"Crap,” the Troll muttered. “Me
mate not going to like this. She get angry.” Shaking his head, he
turned
and marched sullenly out of the room.
"That was utterly bizarre,” Karl commented. Nodding, I couldn't help but agree. I turned back to the pods. “Come on. We need to get the other Seekers out."
Running my hand over the gray surface, I couldn't believe how much it felt like clammy skin. I could feel bumps and even tiny hairs along it. I started to search for seams or openings. Moving my fingers to the top, I brushed the tubes and wires out of the way and found a small hole. Digging my fingers into the opening, I ripped a piece of the pod away. Surprised at the ease with which it tore, I wrapped my hand around the edge and peeled down the side. A thick, gooey substance spilled out of the pod and sloshed onto the floor revealing the being within. "Toby,” I breathed. Reaching in, I carefully placed my hands on his shoulders and maneuvered him out of the pod. His body seemed healthy save for the various tubes inserted into him. I wasn't sure there was a way to remove them here without damaging or killing him. I couldn't risk it. Retrieving the copy's cell phone from my pocket, I tapped in a number and hit send. I heard the Brimstone operator's reply on the other end. “I have several Seekers who need immediate medical evacuation.” I listened for a moment. “Yes, track this phone. Hurry." "I have Elena,” Karl, dripping with goo, announced. Setting the cell phone on the floor, I cradled Toby in my lap in nearly the same manner I had my copy. A thick black tube was protruding from his lips surrounded by medical tape to hold it in place. Working the tape free, I started to remove the tube. Toby involuntarily gagged as it slid up his throat. As he coughed, I rolled him onto his side and gently patted his back. Wiping the gelatinous substance from his nose and mouth, I heard raspy signs of breathing. I turned back to Karl. “See who else you can get out." I ran my fingers gently over Toby's face. “It's going to be all right, T. It's all over now." Chapter Pushing open the door, I let Karl inside. Sunlight was spilling in through the large windows over his bed and his growing collection of flowers and get well cards. As the little Goblin skittered across the room, I leaned lazily against the doorway waiting for him to pull the shades. I hated it when the nursing staff left the blinds open. This was a Brimstone facility with Vampires on staff after all. It's not like they didn't know Vampires were here. Can you imagine if a doctor, who happened to be a Vampire, was summoned to a patient's room during an emergency and they had left the shades open? Poof! No more doctor. Then they'd have two emergencies on their hands, wouldn't they? I adjusted the duffel bag on my shoulder containing Toby's clothes and shoes. My injuries were mostly healed, but I still had a bit of discomfort where the Gargoyle bit me, and the wound the Werewolf had created. Yaz told me they would never perfectly heal, but hopefully wouldn't bother me too much. I couldn't help but smile as my gaze settled on Toby. Lying on his side, his legs and arms were twitching
and marched sullenly out of the room.
"That was utterly bizarre,” Karl commented. Nodding, I couldn't help but agree. I turned back to the pods. “Come on. We need to get the other Seekers out."
Running my hand over the gray surface, I couldn't believe how much it felt like clammy skin. I could feel bumps and even tiny hairs along it. I started to search for seams or openings. Moving my fingers to the top, I brushed the tubes and wires out of the way and found a small hole. Digging my fingers into the opening, I ripped a piece of the pod away. Surprised at the ease with which it tore, I wrapped my hand around the edge and peeled down the side. A thick, gooey substance spilled out of the pod and sloshed onto the floor revealing the being within. "Toby,” I breathed. Reaching in, I carefully placed my hands on his shoulders and maneuvered him out of the pod. His body seemed healthy save for the various tubes inserted into him. I wasn't sure there was a way to remove them here without damaging or killing him. I couldn't risk it. Retrieving the copy's cell phone from my pocket, I tapped in a number and hit send. I heard the Brimstone operator's reply on the other end. “I have several Seekers who need immediate medical evacuation.” I listened for a moment. “Yes, track this phone. Hurry." "I have Elena,” Karl, dripping with goo, announced. Setting the cell phone on the floor, I cradled Toby in my lap in nearly the same manner I had my copy. A thick black tube was protruding from his lips surrounded by medical tape to hold it in place. Working the tape free, I started to remove the tube. Toby involuntarily gagged as it slid up his throat. As he coughed, I rolled him onto his side and gently patted his back. Wiping the gelatinous substance from his nose and mouth, I heard raspy signs of breathing. I turned back to Karl. “See who else you can get out." I ran my fingers gently over Toby's face. “It's going to be all right, T. It's all over now." Chapter Pushing open the door, I let Karl inside. Sunlight was spilling in through the large windows over his bed and his growing collection of flowers and get well cards. As the little Goblin skittered across the room, I leaned lazily against the doorway waiting for him to pull the shades. I hated it when the nursing staff left the blinds open. This was a Brimstone facility with Vampires on staff after all. It's not like they didn't know Vampires were here. Can you imagine if a doctor, who happened to be a Vampire, was summoned to a patient's room during an emergency and they had left the shades open? Poof! No more doctor. Then they'd have two emergencies on their hands, wouldn't they? I adjusted the duffel bag on my shoulder containing Toby's clothes and shoes. My injuries were mostly healed, but I still had a bit of discomfort where the Gargoyle bit me, and the wound the Werewolf had created. Yaz told me they would never perfectly heal, but hopefully wouldn't bother me too much. I couldn't help but smile as my gaze settled on Toby. Lying on his side, his legs and arms were twitching