Run Away (An Academy Ghost Bird Fan-Fiction)

Chapter Six

Luke

I can't believe what I'm seeing. I wave North over frantically, he needs to see this and confirm that I'm not hallucinating. Maybe cupcakes weren't the best idea for breakfast this morning. I hope the sugar isn't messing with my head right now. He climbs up on the other side of the platform and I can tell the moment he sees her too. He studies her silently and looks up at me and nods. I quickly whip out my phone and type out a message to the guys.

Luke: We found her

She's facing away from me, but I can tell she's got some injuries, not to mention filthy. Her clothes and feet are covered in mud and I can see some leaves stuck in her tangled hair. This girl has been through a lot.

Blackbourne: Location and status?

Luke: old church by hwy, playground. Some minor injuries.

Blackbourne: Mr. Lee- join Messrs. Taylor and bring her to hospital to be treated. Dr. Green- prepare a room with private bath facilities. Messrs. Morgan & Coleman- bring toiletries and fresh clothing.

We all send affirmatives just as I hear a tiny gasp. I look up and I see Sang has woken up, and of course the first person she sees is North. Crap. North would look scary to any full grown guy let alone a small, already frightened girl. Fucking North! I crouch down and try and calm her.
"We won't hurt you!" I tell her, "Please don't be afraid." I keep my hands up to try and block her from running without reaching out to grab her. Large, startled eyes whip around and meet mine. They're a pale green color that reminds me of pistachio ice cream. She turns her head back toward North, who is squatting down with hands up as well. I hear her soft exhale, as if she was given some small relief but she's still on alert. Her arms are stiff and her hands clinched into fists, she's not going down without a fight.
"We're not here to hurt you" North grumbles, in what would probably be his most calming voice. This would probably go much smoother if I was with Victor or Gabriel. If I want her to trust us I need to get her attention away from the big scary ogre.
"What is it you want? I don't have any money." She asks in a tiny musical voice.
"We're here to help you." I tell her. She turns back to me and I smile what I hope is a charming smile. Her eyes study mine. "Are you Sang?" I ask. Her pistachio eyes widen in surprise.
"H-how d-do you know who I am?" She asks. I avoid her question and introduce myself instead.
"My name is Luke. My friends and I have been looking for you."
"What?" Her voice is almost a whisper. Her eyebrows furrow slightly in confusion.
"Will you allow us to help you? I promise you are safe, no one is going to hurt you." I tell her. She's turned to face me slightly so I can see more of her injuries now. A split lip, shallow scrapes to her arms and legs, one large cut on one knee, bruises all over. "One of our friends is a doctor, he can treat your injuries. We'll get you some food and some clean clothes." I bet she hasn't eaten in days. She touches her lip with her finger and starts to worry her lip only to remember her injury, she quickly stops and drops her hand back to her lap. I can see her mind racing, trying to decide if she can trust me. Her eyes move over my face, studying it, trying to find the lie. But then suddenly I see the resolve in her eyes solidify and a small smiles teases the corner of her mouth.
"Throw in a bath and some chocolate chip pancakes and you have yourself a deal"
Oh! A girl after my own heart!

North

I watch as Luke offers Sang his hand to help her out of the playground tunnel. I didn't mean to frighten her. In cases like these, being big isn't so great. She stands on shaking legs, favoring one leg slightly. Maybe a sprained ankle? She looks at the hand that Luke is gently holding up curiously, like she almost wonders how it got there. After she appears to find her balance, he releases his grip but doesn't drop her hand, allowing her to pull back if she wanted. She leaves her hand in his and allows him to guide her to the platform edge.
I see Kota's car pull into the parking lot, pulling up to our location slowly. Kota steps out of the vehicle and pushes up on the corner of his glasses. The anxiety I saw on his face at our family meeting has been replaced with relief. He approaches us slowly.
"Sang, this is my brother, North," Luke gestures to me, " and my friend, Kota." He points to Kota, who lifts his hand in greeting and smiles. "We're going to take you to our friend, Dr. Green, so he can treat your injuries. Is that okay?" She nods and gives a small smile as she waves hello at Kota, she turns her eyes to me. I try to soften my face and smile so I don't scare her again.
"Hello, Sang. I didn't mean to frighten you before, I'm sorry." I tell her apologetically. Kota looks at me with his silent question, I'll explain later, he nods in understanding.
Sang looks at me, "That's okay, North." She says in a soft voice. "I imagine I look pretty scary myself, right now." This time I give her a genuine small, the thought of someone as tiny as her being frightening. Her pale green eyes soften and she returns a large smile of her own.

Kota

Thank goodness we found her! Luke helps Sang down from the playground platform and we ease her over to my car. She has a light limp but luckily I park close enough that she doesn't have to walk far or over the gravel. After placing her in the passenger seat, Luke jumps in behind her. I turn to North who watches her carefully.
"I'll go pick up Nathan and Silas and meet you at the hospital." North says and I nod.
"Okay. Let Mr. Blackbourne know. I'll see you there." He gives a quick nod and walks toward the front of the church, where he left his Jeep.
I get in the driver's seat and buckle my seat belt. Glancing quickly to Sang, I see she's already buckled in and she has her arms wrapped around her middle as she looks around the inside of my car.
"Are you cold? I can turn the heat on for you." I reach for the thermostat but she places her hand gentle on my arm to still my motions.
"No. I'm alright. Thank you though" I look at her hand on my arm and feel my ears heat in a blush. I drop my arm.
"Okay. Let me know if you need the heat or if you're too hot. Did you want to listen to some music? What would you like?"
"I'm not picky. I like everything."
I remember her mixed CDs that Luke found in her room and smile. I switch on the radio to some rock station I had preset, turn it low to be background noise and drive out of the parking lot.

Pulling into the Academy hospital, I see Dr. Green by the entrance waiting with a wheelchair. I pull up to the curb where he's standing. Luke jumps out and pulls open Sang's door before Dr. Green has even taken a step. He just smiles and shakes his head at Luke's eagerness. Luke offers his hand again to assist Sang out of the car, her legs are still a little shaky.
"Hello Miss Sang, my name is Dr. Green." He introduces himself with a charming smile. He brings the wheelchair closer to the car. "How about you take a seat here and let me take you the rest of the way?" She nods and gently lowers her weight into the chair. Dr. Green leans down to look through the door to me. "I have a room ready on the third floor, go ahead and park the car and meet us up there." I nod and he shuts the passenger door and turns back to Sang, pushing the chair through the hospital doors with Luke trailing behind. I watch the doors slide close and pull away from the curb to find a parking spot. My phone buzzes with a group text.

Blackbourne: Miss Sorenson has arrived at the hospital. She is in Dr. Green's care. Room 324

Victor: Gabriel and I have picked up the toiletries and a couple changes of clothing. ETA 20 mins

Nathan: North picked up Silas and myself. We have some food for Sang. ETA 25 mins

Luke: Make sure you bring some chocolate chip pancakes, I promised Sang. No arguments North!

Nathan: haha, Okay. Make that 35 mins

I chuckle. I'm sure North was thrilled with that.
I'm so happy that the guys seem eager to help her. I don't know what's going to happen with Sang. If she's going to go back to her family or if she will want to stay away. Either way I'm worried the Academy will want to swoop in and take Sang because her ghost status. Girls in the Academy tend to find the role of bait and Sang has been through so much already. I hope we can keep her a secret just a little longer.