The Last Crusader

15

Draco arrived at the clinic five hours ago looking for Scarlet and Crimson. Draco looked through the open clinic, finding people in the waiting room but no one on staff. He searched. The waiting rooms were empty, not even a patient.

The agonizing groans could be heard behind him in the lobby as he sought his sister in arms. Draco went to the basement, knowing for sure Valencia was downstairs. Empty.

Draco had gone back upstairs to search the clinic. No one.

"Hey, citizens, do you know where the woman who works here is right now?" Draco asked.

"She was sleepwalking out of here about two minutes ago that way." A college kid with a dart deep in his arm pointed with his good arm.

"You good?" Draco asked.

"I'm rushing a fraternity. Lost a bet and had to be the dart board."

"Worth it?"

"Nah, bro. No, please find her. I need help." The young man passed out from the pain.

Draco nodded, heading out of the clinic. He called Valencia back-to-back, hearing the ringing down the road. Frustrated that she didn't answer, he started running after her.

"Valencia! Val! Val! Scarlet!"

Valencia turned, in a trance, punching Draco in the throat, dropping him where he stood, then evaporating into the air. Draco growled, catching his breath and then tracking her energy. By the time he gathered himself, she had managed to move a mile away. He couldn't have been down that long. Her energy moved erratically, a mile there, in seconds, not minutes.

Draco recalled the sewers, giving himself a bit of distance, recalling how Crimson implied they NEEDED Valencia when fighting Morningstar. She looked so innocent to Draco. It was like Mariposa in her bending ability. Draco moved once the energy settled, taking to the sky and gliding to her location.

The mayor's mansion? A puddle dragged the body. Draco watched as the puddle went down a sewer grate, forcing the body through the tight space too far to intervene. By the time Draco managed to land, they were gone.

Draco returned to the clinic to find Valencia, in a mechanical trance going guest to guest, treating them like a fast-food spot. Valencia had come to him as if they hadn't met. She left quickly when she discovered nothing wrong.

Maybe she wouldn't recognize him without his costume?

Draco found any reason possible for Valencia's behavior, but he didn't find the mayor. Draco rushed home to get dressed. Saying goodbye to his dad and then taking to the skies.

"Hey, Big Red, have you seen Little Red?" Draco asked in his phone, landing to find a good point to make a drop.

"I've been in the greenhouse all night. Resting my knees, young man. Are you two going out tonight?"

"I go out every night. I'm out now, but she's acting weird."

"Well, don't get hurt messing around with Val," Crimson warns.

"Maybe, I should watch from afar and report back?" Draco considered, rubbing his throat from earlier.

"Keep in touch."

"She has the mayor."

"Hmm..." Crimson went quiet but stayed on the line with Draco.

Draco pursued Valencia from the sky. Following the pool of energy whenever it faded from view. He found himself at the docks. He could hear nothing and see nothing. The facility was closed. Hours had passed by without Valencia showing her head. Until her car rolled out of the facility as though it had been there the whole day. Draco didn't see the mayor return. Only Scarlet where there was once Valencia.