by Alli Reshi
CHAPTER SIX
I pondered the new possibilities for Devin as I walked into the kitchen.
"Demitri, you're here, yay. You can save me from all the couples stuff, I'm drowning here man." Gabriella moaned interrupting my thoughts. I glanced around the room. Amy and Sally were sharing a chair, Amy reading the newspaper over Sally's thin shoulder while munching on a breakfast bar and Sally with her standard bowl of sugary cereal. Meanwhile Benn and Isaac sat next to each other sharing a plate of pancakes and eggs, engrossed in their own books. Poor Gabriella was wedged between the two couples with a scowl and a breakfast burrito. In all, a normal morning.
Even if most of us had homes off compound, community meals, especially breakfast, were habitual. One that probably started as a team building exercise and grew into a norm. I suppose for the recently single Gabriella it seemed overly romantic and domestic. I couldn't feel too much sympathy for her. I never liked that last boyfriend much, too brash and loud with a temper to match.
"Sorry dear, I'm not the best person to turn to," I said off handedly to her. Gabriella's moans of being the only single straight person around were for the most part ignored. I went to the cabinet, pulling down a granola bar for myself and scanned for anything else that would be easy on the stomach for Devin.
"I take it you talked to Devin last night then. Bout time, boy." Benn commented not looking up from his book. I froze reaching for a box of cinnamon oatmeal.
"Talked about what? We talked about lots of things last night, mind specifying." I gulped. I was almost certain about what he was saying, but I wouldn't give away anything I didn't have to.
"Don't play coy Demitri. About how much you love him. We all know it, hell you're so in love even you can't deny it. So why don't you tell him." Isaac scolded putting his book aside to stare at me. Everyone else conveniently pretended not to pay attention.
"It's not that simple. I can't say everything and hope for the best. Anyways, I came across a potential id for our suspect last night. A Plagiariis from the third moon of amour. They consume the love hormone, or oxytocin as it's better known, and in doing so cause burn marks. I suspect that something is going wrong with the transfer, and that's why we are seeing raised oxytocin levels in the victims, and why we have victims at all." I brushed off not wanting to have this conversation right now. Hoping for something in the peace of my own mind was one thing. Putting that towards reality was vastly different. With the rising tension in the room, I thought it best to redirect the conversation and leave out that it had been Devin to give me the idea.
"You can't let this sit Demitri. I know you don't want to spook him, but what about what your needs? It's not good for you to hide how you feel forever. While he runs around like an idiot with no regard for how you feel." Isaac raved, becoming more adamant as he continued. The tension in the room grew.
"Isaac." I tried to placate him, though losing the words.
"No, not this time. I'm worried about you. I'm worried about how hurt you're going to be when this all festers to a breaking point. What has he done for you, huh? How has he shown he cares for you at all? You might say he's not like we think, but I haven't seen any of that. I want you to take care of yourself for once." Isaac ranted making grand gestures of frustration with his hands. I shrunk back against the counter. The morning had such a good start now it was all crumbling.
"He needs me now. I can't leave him on his own now that I've finally managed to help him. His overall well-being is more important than a few mushy feelings." I defended. I knew as a friend his intentions were good but, that didn't help the hurt blooming in my chest. As a friend, shouldn't he also trust my judgment?
"He didn't seem to have any problem leaving you all alone. Regardless of what it did to you." Isaac shot. Gasping, I stared at him in wide-eyed shock.
"Isaac that's enough. You can't make someone face something they won't admit to. Now Demitri what do you mean by you helped, did your plan work?" Benn cut in. Finally looking up from his book to calm the room. I didn't get a chance to explain when the alarms started going off. Benn's phone rung moments later.
"What's the status?" Benn demanded gruffly as he answered his phone and put it on speaker for us all to hear.
"There's been a perimeter breach, sir. They took down one of the guards. Can't tell who they are yet, not human though. Never seen a human that can do that to another person." The officer informed. We all dropped our things, following Benn as he marched out of the room.
"Is there any indication of where they were headed?" Benn yelled whilst scanning the hallways for unusual movement. There was nothing but soldiers from other sections mobilizing towards the unknown threat.
"Best I can tell, your sector. From what I gathered they were in a hurry, might be looking for someone. I'd be on your toes sir." The officer answered a clatter of noise behind him.
"Alright, you all know what to do. We have a hostile on premise get to your stations and be careful. Demitri I want you to go back to Devin's room, and barricade the door until I come get you out." Benn barked out orders as the rest of the team started splitting off.
"Wait, you want me to sit out. I can help. Maybe I could talk to them," I said, taken aback. I was worried about Devin but, I wasn't about to hide while everyone else charged to face an unknown threat.
"This isn't like crime scenes or hostage situations. You're not a fighter and you know it. You don't have the training I need from you. I can't be looking over my shoulder to keep an eye on you. Think of Devin he's in that room all on his own and defenseless. If there was ever a time he needed you, now would be it." Benn countered. Irritated at the brush off I turned and ran towards Devin's room, relieved to see that it seemed undisturbed. I crashed through the door and nearly into a perturbed Devin.
"What are you doing out of bed? How did you get out of bed without setting off any of the machines?" I yelped. Closing the door behind me with a snap, locking the door.
"That's not important. I wasn't going to wait around forever for you to come back. Pestering to help with things I can manage myself." Devin huffed, flicking off the light in the bathroom. He precariously hobbled back to the bed. One hand on his chest with a grimace the other using his IV drip stand as a support crutch.
I reached out to help but Devin smacked away my hands. Independent idiot. Still worried about the door, I dragged the storage chest by the far wall and pushed it in front of the door, hoping that it would do something at least. Devin settled back in his bed.
"Now tell me what in the world is going on Demitri. Stop fussing around and explain. Also, can you make those dreadful bells shut up. I was enjoying the quiet before they started going off." Devin ordered. Pulling himself up to lean forwards trying to see the door. I rushed to him, pushing him back against his pillows.
"Someone's gotten into the compound but it's all right. Benn's got everything handled." I reassured Devin. Though I felt it was a false statement. The expression Devin gave me told me he picked up on that.
"So, the Plagiariis got in here then. I hope your pets can handle it." Devin stated, though he did relax against the bed some.
"How do you figure that one? No one's said who it is," I queried, sitting down in the chair, though with an eye on the door.
"Did you visit the crime scene last night before coming back here?" Devin inquired simply. I turned to him with a strange look.
"What does that matter?" I countered. Only more confused as he rolled his eyes with a grumble.
"Age has done nothing for your intelligence Demitri. Answer the question." Devin urged, tapping his fingers impatiently as he waited for me.
"Yes, I did, but I don't see what that has to do with anything. No one was there to see me and I'm always careful to not let anyone follow me back. The Plagiariis never had a chance to see me." I gave in to his questioning. Knowing he wouldn't move on and explain himself till I complied.
"They didn't have to see you, you idiot. The third moon of Amor is a majorly dense forest
with little light at the ground level. They hunt using their excellent sense of smell, but are near blind. They also revisit old hunting sites in search of new smells. Once it picked up yours, it was no trouble for it to follow you," Devin said with a stern look. I tensed as a clutter of noise passed the door, but nothing came of it.
"I'm not the only one that's been to the crime scene, why would it only follow me?" I countered. Now more worried about the others. I searched my pockets for my phone. I need to share this new information with the others, anything to help them.
"Yes, but all of those people were humans with short life spans. Especially when compared to someone like you who would live vastly longer and in turn have more energy stored up in them. To the Plagiariis humans are a dry sandwich and you're a banquet." Devin finished as the lights went out, alarms finally quieting. I waited for the emergency lighting to kick in though to no avail the room stayed dark. Luckily, I could still see well enough.
"Stay here." I whispered slowly standing from my chair. I walked to the door, checking the empty hallway for movement before ducking into the bathroom, digging through my discarded suit for my phone. Producing it triumphantly a moment later, I crept back into the room to see Devin half out of the bed again. I crossed the room hastily.
"What are you doing? I said stay. We don't even know if you should be out of bed yet." I hissed. Forgetting my phone on the table as I gently pushed him back into the bed. Glad that he didn't fight against me. Even in the dark the pain was evident on his face as he sat back.
"You really expect me to sit still while there is a rampaging murderer out there. A better question is why are you here Demitri?" Devin scoffed his hand finding where mine still was on his shoulder.
"You're hurt, I couldn't leave you on your own. I have to protect you." I stated, suddenly thinking of how right Benn had been. Turning towards the door, I could see shadows moving in the dark. With the compound, half underground not much of the morning light could filter in, which only helped exaggerate the sense of foreboding.
"I didn't ask you to. I never asked you to protect me or for any of the things you've done. I never wanted you to be hurt because of me, to lose so much. I didn't want this trouble and pain to be your life, and certainly not over me. Yet you can't seem to help throwing yourself on the fire for the slightest thing when it comes to me. Why is that?" Devin questioned, demanding an answer. His eyes exploring my face with an expression so pleading it hurt.
He couldn't possibly be leading to what I thought. I knew he didn't feel the same. So why is he looking at me like my answer was the key to the stars. I couldn't find anything to say to him. Not that didn't spill my heart across the room or was fitting for the moment.
"Is this really the time for this?" I whispered sharply though still watching one of the shadows outside the room pass by. Just another guard. Devin sighed in defeat but said nothing more on the subject.
"Do you hear that?" Devin asked after a long moment of silence.
"Hear what?" I replied automatically. Resisting the urge to beat my head on a wall, of all the times for this pattern to resurface.
"There's a shuffling sound coming from the hall idiot. Do your ears not work?" Devin growled.
I listened closer to the noise outside. Sure enough, there was the sound of something approaching. I motioned for Devin to be very quiet, he gave me an unimpressed look but no retort.
We listened in silence as the noise grew closer. Stopping in front of the door, a shadow cast into the room. I prayed to Theasta that whoever was outside would continue down the hall. I jumped as a scrape came from the door. Apparently Theasta wasn't listening today. A horrifying growl started on the other side. The door shuddering and screeching as the intruder tried to break into the room.
I also felt Devin's breath get shallow and rapid under my palm. I glanced at him worried. His eyes were slightly unfocused. Moving my hand on his forehead, I could feel how suddenly clammy he was. Cracking sounds from the door distracted me. The door wouldn't last much longer.
Grabbing my phone, I sent out a rapid plea for help with as much information as I could type quickly. I was trapped between trying to help a quickly declining Devin and a crumbling door, which was the only thing between us and a starving predator. Seeing a piece of door fly inwards was the deciding factor. There could be no help if we were both eaten before they could get here.
I bolted to the door, pushing against the chest to keep the door in place and tried not to be too worried by the pained whimpers coming from Devin. I could see our attacker as more pieces of the door were picked away. A tall, gray, rough skinned, almost humanoid person with large clawed hands and a wide long nose that took up a considerable amount of space on a bald head.
The door shuddered and broke under the stress. It was only the chest between me and the Plagiariis. I crouched pushing against the chest. I could feel their huffed breath ruffling the top of my hair with each pant. Then it was gone, the noise, the panting, the pressure. I nearly stumbled without a force to press against. Cautiously I glanced over the edge of the chest, hoping that maybe it had left in search of easier prey or, had been spooked by my arriving help.
As I scanned the hall I found that both those thoughts were wrong. I had enough time to see the Plagiariis charging at the door, to brace against the chest before impact. The hit came like a rhinoceros to the chest.
I was briefly aware of being airborne then pain erupted in my head as I hit the far wall. I gasped for breath, the air suddenly filled with a thick taste of chemicals. I blinked my eyes open to see the Plagiariis leaning over me with a giant hand reaching for my heart. I could feel the electrical charge gathering.
I put my hands up scratching over thick hide. I found their shoulder with one hand with my other hand on their forearm pushing them away. It was barely enough to keep them from advancing. My head was swimming from the impact with the wall, making it so I couldn't focus. My arms were shaking as the Plagiariis pressed closer. My hairs stood on end the electrical pulse brushing the skin on my chest.
"The hell you will." Devin shouted above me. A clang rang throughout the room. The Plagiariis fell to the side a moment later frozen stiff. Devin stood shakily over me holding a tray. "Nerve center on the back of the head. Give it a good smack and it paralyzes them for an hour or so," He wheezed, his legs giving out from under him, breathing ragged. I caught him before he hit the ground. Barely able to sit up myself with a pounding head, I laid him across my lap.
"No, not again. What's wrong? Tell me, we can fix it." I pleaded. Running my fingers through his white hair. I couldn't tell which of us was shaking more.
"I don't know. My chest, it hurts. Demitri I'm scared." Devin gasped between pained breaths. His hand curled around my free one.
"You're going to be all right. We fixed you up once, we'll do it again. No problem. You'll be fine." I reassured for the both of us. I knew help had to be on the way. I had to believe he would be fine. I couldn't lose him, not when I just saved him. It wasn't fair.
"I don't want to die, not this time. Not now. Not when everything is finally quiet. There's so much that I haven't done. So much I haven't told you." Devin's hand left mine to rest trembling on my cheek.
"Hush you're going to be fine. There will be plenty of time for that later. Save your breath." I stopped him. Not now. I couldn't handle any startling revelations, right now.
"I have to tell you. I need you to know something." Devin started again. I put a finger against his lips. I could feel the tears slipping down my face.
"Don't you dare. Don't you dare do this now. You are not making any dying confessions you hear me, none. You are going to live and get better. When you pull through this like I know you will. Then you tell me, only then. See, now you have to live. If you want to tell me everything, you have to live. Please." I sobbed. His breath was so weak now his hand falling to his side. He could barely keep his eyes open anymore.
"I'm so sorry, about all the hurt I've caused you. I nev
er meant any of it, I'm sorry. It's so quiet, I'm scared Demitri." Devin whispered in my mind before his eyes closed.
"No, no, I can't do this again. Help! Help anyone please! Help!" I screamed in desperation. I heard thundering footsteps moments later. In a blur of people Devin was carted away with a team of nurses around him. I was dragged wailing in the opposite direction. Guards began filling the room to secure the Plagiariis in our wake.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Several hours later I sat on an exam table answering the same round of questions for the fifth time. I was stripped of my jacket, shirt, and most of my dignity. All of that was replaced with bandages now protecting bruised ribs, whilst more bandages were holding gauze against the small cut on the back of my head.
"Yes, nothing else hurts. Yes, I'm fine and, yes, I can remember my third great aunt's sister's names. All five of them. Will you please tell me about Devin, or at least stop poking me with things," I said, my annoyance rising. Christy being Northridge's expert on biology, hadn't gained her much respect. Outside of the academic field that is. Especially when all her patients thought she was a little too quick to prod you.
"He's still in surgery. You have a mild concussion I should make sure nothing is wrong. Now a few more questions please." She continued without a flinch or a care.
"That's the same thing you said half an hour ago, and a half hour before that. That's the only thing you've said on the matter. At least think of something new." I growled. My anger building.
"Sometimes surgery takes a while that's how it is. Now if you could please focus." Christy sighed, annoyed by her stubborn patient. That was the last straw for me. I picked up the closest thing in reach and threw it at her head. She was smart enough to duck. Luckily, it was only a pad of paper which hit the wall the same time as Benn walked in.
"Out! Get out of here and stop bothering me! I don't want to hear anything from you again. Nothing, leave!" I screeched, not caring what she or Benn thought about my behavior. It was a very bad day, and if nothing else I would blame everything on the concussion. I could be allowed that much, at least.