Page 12 of When Embers Become Ashes

We are returned to the shower room and again rinsed off before being given some scrubs to put on. I’m having to support Quinny as she’s so weak. I’m not sure how much either of us can take before we have to take matters into our own hands, or it just kills us.

CHAPTER Five

Ember

Luckily for us, we are left out of experiments and visits for a few months. They then start doing blood tests, and the doctor bursts out laughing when he runs my DNA, then gleefully tells me my biological family wants nothing to do with a broken thing like me. I wait for the hurt, but it doesn’t come, and I shrug, which seems to annoy him.

In August, something goes wrong, and the facility gets some new staff mixed with the old. When I say wrong, I mean for the doctors and orderlies, not us patients.

When THE CAGE is eventually shut down, we find out that some of the new staff were undercover SRU agents. We all end up at a temp group home, where we are stuffed with food, given three sets of new clothes each, some trainers, and a pair of winter boots, coat, sweater, hat, gloves, and scarves.

Proper doctors give check-ups, and no blood is taken unless necessary, but it is noted that I need to be added to the system and have my DNA run.

Surprisingly, Doctor Smyth wasn’t really a doctor. He bought his White coat on Zon. A few social workers turn up at the temp home in September. Thankfully, none I recognize. We arrived on September 3rd.

On the 15th,a Social Worker in his early 20s pulls Trick and Bram aside to let them know they are being taken to an exchange with Giovanni Michaels, who will take them to their new home with Tricks brothers. Some orderlies turned up 3 days ago, and some I do recognize. Unfortunately, one of those leans towards me,

“Jameson will be picking you up at five. Be ready or else.” I nod and decide to go for a walk.

I take a last look at Jenson and Bram, the former excited and worried to see his brothers again, a smile covers my lips before I try to bury my emotions, I turn and walk away.

Through the Grove of trees behind the home is a rock pool, which is where I end up. I sit looking at the water, feeling helplessness wash over me. I reach forward and find a piece of slate; I know Trick and Bram will be safe with Ren and Xander. I take the slate and cut between my right wrist and elbow.

I don’t feel the pain like I should, I think after the Vampies pain is different now. I just watch as blood runs down my arm and drips from my fingers on to the mud under my knees, seeping into the pool of water before me, after a while my head feels fuzzy and I lay down and just watch the sky.

Jenson

I’m going back to Ren. I know where Quinny is, and as soon as I tell him, I bet he will return her to us where she is safe. She has always belonged with us, and I will be having words of how she ended up with me instead of staying with him when I see him.

During our month of isolation, she caught me up on what happened. I turn but can’t see her, I catch her scent, and follow it. Maybe she’s worried her shit social work is going to get her again.

Suddenly, Sune goes on full alert and takes over. He sets us off in a sprint just as I catch the scent of her blood. Who the fuck hurt her? As I break through the tree line, I realize she’s alone, slumped on the floor by the rock pool, her blood seeping into the water and earth and a piece of slate in her hand. There is a cut on her right forearm.

I grab her princess style and useing an extra boost from Sune. I sprint to the hospital. The group home is 5 minutes closer, but I doubt they can help her there. Somehow, the cut is starting to heal, and there is a subtle lilac glow to it. As I pass a reflective surface, I notice my hair has also turned Lilac. ‘Great Sune, what’s that mean? Come on, Quinny, wake up so you can explain you’re the smart one here.' I get to the main desk, and the nurse has her back to me.

“Help, please, my friend needs help.” Thank God the nurse is a supe.

“She’s allergic to supe meds, and human stuff doesn’t work. She has wolf blood but can’t shift.” The nurse blinks but one glance at Ember, and she tells me to follow her. She uses butterfly bandages to hold the slash together. That lilac glow disappears if I’m not touching her, so I hold her left hand. Maybe the lilac is healing? Hopefully Ren took some of Mamas books with him so I can work out what makes Sune tick.

Max, the social worker who told me about returning to Ren, turns up, but I refuse to leave until she wakes. I explained that HER social worker was bad news and that she did this because he would be coming for her.

He promises to see what he can do and calls Giovanni to say there has been a delay. He asks about her going with us, but where I’m heading only takes in boys. They will see if they can find somewhere close by, but that could take some time, which Quinny doesn’t really have.

Ember

I wake to the pressure of someone holding my hand. “Thank the goddess, you're awake. I need to leave soon, but I wanted to know you’re okay.” I open my eyes to a ruffled Trick. The clock above the door says 7 p.m. Trick looks so sad, and his hair has gone grey/blue, the color of the sky right before a storm.

“Promise me, Ember! Never again!” I blink. He hasn’t called me Ember since before his mom died,

“I promise, Trick, I’m just scared to be alone again.” I try not to cry, but I’m drained physically, mentally, and emotionally. He kisses my temple as Max walks in.

“Jenson, we need to go. Someone is on the way to take over Miss Ashes’ care, but you and Bramley need to be taken to Giovanni, as he has someone else to collect.” Jenson nods and kisses my temple again.

“Remember your promise, Quinny,” he sighs.

“Remember, we love you, and you will be home with us soon.” He slips into Japanese. Tears stream down my face.

“I love you.”I reply, He hugs me and whispers,

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