Chapter Sixteen - Victim

Craig Mitchell was ready to find his danger. He had been for a long time after he had had a taste of it. And now he had found it; he had found her; he had found Emily Quigley. The woman he believed would change his life. Not romantically, nothing like that. But in terms of giving himself a chance in the world, Emily was the answer. After many patients, many squashed dreams and months of horror, Craig was ready.

But was the world ready? He doubted people wanted to know about a man who could heal with his touch. He knew they weren’t ready. After all, the last person to have made that claim ended up dead, hanging from a cross in the scorching sun, bleeding from his hands, feet and head. Yes he had been worshipped for it, and the many other things he had gone through, but Craig didn’t want the fame. And he certainly didn’t want to die for his ability.

But he did want to help Emily Quigley. The odd case that no doctor could explain. The woman who wouldn’t wake up, whose very life was in danger of never being lived. She was young, and pretty. A local newspaper had shown Craig this. He wanted to help her. He had to help her.

For all those I let down... I have to do this.

He wouldn’t die for his ability. But he would certainly die for her.

Craig was ready to change the world.

***

Jimmy hadn’t slept in over a day. Not after the note. It worried him. Frightened him even. He was a teacher not a killer, despite the claims his students might make about the amount of homework he gave. He wasn’t sure who even knew about Ciarán and Anne. He certainly didn’t know anyone besides himself that knew both people.

As he trudged wearily through the hallway a blur of darkness swept into his vision. A strong fist pounded him into the wall. More punches came as Jimmy held himself in a feeble defensive position, getting angry and scared as the punches came in quicker succession. This man, he knew, was no ordinary man.

As Jimmy struggled for breath an arc of lightning shot over him. Anne made her way defiantly towards him and his attacker, fear in her eyes masked beneath sheer determination. Before her Jimmy lay crumpled into a ball by his own accord, and a man in a black suit struggled to his feet, smoke issuing from his clothes.

The man fixed his short bowler hat on his head and adjusted his dark sunglasses, a grim smile weaving its way onto his lips. From his inside pocket he pulled a gun of sorts, though it was made from plastic and didn’t appear lethal. Anne cursed under her breath.

Coward!

Anger surged within her from an unknown source. She felt her hair rise with static electricity. Her limbs outstretched themselves by their own will as an electrical surge shot from the sockets in the walls and from the overhead lights, becoming a maelstrom as it bounded towards the man in black. Startled he threw the gun towards her and ran. The plastic device blackened in an instant and burst into pieces before Anne.

With a sigh she fell to her knees, Jimmy’s attacker gone.

“Anne...” Jimmy mumbled. “What happened to you?”

***

Will always had some sort of plan under his sleeve. And as he walked purposely casual down the strange road in the distant town, there was no exception. He and Lisa had planned it, although she was initially the one to do the walking. Will objected. It was dangerous. It still was in his case.

“Be careful, Will.”

I’ll try...

His breathing was quick, no matter how much he tried to slow it down. He wiped a cool, panicked sweat from his forehead. That was when he heard it – the van. He felt strong arms grasp him quickly, silently, from behind. He knew this man already. Edward. The brute the man in white commanded.

Stay with me Lisa.

“Always, Will.”

As he was thrown into the back of the white van, he lost her words. There was the woman from the last capture. Trying to break his connection with Lisa. They kept it quiet, like turning the sound down on a radio. They hoped the woman would not notice the faint trace connection between them that they barely held still.

With it, Lisa and Will would find everyone the men in black had ever captured.

***

Naomi knew that staying with Edel was bad idea for the time being. There was that, and her curiosity into what she could actually do. She didn’t know herself, she realised. She never would have thought she would hurt people the way she did. She always imagined she’d be the model wife, as it were. She’d be beautiful, in control, but caring.
Well, two out of three isn’t bad.

Emily Quigley was her hardest victim to take. She was the one that changed Naomi back into what she wanted to be. But she was still frightened. She had to get back to Emily; she had to save Emily and in that, save herself.

But she didn’t want to put Edel in danger either. Naomi still did not have full control. The slightest mistake could ruin everything. It wasn’t worth the risk. So she left Edel, Will and Lisa, slipping a phone number onto the table where she knew Edel would find it. Edel would have to find Carl Kenny by herself.

Do I love him?

The thought surprised her when it came to her. Here was Carl – a caring, and by no means unattractive. But he cared for Emily. And Emily cared for him; loved him. Naomi didn’t know what she was feeling, or if it was even her feeling these things.

And she hated herself for it all the more.

***

The hospital where Emily Quigley rested was a small place, not accustomed to miracles or strange cases. It already had the latter, and would soon get the former. Craig would make sure of it. No matter what, he would wake Emily Quigley up. The excitement reminded him of his years as a medical student, his first year in the hospital. The people he let down in those days... he would save Emily for them.

Taking a deep breath he positioned himself nonchalantly near her room as a man walked from it, distressed and tired. Bags hung under his bleary eyes. His steps were short and slow. This would give Craig all the time he needed. Quickly he entered the room, eyes falling on the beautiful Emily Quigley who lay as still as Snow White, her bronze hair spread out over the white pillow. She looked like an angel in Craig’s eyes.

Slowly he stepped up to her side, his breath catching as he laid his hand on her chest, just below her throat. White sparkling light flowed from his hand, glittering as it encased Emily in an aura of beauty. This had happened only once before for Craig. But still he did not know what it meant. Regardless he let it continue. Her breathing became quicker, but not unhealthily. Her heartbeat became normal. And finally Emily’s eyes shot open wide.

Craig’s breath caught as he felt a light pressure on his chest. He looked down; Emily’s pale hand was missing in his chest. There was no blood, though Craig was sure she could still kill him.

Please, Emily...

He looked into her fear filled eyes. He searched for something there, anything that might spark sympathy. But it was like looking into the eyes of a puppet. They were empty, without feeling, knowledge. It was as if Emily was but a shell.

“Who are you?” she screamed.

Please...

“Where am I?” She didn’t tear her eyes from his. She kept perfectly still for a few moments. With a gasp she lowered her hand. It slid easily from his chest, leaving no mark in either his flesh or his clothes. “Who am I?”

As Craig backed away in panic, Emily screamed. Tears poured from her eyes. She covered them up with her arms, still screaming.

Craig Mitchell fled from the angel.

***

01 felt her mind stir. He felt himself grow within her. This woman was his now, like so many others. Half a mutant, half a slave. This woman was his. And he would not forget it. He could never forget it.

While the doctors of Horizon examined her, searching for cause of her peculiarities, 01 gave her instructions once more, prodding at her mind with his connection with her. She listened intently, realising what he was telling her.

I will get out of this accursed place, Ms Brady. You will assure it. And you will come with me.

01’s soldier knew her job well. Like it had always been her dream. 01 had to get free, so that he could change the world how he had always wanted. No matter the losses humanity would face at his hands.