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AVALON LAUNCHED ALL one hundred twenty pounds of enraged female from the couch like a rocket, lunging with outstretched hands to grab Magnum’s throat. All Avalon wanted was to choke the girl where she stood. She was tired of being pushed, prodded, and goaded into reacting, yet here she was again, attacking the taunting teen.
Magnum laughed as Avalon bounced off the plexi-glass barrier and was tossed to the floor. She crossed her arms, eyes glinting and lips twisted into a mocking smile. “She doesn’t handle the drugs well, does she?”
Trench leaned up against the wall picking his nails clean with tip of his switchblade, watching Avalon rage. “You know, I wouldn’t get on her bad side. That girl has some serious anger management issues. They might even be worse than yours.”
Magnum stuck her tongue out at him and went back to smirking at the out of control Avalon through the safety of the plexi-glass. The room where they had secured Avalon was an old office space tucked off the back of the main kitchen. All furniture had been removed long ago, except for a rolling cot that they used as a place to crash and get some sleep. The window’s blinds had been pulled up, giving a clear view out into the kitchen. They had moved the unconscious Avalon into the room and laid her on the cot, after she had passed out from the branding. Trench had given her a shot of Oxycodone to ease the raw pain of her burnt arm, and then they had wrapped the wound and left her rest.
However, Avalon had awoken, and finding herself in the narrow cell-like room, she’d jumped to her feet and charged the window, screaming and raving about jail. She’d thrown herself over and over at the window, her face contorted with rage and a wild, insane light to her eyes.
“Uh oh,” Magnum had said and then wedged a chair under the doorknob, effectively locking Avalon inside. “Trench, we have a problem!” she had yelled over her shoulder, bringing him back to her side.
Again and again, Avalon hurled herself at the window. Magnum watched the small girl, fascinated by the desperation underlying her aggression. The attacks had a feral quality about them. The girl was acting like a caged bear she had seen once at a zoo. Feral and deranged at the same time. Avalon was extremely dangerous right now. Most people who are hallucinating are dangerous purely by accident, as they do not sense pain. That is what the drug is for, to deaden pain. Who knew she’d have no ability to handle it, thought Magnum. Weak.
Avalon had given up on her direct attacks at the window and now lay curled in a ball on the cot, cradling her sore arm. She had not moved for the last five minutes.
“Hey, Trench,” Magnum called over her shoulder, “looks like she has fallen asleep again. What do you want to do now?”
Trench left off counting their food supplies and wandered back over to the window. “I will watch her. We are running low on just about everything. I need to you to do a foraging run. See if you can find another abandoned storage warehouse like you did last time.”
“We got lucky, Trench. The warehouses are nearly always controlled by rival gangs. We’d have to fight our way in just to get a peek at what is inside of it. That last one was a fluke, because it didn’t look like a warehouse from the outside. I think it was a food bank or something originally. The outside was painted up like an auto body shop.”
“Go back to that warehouse and let’s do a thorough sweep of it. Maybe there will be a clue to other food stashes across the city. We know they had more than one outlet. Take some help. And Magnum,” he said as she stepped away from the window, “watch your back, ok?”
“Got it, boss!” She tossed him her usual smirk and left the kitchen.
Trench took the chair out from under the door knob, opened the door and carried it inside, setting it quietly on the floor beside Avalon. He sat down next to her and watched the slow rise and fall of her arm, cradled on top of her chest. She was indeed asleep. He hoped it was peaceful now. His eyes traced the features of her face.
“You are a mystery, Avalon,” he said softly to the sleeping girl. “Despite our talk of a little while ago, I sense you have more secrets than you shared. That’s ok. I do, too. But you are one of us now. Be careful what you do. Do not force me to destroy you.” He ran a hand over her hair, then settled back in his chair by her bedside.
***
AVALON WAS HAVING THE strangest dreams. She was back in the jail of Melona, and then she wasn’t. Mitch was there, and then it was a different man, the Firebrand gang boss. She had to get out, she couldn’t stay, and both were holding her back. She moved her arm and cried out. It was on fire, they were burning her alive! She thrashed and a hand grabbed her hand and soft words floated across her consciousness, soothing her frayed nerves and nerve endings. She drifted off once again.
This time, when she woke, she stared around at the puce coloured walls with disgust. She’d hated this colour for as long as she could remember. Lighter rectangles spoke of pictures long gone. The ceiling was the same depressing pink as the walls. She turned her head and her sight filled with something bound to cheer her up. Trench sat in the chair beside her, chin resting on his chest, fast asleep. His arms were crossed, and from Avalon’s perspective, all she could see was his bulging bicep where it exited the short sleeve of his t-shirt. Avalon dragged her eyes away, and sat up, coughing. The noise woke Trench and he straightened, instantly awake. His eyes were wary.
“How do you feel?” he asked, dropping his arms to his knees. Dark crescents under his eyes hinted at his lack of sleep.
“Good. My arm is a little sore yet. Why?” She looked around the room. “Where are we?”
“This is an office space just off the main kitchen. We use it as a place to flop when tired. You have been here for a day.”
Avalon frowned. “A day? Why would I need to be here for a day?”
“We gave you some medicine to help with the pain of the brand. You reacted badly. I have never seen such a reaction,” said Trench.
Avalon scowled. “What did you give me?” she demanded. “I can’t take most pain killers. I have bad reactions to them.”
Trench laughed. “That is an understatement. You went berserk. Even Magnum was scared of you, although she’d never admit it.”
The door opened and Cris walked in, her face thunderous. “I still vote for just putting her down. She is going to get us all killed with that temper. She,” she pointed at Avalon, “is a liability to us all.” Trench stood as Cris marched in the door and faced him.
“Since you are so scared of Avalon, I am assigning you to her training. You will work alongside her and introduce her to our activities. If you get killed,” he nodded toward Avalon, “I will know you were right.” He put his finger under Cris’ chin, raising her angry face to meet his. “But, I’d prefer if you both lived.” He kissed her lightly on the lips, then left Avalon alone with Cris.
Cris turned triumphant eyes on Avalon. “Come on, you need a change of clothes, before we hit the streets.” Avalon got up and followed Cris out of the cubicle and through the back doors to a hallway, all the while wondering how she was going to stand being with this girl all day long. One or the other was sure to snap. One thing was clear, she had a dangerous rival in this girl, and it wasn’t just over Trench’s attention. Not that I want Trench’s attention, never that. Avalon squirmed internally. One can lie to oneself but you always know it’s a lie. Most inconvenient.