Chapter 9

Normal POV

At the insistence of his superiors, to Loomis's dismay, he couldn't simply isolate Michael from adolescents his age entirely, not without incident. His positive interactions with Lynn had made them question Loomis's insistence that Michael was an absolute danger in all socializations – rather, he was able to adjust the time Michael spent with Lynn, but that meant the insistence that Michael be given recreation time with someone.

He'd hoped that it would run its course, Michael's so called catatonia and lack of response would surely put an end to the formalities – until Revan Blackheart.

The boy that insisted he be called Andromeda, while a lovely social development for Lynn, had become another complication for Loomis. The boy had decided to take a liking to Michael, often sitting with him and talking to no response – unfazed at the one sided conversations when watched. There was an ease between the two that seemed…eerie.

There was no hatred behind Michael's eyes in these interactions…but that was as close to a development as there was, all nurses reported there was no further reaction, no further movement…

—

"Looks like she's not paying much attention over here anymore…" Andromeda muttered, glancing between the supervising nurse and Michael, who periodically stared either out the window or at Andromeda's hands. Until he saw it. Just as the older boy shifted to drum his fingers on the table, his sleeve rode up to reveal a raised, angry, scar of the Mark of the Thorn.

"You're…you too…" his voice, kept to a whisper–was always so hoarse these days. Michael's eyes never left the Mark.

"Oh. Yeah. That." Andromeda's we're suddenly right on his and sharp live knives. "'s why I'm here." He shrugged. "Why you're here too, I reckon. You complete yours?"

Michael shook his head, tilting it slowly to the side- thoughtful. "One left."

Andromeda smirked. "I'm sure the nightmares are…unbearable. No wonder you're not a talker…except for Lynn…you found your Beltane early."

The words should be foreign to the boy, having never moved or given indication that he ever interacted with his tutors in the short spell he had them, before they abandoned any hope of teaching Michael anything– even still the calendar festivals of Samhain and Beltane were unheard of being taught in such a conservative county… but they weren't forgien in the slightest.

Lynn was his reward for the dark deeds given to him by the Mark. The solace offered by The Man in Black. To replace the blood spilled from his sacrifice.

"I completed it. With a fire. They think it's an accident I think…the murder part at least." He said with a shrug. "But I'll stick with you. I like you two."

And so he did. Andromeda became not only a surrogate brother figure to Lynn, someone Michael could trust around her during the social hours he'd been kept from her – but a confidant and courier for Michael as well. A go between for messages and a keen pair of ears to listen to the nurses who thought they were out of earshot.

He especially came in handy for all best-friend tasks, to both of them.

Lynn POV

I ruffled my hands along the hem of the simple dress that ended just above my knees. A sundress. Low effort for a patient social that I really had no interest in being part of. With Dr. Loomis so focused on keeping Michael away, things had been more overwhelming.

There were new suggestions of different therapy groups and patient activities that filled my patient agenda. A "reward for progress." It made me so tired I could barely speak. I felt…numb.

But the patient social fell on the family visit weekend. John had come– though having to leave early before the main event. He'd been so relieved to see the activities on my agenda, to hear that the hospital was throwing these kind of events for patients…he mentioned words like court and appeal but I didn't have the energy to ask what anything meant, I was too content seeing my brother smiling again.

So when he presented the dress – an apology for having to leave early for a college exam – how could I say no?

"Look at you, so grown up now. What happened to my little squirt?" He ruffled my hair that Kari, a day nurse had tediously tried to curl, pinning it back with a flower while Andromeda made snarky remarks.

John seemed to like Andromeda, grinning profusely when a doctor introduced him as my new friend. Andromeda had insisted he be my 'escort' -as he called it- for the night since John could not and Michael was…all but not included in patient activities anymore.

"I don't see why you're so bent on this." I said as he handed me a cup of punch after forcing me to dance with him– to be fair, it was fun and I laughed a lot.

"Trust me, a favor for a favor." He looked over my shoulder, winking at Nurse Kari. She was young, what the called a candy-striper. A highschool aged volunteer, maybe sixteen or seventeen? "They see me talking to you, they see me walk you back to your room when you're tired…which it looks to be pretty soon if I do say so myself, kid. – then the orderlies don't focus so much if I'm not seen for a few minutes…being escorted by that nice Candy Stripe."

I laughed. A big belly laugh, tears pricking the corners of my eyes. "Oh! You're serious?! You're such a goof." I snickered. "But how is this a favor for me?"

"No,this is just us having fun. Your favor comes later. Trust me." His eyes were mischievous.

"But-"

"Trust. Me." He hushed, leading me around the floor for another song before bowing out, exaggeratedly tugging me along with my head shoved onto his shoulder, telling an orderly I was 'too tired' and that he'd like to walk me back himself if that was okay.

The sneak got away with it. I couldn't understand how.

"Now, you're welcome." He waved once we were outside my room, nudging me inside.

I felt around for the light when a pair of hands snaked around my waist. I jumped until my eyes adjusted and the moonlight lit Michael's features.

"You look—just- wow," he murmured, surveying me before resting his chin on my head. "I like the flower."

"Thank Andromeda." I giggled, feeling the heat rush to my cheeks. "Sorry you couldn't go…it could have been like…a..date…but..nevermind it's dumb." I rambled.

"You're not dumb. It's not dumb. If you want a date…here's a real date." Michael stood awkwardly, taking my hands. We could make out the faintest remnants of music from the social, we stood together and swayed to the music until I was so tired he was simply holding me up for a few moments, watching me intently before eventually tucking me into bed with a kiss.