Hidden Monster
Page 59
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I just couldn’t believe Blake was the bad guy and decided to let it go. Like Jaxon said, he’d just assumed. There were still so many things I didn’t understand. Like how had I ended up in Jaxon’s cavern anyway? Where had Jaxon found me? Last I knew, I was safe with Tonbo and Kate. The moment Blake took off flying with his brother, I regretted not asking him that question. Once they were out of sight, I decided it was time to be me again.
Mack waited at my side, his eyes wide. “This is so incredible, Sammy. No one else can do this. Wonder how you are doing it?”
“Beats me.” I closed my eyes and concentrated on my own features. I felt my body grow and shoot up at the same time. I opened my eyes.
Mack was close now, suddenly not so tall. He reached over and touched my face. “Are you still hurt?”
I glanced down at myself. I was back in the ratty, black dress, and my scrapes and bruises had healed. “No, I’m good. Just need a hot shower and some clean clothes.”
Mack removed his hand, the spot he’d touched remaining warm. “Well, it won’t do for your folks to see you like that. Let’s hit my house first. Then you can clean up a bit.”
“Yeah, you could use a shower too,” I said, poking him in the rib.
He grunted, pretending to double over in pain. Then he chuckled and stripped off his bloody T-shirt. I couldn’t help myself; I reached over and touched the healing wounds.
“That’s amazing. You’re like Wolverine,” I gasped.
His hand landed on mine, and he winked. “And I’d love to say you’re my Gene Gray, but I’m pretty sure you take the cake as Mystique.”
My eyes met his. I wasn’t sure why the moment felt awkward. Maybe it was that he referred to me as his Gene Gray when we’d only ever been friends.
I decided to laugh, even if it was forced, and removed my hand. I was glad Mack chuckled and said, “Come on, Mystique. Let’s get home.”
I nodded, and we took off. My wings had healed completely and I felt a new strength within myself. I didn’t know if it was the fact I was alive, not dead in some underground mine, or if it was just being with my best friend again. Either way, the adrenaline pumping through me felt good.
As soon as we left the ground and I surveyed our surroundings, we were just outside of Ouray, Colorado, where many old, abandoned mining outposts remained. Since we were only seventy miles from home, we got back within minutes. We remained in camo all the way up and into Mack’s bedroom window. He assured me his parents were at work, not that they’d care either way if I were there. We shed the camo.
“Just in case,” he said, locking the door. “I want you to have privacy.”
I knew Mack’s bedroom well, having been there countless time. He went inside the adjoining bathroom to turn the shower on for me.
“Want me to head over to your house and get you some clothes while you shower?” he asked when he came back into the room.
“Yeah, that’d be awesome, thanks. Just grab whatever’s laying around. I don’t care.”
“Okay, be back in a sec,” he said, and then disappeared from sight.
I smiled, climbing into the shower, realizing that Mack’s scent comforted me. Reminded me of Christmastime in the kitchen. Wonder if he knows he smells like pumpkin pie?