Fury and Flame | 3

6 | 0

G I G I

I walked with Neve and Arlo through the winding passageways and craning buildings we'd been in before we got captured. The others had already headed to their hideout, but Arlo and Neve had exchanged words a few moments ago. They hadn't deigned to let me into the conversation and had spoken in hushed tones, but I knew they were debating bringing me to their hideout.

And I was surprised when they gestured to me to keep walking.

"Krasowski didn't...do anything to you, did she?" Arlo asked seriously. I'd forgotten how his gray eyes seemed to be a bit too reckless, a little too hungry. I always wondered if he had the same preexisting hint of madness I did. After all, children weren't meant to be locked up for years at a time. We were both a testament to what happened when that rule was broken.

"No. I was knocked out for some time. I never knew what she wanted with me."

Neve and Arlo shared a knowing look. "She was going to experiment on you," Neve told me, the look in her eyes unreadable. "She was going to open you up and find out what exactly she did to all your genetic makeups as a child."

Rage heated my blood for the first time in a while. Not the same overpowering, boiling rage I used to feel. No, this was too calm and silent. And sure. "She'll die for that."

"I wouldn't talk about killing anyone in front of the others," Arlo advised. I didn't miss how he walked a few steps further from me than Neve did. "None of us have forgotten what you did."

I didn't blame them. I hadn't either.

"I have no interest in killing any of you." I watched him for a moment and was almost surprised when he wasn't unnerved in the slightest. "I'll admit, I expected you to want to slit my throat."

"Oh, I do." He regarded me with those strange eyes. "But I don't want to have anything to regret later."

Then I noticed how wrong he felt.

      At first, I'd thought it was just the excitement of the rescue. But now that it was calm again, I knew something in Arlo wasn't right. I sensed inside him for a split second and was certainly not prepared for how unhealthy he really was. He'd always been a bit thin and pale, but I was surprised at the fact that he could even walk right now. He felt...corpse-like.

"Are you alright?" I asked, though it was clear he wasn't. Genuine concern shone through.

      "As good as I'll ever be. That's all." If he was surprised I'd felt his sickness, he didn't show it. And by the curt edge to his tone, I knew he wanted to end the conversation.

      For perhaps the first time ever, I couldn't tell what was wrong with his body. It was strange. But he helped save me from Krasowski's clutches. So I'd help him back, if it was just a try.

      I funneled my power into him, unsure if my healing would even work. It was just a bit—enough to help him walk more steadily and be out of danger of collapsing. If he asked me to heal him completely, I would.

      They stopped and I lingered behind them. Where was the hideout? We were at a crossroads in the alleyway, but there was no clear doorway in sight.

      "Once you're inside..." Neve trailed off. "I don't know how they'll react."

      "I'm not sure who's home," Arlo said, glancing upward. He meant Delphinium. "Just know that although you might not want to kill us, the feeling most likely isn't mutual."

       "I would be surprised if it was." If they wanted to kill me... I figured I'd deal with the problem when it came. But I knew one thing: I wouldn't hurt them. The era of hurting the only people that truly cared about me was over.