Chapter 5: Within the Shelter
By: Galadeidre
Maid of the Mer – so srry I didn't update sooner! I really wanted to, 'cept school has been horror for me (I'm sure u've been there b4). But I'd still like a muffin! What flavor's d'ya got? And I'll try updating much sooner! Thanks for reading!
Horsecrazy – I don't think that this is the fanfic that I changed my rating. I think it was the other one 'cause it might get a little bit more detailed (srry!) But thanks for reading anyways!
To the others that have started reading my story…srry I didn't update sooner! I'm gonna try to update faster in the future! Right now, I hope you still read and review! Thanks!
It was cold – real cold. Len hugged herself in an effort to get warm, but it didn't stop her teeth from chattering. She was about to ask Jeff how much longer it was to the Shelter, but they suddenly stopped, and she noticed that they were at the bottom of the steps with a door just a few feet ahead of them.
Jeff walked forward and lightly rapped on the cold metal door. Len rubbed her arms and watched with curiosity. A window slot slid open, after a few moments, and Len saw a pair of extraordinary light-gray – almost white – eyes.
Jeff gave a nod as he glanced at the eyes through the window slot before the window was covered once more. There were a few clicks and shuffles behind the door before it swung open.
The owner with gray-white eyes stood before them. She was slight in figure, Len noticed, and didn't seem to be much older than Len herself. Her skin was a rich light-brown color and she wore a loose, turquoise robe with a golden silk collar dotted with small golden sequins and slight embroidered images. Her hair color was as extraordinary as her eye color – pure white tresses with strands of gold here and there that sparkled in the light.
The strange woman, no doubt a mutant, gave a small glance at Len and nodded before she turned to look at Jeff. "Did Marron give any instructions?"
The mutant's soft voice, rippling like a little brook, brought Len back to reality, making her realize that she had been gaping at the mutant with her mouth open. Len slightly shook her head and listened to the two mutants as Jeff relayed Marron's instructions.
The strange mutant nodded and stepped aside beckoning them into the room. Len quickly looked around at her new surroundings as she stepped through the threshold.
Surprisingly, the Shelter was quite large…no…very large. It was practically an underground mansion. There were five small steps that led into what seemed to be the meeting or living room. It was circular in shape with different level rings to it. There were four levels of circles. The center and lowest circle was occupied only by a circular black rug. The other three levels contained chairs, couches, and small tables evenly dispersed throughout. There were a few long tables on the second level down that were across the room from the entrance door, obviously seating the people with more higher positions in the mutant office. Those chairs were empty as of now, but a few of the other couches and chairs were occupied by mutants, either sleeping, eating, or reading something.
Outside the circular living room, several different rooms branched off the first ring level. To her right was the kitchen area with a round wooden table. Next to the kitchen was a room with four beds, one of which was occupied by a teenage boy that Len recognized. To the far end on the right side of the living room, there seemed to be a hospital wing. Next to that was another room filled with two beanbags, a round table for six, and four sets of bunk beds. A tiny black-haired girl, a young freshman, was curled up fast asleep in one of the bean bags. Another girl who looked almost albino, except for her yellow-green eyes, had just awoken from one of the top bunks. She stretched, jumped, and started crawling on the ceiling towards the kitchen with a yawn.
Len continued to observe the rest of the room. To the left of the crawling-mutant's room, a set of several steps led to a larger, clearer room. Len squinted and was surprised to see that it was a swimming pool. Beside the pool, on the left side of the room, there was a small, slanted hallway that led to two doors – a men's bathroom and a women's bathroom. The room beside that was shut with two sliding doors, and the last area, on the left side nearest to the stairs, was also concealed, this time with curtains. In front of the curtains there were two covered holes that obviously led to another underground room. There was a yellowish warm glow emitting from behind the curtains.
"You are Conner's friend? And Marron's?"
Len jerked up with a start again and turned to look at the female mutant. "I'm Conner's girlfriend, Lenette Terace."
The mutant nodded in understanding. "My name is Z."
"Z?" Len cocked one eyebrow.
The female mutant smiled. "Forgive me. My real name is not Z, but that is my nickname."
"Mind telling me the reason?"
Z smiled again. "Let us say that my real name is not of any importance, nor is it of any use down here."
Len frowned. "Right."
"Come, then." Z directed an arm inward into the Shelter. "And, welcome to the Shelter."
By this time, most of the mutants that were there had noticed Len. Some had even recognized her. A boy the same age as Len stood out of his seat and stared. "Len? What are you doing here?"
Len tried to find an answer.
Another mutant that had just awoken from his sleep, crankily spoke up for her. "Hawk, here, asked you a question. Y'mind answering it? What would a human snot like you be doin' down here?" He held his hand, palm up. A small electric ball formed above his palm. Len gasped and started to inch backwards.
"Bolt, don't," Jeff warned, walking in front of Len.
Bolt stared at him, incredulous. "You're protecting her? What's she done to make you indebted to a human like her?"
"Marron told me to bring her here."
"Has that girl's telepathy messed with her mind?" He stood up from his chair, and suddenly his whole body was emitting small strands of electricity. Some of the on-looking mutants started whispering amongst themselves. Len could hear the crackling of the electricity in the air, and felt some of her hair start rising.
Bolt started walking towards Jeff and Len. "You know you don't stand a chance against me, Jeff. Yeah, I may only be a senior and you're twice my age, but I have twice the power." Jeff stood his ground as Len started whimpering.
Suddenly, a light-brown hand was placed gently on Bolt. Z's gray-white eyes stared straight into Bolt's dark brown eyes. "Some things may be answered in due time, Alexander, and remember…I have more power than you times five."
Bolt gave a scowl, and muttered to Z, "She's a pathetic human. Her loss won't affect anything. Besides, I can't just let a human waltz in and out of the Shelter."
"Bolt, sit down," Z ordered softly. Suddenly, Bolt started to walk backwards and back into his chair. He gave another scowl. "You and your powers, Z. One day, you'll see. I'll get stronger than you."
The black-haired freshman girl that had been sleeping in the beanbag and was now awake, walked over to Bolt and embraced him. "Alex, don't do that please. She's only a young girl like me. We were like her once."
"That was before, sis." Bolt retorted, glaring at her. "This is now."
"I will do what Marron says, and you may ask her your questions when you see her," Z concluded.
"Fine. I think I will do that."
Z sighed and turned back to Len, who was peeking from around Jeff. "Do not worry, Lenette. You will be fine. He knows his place."
"I don't know if I want to be here anymore." Suddenly, the headache returned and she gave a groan as she grabbed her head and fell to the ground. Z gracefully knelt beside her, helping her back up. "Come. You may sleep in my quarters, for no one is allowed in there without my consent. You'll be safe in there." She gave a look back at Bolt as she spoke this. Bolt just snorted and looked away. Z then turned back to Jeff. "Thank you for bringing her here, Jeff." Jeff nodded and walked out of the Shelter, closing the door behind him. He then teleported up the stairs and out of view.
Z looked back to Len, whose headache had not subsided. Z's face was filled with worry and something that looked like confusion as she brought Len into the room behind the curtains. Several candles had been lit all around the room, giving the room a warm and eerie glow. Z gently helped Len lay down on the soft mattress and pulled a blanket over her shoulders. "Sleep now, Lenette. Rest well."
"I can't. I should tell Conner. He'll want to know…"
"Do not worry about that. I'll have someone inform him of where you are. Right now, rest…" Z gently placed her forefinger on Len's forehead, and Len was immediately fast asleep.
Z watched her for a few more moments and then walked out of the room. The other mutants there were watching her as she walked into the living room.
"Z," Hawk started quietly. "Do you know why Marron decided to bring her here?"
"I think we'd all like to know," Bolt spoke up. His voice, oddly enough, didn't sound as if he was angry at all. He seemed more worried and afraid. "That's Conner's woman. If anything's to happen to her…"
"We could all be in a large world of hurt," the yellow-eyed crawler spoke up. She jumped down from the ceiling and landed gracefully onto one of the empty tables. "You know how well-known her parents are. They'll immediately assume that us mutants did something to her." Bolt and Hawk gave a nod in agreement.
Z just shook her head. "I do not know Marron's reasons for bringing her here. What I do know, though, is that we'd better take care of Lenette. Something is amiss with her."
"What do you mean by that?" Hawk asked. "What's amiss?"
"I think Marron would know that answer," Z replied.
"Let's hope it's a good answer," Bolt's sister replied quietly.
"Hate to inform you, sis," Bolt muttered. He gave a sigh as he finished his statement. "Normally, when a human's brought here, it's never a good answer."
Z nodded her head in agreement and looked back at the curtains of her room with the sleeping occupant. "I'm afraid Lenette may be in a world of hurt soon…"