We get back to the house & I park. Ivy jumps out first & that bastard Cecil is already there. Changing back from his black wolf form into his human form.
"Where do we even start?" Michelle asks, helping the girl out of the car.
I shake my head, "I…" I hesitate, looking at the girl, unable to speak.
"You two should get her into a bath." Fletcher gently suggests, his nose wrinkled, "Zeno & I will make some food."
"I'm going for a walk." Ivy pits out, storming off.
"Wha-!?" I gasp, gesturing after her while throwing Fletcher a glare.
He shrugs, "Ivy." He says, like that answers everything.
I throw up the middle finger after her, even though I know she can't see it as she walks away. But, it makes me feel slightly better. So, I'll take it.
Michelle and I help the girl inside. Michelle looks like she's just barely holding it together, unable to look at the girl. The girl's eyes flickering around at everything with fear & mistrust. Darting around with obvious anxiety. Her breathing is slightly irregular, like she's on the brink of panic. Her hands are tightly clasped up by her chest.
Not that I could blame the poor girl.
We show her to the bathroom where I sit her on the toilet holding her hand as Michelle fills up the tub. She seemed to do a little better if someone was holding her hands. Somehow it ended up being me, but I didn't have the heart to pull away or tell her to let go. Her beautiful eyes are off and distant, staring at… nothing now that we've stopped moving & ended up in the bathroom. I didn't know what to say, but apparently, neither did Michelle. So we all just sit in awkward silence as the tub fills. Quietly moving around & getting things ready.
After a tub is full of water, Michele comes over to help me get the clothes off her, then we get her into the tub where she just sits there. Hugging her knees to her chest. Staring into the water. She has a rash from sitting in these soiled clothes for… Who knows how long. But we help wash her while she just sits there. No words are spoken besides me or Michelle quietly asking each other to pass something. But, most of it is just gesturing.
The water quickly turns a disturbing reddish brown color and we're forced to drain the tub and add more water.
Twice.
Getting her hair untangled was a whole ordeal. Both me and Michelle take turns untangling it with conditioner and coconut oil that Zeno quickly opens the door and leaves on the floor without looking in. After washing it once, I come to the realization that her hair is in fact, not brown. It's a bright red color. I wash it again after detangling it most of the way, then finish detangling it.
But, after nearly an hour & a half, we all come walking out of the bathroom. My arm around the girl's waist as we lead her back to the kitchen and sit her down at the table. Almost immediately, she pulls her knees up to her chest and hugs them there.
I grab a chair and bring it over beside her, sitting down and gently rubbing her back. I look at Fletcher who meets my gaze and sighs, coming over with a bowl of chicken soup and some bread, "This should be easy for her to digest." He says quietly.
No one speaks. Everyone is shocked speechless, I suppose. I mean what do we say? What COULD we say?
The girl slowly tilts her head up to look at Fletcher, but doesn't say anything. She makes no moves to try and eat, either.
"You can eat." he tells her gently, gesturing to the steaming bowl of soup.
She slowly looks back down at the soup, but otherwise, doesn't move.
"She's been like this the whole time." Michelle whispers, shaking her head. "Like… a zombie."
Zeno comes over and gestures for Fletcher to give him room. He moves aside and Zeno crouches down beside her chair, "Can you tell me your name?" he asks her.
She doesn't answer and we all exchange glances.
"My name is Zeno." He tries again, "Is there a reason why you won't eat?" He asks, his words soft and gentle.
A single tear rolls down her cheek & my heart shatters. Michelle looks away squeezing her eyes shut & covering her mouth.
"No one is gonna hurt you here. Go ahead. This bowl is yours." he says moving it a little closer to her, "You are hungry, right?"
To my surprise, she gives him a tiny, jerky nod.
"Are you scared we've done something to it?" He asks, tilting his head slightly to the side. The new scar on his face is shown off a little with the movement. It still looked like it was healing, but now it was just a healing pink scar. There was almost no scabbing left anymore.
She gives another tiny nod.
Without any hesitation, I reach out, snatch the spoon, scoop up some broth and bring it to my lips, taking a sip.
She gasps quietly, her eyes snapping to me with shock as she watches me sip it down and swallow. "Delicious." I say.
A silent moment passes as everyone throws glares at me & I put the spoon back, but she barely waits another second before snatching it up and eating like a mad woman. Slurping and shoveling it in.
"Whoa!" I gasp.
"Hey, hey, take it easy." Zeno whispers, gently grabbing her wrist and making her flinch so violently she nearly drops her spoon. Falling completely still.
"Zeno." Michelle warns.
He ignores her, speaking only to the girl, "No one's gonna take your food, okay? It's yours. But, if you don't slow down, you're gonna choke. No one wants that. Right?"
She hesitates, but nods and he slowly lets go of her, allowing her to continue eating. At a much more reasonable, but still fast pace.
"Why hasn't she said anything?" Michelle quietly asks, her voice breaking with concern.
"Could be the trauma." Fletcher suggests.
Zeno nods, "Sometimes the mind shuts down to protect itself. And sometimes that means no speaking." He explains.
"Will she ever speak?" Noah asks, with red-rimmed eyes, standing by the door with Beth like they just got done crying together. His hands nervously wringing at each other.
Fletcher immediately breaks off the group to go to his side, giving him a hug, "I don't know, Noah." He says.
Michelle gets herself together enough to ask, "Can she still enchant?"
I throw her a glare, "*That's* what you're worried about?" I demand, turning on her, "Are you serious right now?"
"Hey, hey, don't bite my head off, Quinn. I'm just saying. With the shit we've been fighting we're gonna be fucked. Pardon my french. You're out of enchantments. I've never *had* any enchantments to begin with. You're still injured, Zeno is still injured & we still have *no idea* what's coming for us." She says, gesturing between each person with desperation as she speaks.
"Not to mention we just pissed off DMHS." Zeno adds.
"And we're running out of room here." Fletcher feels the need to add.
My chest tightens. It was too damn much! I look over at them & realize that they're all looking at me, "What?" I demand
All eyes turn to Fletcher second & he sighs, "You've been good at ideas." He sets with a shrug.
"You mean the ones that crash & burn? & nearly get my mother killed?" I demand. Then my stomach sinks as I see the looks on their faces, "Nevermind." I spit out angrily, "Just-" I sigh, pinching the bridge of my nose, "I just-I need sleep." I groan.
Fletcher nods. "Sure. Head upstairs. Me & Zeno got stuff covered for a bit, okay?" He says, placing a hand on my shoulder.
I nod, taking a deep breath, "Yeah. Yeah, okay."