Obliterate

twenty eight

AN UNCOMFORTABLE SILENCE blanketed the infirmary room. The sense of awe appeared to fade away from Finn's expression, replaced with curiosity. He shifted his gaze to his hands, fiddling with his thumbs. To Sophie, he appeared to be deep in thought.

Aelia on the other hand appeared deeply distressed. Her hand lifted, fingers brushing a few strands of her hair away from her face. Her gaze clung to Finn's form, her brow wrinkled with concern. She shook her head slightly. "What am I going to do?" Sophie heard her whisper -- so soft that she questioned whether or not she'd actually heard it. 

Sophie glanced at Eli. His expression was marred with worry. He seemed to feel her gaze and looked down at her. A crease formed between his brow. Sophie pursed her lips. 

She felt Eli's hand touch hers, his fingers interlacing with her own. He squeezed her hand tight -- an attempt at comforting her. "How did you manage to scare the creature off?" Aelia asked. She crossed her arms over her chest. "Did you notice any weaknesses? Anything at all that can be used against it?"

Finn's gaze shifted to Sophie. "I am unsure," he said. "I remember hearing Sophie approach. Maybe it was the added numbers."

Sophie's free hand lightly touched the scarf that covered her throat. She wasn't so sure that her added presence alone had scared off the creature.

Aelia seemed to buy his reasoning, however. Her back straightened and she turned toward Sophie and Eli. "I am going to make a few adjustments to our safety protocols," she told them. "I plan to return later on. Please, if you don't mind, can one of you stay with him until then?"

Sophie and Eli shared a small look. "I can stay with him," she offered.

Eli nodded. "I may go visit Aubrey and Wolfe for a moment."

Aelia's expression instantly filled with pain. She reached out and lightly touched Eli's shoulder. "Once we get through this mess, Wolfe will be my main focus. We will find a way to get him back to normal."

Eli smiled weakly at her and nodded. "Thank you for your assistance."

She squeezed his shoulder and then stepped back. She glanced back over her shoulder at Finn. "Don't you dare die on me, old man," she warned him teasingly. 

Finn scoffed and rolled his eyes toward the ceiling. "The reaper couldn't take me, even if it tried."

Aelia chuckled softly and then left the room. Once the door shut, Eli twisted toward Sophie. He squeezed her hand again. She forced a smile. "Have fun," she told him. "Let me know if there has been any improvement with Wolfe. And make sure that Aubrey has eaten today."

Eli nodded. He leaned over and pressed his lips to her forehead. Sophie closed her eyes, a heavy sign escaping her. When his lips disappeared from her skin, her eyes reopened. She leaned back in her chair a bit, her shoulders slumped.

Finn studied her for a moment. "A friend of yours?" he asked, his eyebrow arched. His lips tugged up sheepishly when confusion entered Sophie's expression. "This Wolfe fellow," he added. 

"Ah," Sophie said. Her shoulders slumped slightly and she shifted her gaze to the edge of Finn's bed, staring absently at the strands of finely woven cotton that his sheets were composed of. "Yes. He is one of our friends."

She noticed Finn tilt his head slightly. "Is he alright?" he asked her, pushing for more information. "Is there anything that I can do to help?"

"You probably should focus more on yourself," she answered with half a smile, gesturing toward his hospital bed. "Now why would I want to do that?" he teased. "Especially when the opportunity to make you happier has arisen?"

She raised an eyebrow at him. His smile grew. "Obviously his stay at this..." he said and then paused. He gestured around the room. "This makeshift hospital has brought you and your other friend quite some stress. I would love to help wherever I can."

She hesitated for a moment. She crossed her arms over her chest and shifted her weight from one foot to another. "I am not totally sure that there is anything that can be done to help him," she admitted. 

"Well," Finn said, "What happened to him?"

Her fingertips lifted and absently traced along the scarred skin of her throat. "As you know, I got this weird mark when your dear old friend viciously attacked the school," she said. She pursed her lips for a moment and then continued, "When he attacked the school, he attacked with a massive werewolf -- our friend Wolfe, who is currently in another part of the infirmary." 

Finn's eyes widened a bit. 

"The old Headmaster brainwashed him. All I remember is that he was essentially in this torture chamber for a while. It blocked out all of his senses, driving him mad. Aubrey was able to calm him down enough to where he reverted back to his human form. But that is it. He hasn't been himself since." Sophie's throat tightened. Her vision blurred a bit as tears formed at the corners of her eyes. 

"I see," he murmured with a deep frown. He leaned forward slightly, his hand lifting to rub at this chin. "It will be a difficult healing process, as mental illnesses tend to be a bit more challenging than physical ailments. But I think there is something that I can do to help."

Sophie stared at him for a moment, incredulous. The image of a healthy, happy Wolfe flashed across her mind's eye. "Are you serious?" she asked before she could stop herself. 

Finn nodded. "Your friend certainly isn't the first to be brainwashed," he said. "Most don't survive. However, most also don't have such patient and supportive friends as he does. I think that will make a big difference."

"Aubrey hasn't left his room since the fight," Sophie admitted. "Eli and I try to visit when we can. We have to make sure that Aubrey is eating as well." 

"As stressful as that is, I think it may actually be beneficial for him," Finn said. "I am unsure how much Aubrey talks to him, but even the conversations that you and Eli have with her -- it gives his mind more structure. He may not be able to actively contribute to the conversation, but he may at least be able to follow along and listen to what is being said."

She frowned. 

He shrugged a bit. "I am not one hundred percent certain on that," he admitted. "Though I feel that the mental stimulation of the world around him has the potential to exercise his brain a bit."

"I see," Sophie murmured, despite not fully understanding what he meant. Finn appeared to perk up a bit. He flashed her a brilliant smile. 

"May I see him?" he asked.