Flawless

The Last Time

"Sorry," Thorne chuckled and rubbed the back of his neck. "I didn't know that they shot your leg. Probably wasn't the best idea to drag you out of the building and force you to run down the streets."

Windy's scowl didn't last long as it followed with a snort and a laugh. "You suck you know." Thorne pulled at his bow tie uncomfortably. Was this arrogant beast feeling guilty? Windy snapped her fingers. "Hey, keep wrapping my leg in badges."

Thorne's mouth twitched as he forced a smile. "Ok, no need to be so demanding." Thorne sat back down on the couch at their motel room. He looked down at her bandages and said. "You know... I was-"

Windy's phone rang. She whipped it out of her pocket and answered in a concerned voice, "Hey, who is this?"

There was heavy breathing and then a cracked voice answered, "Who are you?" Thorne looked at the phone as Windy looked up at him. She mouthed 'do you know this person?', but he simply looked up at her in fear.

So much fear.

Windy answered, her eyebrows drawn together, "This is Windy, Windy Spec."

There was a slight pause. Thorne stood up, eye wide with fear, and started walking away. "I have a message for you and you and you only, Windy."

Thorne left the room and walked to his bedroom. Windy turned around and faced the wall. "Yes, I'm listening."

***

Thorne closed the door to his room and put his ear against it.

"Yes, I'm listening." Windy's voice seemed to be relieved at Thorne's exit.

"I'm waiting by it. You have forty-eight hours to return to Ohio. Don't worry, I have it." the caller's voice cracked on 'it'.

"Mentis!" Windy gasped. "Is that you? Are you ok?"

"Yes, yes I am well. But listen, I can't keep it here much longer. Get over here now."

Windy's breath began to stutter. "You can't just-"

"I know." they said, and the phone went dead.

It couldn't be Mentis. Not him. Oh, he hated Mentis. How did Windy know him? Thorne barged out of the room. "How do you know Mentis? Huh?" He felt his face flush with color. "What are you on some scheme with him? Well don't stick with it too long cause: news flash: the whole things gonna go south! And-"

"Thorne," her voice was harsh and cold but her face remained with a look of sympathy. "He's just family."

Thorne thought Windy noticed his change of expression from fear to rage because she held her hands up and stepped back. "He's your BROTHER?"

"Thorne-"

"YOU'RE FRICK'IN RELATED TO THAT CHEAT? H-HE'S JUST A-A JERK WHO STOLE MY RICHES!"

Windy rubbed the back of her hand. "I know, he told me about the business you guys ran. I know he took your idea on a space ship conector and how he took 67% and..."

"What now?"

"He sorta gave me 33% of the profit-" she sulked backwards back.

"HE GAVE YOU WHAT?" Thorne spun around and ruffled his hair with his hand. "I ENDED UP BROKE BECAUSE OF HIM!"

"Yeah, I know... you know how you want to get off this planet and-"

"AND WHAT? HE SABOTAGED MY ONLY WAY OUT NOW?"

"NO!" she screamed. "He's keeping hostage what I stole from the government! Now let me talk and stop sabotaging everything I say about him!"