Gone Again: World Hoppers {book two}

Michael

"Alright we got two more hours to go, your little incident cost us an hour and a half. If you were going to throw up you should've told me," Ryan was only cuffed to the door now, his left hand free. He stared at the steering wheel, he could reach over and hijack the car but the action could end in him dead. He needed to get back to York and Naomi, he knew that for sure, everything else was harder to figure out.

"Here, eat." Bea threw him some sort of candy, "No ma-" he faltered, "No." Bea laughed and ran fingers through his hair, "You're already falling back into routine, good boy." He threw up a second time, this time he wasn't sure if t was the sickness from earlier or everything that was going on. Bea cursed and pulled into the nearest exit.

"You run, I shoot you. Not you would, Ry? Right?" Ryan nodded and sat on the curb, rubbing his wrists. Bea caught his eye, "You look pitiful," she dug through her pockets and handed him five dollars, "Go get drinks." Ryan nodded and went into the gas sta gas station quietly.

He had a panic attack in the bathroom. He sat against the wall for a long time, sipping whatever drink he'd taken and eventually throwing it in the trash. He washed his face and wished for York at his side. She wasn't there. He left the bathroom, grabbed two more drinks and rung them up.

"Took you long enough, I was a bit worried you'd run off. I knew you hadn't. Get in." They drove until two in the morning before they arrived at the menacing building. "Welcome home."

Ryan remember a lot from his time at the Facility as he walked down the halls. He remembered being six, small and vulnerable. York and his foster mother had died a week previously. He wouldn't see her again until he woke up in another world. Old habits nagged at him. They wanted to be addressed. He wouldn't give Bea the satisfaction of that dreaded ma'am or sir. He'd never addressed anyone that way since he was pulled away. He refused to ever do it again.

Then there was Bea. He remembered her too. She had been ten while he'd been almost seven. She was the forgotten daughter of one of the researcher gifted with tech literacy, a touch to a machine and she knew everything about it, how it worked, how to use it, everything. It was one of the reason Dj made him antsy. He began to wonder if he'd see her again.

"Hey Ryan," He glanced up, "Not sure if you remember me or not-" Ryan nodded, "Alright, well then, could you stand up for me?" Ryan obeyed. The woman was Jamie, she was the only kind face he could remember. She made careful note to be gentle as she measured him, most likely for outfits but that was best case scenario.

He hadn't a clue what Michael had in store. "Ah bugger," she drew back from him, "What happened?" He asked quietly, staring at the small gash on her arm. "You aren't the first person I've measured. Firstly little thing down the hall, cut me." Ryan stared at the cut, he didn't touch her but she knew not to force herself on him. "It's not on any nerves or arteries, though it looks like she may have been aiming for this one here, then again if it's who I think you're talking about..." He trailed off, "That's the most you've ever said to me," Jamie mumbled, Ryan nodded and stepped back.

"Curly hair? Short?" Jamie nodded, "That's Natalie." He didn't say anything else realizing that while Jamie was friendly she still worked for Michael and he wasn't about to give up  any information he didn't have to.

"Stand up." York sat defiantly. "All of you are so difficult. Don't worry though," Bea strode over to her, "Ryan didn't take long to break and I doubt you will either," She pulled her upward, "Alright Jamie, go at it."

They were all measured and somewhere along the line they had blood taken. None of them knew where the others were, let alone themselves. Things weren't looking great. 

"Michael said I can visit as often as I want." Bea stared at Ryan, while he was bigger and most certainly more muscular than he had been when they were young, she had no reason to fear him, he wouldn't lay a finger on her and if he tried she had a taser to use at her disposal.

"Your friends are quite rude y'know?" Ryan nodded weakly, "Uh huh, even the little ones. Little girl nearly took off my finger! Another nearly broke my arm, don't sweat it though, few watts got her off me real fast." Ryan looked up at that, "What'd she look like?" Bea shook her head, "Don't worry your pretty little head about it," She sat next to him tentatively.

Ryan wasn't quite sure if she was scared of him or not. There certainly was an unfair power dynamic but the height and weight comparison put him at an advantage. "You haven't really ask how I've been Ry, Maybe Michael needs to freshen up your manners too huh?" Ryan looked over at her, valuing the small space between them. "How has you been?"  Bea smiled,  "That's more like it. I've been great actually, I was put in charge of a research project. A couple years back a lot of waste was dumped into a pond bout a mile away, bunch of deer got infected and started mutating." Ryan made no indication he was listening, intact he droned her out.

"Alright I see, not interested. You'll learn Ry, don't worry." She moved toward the door but stopped before it, laughing quietly, "You know what's so strange? Your friend, what's her face, the cutie, bout my height? Yeah her, she wasn't listening so you know what I told her?" Ryan shook his head, she was talking about York. "I told her that it didn't take long to break you,"

Ryan shot up, pushing her against the wall, she reached for her pocket but was stopped by Ryan. He quickly realized he had the upper hand, "You leave York alone," Even though she was nearly choking she still grinned, "Yeah you say that but I think I'll do what I want," The door was thrown open, Bea fell to the floor as Ryan crumpled as a taser connected with his chest.

She grimaced, staring at him as he writhed. "You alright Bea?" She brushed the others off with a, "I'm fine," and "Thank you," They left after a moment or two and she was left alone with him. "I missed you Ry," She mumbled, pulling the cheap blanket off the bed and draping it over him before leaving the room.