Past: Run

It has been three days since Jin and Boom checked her room and Jin saw him. She was growing comfortable around Rinnowra and had met another large male named Wongoidchee. He was softer than Jin or Boom, but just as welcoming. When Lofgun wasn't around, she felt safe with Wong or Rinnowra. Wong had a brotherly type of feel to him that made her inclined to ask him things and go to him for matters she was too afraid to ask others for.

The stones were still safe. She had checked on them three times a day, making sure all thirteen were accounted for. No one but Lofgun knew of them. And she liked it that way.

Now, she was in the backyard with Rinnowra when Lofgun appeared, smiling at her. "Butterfly, would you like to see something?"

Butterfly…

She had given him her real name the first night, but he only called her Butterfly. She didn't mind. And because he called her Butterfly, the others did too. It was their name for her. She liked it. "What is it?" she asked.

Lofgun helped her stand, then took her hand. "It's a surprise!"

With that, he led her through a gate that put them on a street lined with houses. She followed him to the left, turned right at an intersection, and came upon a field backed by a forest of trees. In the field, his people were either practicing combat or messing around. But she also saw Jin and Boom talking quietly in the grass, a book in their hands.

"Here," Lofgun said, leading her onto the field, "we hang out, have fun, and be free."

"Why here?"

"It's open and we like to have room," he said softly, then let go of her hand. "You can do anything here," he whispered in her ear. She took the meaning, but did not listen. She wanted to be normal.

"Butterfly!" Wong greeted with a huge smile.

She smiled. "Hello."

"Don't be shy! Come, let's see what you've got!"

She glanced at Lofgun, but he was already some yards away, talking to Coomarrah, a slim man with a strange set of maroon eyes. She hesitantly walked to Wong and glanced around. "What are we doing?"

"Hit me!"

She blinked. "I'm sorry?"

He laughed. "Come on, now! I promise you may do whatever you like. Just have at it!"

"He wants you to spar," Dalgoring said from the right. He was the smallest man, but lethal. "He wants to teach you to fight."

"Not fight, dumb ass! Defend herself!" Wong spat. "Not everything is about hurting your opponent!"

Dalgoring rolled his eyes. "Same thing!"

Wong shook his head and focused on her again. "Come now, Butterfly!"

So, she sparred. She got very few hits on him, but once Wong assessed her, he began correcting her, teaching. Soon, she was sweaty and panting, but having fun.

She joined again the next two weeks until it felt as if her heart was ripped from her chest.

She had just come from her room to grab something to eat before she went back to the field when she noticed an envelope with her name on it. Coolyala.

She glanced around, reaching for Shadowsong at her belt, but no one was there. Lofgun was with the others, having left reluctantly when she told him that she'd be there soon. Now, she regretted letting him leave her alone. Closing her eyes, she took a calming breath then opened the envelope.

Inside were two things: a pin, and a photo.

The pin was her mother's, signifying who she was and where. She had worn it all her life, and Coolyala…Coolyala was to be given the pin when she married.

Coolyala looked at the photo, felt her heart stop, and blacked out.

Lofgun sensed something was wrong when his Butterfly didn't arrive at the meadow an hour after he'd left her. Even Wong, who was her teacher in hand-to-hand combat looked worried. No one else, though, seemed stressed. But then, Boom sat bolt upright from his spot in the grass and stared into space. Lofgun waited. Wong waited. The others halted their movements and waited.

"Butterfly…" was all Lofgun heard before he sprinted home.

When he got there, he called out for her. No answer. He was running to her room when he caught sight of something in the kitchen. He screeched to a halt and turned back. She was on the floor.

"Butterfly!" Ran to kneel beside her, noticing a piece of paper behind her. "Butterfly!"

"Sir." Lofgun looked up to Jin. "Get her out of here."

It was said so softly, Lofgun stiffened. But after a moment, he picked her up and ran outside.

She woke just as the others swarmed around them, kneeling on the street. Her eyes darted about frantically. "Butterfly?"

She looked at him. "They have my parents."

Jin appeared then, eyes now pure white. Butterfly cringed away. Lofgun held her closer but questioned Jin. "What?"

"The same man was back."

"My parents…"

"What Boyenboomarra felt was the man. He went to the field after leaving Butterfly a gift."

"Why didn't you see him?" Rinnowra asked.

"Shadows," was all Jin said. He handed Lofgun the photo.

It was of a man and a woman, beaten and bloodied, unrecognizable. "How do you know these are your parents?" he asked her.

She said nothing, staring at the photo with wide, mournful eyes. It was then he noticed she had something in her hand, glinting in the sunlight. He figured whatever it was, it was what told her who the two were.

"Butterfly, do you know where they are?

"The lab."

"What lab? Where?"

She shook her head. "They're gone!"

Lofgun knew she was lost to him and looked at Jin and Boom. "You know what to do."

They nod and both left.

He looked at Coomarrah and Dalgoring. "Start making an outfit for her. Something that will protect her, but allow her to move. It must be able to hold anything, including stones."

"Stones?" Coomarrah asked, a brow raised.

"Just do it. I can't explain why!"

Coomarrah shrugged but left with Dalgoring.

"Rin and Wong, can you stay inside with her? I need to go with Watchingi and tell him what I want."

Wong stepped forward and picked up the woman with gentle hands. "Go do what you must," he said.

Eight days later, Coolyala hadn't said a word, hadn't slept, hadn't bathed. She only ate because her stomach demanded attention. She soiled herself repeatedly, causing Lofgun to start cursing, but she couldn't move.

The man was here. Always here. Grinning. Watching. Waiting. She wasn't afraid anymore. Not of him. She just felt an overwhelming urge to mutilate his body, just as he'd done to them. He would disappear only a couple minutes through the day, only spoke a few words, only asked for the stones with his hands once.

Lofgun couldn't see him. Lofgun didn't know there was an enemy here. She couldn't talk. She couldn't warn him. Something happened to her voice. She wanted to scream.

"Butterfly?"

She blinked, staring blankly into his orange eyes.

"Say something," he pleaded.

She tried. Really tried.

"Butterfly, I'm worried about you. Please, give me a sign you're listening, that you are still here."

Behind him, the man smiled. She tried to raise her hand, to point, but to no avail.

"Butterfly? I need you to explain everything. That means you need to talk to me."

She screamed in her head as the man laughed.

Lofgun sighed and moved away.

The man held up the photo, the horrible photo. "The stones for your parents, Ylfrettub."

No! No! No!

Another day passed. Lofgun begged again for her to speak. Again, she failed.

On the tenth day, Watchingi walked into the house and called for Lofgun. He glanced at her. "Butterfly, please wake up," he whispered.

She was able to move her eyes down to the pin in her hands. Unable to let it go, unable to uncurl her finger even though she had to.

"What is it?" she heard Lofgun.

Watchingi opened his mouth, but narrowed his eyes on her. Yes, please, help, she cried in her mind.

Either the man could read minds or he sensed something because he walked over and knelt. "What's in her hands?"

"I don't know. She won't let go. I tried to see."

Watchingi hummed to himself and gently grabbed her cold hand. He pulled, but her hand did not move. "Butterfly, please let go?" he said, looking at her in the eyes. That must have been the point when he saw the fear and dread because he gave her a nod of understanding.

Watchingi stood and ran out, Lofgun on his heels, demanding answers. The man in the shadows smiled at her. "He can't help you. No one can."

She ignored him and waited.

Half an hour later, Lofgun was back, kneeling before her. "Butterfly, listen carefully. This is going to hurt and I am so sorry! But Watchingi believes he can do something with whatever is wrong." He cupped her face. "I am going to force your hand open, even if I have to break it."

She understood. She wanted him to do something. Anything!

Lofgun took a deep breath and forced his fingers between hers, grasping at the pin. He cursed under his breath and used the other hand to pry her fingers open so hard, she heard a crack. She felt no pain, but saw he was able to get the pin. "I'll be back, Butterfly!"

He left, taking the pin away. She still couldn't move, but was finding hood inside her once again.

Lofgun wasn't gone long and returned with Jin, Watchingi, and Coomarrah. She was confused. She wanted to ask questions.

"Butterfly, blink once for yes and twice for no." He gazed at her with concern. "Is he here?"

One blink.

"Is he behind me?"

One blink.

Jin began to move, muttering something she couldn't hear.

Lofgun knelt close. "The moment you're free, Butterfly, I want you to scream as loud as you can and don't stop. I can't explain, but I promise everything will be fine soon."

She blinked once to let him know she understood.

Coomarrah now began muttering, Lofgun is holding a long knife, still staring at her. She didn't know what was happening, didn't know who Lofgun's men were, but trusted them.

Slowly, feeling came to her. First her hand that Lofgun pried open, then her stomach, then her head. Feeling spread throughout her body, making pain and aches and numbness. Then, she twitched a toe. Then her leg. Once she was able to move her head, the man behind her began to move. Coomarrah was still muttering, same with Jin. But Lofgun didn't move. What was wrong with him?

Finally, her voice came and she screamed. She screamed and screamed and screamed. Her body fell into Lofgun, who caught her, and still she screamed.

The man, who was always in shadows and somewhat see through, became solid. He dove for her, but Lofgun was ready. He spun, keeping her close, and stabbed the man, hilt deep, in the gut.

The man fell to his knees and Coolyala stopped screaming to stare at him. Coomarrah and Jin stopped muttering. The man went see through again, the knife clattering to the ground. He looked her in the eyes and said, "You will pay."