Chapter 14: They Won't Let Go, Intentionally and Not

He coughed out the dust that filled his lungs, feeling lightheaded. His arms ached from carrying the creature through falling debris and rubble. At least it didn't fight him. In fact…it didn't move one bit. He glanced at the creature's face to find that it was unconscious. Hopefully, it stayed that way until they were in the clear. Francoeur jumped from street to street, putting as much distance as possible between them and the officers chasing after. Lucille hid away in an alley, with no way of finding the two insects. Well, insect and arachnid. Francoeur decided he would get to her after he found a place to hide the creature. Where did this thing go in the daytime anyway? He thought back to the places he had hid in, before Lucille took him in. They needed a large building with a large roof area. Preferably not a theater. He leaped and landed silently, until he came upon a familiar sight. The church.

With a nurturing patience, he placed the creature on the floor of the highest level in the building, a place where none would visit unless the bell needed maintenance. Its body rose steadily in its peaceful sleep. Francoeur checked the wounds to find them clotted and lined with bullet shards. Its durable exoskeleton prevented the shots from penetrating completely, but it made the small capsules shatter against its soft inner membrane. He'd make sure Raoul or Emile could clean the wounds and remove the shards. That made him remember, where were those two last night? Weren't they suppose to help? He pushed those thoughts aside, for he had a being to care for, and he had no clue how to go about it. Lucille would know, so he left to search for her. There was still time before the sun came up, taking away his ability to travel freely. He would go to the inn first to gather clothing for himself and the creature. They couldn't stay within the church all day. He hoped he ran into Lucille on his way there. Time is of the essence, the creature could awaken or somebody might discover it. As he jumped out the opening of the roof, the first of the two slowly happened.

She was in a daze, rising from the floor of an unfamiliar place. Her body still hurt, but it felt more faded than before. It was like a reminder of the night before. She looked around frantically, wondering how she had survived, wondering if the monster had saved itself. A strangled shriek echoed as she rose fully, scared of the nightmare that was her life that wouldn't end. Collapsing on the ground, a small piece of fabric caught in her talons. She lifted it up to her face for examination. So familiar, but she couldn't place its origin. There was a blue face…It brought her melancholy thoughts to a lull, bringing her to her senses like a splash of cold water. There was a choice set before her; allow her destruction to commence by being found or move on from this depressed state and live. Her eyes slip close, thinking about the freedom she felt in the air, the way her heart beat like the fluttering of a bird's wings. She had so many questions of human life, inventions, intentions, emotions, and possibilities. This form she took at night, it made her different like an outsider. Her natural birth gifted her with a different mindset than them, while the lab men's curse opened the door to their world. She won't be closing it anytime soon, she thought while standing on the edge of the church and jumping down. There wasn't much time before the sun returned.

…

"Wha-, where could she have gone?"

Francoeur chittered and made rapid hand movements.

"Okay, so no one's in the church, uh, there's nowhere she could go."

The flea shrugged, indicating that they didn't know that for sure.

Lucille let out a frustrated huff, "Then, we're back to square one! And worse, she's hurt." Both singers were pacing, worrying themselves to dust until a loud honk and bright lights interrupted them. Lucille thought about releasing her pent up anger at the man that abandoned them, but when she took a good look at him she completely threw that thought out. Emile was driving with Raoul slouched against him and he looked wrecked. She ran to his side immediately, "What did you do? You idiot! You look like you just crawled out your grave!"

"You don't know how happy I am to see you," he coughed. It sounded like such effort for him to speak. Lucille held onto his hand, tears running down her cheek. She and Francoeur sat solemnly in their respective seats.

Emile spoke up, "can we go find a doctor, now? Look, they're right here. It's your turn to be looked after."

"I hate going to the doctor."

"We're going!" Emile slammed on the gas, not wanting to hear any protest.

"What happened?" she whispered gently.

Raoul smiled weakly, "Oh, you know, the usual trouble my brilliant self finds. I annoyed the magician, one thing led to another, and I saw our friend from the street," he took a moment to catch his breath and close his eyes. He rested his head on Lucille's shoulder, desperately trying to keep his eyes open. Emile glanced at him, then patted his knee.

"Don't worry, I'll finish the story. Just hang in there." Raoul gave him a grateful look, leaning into his one love. Emile spoke shakily, "Uh, so he saw her. She watched the show, I caught a glimpse of her on the support beams for the roof. Wasn't a very nice theater, huh, Raoul?" he nudged his friend gently and was gifted a small chuckle, "I don't have all the details, but I know she ran out the door after the show. I was waiting by the doors for Raoul, because they took him backstage. Next thing I knew, someone came crashing through and knocked me off my feet. She was going so fast, I didn't recognize her. Raoul followed after, so I followed him. Can't say how long we ran, but we didn't reach her. She disappeared in an alley, then," he gulped, choking on his words, "Raoul was attacked by the monster."

Lucille looked at Raoul and Emile with her mouth open and eyes wide in shock. The car bathed in silence as the two singers processed this. A thought occurred and the woman gasped quietly, looking to Raoul, "Is that why you're still out here?"

"I, I saw the theater. The police told us everyone got out, but you weren't there and… I was scared." He sobbed and Lucille held him as she cried too.

…

The innkeeper instructed them to a local doctor known for treating severe cases. Two weeks later, the doctor let the slim man continue his traveling. He worked diligently with Raoul, instructing him on how to change his bandages, giving him many pain medications, and warning him about straining his abused body. The mechanic had to wear a sling for his right arm, much to his distress. There was shouting and complaining as the doctor listed the many things he couldn't do in his state.

"I can't just not drive! Or give up inventing!"

"I am not telling you to abandon your passions, but for the next month or so you can't use that arm or do any heavy work. If you can keep from exposing the bandages to oil or substances other than clean water, then you may continue."

"But-"

"Ma'am?" he called Lucille over.

"Yes, doctor?"

"Will you ensure he follows my instructions?"

"By each and every word," she smiled.

"Thank you, now, hope you heal well. Glad to be of assistance," with that he dismissed the couple from his home. The bean pole of a man trudged out the door, slouched and murmuring quietly to himself. Lucille simply shook her head at him and stared down the street with a blank face. Raoul lifted his head up to glance at her, noticing the change.

"Stop it."

"Hm? What?" she turned to face him, obviously confused.

"You had that far away, guilty look on your face again."

"Oh."

"Oh?"

"Raoul, you know it wouldn't have-"

"No! No, I won't hear it. It wasn't about you. It was just, just bad luck. You know how I am, I would've found a way to get myself ruffed up anyway. If that magician didn't do it, then it would've been someone else," he huffed an exaggerated sigh, "Ladies, men, mysterious monsters, everyone wants a piece of this," he pointed his hands up and down his body. Lucille tried to smile, but its dishonesty was too apparent. Raoul put his left arm on her shoulder to bring her into a gentle hug, both were careful with his bandaged arm. She wrapped her arms around his back as he continued, "I'm not really sure why I went after her. I love you and everything that you stand for, but I don't think that's why I did it. She really needed help and I felt like I was the person for it. It sounds weird."

"No, it sounds right." When they broke away to stare at one another's eyes, no more needed to be said.

There was a loud crash of glass, a woman dressed in white shaking the microscopic shards off before dashing down the street toward the couple. She wore a grin so wide it squished her face, giving her a more childish look. There was a man standing in the center of a broken window shop yelling profanities at her, but making no move to give chase. The owner of the shop came out and whacked the man with a walking stick, banning him from his business because the woman escaped. Someone needed to be held accountable and he was the one acting like an arse. Raoul gasped upon recognizing the woman, pulling Lucille to follow her. The woman stopped only a few streets down as soon as the shop and the man were out of view. Unlike Raoul and Lucille, she wasn't gasping for air or looked the least bit tired. She glowed despite the lack of sunlight, and the couple could only gape at her. The woman in white eventually noticed them, instantly backing away upon seeing Raoul. She didn't forget what she did, but he didn't know it. Couldn't.

"Woah! Wait!" he displayed his arm out in surrender, "I just want to talk. You didn't let me in our other run-ins." The girl eyes him warily, constantly looking down at his arm. It bothered Raoul how pained she looked, but pushed the thought aside. "Uh, ahem. How are you? The, uh, last time I saw you, you found out about that, that thing, and, uh, I've been wondering if you're alright?" Talking under pressure was frustrating, any one of his words could set her running again. He really didn't feel like doing that twice in one day, that girl had stamina.

"I am well. Thank you for your concern?" This strange man made her face feel warm and she didn't know what to say. It felt like being caught in the bright spotlight of the street lamps, which is why she used to get rid of them. She found a better way to deal with them now.

Lucille could practically taste the awkward in the air so she decided to step in, "excuse me? Would you like to join us for coffee? A meal? The clouds are getting more menacing by the second, I suggest we find shelter for you two to continue your conversation; and, I'd like to get to know you. I'm sure our friend would like to see you, the one you helped with the speeding truck?"

Serena nodded her head distractedly before remembering that blue face and nodded vigorously. Yes, yes! She may not need his help anymore, but there was something about him she found pleasant. Perhaps it was the loneliness influencing her decision.

"Wonderful! Raoul, why don't you go to the little place at the plaza by the inn. I'm going to get Francoeur. It was nice meeting you, Miss?"

"My name is Serena. I like being referred to as such," she smiled sheepishly.

"Pleased to be acquainted, Serena. Be back in a wink."

Raoul and Serena waved at her, turning the opposite way. They stole glimpses of one another out of the corner of their eyes. The mechanic was tensed up, unsure of how to act around the unstable woman. Said woman felt guilty and anxious about being confronted on her behavior. How would she explain herself to someone who couldn't possible understand. But, she might as well give him a try. She remembered how he fawned over metallic creations. There's a start.

"So how's your car?"

"Oh, uh, only got some minor damage. Nothing I can't fix when I get back home."

"Back home?"

"Yeah, I'm sort of vacationing here and doing business, same for my friends. We live in Paris, France. Ever been?"

"Nope, can't say that I have."

"It's the best city I've been to, amazing."

"Interesting."

"I left my other car there, she's water damaged. It's pretty bad. I've been getting parts for her from all over."

"Did...did you say she?"

"What?" Raoul wiped the back of his neck, embarrassed. "Oh, yeah, I sort of named my car Catherine."

"Why?"

"Uhhhh, because, because she's my pride and joy. My baby."

"She must mean a lot to you."

"Yeah, I put her together myself."

"I think it's sweet," she smiled at him, the skin around her eyes wrinkling.

"Haha, thanks. A lot of people taunt me about it, so it's nice to get a positive reaction."

"For anyone to love something so much they refer to it as their child, I think it's lovely."

Raoul looked curiously at her, examining her for deceit. He could only pick up the genuine honesty of her character, and smiled to himself. It was a good decision he made.

"Tell me more about Catherine."

"Oh my god, I've been waiting so long for someone to say that. It's my time to shine."

She could get used to Raoul.