must think he's ugly. He must scare her. The silence grows awkward between them as he begins to regret his curiosity and turns to leave before she can reject him like everyone else.

"Are ya related ta the Boogey Man?"

Remy looks up suddenly, confused by the girl's reference, but thankful she is still speaking to him.

"Who?"

She traces imaginary circles on the floor with one hand, but doesn't return his gaze.

"The man who takes our blood." Her voice is quiet; tired, but the unmistakable Mississippi accent is comforting to Remy. "Ya'll have eyes like him."

Oh. That man. Remy shivers as he remembers the pricks of the needle whenever the man with the demon eyes came to see him.

"Non. I be in de same situation as you petite." Remy answers darkly. His gaze returns to the girl. She's shivering.

Slowly he approaches her and shrugs off his coat, lowering it carefully over her shoulders. She grabs at its hems and pulls it tightly around herself.

"Thank ya...um..."

"Remy."

"Thank ya Remy." She says softly. Another silence settles between them, unsure of how to make small talk as prisoners of a mad man.

"Remy?"

"Oui?"

"How long ya reckon we've been here?"

Remy's shoulders slump as he slides down against the wall to sit beside her.

"Don't know petite. Don't know."

xXx

Her name is Anna.

Remy picks the lock every day and sneaks over to her. Every day it gets worse. The boogey man just takes their blood at first, then he starts to cut them; taking small patches of skin as samples for whatever it is that he's doing. Next comes the torture of one kind or another. Remy doesn't understand what the man gets out of it; what the point of hurting them in such ways is.

Sometimes he finds Anna sitting unscathed for the day, other times he finds her curled up in a ball on the floor, crying.

Today is one of the other days.

Remy can hear her sobbing before he can see her. He quickens his pace and picks the lock in haste. As soon as the door is open he's inside Anna's cell and on his knees. She reaches out for him, and he grabs her hand to pull her close to him and holds her, stroking her hair softly. Guilt for not being able to protect her from the pain the man brings them tears at his insides.

"It's ok Chere. It'll be ok. Remy'll find a way out of here. We'll be free an' we'll never hurt again."

"Do ya promise?" Anna asks pathetically through heavy tears.

"Remy lifts Anna's head so that she can see the determination in his eyes.

Oui chere. Remy promise."

Anna closes her eyes and clings to Remy as she buries her face in his chest. That's how they sit for what seems like an eternity.

"Ah was wrong before, Rem." Anna says, pulling Remy out of his trance, he looks down at her.

"Your eyes ain't anythang like his. They're amazin'."

Remy blushes as he leans forward to gently kiss Anna's forehead.

xXx

The longer they stay, the more interesting the boogey man's methods become. It becomes obvious what his intent is as soon as he has the break through with Remy. He is trying to trigger their mutant powers. Now when Remy is returned to his cell he wears a thick metal collar around his neck, so that he can't blow his way out of the prison they are trapped in.

One night when he goes to see Anna there are no sounds. He finds her lying still on the floor and he panics.

"Anna!" Remy whispers urgently.

"Go away!" Anna growls. She doesn't move, she doesn't look up, something is wrong with her voice.

Remy steps back, unsure of why she doesn't want him there. He decides to ignore her and quickly picks the lock on her cell, once inside he approaches her unmoving form slowly.

"Anna, what's wrong?" Remy sinks to his knees beside her. He's about to place his hand on her shoulder when she screams.

"Don't touch me!"

Remy recoils as Anna crawls to the corner of her cell and huddles there. With tears rolling down her cheeks, she lowers her forehead to her boney knees and squeezes her eyes tightly.

Something is wrong with her eyes.

"Anna...Look at me...Please." Remy begs, his voice starting to break.

Looking up, Anna smiles, her eyes aren't green anymore; they are a strange glowing amber.

"My name's not Anna."

Remy blanches as he stands up. Tears spring to his eyes, this is Anna, but at the very same time it isn't Anna. He panics, he can't let her leave him; he can't be alone in this place.

He locks his eyes on hers and he swears he can see a glimmer of green pass over them. Anna's still in there. Remy shallows his fear and takes a step towards her. When she stands up, he decides to take another.

"Anna?"

She shakes her head.

"Anna please come back."

Another step closer.

"Anna don't leave me here."

Amber slowly fades to green.

"Anna, I...I love you."

Remy takes a final step forward and places his lips on hers without thinking. At first there is warmth, then a strange tingling. Then there is pain. Blinding, searing, and terrifying pain; as though his very life essence is being pulled from his body.

Then there is nothing.

xXx