𝐨𝐟𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐩. (james conrad) *ON HOLD*

o n e

unedited

When Blake awoke, she was still strapped to the gurney, but instead of being in the monarch facility, she was in a vehicle of some sort. Houston Brooks sat next to her.

"Brooks." she croaked out, startling the man.

He snapped his head up and looked at her, his mouth hung open before scrambling to the other side of the vehicle and pulling a water bottle out of a small compartment. He set the bottle down on the chair he was sitting on before undoing her restraints and helping her sit up. He handed her the now open water bottle and watched as the brunette gulped the whole thing down.

"Thanks." She told him, smiling gently.

Brooks returned the gesture and helped her step off the gurney and sit down beside him.

"I need to check your stitches," he said, gesturing for her to turn around, "just to make sure they're not ripped or you're not bleeding."

Blake nodded and turned around, slightly pulling up her shirt to reveal the two groups of stitches on her olive toned back. He looked them over for a minute or so before grabbing a small piece of cloth, dipping it into a small owl of water and wiping clean her back. She hissed in pain at the feeling of pain and stinging where the stitches were. She wanted them out so bad and couldn't wait for the scientists to finish their expedition.

"You know, Blake, I must warn you, we have hired some soldiers and a tracker to help us out, I hope you don't mind." Brooks said.

Blake growled slightly, turning around to glare at the man before her.

"As long as they don't ruin my home." She responded.

"Well about that," he sheepishly started, getting cut off as the doors to the back of the vehicle opened, revealing a group of landsat scientists and Randa, the man she hated the most in the world.

"Let's go, Duetch." Randa said, grabbing her arm and roughly pulling her out of the vehicle, causing her to stumble slightly.

Blake glared at him as hard as she could and ripped her arm from his grasp.

"Before we go on the ship," the older man said, Blake hadn't even realized where they were as she had been too focused on getting, as far away from Randa as possible, "I want you to know a couple things. First of all, none of these people are allowed to know what you are or where or from or what you can do. None of that mutation stuff is allowed to be spoken about. Second of all, act like a human for once around these people and not the animal you are. And lastly, here," He shoved a small duffle bag into her arms, "you smell like a wild animal, go have a shower and clean up then come find Brooks or San, she's the Asian girl," Racist, Blake thought angered by what he said, "and they can help you with whatever else needs to be helped."

Randa glared at her before spinning in his heel and leading the group of scientists onto the huge boat. 'Athena' was painted in huge, white letters across the front it.

San walked up to Blake, sticking her hand out in front of her to shake the other woman's hand.

"I'm San." She introduced herself.

"Blake," Blake replied, "quick question, Are we the only females going on this expedition?"

San giggled a little.

"No, I don't think so, I'm pretty sure there's one more."

San waited a minute before speaking up again.

"How's your back?" She asked.

"It hurts like hell, seeing as they decided not to numb my back before stitching it shut." Blake responded.