Breakthrough

Chapter 24: Payback

Morning arrived bringing cold air and tweeting birds that sounded more like annoying phone alarms. It was getting rather close to winter, what with September nearly being over and October on the horizon. Luke had already arose from a comfy sleep and shrugged off his fatigue.

He had gently lowered Sophie's head off of his chest and onto the sofa, leaving the redhead bundled up in blankets while he brewed a fresh pot of coffee. A lump of anxiety rose in his throat as he remembered the events of last night, and the confrontational talk he still needed to have with the brainwashed Brooke.

It was better not to think about that right now, as millions of questions plagued his head and made him feel dizzy. The first thing he had done when waking up and making sure Sophie was okay was check on Brooke to make sure she hadn't woke up and ran off. In hindsight, it was probably irresponsible of him to not watch over her to make sure she didn't escape, but to be honest, his injuries and tiredness from the battle at the lab compound had left him shattered.

A small shuffling sound behind him alerted him of Sophie's stirring as she slowly woke up. He looked over for a few moments before a small face popped up from underneath the blankets and grinned at him. He couldn't help but smile back as he placed down a fresh mug of coffee on the table in front of the sofa.

Considering everything that had happened, she seemed in high spirits and wasn't shaking or scared, at least visually.

"Did you sleep well?" Luke asked her while turning the TV on.

"Mhm!!" Came Sophie's response as she picked up the mug with two hands, still bundled up in blankets like a teddy bear.

He noticed that despite her bright attitude, she had winced slightly upon picking up the mug.

"Your hands, how are they doing?"

"It's fine, I promise. They sting, yeah, but those cold compresses really helped!"

"If you say so."

Sophie stared at the TV for a moment before realising she still had a question bothering her.

"Oh, those boys who beat you up in the alley when we met formally, what was that about?"

"Ah it's nothing. I tried stealing from their small camp and got caught, so I ran."

"Lucky I was there then, huh? Although you could've used your sword"

"That would've led to more trouble. But yeah, thanks for your help."

"Hehe, you too!" 

A moment passed where the only noise in the room was the TV displaying the weather forecast, it was scheduled to stop the storms which was a nice change.

"About last night...that girl, is she...-"

"Yes. That's Brooke."

"But...you told me she's from another world! And she was nice, and your friend!"

"Yeah, well, I guess that lab did some pretty fucked up things to her like they did to you."

Sophie took a long sip of coffee, she nearly burned her tongue.

"Didn't you tell me she was killed? In a Palace or something."

"I THOUGHT she was. I never saw a body, so anythings possible. Still though, how did the lab get their hands on her?"

Sophie shrugged. "Your guess is as good as mine. When she's awake perhaps we could try to jog her memory on you?"

"Yeah, perhaps..."

Luke sat back on the sofa feeling disgruntled and anxious. He had never felt like this around Brooke before, but then again, Brooke had never lashed out like this, that lab had obviously done horrible things to her head. The pure thought of Brooke being hurt or brainwashed was enough to make his blood boil.