Chapter 7
"Well?" Cili asked as Abe walked through the door.
"Jeez let me get in first." Abe said.
"I did." she said mischievously, "So did Bigface know anything?"
"Well yes," Abe said hestiatently, "you might want to sit down."
"Its something bad isn't it?" she said as she sat down on the bed.
While he changed her bandages, Abe told her what Bigface said. After he finished, Cili just sat quietly for a moment.
"Am I the last?" she asked finally.
"We don't know for sure." Abe said, trying to stay positive.
"Why..." she muttered, "Why do people always assume the worst?"
"Its part of that 'prepare for the worst, hope for the best' thing, its a survival tactic. Only in this case it was taken too far."
Cili stood up and leaned up against the wall. "So I'm destined to be alone for the rest of my life." she said with sadness in her voice.
"You don't know that Cili, as you regain more of your memory we should be able to..."
"What does it matter if I regain my memories or not!?" she suddenly cried, "If I am the last one it would be better if I don't remember at all!"
"You don't believe that and you know it." Abe said as he walked over to her, "Besides you need to remember what your talent is."
"What good is that?"
"So you can defend yourself against Irun, a mudokon who's been looking for you. And I doubt he just wants to be friends."
"With my luck my talent will be something useless."
"You don't know that."
"Neither do you!" Cili cried as she bolted for the door. Abe managed to catch her and pull her back toward him. She didn't resist, instead she wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face in it, sobbing.
"Cili," Abe said as he gently embraced her, "You'll never be alone, not as long as you're with me."
Chapter 8
"Man I'm bored." Cuf said as he and Xan walked along .
"So am I," Xan said, "It's been boring sense Ghost disappeared after that last stunt."
"I think we overdid it last time Xan," Cuf said worrying, "We might have killed her with that one."
"What are your talking about Cuf? Are you getting soft?" Xan said pointing at him accusingly.
"Of course not!" Cuf said defensively.
"You know what, I think you're hiding something from me."
"Whatever give you that idea?"
"You always questioned my more extreme ideas, Cuf. I think with this last one you felt sorry for her and went and freed her without my knowledge." Xan said pinning him to a nearby tree.
"No, no I would never do a thing like that!"
"Maybe not that, but I bet you know where Ghost is now."
"N..n..no I don't"
"That's a lie if I ever heard one." a menacing voice said. Xan saw the biggest mudokon he's ever seen step out of hiding.
"Irun..." Cuf muttered, frightened.
"What business of this is yours?" Xan scowled.
"When it comes to Ghost it IS my business." Irun said as he shoved Xan out of his way and approached Cuf. "Now, little one you will tell me where Ghost is."
"I don't know." Cuf said as he backed away.
"Oh I think you do, and I will make you tell me."
Xan could only watch helplessly as the larger mudokon beat Cuf senseless. After what seemed like an eternity, Cuf finally said: "Abe's place, Ghost is at Abe's place."
"Thank you." Irun said as he dropped Cuf and started to walk away, he paused a moment. "Oh and don't tell anyone about this." he called back with a dangerous look in his eyes.
"What are we going to do?" Cuf asked weakly as they watch Irun walk away.
"I don't know Cuf." Xan said as he helped his friend up, "I don't know."
Abe looked down at Cili, who was sleeping soundly in his arms.
Good she's finally asleep. he thought as he gently picked her up and put her in bed. He had been comforting her all day and he was beat and hungry. Cili, he thought, you've been through so much, I can only hope I can make you as happy as I am with you.
He sighed as he headed toward the door to find something to eat and to bring back something for Cili as well.
"Hello Abe." a familiar voice said just as Abe stepped outside.
Oh no he knows, it's too soon. Abe thought as Irun stepped out of the shadows. He was completely decked out in warpaint and was carrying a spear. And he didn't look happy.
"I believe you have been hiding someone from me." Irun said with a growl, "Now you will either hand Ghost over to me willingly or I'll force my way in and take him myself."
What am I going to do? Abe thought frantically, Cili can't fend for herself yet, and there's no way I can defeat him in combat.
|