Struck

~ Chapter 9 ~

I first became away of the ache in my chest and shoulders. Next was how dry my tongue felt in my mouth, like I hadn't tasted water in years. Tired eyes blinked open slowly, taking in the dark room and the plush bed I was laying on. Not my room or bed.

Alarm filled me as I recalled last nights events and the mysterious man who had carried me from the alley. I had passed out from blood loss before I had been able to find out where he was taking me and now I laid vulnerable in a strange room. That man was a killer, and I had been crazy enough to let him help me. 

It must have been the blood loss.

I sat up quickly, eyes assessing the room as the electricity came alive under my skin. However, just as soon as I was up, strong hands gripped my shoulders to pull me back down. At the contact, electricity flowed through their hands and they yelled, releasing me immediately. I rolled off the bed smoothly, despite the protest of my aching chest, and turned to face the person.

The beautiful man from last night stared back, his hands held up in an innocent gesture. 

"I'm not going to hurt you." He said calmly.

"Where am I?" Though he sounded sincere, my trust was limited right now and I could not afford to fall for any lies.

"You're at my house just outside of Vancouver." He shifted away from me slowly, towards the window. "See." 

Curtains pulled back to reveal green mountains and an ocean in the distance. He obviously had some money to get this kind of view, but this revelation did little for my lack of trust.

"Who are you? Why am I here?" I asked.

"I am Leo, and you are here because I didn't know where else to take you. I had to remove the screws in a somewhat sterile environment to prevent infection." He gestured to my chest. 

When I looked down not only did I realize was wearing a different shirt, but I also had no pants on.

I yelped, crawling back into the bed to hide myself, "You changed me?" More horror set in as I realized I also wasn't wearing a bra. How much did this man see?

Leo cleared his throat awkwardly, looking anywhere but at me. "I had to in order to remove the screws. I also wasn't about to let you sleep in my bed with your bloody clothes."

I sighed, closing my eyes lightly. He clearly did not want to harm me, considering he saved my life, so I allowed myself to relax. My wounds ached and I wanted nothing more than to never have to move again. I should just be grateful I was alive.

I slumped back against the headboard, all fight leaving me. "Why did you help me? Shouldn't you hate me as much as those other guys?"

There was a long moment of silence, and I watched as he moved to sit on the edge of the bed closer to me. Leo seemed to hesitate with his answer as his eyes searched my face.

"My sister was a conductor, like you, and I wish I could have helped her before it was too late." His voice was raw at the confession and I felt the urge to reach out and comfort him. 

I didn't.

"A conductor?" 

"A person who can generate and control electricity." He stared at me for a few moments, eyes searching for an answer to a question I didn't know. "Do you know anything about the world you are now a part of?"

"No." I felt almost ashamed to say it, but I pushed the feeling away. "I only recently got these powers." 

Electricity danced along my fingertips a moment later, my hand lifted between us. I was enthralled with the sight of it, a feeling I would surely never get used to.