Chapter 426: Rainstorm
The woman, who simply went by the name Mrs. Smith, had the girls follow her from the back of Laz’s van to the back of an SUV. Laz had been in a rush to leave the sight of the slayings and therefore could only provide the girls with food and snacks along with warm blankets and a place to rest. He didn’t have clothes in their sizes, something that he figured he would add to his shopping list later. Not size specific things, but just things they could wear that wasn’t what they were wearing. Instead, they had each changed into a few of his shirts that were several sizes to big for them but at least they were clean.
"Men’s shirts and sweat pants are your best bet. Gym shorts if it’s hot out. Considering how they will feel if you do come across them, it would be more concerning if they did trust you right off," was the advice Mrs. Smith gave.
That obviously wasn’t her real name, but real names in this business were a huge danger. The advice came because Laz recognized her professionalism when dealing with these types of things, showing she had a background in this field. Laz felt she was trust worthy, otherwise she would be dead.
Laz didn’t ask why the girls had been dressed in what he found them in as such clothing was designed for only the youngest of girls normally. If an older girl wore it, it would just look out of place unless she was doing porn. Dresses with big buttons and frilly skirts, vibrant colored socks, a onesie... and the worst of all was one girl simply had been given a diaper and a bib while being force to keep a pacifier in her mouth.
Just thinking about it made Laz wish he could raise those bastards from the grave and kill them again and again until his bloodlust was sated... not that he thought it ever would be.
Due to all this, while the girls didn’t trust Laz despite him taking them out of there, they were more than happy to change out from what they were wearing into whatever clothing Laz could give them. Seeing how dirty they were, he wished he could get them someplace to bathe, but he knew time was precious and therefore could only ask them to please wait while he contacted this woman.
As for how he knew about her, Laz was adept at finding and fitting into places where awakened gathered. Ever since he had fled north after the battle in Colorado, he had been keeping his eye out for these types of places since he knew he would need help at some point. Being at the compound and having command of able people was a huge blessing when he was forced to fight a god and that thought had stuck in his mind. Therefore, whenever he visited a town or city and detected a presence, he would stay long enough to gather information before moving on.
As for Mrs. Smith, she had come with a certification of the Hearn Group. That name was one that Laz heard a lot as far as awakened went. If the government and the Chosen were their biggest enemies, than the Hearn Group was their biggest ally. If they had a Hearn seal of approval, it meant they could be trusted.
Laz had encountered a Hearn agent when he was on the backroads between Colorado and Montana, probably somewhere in Wyoming. From them and their powerful aura, Laz knew that this person was not only strong, but also had seen their fair share of death. The information Laz got from them was contacts in the area he could trust along with how to recognize a true Hearn seal. Doing so involved placing a hand on the seal and injecting a bit of power causing the seal to light up. When one had done so, two green, fox like eyes would open as if gazing upon you from afar. Then they would blink and disappear. If the eyes failed to show, it meant that either the seal was stolen or it was a fake as only the person issued the seal could use it.
Laz thought those eyes looked very familiar, but he couldn’t place them.
The agent was surprised when Laz approached him and asked him some questions, putting the man on instant alert. As soon as Laz showed the man his face though, the agent became like a pecking chicken, bowing his head constantly and speaking with respect to Laz since he recognized him from the internet. So when Laz had asked for his help, the man readily agreed, getting him all the contact information he had along with a clean burner phone, something Laz had a tendency to lose and a vehicle. His old motorcycle had broken down on the way out from Colorado.
All the contacts were organized by their abilities and uses and Mrs. Smith happened to be the one to contact if one needed relocation services. Of course, Laz laughed when he looked at the phone initially as everyone in there had the last name of either Smith, White, Red, Doe or something so generic that it was obviously fake.
As the girls entered the SUV, they took one last look at Laz and waved goodbye, probably figuring this was the last time they would see him. Over the next several weeks and months though, as they began their new lives somewhere else, they would find out just how famous the person who had saved them had been and more than once, dreamed of what it would have been like to have stayed with him... just like Jill.
Laz got back in the van, turned the engine over and started driving, only once looking back into the rear view mirror to see the final girl sitting in the far back who eyes never left the back of his head. She had been given some clothing by Mrs. Smith, but she was still wearing the same loose shirt Laz had given her while underneath it was only the faded yellow onesie she had been wearing when he saved her.
She hadn’t spoken more than two words since he saved her and that was when he told the girls what his plan was and who he was trusting them with. When that happened and the other girls thanked him again, Jill had only said ’follow you.’ Hearing this and looking into her eyes, Laz knew she was on the brink. He could feel it. Besides the faint feeling of energy coming off from her to show that she was awakened, Laz didn’t even know her ability. But seeing that look, he also knew that he didn’t have a choice. If she went mad and her power went out of control, even a foundational realm awakened would be hard pressed to stop her without killing her.
That was just the way that bloodlines were.
Laz ended up pulling into a motel for the night, renting a room and driving the van in front of it. The van looked like shit, but he had gotten it from the Hearn agent who always kept a few running vehicles just in case. They had clean titles and ran which was more than Laz could ask for considering the circumstances.
Laz got out of the van, walked to the side and opened it before peering in at Jill. She had followed him from his seat to the side door, her eyes never leaving him.
Laz reached out a hand and the girl took it, her malnourished body seemed to strain with the effort of moving, but she did so anyway. Laz then sensed the area around him and not finding anything, he walked her inside before closing the door and locking it.
Now it was just the two of them. Laz hadn’t washed himself and the scent and stains of blood were still on his clothing, something he had only hidden with a long jacket before. Removing the jacket, Laz didn’t say anything to the girl before going into the bathroom and closing the door.
’There might be greater miracles in life, but hot water tops them all when you’ve been unclean for so long,’ Laz thought to himself as he used his own soap and shampoo from his pouch to clean himself up. After he got out and got dried, he put on a loose t-shirt and flannel pants before walking back out to the room.
Jill was still sitting where he had left her, not moving. She was hugging the blanket that he had originally given her and keeping it close, like a stuff animal that brought her comfort. Laz looked at the girl briefly before walking over to start some coffee in the provided pot. He didn’t use the motel’s coffee but his own from his pouch, same with the water.
As it was brewing and filling the cool air with the rich fragrance, Laz turned to the girl and said,
"Go shower. I’ll stay out here. Change into the clothes that Mrs. Smith gave you. I’ll get you some new clothes tomorrow once we get into town. Any questions?" Laz asked.
Jill shook her head and did as instructed, bringing the blanket with her.
Laz sighed as he watched her go into the bathroom and close the door. He wasn’t some psychiatrist, but even he knew how bad off this girl was. She would follow orders without a thought, but have no outward thoughts of her own. Despite that, there was a dangerous light in her eyes, one that threatened to escape at any moment.
Laz briefly wondered if he should worry about waking up tonight to find her standing over him with a knife.
Just as she had turned off the water many minutes later, Laz waited while sipping some of the hot, black coffee. He was still trying to figure out how to proceed tomorrow when he heard a sob coming from the bathroom. Using his sense, Laz could see that Jill was at the mirror, staring at her bruised and damaged body while holding herself with her arms across her chest.
The sobs were silent, but the tears were a rainstorm.
Laz stopped his sense and peered up at the popcorn ceiling, thinking that she might not be too far gone just yet.
