Chapter 16: New State of Living

An hour or two had drifted by since Ethan and Claire had tidied up the first and second floors of the mansion. Once they deemed it safe, everyone stepped inside, exploring the rooms. Barry immediately secured the entrance to the labs and other perilous areas while the sheriff inspected the room allocation.

Surprisingly, there were only two bedrooms available – one on the first floor, with a king-sized bed, and one on the second floor, with twin beds. Not ideal for a group of nine.

So, they made a decision. The sheriff's family claimed the king-sized bed. Claire and Jill, the girls in the group, took the twins. As for the rest, any room would suffice. Ethan found himself assigned to the attic, arguably the best of the lot.

The place had a certain rugged charm, spacious yet a bit dusty, haunted by spider webs. An ancient fireplace adorned the attic's edge, though summer's warmth made it unlikely for Ethan to use it anytime soon.

Sighing, he surveyed the room. Unlike the others, this room felt like a regular wooden cabin, perhaps with slightly weathered wood, but it was not a point of contention. He didn't possess much in terms of personal belongings, so he settled against a wall, resting his head.

As he contemplated, it struck him – less than a day had passed since his 'rebirth,' yet it felt like an entire lifetime. He'd taken lives, transformed into something beyond human, and died, all in the span of one fateful night. So much had transpired, but only now did he find the time to reflect.

What lay ahead for him now, armed with this strange power? He'd given a similar gift to two of his acquaintances as well, leaving them no say in the matter. Granted, it saved their lives, but a twinge of guilt gnawed at him. What if they despised the state he'd given upon them? Jill seemed to harbor such doubts. What if they'd prefer death over bearing this abominable power?

He concealed his guilt, attempting to steer them towards at least tolerating their newfound abilities, with mixed results.

The web of conspiracies that ensnared him – HYDRA, SHIELD – grated on his nerves. He'd much rather have been reincarnated into the body of a boy heading to Hogwarts or some equally benign scenario. There, he could've had ample time to acclimate to his 'new' life.

But no, he and his group were now most likely fugitives, forced into hiding, for the mere act of appearing in public would likely trigger a manhunt, courtesy of HYDRA or SHIELD.

The memories were another torment. The screams and cries still echoed within him. Unable to bear it any longer, he manipulated his mind, purging the memories like deleting files from a computer – the agonizing, grotesque ones vanished, while the vital ones remained. A handy trick for the future.

Ethan shut his eyes, seeking a moment's reprieve, but he knew it wouldn't last. Footsteps approached his room, accompanied by a familiar scent. It was Claire.

A rap on the door heralded her entry, blanket in hand. "Hey," she greeted Ethan, handing him the blanket. "Turns out, God isn't all that kind, huh?"

Ethan chuckled, accepting the blanket. "I guess this room will do. It's spacious and cozy, albeit a bit dusty."

"Yeah, I guess," Claire whistled, surveying the room. "You should see Barry's room, it's pretty bad."

"Where's his room?" Ethan inquired.

"It's the deer room," Claire giggled, moving to sit against the opposite wall. "You know, the one with just a deer head on the wall?"

Ethan laughed. "Well, now that you mention that, maybe I am blessed after all."

Claire joined in his laughter, her gaze falling to the wooden floor, her smile fading. "You okay?" Ethan asked softly.

"Hm? Yeah, I'm okay," she replied. "Just... still can't believe it, that's all."

"Believe what? That tendrils can now sprout from your body?"

Claire sighed. "That too, I guess..."

"Do you not... like it?"

"What do you mean?"

"Your new powers and all," Ethan clarified.

"I mean, I'm not saying I don't like it," Claire said with a smile. "Thanks to that, you saved me from becoming one of those... mindless corpses we encountered. Oh yeah, I haven't thanked you for that."

Ethan shrugged. "I didn't give you a choice; there's no need to thank me."

"Hey, at least I'm alive, right?" Claire smiled. "Besides, I feel like I could take Chris down if we were fighting right now."

Ethan rolled his eyes. "Well, yeah, even the sheriff's wife could beat him right now, considering his messed-up ribs."

Claire groaned in amusement. "You know what I mean."

Ethan chuckled again, prompting Claire to do the same. "Thank you," she said. "For saving me."

Ethan smiled at her. "You're welcome."

A soft breeze seeped through the nearby window, its gentle rustling simultaneously soothing and eerie. The sun dipped below the horizon, casting the room into deeper shadows.

"By the way, how old are you?" Claire suddenly asked.

Ethan arched an eyebrow.

"What?" Claire looked away. "I'm curious,"

Ethan hummed. "Twenty-one."

"Twenty-one?!" Claire exclaimed. "And you're working in the same place as my brother at that age?"

"Well, I'm with the FBI," Ethan feigned ignorance. "I don't work with your brother."

Claire scoffed. "Yeah, like I ever believed that after everything that happened last night. You're with SHIELD, right?"

"Did your brother spill the beans?" Ethan chuckled. "That's a breach of an NDA."

"Either way, we're screwed," Claire shrugged.

"Fair point," Ethan conceded with a wry smile. "What about you?"

"Nineteen," she replied.

"You can't even legally drink yet," Ethan teased.

Claire snorted. "Hey, I'll have you know I'm a party girl."

"Is that something to brag about?" Ethan laughed. "I assume you're a college student?"

Claire clicked her tongue, slightly annoyed. "Yeah, a business major."

"Business?" Ethan continued to chuckle. "You? Business? Are you sure you're related to that guy?"

"Fuck you," Claire grumbled, though a faint smile played on her lips. "Alright, how did you end up with SHIELD, then? Nepotism?"

Ethan ceased his laughter, leaning his head against the wall as he delved into the memories of the room's previous occupant. "Not much to it, really. I was an orphan, bounced around foster homes, excelled in sports, and had good grades. One day, a recruiter just found me and enlisted me."

"That's it?" Claire frowned.

"Yeah, that's it... I always found the process suspicious," Ethan mused. "I guess I know why now."

"And why is that?" Claire probed further.

Ethan grinned. "That's a story for another time."

"Right," Claire muttered. "Sorry for prying."

"No problem," Ethan assured her. But then, a recollection struck him. "Right… Your bike..."

Claire's expression turned grim. "Yeah... I put a lot of money into that. I thought I could pick it up in the morning, but that couldn't be further from the truth."

"Maybe we can find something in the nearest town?" Ethan suggested. "Fix a new one?"

"With what money?" Claire asked.

"Look around," Ethan rolled his eyes. "There are antiques everywhere."

"Oh yeah…"

Ethan scoffed. "And you call yourself a business major."

Claire snorted, giving a middle finger to Ethan, which made him laugh. She then stood up and walked to the door. "Come on, the sheriff's wife is making dinner. I'm starving."

"That sounds good," Ethan agreed, standing up as well. He followed Claire out of the room and down the stairs.