Obliterate

seventeen

NEITHER SOPHIE OR ELI could fall back asleep that. The remaining hours of darkness were spent huddled together on the couch, Disney movies playing across the television in front of them. Once beams of sunlight began to peek through their windows, Sophie abandoned Eli on the couch to get dressed. She had plans for the morning, at least before her classes started --and most of them involved bothering Aubrey.

"Be good," she told Eli as she returned to the main room of their apartment. He still sat on the couch, clad in his underwear, his cheek resting atop his fist. She walked over and he leaned upward for a kiss.

"You be good too," he told her. "And remember. If there is anything sketchy happens, I want to be the first to know."

She nodded and grabbed her keys. As the door closed behind her, and the sounds of Mushu yelling faded, Sophie couldn't help but breathe a small sigh of relief. Now that Eli knew about the blood, it was as if a weight had been taken from her shoulders. Whatever was happening to her was weird and scary, but at least she wasn't alone with it anymore.

As she made her way to the infirmary, she debated on telling Aubrey. Eli's reaction had surprised Sophie, somewhat. While he still was initially disgusted and angered, he had ultimately taken it like a champ and, more importantly, respected her wishes in keeping her mother out of it. She wasn't sure how Aubrey would react to the idea of Sophie waking up, covered in blood. When she approached the entrance, she noticed a familiar figure leaning against the wall, right next to the main doors. Surprise trickled through her as Finn Frey's gaze met hers, a smile tugging at his lips. He pushed away from the wall and walked toward her.

"I was hoping to find you this morning," he said.

"Oh," she said. "Really? Why?"

His smile seemed to grow larger. "Your mother mentioned that you had a friend in the infirmary who is supposed to be researching the creatures that were found in the forest. I wanted to see if I could listen in. Maybe even help guide her research."

Sophie's eyebrows crinkled. She wasn't sure how Aubrey would feel about that, especially since there was a chance that it could stress Wolfe out. Finn was a stranger, both to her and to Wolfe.

He immediately noticed her reaction. He smiled larger and explained, "Through the years that I've spend traveling and exploring the world, I've gained a lot of knowledge. Even with one small detail, I might be able to figure out what the creatures are --or if I've come across them before, at least. I feel that I could be great help to both you and your friend."

"Did my mother explain why my friend is in the infirmary?" Sophie asked quietly.

Finn's eager expression faltered. "Not exactly."

"Her boyfriend is actually the one that is injured," Sophie explained as vaguely as she could. "And he's quite sensitive right now. I'm not sure that having a stranger in the room would be very beneficial."