The Last Corvus (completed)

Ch. 21 Meg-Elaine

Chapter 21

Meg-Elaine

They'd figured out what to do by the time I wake up. Ryan, seeing me awake, helps me prop myself against the ceiling vent and goes to tell the others. They step away from Toby's lifeless form.

The memories of the early morning come flashing back and I start crying all over again. Toree hugs me, but instead of hugging her back I use her body to help hoist myself to my feet.

I stand and everyone looks at me in awe. "What?" I ask and it takes them a moment to respond.

"Your foot. How could you possibly be able to stand?" Ryan, our resident "doctor" asks. They still look at me in amazement as I start to get annoyed; what about my foot? Slowly, memories from right before Toby's death trickle in and I remember my pulverized foot.

That was a good question. How can I stand? Our families have been trained for who knows how long to not notice pain, and it seems as if my body is doing it automatically before I have a chance to channel the pain away.

I look at my foot, snugly wrapped in gauze, the top of my arch slightly bloody, and realize Ryan must have set it while I was asleep. But wasn't it a compound fracture? Yup, I would definitely still feel that. To answer his question, I just shrug.

"So... uh, what are we going to do with Toby?" I ask, praying it doesn't involve a dumpster.

Jules scratches the back of her neck, reluctant to answer me. "Um. We've decided to set him. But we haven't figured out if we should do it now, and the smoke attract attention; or do it tonight and someone see the fire."

Oh, they're going to burn him. Vampires don't burn while they're alive, but once they're dead they light like dry tinder. 

I hate to have to think of Toby (and Shaun, sadly) as a vampire, but he would have been. I nod, dejected, and walk forward, not feeling any pain in my foot; not feeling anything, really, to Toby. The others crowd around me, hands raised in case I fall. Worriers.

He looks so peaceful; face smooth, eyes closed, a faint smile, dried red stains on his chest and shoulder.

I slowly lower myself towards him, causing everyone to think I'm falling and help me back up. I shrug them off and start lowering myself again. Getting the hint they help me kneel next to him, splaying my leg out so as not to put pressure on my foot.

I stroke his cheek, my silent tears moistening his drying blood-soaked chest. Feeling Toree's hand on the back of my head, I lean into her and cry harder, my sobs slowly joined by the sobs of the others as they let go of their pent up sorrow.

Taking a deep breath to calm myself, I open my eyes. The sun's higher than I thought it would be; it's probably close to ten o'clock. That's weird... if I remember correctly the traffic helicopter should be coming around soon, and we're still up here.

"Hey. Guys. We should..." and just then I'm interrupted by the whirring of propellers. "...Cover!" Ryan and Jules open the vent and disappear inside while Tore waits for me beside it. Pulling out my matches, I strike one and throw it onto his body, instantly engulfing it in flames. We can't afford to have his body be recognizable. We can't be noticed for looking like "the mysterious dead boy on the warehouse roof."

I run toward Toree, picking up my sword and Toby's daggers along the way.

We finally make it back to the cavernous main room just in time to see Ryan and Jules running out the side door, with my and Toree's bags. He yells "forty-two" and rounds the corner, out of sight. 'Forty-two' is one of our meeting places, a fire hydrant on a street with forty-two window gardens.

I pick up my shoes and head out the door with Toree. I can't put them on because of my foot, and I hate running with only one shoe (something I've had to do multiple times).

After running a few blocks I stop, lean against the door frame to an abandoned bar, and whistle for Toree to stop running. She jogs back to me, looking around for any danger, "what is it? What's wrong?"

I hate to do this to her, to them, but I have to.

"I can't do this anymore."

"Is it your foot? We don't have to run if that would help." She's so sweet, always so considerate. That's good, I need her to be.

"No, it's not my foot. I still can't feel it. I just can't handle it all; there's too much death, too much turmoil, we're always on the run. I can't stand it!" I'm almost to tears again, I can't stand how weak I am.

Comprehension dawns after a moment and then she stares at me, wide-eyed. Dumbstruck. "No. You can't! We need you! We can't afford to lose anyone else!"

I can feel the tears rolling down my cheeks, "don't give me that, you're stronger than I am. The team needs someone strong. You understand that more than anyone."

She shakes her head in denial, tears slowly making their way down her own cheeks. Grabbing her chin, I look her in the eyes and continue, "I know you don't want this, neither do I, but it's necessary unless you want me having a meltdown. They'll understand. They'll be better for it, you'll see. You deserve this."

She jerks her chin away, shaking her head violently, "no. No. No! You can't do this!"

"Look! I hate doing this to you, but I need to get away for a while. Who knows; maybe I'll decide to come back in a while. But until then... Look, you gotta go. They'll be waiting for you. Don't worry about me. I love you." I start walking down the sidewalk, pushing her before me, toward where Ryan and Jules disappeared.

"You're Captain now, make me proud," I whisper to her slowly receding back. She turns back to me, a look of disbelief and tears running down her face, one last time before running after them.

Not knowing what to do now, I set off on my own with nothing but my shoes, my weapons, and the clothes on my body.