Star Dust

Chapter 23 ~ Dylan

 I've known her almost thirteen days in total and I feel as if I've known her longer as if we were friends years before. Mystery has been unconscious for three or four since we first met. Lately I've been questioning myself, Do I even know her? Is it possible that I could be... NO! Maybe... I don't know... It is a possibility but... never mind.

 Andrew returned late last night with his new contraption, so we all moved our stuff to the top of the spire and relocated Mystery into a hospital wing. Gryphon and Matthew searched the entire hospital for any sign of alien life and killing most all of the hostiles they found. 

 They had returned pride sketched into their smiling faces. Each had tallied up the number of hostiles found and obliterated, making it into a gruesome game, nobody else wants to be apart of. Andrew spent all of the next day moving supplies from up and down the spire and to and from the ship. Katie and I haven't left Mystery's side, when Katie does leave to do other things I ask questions, but never get an answer, the only answer is the heart monitors' steady beeps that fluctuates continuously. Time holds no meaning to me anymore, familiar faces is all I see but no voices reach me just those people passing by saying empty words, sometimes encouraging me to eat. 

 Gryphon comes into the room quietly her eyes resting on the still form of Mystery "it's late, little Miss Doctor wants you to get some sleep" I nod waving a hand absently trying to clear the stale air and make room for anything else. Gryphon glances back one last time before disappearing, and I'm surprised by the amount of concern etched into her face, whether it be for me or Mystery I don't know. I force my eye lids to shut and fall asleep almost immediately, with one thought ringing in my ears What am I waiting for?

. . .

 A crash sounds close to my head and my eyes snap open, only to be shut just as quickly. Blinking I run shielding my eyes against the blinding light. We never turned on any lights in the hospital, so why now? Eyes adjusted I scan the room and get a fleeting image of Mystery racing out into the hall, craning my stiff neck I glare at the now empty bed. Sheets are strewn across the floor, the medical machines runs flat line and then there's the hole, a doorway releasing the rooms light and illuminating the hall beyond. 

 I jump up almost too quickly and I go back down tangled in the cotton blanked that was draped over me. Ripping the sheet from my limbs I race out wondering all the while if it was all just a bad dream, I burst into the hall slamming my shoulder against the wall opposite of the room. Not twenty feet away is Mystery, low to the ground in a more than familiar defensive stance. 

 Something inside me cracks threatening to break, she looks so scared, like a cornered animal. 

 "Mystery it's ok, we have everyone" she turns and runs the circular stretch before I can finish the last word.

 "Andrew, Matthew, Katie, Gryphon" I call out, the sound of running hits my ears from a little further ahead. Katie and Gryphon are piled on top of each other and trying in vain to get to their feet "it's like she doesn't recognize us anymore" Gryphon pants. Helping them to their feet, Griffin races ahead of us and dives into the chasm in the center in of the spire, only to shoot straight up with a few powerful strokes of her tinted golden brown, white wings. 

 We join Andrew at the spiral stairs, he is hanging over the edge when we find him, Katie grabs one arm and I grab the other, together we hull him up. We all stop to catch our breath before the three of us, one by one throw our selves into the chasm. Falling fast I reach out towards the contraption Andrew had made from what he could find, it worked like a charm. I grip the bedsheet cord with one hand and reach for my belt, strung around my waist and grasp the small device that makes traveling the spire easier than breathing. 

 A small motor with gears hidden behind a thin sheet of metal that protects the user and from accidentally getting their clothing and/or hair ripped out. I cling to the rope as it sways menacingly with the new weight, below me Andrew and Katie are activating their devices and soon are climbing up the makeshift rope with ease. Matthew is still a ferocious bear and is forced to scale the stairs, making good time with his inhuman abilities.

 Seconds pass and soon we are on the top level, collectively we swing the rope back and forth and jump as one to the landing platform on the one side. Without looking back we all stream towards the open roof doorway, out into the cool night, the air holding a slight metallic taste. 

 Mystery stands on the edge of the roof, a straight drop to one's death if not careful or as lucky in genetics as Gryphon, who has wings. Gryphon is a few feet away from Mystery and doesn't dare to move "Mystery come back you'll open your cuts" cries Katie. 

 Mystery rises from her crouch and stands tall and fearless an image of pure strength and spirit, she shouts a bunch of babble that sounds slightly familiar. Staring us down as she jumps off the roof. Gryphon surges forward hurtling herself off the building with more grace than I thought was possible. 

 We rush forward tripping over one another to reach the edge all hoping to catch a glimpse of Gryphon rescuing Mystery from a suicide jump. They fall fast and easy, Gryphon with wings spread and propelling her down to the falling form of Mystery who makes no attempt at slowing her descent. It takes only a few seconds for Mystery to spread her arms wide and soar high, throwing Gryphon off guard and making her stop mid flight to digest the idea of Mystery flying. 

 She passes us climbing higher and higher commanding the forces available on this planet to aid in her departure.