Wraith

Dark Stirrings Chapter Four

Chapter Four

Nothing unusual seemed to happen for the next few days and the University students started to relax as it appeared that the Abuser who had been targeting them had been frightened off for good. None of the girls who had been attacked had returned to class yet although Olive heard through the grapevine that three of them were now out of hospital. The first victim was still recovering but it was believed that she would also be able to go home soon, and the rumor mill said that all four would be back with the new term after Christmas. Olive was relieved when she heard that. It eased some of her guilt that each of the victims seemed determined to go on with their lives.

Near the end of the week as she listened to the city Olive discovered another piece of news that lifted her spirits. She heard a terrified scream and was immediately alert and focused, but before she could locate the source and get there, Wraith heard the screamer again. Only this time they were no longer terrified. "Thank you Magnoss, I don't know how I would have gotten out of there without you."

She didn't hear any response, but relaxed as she realized that the screamer was safe from whatever disaster had befallen them. Then she frowned slightly. The name Magnoss didn't ring any bells and she had no idea which User it was. Time and again over the course of that night and the next couple similar scenarios played out. It appeared that the local Abusers had finally grasped that the Users were stretched thinner than usual for a crime wave had begun, but with the appearance of Magnoss every time there was trouble Megalopolis remained safe.

At first Olive was glad that another User had appeared to take up the slack, but as she heard him being thanked time and again by grateful citizens and praised by other Users she began to feel churlish and unhappy. What's wrong with me, she asked herself as she listened to the culmination of yet another rescue. With this User around the Captain won't need Wraith to come back anymore and I can relax and let myself just be Normal Olive. That's what I wanted isn't it? She tried to smile but felt it turn into a frown.

After a moment she sighed and answered herself softly. "I don't know any more." I want to be Normal, yes, but I can't just give up Wraith. I miss Flayme and Donner and Tuttle and the Captain, and there is no way they'll ever become close friends with a Normal like they did with Wraith. I miss going on patrol with them. I should be glad that I'm getting a decent amount of sleep again, that I no longer have to balance two lives, that I'll never suffer what Dad did with Mo_ with Adamant. But the last time I tried to be wholly Normal, Belinda and the others almost died. I could have kept her from getting hurt if I had already been out on patrol. What if someone else needs my help and I'm too slow because I've become too Normal?

Olive couldn't answer her own questions satisfactorily and eventually she went downstairs to get away from her own company. Her Dad was sitting on the sofa watching a re-run of Star Wars, and she smiled as she went to join him. He glanced up as she sat down.

"Done studying?"

"For now," Olive nodded, remembering that she had left the table straight after dinner with that excuse. "I'll get back to it later but I needed a break." She examined her father out of the corner of her eye as she settled onto the sofa next to him. He didn't look nearly as bad as he had the day Andrew had come to visit, but he still wasn't back to the way he had been after his excursion with the Captain.

As if remembering that incident had conjured him into being, there was a knock at the door and Olive opened it to let the Captain in. "My thanks, Olive," he said quietly as he stood in the hall with her. "Is your father available?" He saw her automatic hesitation and added. "It won't take long. I'm aware that he is still recovering."

Olive shook her head and gave a small smile. It felt more like a grimace than a grin to her, but she kept it in place so that he wouldn't think she was too odd. "Sorry, force of habit. I know you won't do anything to jeopardize his recovery. He's in here." She left the two Users alone and headed for the stairs. As she did so she let the smile drop with relief and then strained her ears in curiosity. She hadn't heard anything out of the ordinary, so what did the Captain want now? She settled down on her bed and then set herself to listening.