Sustainable

Chapter Two

The light flooded into my eyes, and I blinked a few times to get used to it. After my eyes adjusted, I managed to get a good look at my attackers. I looked at the nearest - the only man in the room. He was incredibly tall - that was the first thing that I noticed. He was dark-skinned, a soft caramel tone with a mop of messy dark brown curls and matching puppy dog eyes. I cursed under my breath - he was quite good looking, and just had to be my abductor. I looked around the room and was next met with the icy blue stare of a blonde woman. Her skin was a healthy rosy pink, and her honey blonde locks were pulled into a no-nonsense ponytail. She held a small case, which she set down on a nearby table with a heavy clunk.

Opening it, she pulled out a bunch of brightly coloured wires and began walking in my direction. I stared, watching her every move, when she began plugging things into a nearby machine and wheeled it over to me. I stared in horror at her, and a loud laugh broke the uneasy silence. I looked over to the source of it and was met by a tall and very slim girl, who had a devilish smile plastered on her impish face. The blonde woman looked at her in surprise, and the thin woman spoke. "Em, she looks terrified. At least explain to her what you're doing; put the poor thing at rest."

She winked at me, and I looked nervously back the blonde one; who she'd called Em. "Don't look so scared. It's not like she's going to ram those things up your a-"

"That's enough, Ro. You're not helping." Em stared angrily at Ro, and turned back to me with a softened look on her face. "It's just a heart monitor, I'm just checking that you've got no underlying health issues. That okay?" Her brittle English accent sounded soft and calming, and I nodded slowly. She smiled, and began to stick the electrodes onto my chest. "Are you okay with needles? I would like a blood sample, if you don't mind."

I shook my head, still too lost to speak. Needles had never bothered me, not since I had a whole lot as a child. "That's fine." My voice sounded small and cracked, and I coughed to get rid of the dryness.

"Here." A glass of water was held under my nose, and I went to reach for it, only to discover my hands were still shackled. I looked down, and gasped.

Holding my hands in place were small rings of flames. The fire danced around my skin, barely touching me. The writhing I felt earlier made sense, as the flame didn't stop moving, and I was more amazed than afraid at the spectacular image. It didn't burn at all, and I stared at it, mesmerised.

"Ro, you forgot to undo her hands." Em called out to the girl, and I snapped back to reality. "Right." Ro snapped her long fingers, and the flames winked out of existence, rendering my hands free.

I flexed my wrists and hands, expecting a sudden burst of pain from the flames. None came, and I suddenly remembered the water being held in front of me. I took it, and thanked the man who held it out for me, who returned a small smile to me.

"That's amazing." I found my voice again, and looked at the small woman in wonder. "Thanks." She did a small curtsy and laughed, and began to walk towards me before plonking herself into the empty seat next to me. "My name's Rowan. I'd ask yours, but I already know." She chuckled, and flicked her short hair. "Ew." She turned her face away, and I looked over to Em, who was drawing blood from my arm. "I hate blood." Rowan said, pulling a face. Her hair, a scarlet pixie cut that suited her pale pixie face perfectly, shook as she made an effort to ignore the needles. She stood, and I noticed that she was incredibly lean and lithe, making me feel slightly ashamed of my flat and non-existent figure.

"That's Emma, our resident doctor. I call her Auntie Em, though. You know, since she takes care of us all and such." Rowan grinned at her own little joke, and Emma rolled her eyes. "Em's fine, if you prefer that. It's less formal." She smiled, and she began to undo all the wiring. "Right, you're all done. You're free to wander around, just don't go outside. It's dangerous here." Em began to wheel the heart monitor away, and turned to ask a few questions. "I sense that you've suffered a serious illness in the past. What was it?"

"Meningitis." I said simply, and she nodded. "Young?"

"Eight."

"Alright." She pulled the man towards us, and motioned for me to stand. "You feel okay to walk?" I nodded, and Em took the empty glass from my hands. "This is Elliot, and he's going to show you around." Elliot held out a large hand for me to shake, and I took it tentatively. "He will answer any of your questions."

"Why can't I show her?" Rowan pouted, and Em shot her a venomous look. 

"Because, I know that you're behind on your chores. Elliot is fine, and I'm pretty sure he can answer more questions than you." Rowan stomped off, but not before shooting me a playful glance and a wink. "Speak later." She grinned and waltzed off.

"Right, Elliot, show her around and introduce her to the others. I need to get back and put this stuff away." She motioned to her equipment, and started to walk away.

"Let's go, then." Elliot held out his hand towards a large door, and I looked at him. "Ladies first."