The Nine's

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I jolt awake.

It's so bright in the small bedroom I'm in, probably because one of the walls is this massive window only covered by sheer white curtains.

I go to sit up, but immediately decide that's the worst idea I've ever had.

My arm screams in pain and I immediately have to lay back down just to shut it up.

I look around the room, it's small, but one of the coziest rooms I've ever been in, the bed is a full size, but the comforter itself is so cozy and the pillows around my envelope me.

The walls have dried flowers on them, and there's books everywhere, as well as painting supplies.

It looks like something Cate and I would have made up in one of our talks before we both fall asleep.

And in the corner is a dark green chair, and in that chair, is Amaury.

He's fast asleep, his normally up kept hair has fallen slightly in soft curls around his face.

He's wearing a beige button up with the sleeves rolled up, it's obvious it's not his because it's slightly baggy.

His pants are black, with suspenders hanging down like he had slipped them off to get comfortable.

I look at his face again, he has thin framed glasses on, and bags under his eyes. There's a little bit of stubble on his face, like we've been here a while.

I try to sit up again, this time making myself do it, and this is when he stirs awake.

"Clementine you're up..how are you feeling?"

My heart skips a beat, what is it about boys and sleepy voices?

He rushes to my side, reaching out for me, he tentatively touches my arm.

He undoes the bandage and I see it, it's still one of the ugliest wounds I've had, but it's sewn up, and clean.

"I- Amaury did you do this?"

I look up to see him still looking at my arm, and he smirks.

My heart flutters again.

"After you got the bullet out, you went out cold and I thought- I thought you were gone, but I still felt a pulse. So I took what little knowledge I had from watching my mother sew, and I cleaned and sewed until your pulse evened."

He wraps my arm up and sits by me on the bed looking at me.

"Amaury I can never repay this debt, you've saved my life. I- thank you so much." I say pulling him into a hug.

"I promised you that you would see your sisters again." He says into my neck.

"Well now I have to take you with me, you must meet the Winter Elves near our home in Colorado, they can teach you more about what you are."

He sits up abruptly.

"Wait do you mean it? You really want me to come with you?"

"Of course, I can't leave my only friend in this world in Scotland."

"Woah I never said we could be friends." He holds up his hands and laughs.

I punch him in the arm immediately.

"Fine dickhead, stay here."

"Oh no, you said I could come with you, now you're stuck with me."

"I said my friend could come." I say as I shift to get out of the bed.

"I guess we can be friends for the duration of this journey." He says as he moves to help me out of the bed.

I look up at him and smile, and then notice my clothes.

I'm wearing a dark green tank top with black leggings and wool socks.

"Did you change my clothes?"

He scratches the back of his head and blushes as he says-

"Yeah..you were bleeding on everything else and your clothes were soaked from the rain.."

Amaury saw me bloody and naked, all while I was passed out so I just know I had the ugliest passed out face.

I'm truly and utterly mortified.

I will never acknowledge this ever again.

I walk past him towards the closet and find a creme colored heavy cardigan and hiking boots, and then to the living room to put them on.

"We better get moving if we're going to make it to stonehenge." I say as I put the shoes on.

Amaury walks out, looking so confused it almost makes me feel better for the nakey incident.

"What? Stonehenge is in England?"

"Yes Amaury I know this, but we're in Edinburgh, so Stonehenge is 336 miles away, and I saw a farm when we were stumbling here, so I'm sure there are horses."

He's still looking at me, deciding if I'm serious.

"Can't we just take a car?"

This dumbass.

"How long have you lived in the compound?"

"As soon as we could."

"Nothing regarding technology works above ground unless you use a renewable energy resource. The high elves cast a spell to weaken the humans even more."

"Oh."

He shoves his hands in his pockets and kicks at the floor.

"Can you ride horses?" I ask slipping the cardigan on wincing when it hits my arm.

"A little bit, I rode a horse like twice before the war."

I can't help but stare at him, and the whole time, he's looking at me.

Something between us just sits there, in a flame, like a freshly lit candle, but a fall scented one from bath and body works.

You know, those expensive ass candles.

Still making eye contact, I ask if he's ready to leave.

He nods, not breaking the bond.

And what seems like simultaneously, we break out of it.

As Amaury walks away to get a jacket I try to shake off whatever that just was. I can't focus on whatever weird bond I have with a total stranger that helped me escape a prison, is helping me see my sisters, saved my life when I was shot, AND saw me naked.

I can't focus on that.

I have to focus on the calling to Stonehenge.

When Amaury walks in with a jacket on, he hold out his hand, as if to say 'let our adventure begin'.

I'm starting to think whatever going on with Amaury and me is a side quest.

One that I'll be paying very close attention to.