Jewel

He stormed through the corridors, his black fatigues and bomber jacket covered in dust and blood. He, Donald Pierce, Don, had been gone almost three weeks on the road. He was exhausted, mentally and physically drained, he wanted a hot shower and a decent meal.

After signing over his latest acquisition he asked on her, concerned about the reports he had been receiving. He made his way to Dr. Rice, despondent was the word he kept hearing, despondent but not disobedient.

He found Dr. Rice, his partner in crime and was given the full report. She had become withdrawn since he had been gone, obedient as always, compliant but hollow. She would spend all day in bed, refuse food or company, even the nurses she had come to bond with could not rouse her. She was being nourished intravenously, but it was as if she was simply not there. Dr. Rice had changed her, her mutation became one of his greatest successes, nature perfected by man and science.

As her body lay in bed, she was escaping with her mind, traveling beyond the walls of this place. Creating a life for herself she may never physically touch, it’s all she can do from going mad. Nine months is too long to be confined.

Dr. Rice and Don fought often, fought about her. Don wanted her on the road, she would be invaluable, see the danger coming, formulate strategies, save time and man power. Save the lives of his men and the unnecessary damaged inflicted on the assets they hunted. She would be a great addition to the Reavers.

Dr. Rice disagreed, she was to stay home where she could be monitored. The outside world was no place for her, she was powerful but also fragile and he liked to be the one pulling her strings. There were too many unknown variables out there, it was uncharted how she would respond to the stimulation of the outside, here she was medicated for the surroundings, out there too many things could cause instability.

Don made it to her door, she had sensed him in the building hours before. She knew he would come to her eventually, he knocked gently as any southern gentleman would, opening the it respectfully, the light from the corridor cast a dreamy glow over her. He took in the sight of her, long dark hair against the white pillow and sheets. Covers pulled high around her, back towards him. He knew she was not sleeping.

Closing the door behind him, he locked it and the room darkened again. He walked around the bed, dusting himself off as best he could. Taking off his jacket he lay it on the desk and switched on the small lap beside her.

“I know you aint sleepin.” He remarked as he crouched down to her level pulling she covers from her face.

Her brown eyes were open and automatically found his. He could not help but smile, his gold tooth caught by the light. She returned his smile with one of her own.

“I hear you aint been takin care of yourself.” He said in a frustrated tone. Raising his eyebrows and running his finger down her exposed cheek. “That disappoints me.”

She pulled her hand out from under the covers and traced her finger around his throat tattoo before taking his hand and tucking it against her chest. The action forced him to lean forward, he shook his head a little.

“I’m all dirty Baby.” He said knowing what she wanted.

“I know.” She replied with her mind, little smirk on her face, looking at him though her lashes.

He sighed and bowed his head resting it on the side of the bed, she reach out with her hand again running it though his filthy hair.

“You don’t make this easy for me.” He mumbled into the sheets.

He stood up as far as he could without her having to release his hand from her chest. In one clean motion he climbed over her, his right leg draped over her body. He pulled her to him, his large solid frame enveloped her and she became immersed in him. His sore muscles and mind relaxing for the first time in weeks as he drifted off to sleep.

They had broken countless protocols over time.

No employee are to engage in any activity that could be considered sexual in nature with an asset. Any employee found to be compromising company property will be charged with breach of contract and legal action will be taken by the company to recover lost revenue.

For them of course it was different, Donald Pierce, the gate keeper of this kingdom, she not the damsel in distress, more the willing mistress.

Dr. Rice turned his eye, aware of the situation, he saw nothing but opportunity. This connection they had made in the most unlikely of places, simply environmental or something more? It did not matter to him, it was just another piece of her to exploit if the need should arise.

For Don it was uncharted territory, this woman, the mutant. He was not an unfeeling man, pride, persistence, determination these things came naturally to him, but what he found in himself when he was with her, was something more, something he had long forgotten.

It was something that required discipline, patience, a strategy. He was those things too, they just currently required a little more attention. This new revelation did not alarm him, he enjoyed a challenge, something new to conquer and adept he was.

Don was going to be sent away again, she knew it. As she sat in the common room she saw something more, he will be gone longer than anticipated. Five whole weeks she estimated. He will be gone too long for her, she has come to need him in this place. Need his calm command, he keeps her balanced, keeps her on this plain.

She is standing in her room looking out her window, the almost full moon and lights from the car park below casting an ambient light into her room. Standing in her doorway he takes a moment and then locks the door behind him. She knows he is there to say goodbye, he leaves at dawn.

Walking around the bed he removes his long dust jacket before sitting on the edge of the bed. She turns to face him, illuminated by the light behind her and she is a sight to behold.

She walks over to him, her bare feet on the cool floor, walking into his open legs. Running her finger along the top of his thigh as he wraps his arms around her, his hands find their way inside her shirt and draws circles around the small of her back. She smiles and shivers at the sensation as goosebumps appear on her exposed flesh.

Placing his head in her hands her fingers playing with the scruff on his face. He turns his head into her hands, encouraging her, coaxing her to be rougher. Lifting her knee she slides it down beside him as he takes the other pulling her into his lap.

“You are going away again.” She sighs, eyes down, afraid to meet his, her hands running up and down his muscular shoulders.

“Yeah.” He replies, his voice wavering, something building inside him, an urgency is growing.

“Will you ever take me with you?” she whispers as she buries her face in his neck holding him tight.

He groans a little as her movement forward grinds into him. “You know it aint just up to me.” He replies holding her tight against his chest, his face inhaling her hair. His hands creep higher up inside her shirt, “And to be honest,” he continued “I like ya here, staying put where I know exactly where you are.”

She sighed into his neck again before pulling away, she looked into his clear blue eyes, running her thumb over his lips. She knew this was true, he didn’t want her out there outside.

It did not change the truth of his feelings for her, but the honesty of his words meant everything.

“I’m a selfish man, I don’t want to share ya with the world.”

She pulled his forehead to hers, slightly arching her back and allowing herself to grind deeper into his lap. He groaned louder as his mouth reached for hers, she pulled back further again staring deeper into his eyes.

“Honesty will always be rewarded with honesty.” She replied, before she surrendered to him, allowing his warm hungry mouth to devour hers, allowing him to use her to alleviate his need.

He had been gone six days already as she paced up and down the corridor. His absence already making her restless. No one really watched her anymore, she was considered trained, broken in, the reliable pet that would not stray. She had never even considered it, not until it was presented to her, a literal open door, a door that should be closed. Why had she not seen it in her mind before this moment she was not sure but without thinking she walked through.

She closed the door behind her, a stairwell. Her instinct kicked in, this is what she was for. She walked down the stairs flight after flight, her feet on the freezing concrete and avoiding the cameras each time they turned. She was determined and sure as she reached out to those around her, reading their minds sensing if they were coming near her. She had to stop a few times, back flat against the wall as staff walked above and below her moving between floors. She always remained unseen, Don was right, she would have been invaluable to him on the hunt.

Down she went until she could not go any further, with an exit sign above it a large metal door and keypad was her last barrier. She waited out of sight of the camera, waited for her moment. A distracted nurse opened the door from the outside and she slipped out the door before the young nurse turned to make sure it was locked again, she was out.

For the first time in 12 months she was free, breathing fresh air, the beating sun and the smells of a bustling city, she was overwhelmed with emotions, joy, adrenaline and guilt pumping through her veins. Silently she found herself weeping as she shielded her eyes from the harsh light of the midday sun. Her skin pale untouched for so long felt like it was already burning, her bare feet starting to dance on the hot ground. She had been wrapped in cotton wool for so long, pampered, she would have to learn to take care of herself again.

She found refuge where she could, relying on the kindness of strangers. Reading the people around her, she found those with warm intentions, those that would not ask questions, if asked who she was or where she came from she simply said she did not remember. Finding her way to a woman’s shelter she stayed there a number of weeks. They bathed her, clothed her, and fed her and she helped out as much as she could to thank them for their generosity though she was easily fatigued from the heat and the fact she had been waited on for so long.

He was always on her mind, she tried to find him in the crowd of millions but it was too loud, too chaotic, she was easily overwhelmed and tried too quickly. Dr. Rice’s medicines where starting to fade away, leaving her with only her will to keep the world at a distance. She wanted him, Don but now feared him too. His wrath for her betrayal far more terrifying then anything Dr. Rice could conjure. He had shown her his weakness, made himself bare for her and she had thrown it away.

What she really needed was to cross the border, to get back into the United States and she was not the only one at the shelter looking for a new life. A group of them were waiting, waiting for the right time to cross. She used her mutation to find the best location, know when it would be unguarded and know when help would be waiting on the other side, when the night finally came they took those brave steps together without looking back.

It was this emotionally charged act that caused her symptoms to first present themselves. The pounding headache that lasted for hours, the blinding pain behind her eyes. She decided to separate from the group, hoping that some solitude would help her recover. She was given a little money, dropped off in a small town and wished well and now she was on her own.

She walked the main streets, hoping a local business was in need of a worker, the dinner needed someone for the midnight shift. They did not care she was inexperienced, she was willing to learn. They allowed her to sleep in the converted studio apartment connected above until she got herself settled. The elderly couple that owned it said she reminded them of their daughter, they had a weakness for lost souls, had generous hearts. A week turned into two, turned into four as she worked as hard as her body would allow, though her constant need for breaks was becoming an issue.

Her body was starting to rebel against her, not follow her commands. Her legs would collapse under her, stabbing pains in her chest, her head filled with heat and noise so intense she was sure it would burst. She knew she would have to get away, get away from these kind people not tie them up in what she was, who she belonged to.

Donald was on the warpath, his contempt for himself and those under his control on display for all to see. He had given too much and then she had taken some more, he should have known better then to play with one of them. He let his anger drive him, get him though the months she was gone. Throwing blame at anyone and anything he could for her leaving, for leaving him. He had come to assume her complicity, assumed she would always need.

She assembled the small amount of belongings she had started to collect and purchased a disposable phone, borrowing her kindly employee’s car, promising it would stay in one piece. Then she started to drive, drive to the middle of nowhere, drive where he could find her with ease. She tried to reach out to him but she was too weak, using all her strength to stay together, to stay a part of this world. She constantly took note of her surroundings, every landmark, and every sign. Then she saw it, a rundown motel, she knew this was the place, this was the place he would come to her, come to take her back home.