Claimed

~Chapter 8~Tis the Season

 ~Chapter 8~Tis the Season

Chry knew he couldn’t stop, he knew he couldn’t turn back he knew he was carrying his claim, Wynter.

Regardless, all of Chry’s thoughts were back in the hospital room where he had left Lee with Lorn and Bray.  He wanted to punch himself for being so weak and stupid.  Before now, Chry had thought of Lee more as a mentor, but now, after being so worried about Lee, he knew Lee meant more to him than he had originally thought.  Lee was Chry’s friend.

Suddenly, Chry’s conscious would not let him step any farther.  He stopped abruptly on the sidewalk in front of a random house in the middle of town.

Chry looked down at the girl in his arms.  Her eyes had closed long ago from the pain in her head being too intense.  It was comforting that she had not witnessed Chry’s leap of faith as he exited the hospital through her room window.  Still, he didn’t want to bring her back with him and put her in danger again.  Even so, her house was still miles away and if Chry brought her back to it, it may very well be too late to help Lee.

With his resolve in mind, Chry gently shook Wynter until her eyes were open.

“What’s wrong?”  Her voice was faint, she was weak.  Chry wondered if he was doing the right thing.

Gently, he placed his claim on her feet and looked down at her.

“Where are we?”  She asked as she looked around.  Then her eyes locked to Chry.

“You’re going back aren’t you?  You’re going to help that man?”

Chry nodded once.

“Good.  Two against one isn’t smart.  But I guess that means,” Wynter began as she scanned her surroundings, “you want me to stay here, right?”

Chry gave no gesture.

“I’ll be fine.  I can walk home.  It’s only a block or two down from here.”

Knowing she could not see, Chry smiled.  The girl before him was a martyr.  Chry knew her house was miles away, as did the girl, yet she lied so that Chry could do what needed to be done.

Her voice didn’t sound reassuring, but Chry knew he had to leave her, regardless.

He shook his head and placed his hands firmly on her shoulders, wondering why he didn’t just use his voice with her.

“What?”

“…I need you to stay here.”  Wynter’s eyes widened at the sound of Chry’s voice.  Chry broke out in a smile yet again.  He liked how her simple gestures made him happy.

“You can talk?”  Wynter was in awe.

Chry nodded.

“I’ll stay, but…”  Wynter eyed her bare feet that were beginning to turn colors with the snow.

Sighing, Chry went behind her and took off his hoody jacket.  He then placed it on his claim and bent down toward her ear.

“Hide in the trees, don’t let anyone see you.”  He whispered and then took off.

Lucy gazed up at the setting moon with sadness.  She was not ready for the night to end.  Going back to the stuffy dark tunnel did not sound pleasant, but it was a way of life she had learned to live with.

There was no one around Lucy and everything was quiet.  All the houses she had passed before sitting on the park bench, had been dark and cold.  Everyone was asleep and even Lucy found herself yawning from exhaustion.