Planet of the Stars

Chapter 50: Bath

Efren let me cling to him as we walked towards the ship that had crashed through the ceiling of the arena. He helped me into the ship Theo was waiting for us, Efren gave him a nod then headed towards the cockpit to fly us out of here and back to the fleet. Theo was supporting me as he led me towards the place where I could bathe. We reached it and he looked at me concerned.

"Are you able to stand up?" Theo asks.

I gently stand up and test my weight I was able to stand but it wasn't for very long I could already feel the dizziness racing to overtake me.

"Yeah, I'll be fine," I lie.

"Okay?" Theo says and I know he didn't fully believe me but he nodded, then left the room.

When the door shut behind him I clutched the siding of the bath and tried to steady myself but nausea overtook me and I started retching. I was covered in people's blood and I could see myself doing what I did to them even though it was the crystal-force in charge. I closed my eyes and flashes tore through me. I finally managed to get into the bath and fill it with water.

When that was done I started scrubbing myself to get the blood off of me. It took a long time because the blood seemed to stain the skin and I couldn't get it out. I started crying and I didn't stop scrubbing. I heard a knock on the door.

"Don't come in," I said trying to steal my voice.

"Skye, it is me," Efren says.

"I'm still in the bath," I say,

"I know, let me in," Efren says.

"Fine," I say.

Efren comes in and was holding a towel. I was curled up so my arms were wrapped around my knees. He pulled a stool behind me and sat in it.

"I figured you would need help with your hair, even if it is shorter than it was before," Efren says.

I nod.

"Thank you," I whisper.

"Of course," Efren says.

He dumps water over me to get my hair wet, and then he started washing it with some shampoo. He worked hard to get the dried blood out of my hair. I definitely relaxed, you always do when someone has their hands working through your hair.

"I would've had Helena do this, but that means we would have to back with her and I don't think she wants to see you covered in blood even if it isn't yours," Efren says.

I nod. When Efren finished with the shampoo he dumped another bucket of water over my head, then started washing the shampoo out before putting some conditioner in my hair. He took care to run it through all of my hair, the roots, and the ends especially. We waited a few minutes and I went back to scrubbing my hands.

"Skye," Efren says softly.

"Yeah?" I say.

"The blood is gone, there's none left on your hands," Efren says.

"Yes, there is," I say tears starting in my eyes again.

Efren takes my hand in his.

"Skye, look at them, if you keep scrubbing you're just going to damage your skin," Efren says and I could hear the demand in his voice.

I look at Efren's hand holding mine and I saw his clean hand holding mine, which was also clean it was just pink from all the scrubbing.

"They are clean," Efren whispered.

"They don't feel clean," I whisper.

"I know they don't," Efren says gently.

After that, he dumped more water over my head and started washing out the conditioner. After that, he stood up and held up the towel. I stood up. He was holding the towel so it covered my body when I stood up, and then he wrapped the towel around me. I took it and pulled it tighter to my body.

"Alright I'll let you dry off and get changed," Efren says.

I nod. Efren gently grabs the side of my face with his hand for a brief second. He smiled at me, and I was able to return it I didn't have to force it, then he headed out of the bathroom.

Surprisingly after Efren left the smile still lingered on my face. I knew it was because if someone like Efren who was everything I ever thought was good in this world could still look at me and not be disgusted by me, then I was definitely someone who deserved it. I wiped a tear that had fallen from my eye with my hand, then started changing after I had dried off. I changed into a soft white shirt that was Theo's and then some sweatpants. I pulled on slippers and ran my fingers through my hair before throwing it into a braid.