Absorption Distortion

Chapter 30

10 Years Ago continued;

About a week went by while Professor Eville was held up in Distortion's isolation room at the basement of the main chambers. Sarah restricted all access over the course of the seven days, with the exception of the nurse and guard being allowed to enter the room. She made a point of isolating Eville to protect everyone else from him, but also to shelter Eville from Payton, and anyone else willing to be as violent towards him. But even within those 7 days, Sarah watched over Eville for over an hour each day. Even with or without Payton's knowledge, she couldn't help but make sure this man who was causing so many problems in her world was detained. She could see his recovery time decrease as his health improves. The swelling had reduced from his face and he started to be able to function correctly again that she could see. Only his black eyes and bruised face remained the same. Sarah watched him sitting on the bed, lost in thought and she couldn't help but feel that Alexander Eville wasn't a bad guy. She stepped closer to the two way glass to observe him on his seventh day. He was advised by the nurse on the first day of the restriction placed around him, and although he didn't have the chance to see Sarah, he was grateful that she showed that she cared for him even if it just was by getting a nurse to check up on him. He leaned forward on the bed, with his legs crossed above the neatly made bed. She could see him sitting still, not quite sure of what he was doing. Although he did seemed bored with no form of entertainment provided, he was forced to amuse himself. But all he could think about was Sarah and his developing animosity towards Payton and the fact he had made it into Distortion.

He slid himself slowly off the bed and walked over to the toilet. After finishing his business he moved to the steel sink and mirror, washing his hands and wetting his face. The fresh water stung his sore eyes and he flinched backwards, squeezing them tight trying to force the pain to stop. He reached for the towel that hung on the rack beside the sink but it had fallen to the floor. Eville was unable to notice and kept reaching for it, accidentally hitting the sink into his hip and buckling over. Sarah's heart breaks seeing someone struggle and she quickly looks back down the hallway, seeing the guard is preoccupied talking to another about the security in the Main Chambers. She walks up to the door and it unlocks immediately, seeing as she doesn't need a swipe card in her own city. She allows the guards to open the doors out of procedure and to maintain normality although she uses her ability to suit her when necessary. Breaking her own restrictions, Sarah walked in and Eville could hear footsteps but he only just managed to regain his posture and his stance. "Here," Sarah said softly, picking up the towel and reaching out for Eville's hand. He squeezed onto hers tightly hearing her voice and she placed the towel within his grip. He dried off his face and he blinked repetitively to refresh his eyes. He looked at Sarah with such innocence, just delighted to be in her presence. She smiled warmly towards him, noticing his harmless nature. "Are you okay?" He nodded, wiping his face one last time before throwing the towel onto the sink. "Please..." He offered, pointing to one of the standard chairs in the room. She moved over to it and hesitantly sat down while he walked over to the edge of his bed. "Alex, I was just.." he chuckled a bit. "What?" She queried, and he looked up at her with a half smile, "Alex... no one else ever calls me that," "You're still Alex to me.." she informed, reminded of the young Professor she met back in Fernbrooke. He reaches out to touch her hand but she recoiled, "You still captured people Alex... At Fernbrooke.. even after I left," She objected. "Sarah.. I was only trying to find a way to get closer to you.." He shuffled closer to her, "To be with you.." He reached out to touch her again and just inches away from her hand, she stood up and walked towards the door. "I should go now, Goodnight Alex," she farewells as she leaves the isolation chamber. Alex's arm drops limply as does his head as he hears the door close with force behind her. 

--

Fernbrooke had been rather quiet in the passed week, with majority of the captives being locked up in the isolation chambers below, multiple of them in a room with only one bed is the limit of the luxuries they receive down there. Ryder who stepped up to take charge ordered that anyone who showed any sign of disobedience to the guards requests or Fernbrooke's rules were to be locked up. Unfortunately for most of them, a simple glance at Ryder could get them locked away. They crew were losing it without their leader. Dr. Greene stayed away most of the week, spending time to care for Luna who fell ill with a cold. Apollo was watched over by Akiko who was granted free reigns of Fernbrooke by Bolt since Eville's disappearance. Ryder disapproved of the promotion for Akiko, but she spent most of her time in Apollo's quarters, and with her mothering instincts taking over, she willingly looked after him. Seeing as she was the only adult female he had contact with, Apollo welcomed Akiko freely. They played games during the day and she helped him learn new things like maths and spelling. Even though Apollo was 10 years old, he was old enough to understand that his father hadn't returned in seven days. Akiko sat on a recliner chair in the corner of the room as Apollo sat on his bed opposite her. She looked at him and could see that he was thinking hard about something. She leaned forward with her shoulders slouched, offering a friendly predisposition to Apollo, "Something on your mind?" He swung his legs on the edge of his bed and looked up from underneath his hair in his face, "Where's father gone?" She lets out a sigh, hoping to have avoided the question long enough for Eville to return. "He's..." Before she could finish Bolt rushes in, "Akiko, The Professor needs us," he turns to Apollo, "Oh hey kiddo, why don't you read a book while I borrow Akiko," Apollo waves and smiles happy to know his father is somewhere in the building. Akiko smiles at Apollo and leaves the room with Bolt, he closes the door behind her and she questions, "He's back?" Bolt stops and shakes his head, "Uhh, no," his face drops feeling bad that he had also convinced Akiko as well as Apollo. "That was for Apollo's sake," he added. She half smiled, knowing he was trying to protect Apollo from finding out that his father had actually disappeared. They both walked out of Eville's quarters and onto the main floor. Ryder was standing against a wall with a guard and caught Bolt and Akiko walking out towards the court yard. He observed their mannerisms, noticing how close and friendly they were being to one another. Eville never mentioned to anyone else the nature of their relationship but they weren't make it easy to not notice either. The guard beside him was mindlessly rambling on, to which Ryder had switched off to minutes ago. He huffed seeing them together, not bothering to factor love as an emotion he possessed. Ryder was a  fighting machine, not a love machine. And he preferred it that way. He had never responded well being around females and Akiko was no different. He folded his arms across his chest as they moved out of his sight.