Im Psychologically Delusional

I notice a lot of stares coming from every direction walking through the building. Simon grabs a cart and rolls it in front of me suggesting I push it. They both walk on either side of me. I try to ignore the attention I’m getting. We’re only here to get food, not put on a show.

“No need to rush luv, no one’s gonna bother ya.” Simon assured me, noticing my anxiety. I haven’t been in public in 20 years so this is new for me.

“Right, right.” I say darting my eyes in every direction.

We go down every isle and eventually Simon decides he forgot to grab something a few rows back.

“I’ll be right back I have to grab coffee grounds. Keep shopping.” Then he turns the isle and disappears.

I look up and down at shelves trying to remember what meals even are. The best thing I had while being captive was a sandwich like twice. Other than that, oatmeal or broth if I even got to eat.

König stops to look at the other side of the isle we’re in, not quite sure what he’s wanting. I push the cart up to the end of the isle not paying attention to König. I’m just so distracted from shopping I forget he’s with me.

As soon as I turn around to find him, a pair of arms wrap around me, one around my torso, the other around my mouth. A cloth in whoever’s hand it is. A rank smell coming from the cloth but I breathe it in from panic and startle. A headache rolls over the top of my head and my body goes limp. I’ve been kidnapped again.

The cart sits there with no one behind it. Half full of groceries that I’ll probably never eat. König finally pulls his item off the shelf giving it one last look before heading back to Clover. Clover. Clover, where is she? The cart. It’s still there but where is Clover?

A hot wave of fear hits König and almost stops his heart. He paces fast to the end of the isle looking down both ways for Clover. Maybe she went with Simon? Yeah. That’s what it was. She’s with Simon. That’s the only logical answer.

About that time, Simon comes back to the cart, König standing in front of it staring at him frozen, not seeing Clover with him.

It’s the first thing Simon notices. He drops his items and runs up to König.

“Where is she? Where is Clover, mate? Well? What are you doin? Where did she go?!” He grabs König’s face shaking him to answer. He’s still frozen in fear. Imaging the worst things that could have happened to her within the 20 seconds he wasn’t looking at her.

König finally unfreezes and relaxes his body in acceptance. “I don’t know. I turned around for 20 seconds to grab something and when I turned around, she was gone.” He mumbles. I… I thought she went with you.” He continues, looking at the cart.

“Well she’s obviously not with me.” He snarls loudly, pissed off. “Cmon. Fuck these bloody groceries. Let’s go we’re wasting time.” He snaps.

“Ghost, I-“

“It’s alright mate, we’ll find her. Just focus.”

Ghost takes outside the store front and König looks down the isles asking an employee if he’s seen anything.

“I saw a girl being carried out with a man. She looked sleeping? Possibly passed out. I’m sorry sir I don’t know anything else.” The young cashier says.

“And you let it go?!” König runs outside the store spotting Ghost in the middle of the parking lot with his hands on his head in a panic looking in every direction for any sign of Clover.

“Ghost.” König starts. “Ghost she’s gone. They took her. Someone took her.”

He runs up to König aggressively pushing him and grabbing his vest shaking him.

“20 seconds! That’s all it took! 20 seconds! 20 seconds and she’s gone! Just like that! Because you didn’t look for 20 seconds!” Simon begins to tear up backing away from König and averting his soft gaze.

Even though Simon is showing more emotion, König is the one who’s more hurt. She was his little maus and now she’s gone because he wasn’t with her. But she walked away without thought. Who’s really to blame?

A white ceiling. Cold air. Bright lights. The smell of latex. An eerie buzzing from a distance. It was all too familiar. As Clover woke up, she wasn’t in disbelief or denial. She knew exactly where she was.

“Hello?” Restraints. I can’t even move. Where is everyone? Where am I? Why am I here?

A sound of footsteps come closer. “Hi. You must be the famous Clover Aesahaettr.” The man in a white lab coat says with a grin. “I’m Doctor Sterling. I’ll be running your tests for now.”

For now? What does he mean by that? How long am I gonna be here?

“Who are you? What am I doing here? What is all this? Why am I restrained?” I ask tugging hard on my cuffs connected to the hospital bed.

“I know you have a lot of questions. I’ll answer them all. Just know you’re safe here.” He insists. But I don’t believe it.

He’s a handsome man. Mid thirties, blonde short hair and light blue eyes. He has a baby face and no beard or mustache making him look younger yet professional.

“How am I safe here if I’m chained up?” I spit.

“That’s for our protection. It’s just in case you get any ideas before knowing why you’re here.” He says calmly.

“Okay then. Lay it on me.” I side eye him.

He walks over and sits on a chair at the end of the bed. “Clover, you’re a very special girl. One in 8 billion to say the least. You survived this virus. This female killing virus somehow. We just want to know how that’s possible. You shouldn’t be alive yet here you are.”

I interrupt him. “I never had the virus.” I lie. “I’m sure if I do then I would be dead.” I roll my eyes still annoyed by the chains. They must know about my abilities.

“Those men with you. Who were they?” He changes the subject.

“My boyfriends.” I play, curling one side of my mouth into a sarcastic smile.

“Simon Riley and König. Those two have the highest murder rates in the black operations in America and other countries. What business could you possibly be doing with them?”

He knows their names. I play it cool. “Fine. They’re my body guards. I hired them.” I roll my eyes again.

“Well they don’t do a very good job. The skeleton face left you alone with the big dumb one. It just took a few seconds without him looking before we had you.” He says mockingly, laughing.

“So what do you plan on doing with me? “I want out of these cuffs. They hurt.” I hiss, not breaking my eye contact with Dr. Sterling.

“We just need some blood samples, then you’re free to go.” He says, rolling away on the chair.

“And how long is that going to take?” I hiss again, quite sure of what his answer will be.

“As long as we need.” He walks out of the room and shuts the door.

Dammit… I knew he was going to say that. I wonder if they know I have powers. I need a plan.

König and Simon go back into the store and ask the manager to see the camera footage to see who took Clover. To see what happened. The manager fast forwards to the incident then plays the tape.

The footage quality isn’t the best but they can still see the make and model of the van and which direction it went with the license plate “DR925”.

I finish my breakfast/lunch. It’s the best meal I’ve had in years. Still exhausted, I lay back on the couch hoping for no interruptions like last night.

“Still tired maus?” König asks, sitting at the other end of the sectional.

“Mhm.” I murmur, clearly debilitated still. I haven’t tried on any of the new clothes Simon brought home for me so I’m still wearing this overly large T-shirt. “Just 5 minutes please.” I beg from König.

What seems like hours later, I finally awake. Sitting up in a frantic, gasping for air as if I were having a panic attack, König gets up, hasting toward my direction frightening me even more.

“Maus! It’s okay I’m here. It’s me, it’s König. I’m right here. Are you okay?” I back up further against the arm of the couch, hyperventilating still reminiscing the nightmare I just had.

“I’m okay I’m okay. I’m sorry I didn’t mean to scare you.” I say. I keep averting my eyes from König while he holds my arm tight kneeling in front of me on the floor. “I had a nightmare and then you were right there and I forgot you were there and-“ he cuts me off.

“It’s alright maus. I’m not offended. You’ll be okay. You’re okay. I’ve got you now.” He grabs my head and pulls me into his chest as I start to sob. I may have these nightmares for the rest of my life. And if that means being comforted by this hulking man, then I’m okay with that.

After a moment, he dries my tears and encourages a shower and change of clothes, offering to take me out on the town.

“Alright let’s go.” I say, walking down the hall confidently.

“Slow down girl, we’re waiting for Simon.” König stands up, watching me prance toward him.

“You like my shoes? They’re actually my size. Simon actually got my size right. In everything he bought. Hopefully I can gain some weight though. I’m a stick right now.” I go on.

“Yes. I like your shoes.” Simon walks out of his room closing the door behind him. “Now let’s go.”

I follow them out to the truck. I haven’t been in it yet but it’s lifted and I can tell it’s going to be a struggle to get in.

“Backseat for you miss.” Simon insists, motioning the back door after opening it for me. I try my best to climb in, failing the first two times. I can almost hear Simon’s eye roll.

“So why are you guys in full gear? It’s just the city. I thought you were off work for a week.” I say out of thought.

Simon starts, “I told you luv, the world is different now. It’s not so kind out here and it’s easier to protect you if we’re protected too.”

“Yeah but, I told you I would protect you if you protect me. Remember?” I retort with a slight grin.

“Listen. Next week when we both get back to work, we have to get a shot. It’s like a flu shot but for something else. There’s going to be a bit of a change from us.” Simon says.

“Something else? A change? What does that even mean? A flu shot is a flu shot it’s not ‘something else’.”

“What he means is… it’s a bioengineered chemical that makes us bigger, stronger, faster, more durable. It’s in our contract. We have to take it.” König adds.

“So are you trying to tell me something? Am I supposed to be scared? I mean what’s this have to do with me? You guys are being weird.” I roll my eyes and sit back against the seat, feeling like this truck is bigger than the ones I’m used to from before I was captured.

“I’m not sure how else to explain it. Our first one was 10 years ago. Our third, 5 years and this will be the last one. Hopefully.” König says back turning and gazing me from the passenger seat.

Nothing but silence for a few minutes. My mind racing, thinking and processing. Creating conspiracies and ideas until…

“What’s it made of?” I ask under my breath.

“What?” Simon asks.

“What. is in. the shot?” I ask louder, sounding impatient.

“We’re not sure. We’re not allowed to know.” He answers.

“Does it heal you?” I ask under my breath again, leaning forward with my head against the back of the drivers seat.

“Does it heal us? From what? Like… wounds? Diseases you mean?…” König asks. I can feel they’re both starting to get nervous. Maybe from the unknown, or maybe because of my tone.

“Yes, from everything. Did it heal you before?” I ask one more time.

“Yes they both did, why you keep askin’?” Simon sounds a bit annoyed but I keep pushing.

“I know what they put in you guys. I know what’s in those doses.” I tear up realizing that my conspiracies may actually be the truth.

“Oh yeah and what do you think that would be?” Simon asks with a bit of a facetious laugh.

“My blood.” I say leaning back against the seat once more looking up at the ceiling tears flowing from my eyes. After saying it out loud, I feel silly but I know that’s what it is. My blood. All those years of captivity. All those men in lab coats stealing my blood. All the vacations and new things my captor had. He was getting paid for my blood.

Silence from them both for what seemed like forever. All I hear is a the faint radio playing a song I’ve never heard, Simon tapping the steering wheel and my own heart pounding in my ears anticipating a response from one of them.

“How did you come to that conclusion?” Simon asks serious this time.

“My kidnapper was trafficking me. Not only for my body, but my blood. I told you I’m magic. He made money off me in many ways. I was supposed to die. You guys were never meant to find me and rescue me.” I trail off breaking into a real cry. König reaches back and puts his massive hand on my lower thigh.

“It’s alight Clover. You’re here now with us. You don’t have to fret about that life anymore.” He frowns.

“I know I know. I appreciate it. But I’ll never forget. And now there’s more to the story than I thought.”

“Elaborate please.” Simon sighs.

“20 years ago I was being followed. Leaving my old place of work because I knew what they were doing was wrong. I lived in California and worked at one of the biggest research facilities in the US as an assistant to get through college. I found out some stuff and wanted to break my contract but someone found out where I was heading and hired someone to follow me. The guy who kidnapped me never returned me to the facility. He kept me for himself and sold parts of me to lab coats and traffickers. I was constantly drugged to keep weak and quiet. I could never leave and lost hope. Until you guys found me.” I say this averting my eyes from them both, looking down at my feet.

They both look at each other then Simon pulls over into a parking lot in front of what looks like a grocery store. He gets out and walks to my door opening it but not letting me out yet. He hugs me really tight, my feet dangling off the ground.

“I’m so sorry all this has happened to you sweetheart.” He says.

König comes around too. “I’m alright guys really. But I know it’s my blood they’re using to alter y’all’s DNA. I already know there’s nothing I can do about it so I’ll just let it go.” I plead to them both. Simon sets me on the ground.

König kneels on the ground to be eye level with me. He grabs my hand. “We’ll still be the same old grumpy men you know now. We’ll be taller and bigger, but it won’t cause us to hurt you. I promise. And if something does happen, we both give you full permission to go big on us and squash us.” He creeps a smile but tries to hold it back after making me laugh.

This one is a bit long and I rushed through it but I feel like I should explain the story since I haven’t yet- Clover Aesahaettr is an extraordinary girl. She has discovered she has some kind of genetically modified body that absorbs magic giving her powers that she accumulated from the XX virus. The XX virus only kills females hence the name. Set in the future(2046) It was created by the one world order which is beginning to collapse. Suddenly rescued and tied to the fate of Simon Ghost Riley and König and later their friends, she needs their help getting humanity back in order now matter what it takes.

(I’m not an experienced writer so bear with me on my dumbed down vocab and loss of details. So pls if u have any questions or need an explanation for something don’t be afraid to ask. It’ll help me write in the future! :)

“We need to talk.” Simon begins, walking to the other side of the island in the kitchen to face me.

“So talk.” I say eating a fry darting my eyes left and right.

“We need rules and boundaries for you. You live here now but you can’t just go running amuck doin’ what ya want.” He says sternly. Everything he says is stern.

I roll my eyes. “What do you think I’m gonna do? Just hoot and holler and let everyone know who and where I am?” I lean on the counter with an elbow and rest my chin in my hand already annoyed.

“All I ask is just clean up after yourself and keep quiet. Oh and you can’t leave this house without at least one of us. We have to protect you.” He continues.

“I can protect myself.” I retort. “I don’t need you guys following me around and stalking everything I do. I appreciate the hospitality here, but I’m not going to be chained up again. Physically, nor metaphorically.” I say rudely.

“You can heal, but how is that protecting yourself? You’re not going to scare anyone off by doing that.” He fights back, looking more and more agitated as our conversation goes.

“I can do more than heal.” Then König cuts me off for backup.

“Clover can do more than heal Simon. She can grow and shrink.” He pleads sternly.

“Prove it. Show me you can be trusted alone. I still don’t think it’s a good idea and König, you’re supposed to be on my side. See my point of view.” Simon retorts crossing his arm over his chest.

I’m seriously considering showing- proving that I can grow and shrink, but I haven’t done it in so long that if I mess up and embarrass myself, Simon will never let me leave here at all. Keeping eye contact I stand up, throw a single fry back into the to go plate and walk into the open space of the living room.

“Keep your distance. I don’t want either of you to freak out and step on me somehow.” I say rolling my eye.

I take a slow, deep breath, then focus and exhale, closing my eyes, and repeating the steps I took long ago to shrink. I feel a bit dizzy during the transition but that’s a good thing. That means it worked.

I open my eyes and all I see is the grey sectional couch from the floor’s height and both König and Simon step closer, peering over the back of the couch to look for me.

“Where’d she go?” Simon asks looking at König with wide eyes.

“I told you she could shrink! We best stay back and wait for her permission to come close.”

I walk around the end of the couch nearing König’s boot. I tilt my head all the way back to look at him and Simon. They’re still looking over the couch for me and still not moving their spots.

“Aww, you guys didn’t crush me. How sweet!” I yell up at them both sarcastically. They both snap their heads down in my direction at the same time and spot me right away, my dark shirt against the contrast of the white carpet.

Simon and König both get down on their hands and knees and into a prone position to see me better. They both are wide eyed like they’ve never seen a person shrink right before their eyes. Oh wait. They haven’t.

“You weren’t bloody joking.” Simon says wide eyed still. Him and König are both lying on their stomachs with their arms folded in front of them like two kids watching an ant carry a tiny piece of food. It’s quite adorable and I take a mental picture.

“You’re so tiny. You’re like… the size of my pinky.” König carefully lowers his hand next to me and sizes his pinky right next to my body for comparison.

“Well… smaller than my pinky actually.” I laugh at his observation.

“Yeah I get it, I’m small. And like I said, I can grow too but I’m definitely not doing that inside, or during the day.” I tell them both.

“It’s alright luv, I believe you now, but it’s still not safe for you to go in public. Especially off base without one of us. Using your power to escape a situation will just cause a scene and more eyes and more attention. I’m trying to keep you hidden from pervs and murderers who hate woman.”

König moves back before getting up and standing behind Simon while Simon still lectures me as I’m still this size. He continues, sliding closer and cupping his hands around me but not touching my body.

“Look Clover. This world is different. You’ve been gone so long, you’re not understanding how dangerous it is out there now. The second you are caught, freeze up and can’t use your powers, you’ll be gone in an instant and I can’t handle thinking about what could happen to you.” He says, tears forming in his eyes and voice getting shaken.

Why is me leaving affecting him so much? He doesn’t even know me and didn’t even want to hug me back. I think about it to myself in a disgusted way. Why is he acting like he cares all of the sudden.

I look around, feeing like a child being scolded by her parents. I eye one of his hands and turn around and sit on the edge of his palm. He jerks his head back a bit in surprise then tilts it to the side waiting for and argument back from me.

“You’re right.” I say running my hand along his. “I’ll respect your judgment and rules because it’s better than risking everything after you guys both risked everything to save me and I’m not going to waste that.” I say looking down at my feet swinging off the side of this hand.

I feel defeated and submissive under them both. But Simon is right. I can’t risk being caught by another vile person ever again.

“I promise maus, we’re not going to let anything happen to you as long as we’re around.” König adds in after hearing Simon’s spiel.

“Simon…” I say as if about to ask him something.

“What is it luv?” He asks with his full attention on me. König goes back to eating and ripping tags off of all the clothes for me.

“Why did you look sad?” I ask staring into his eyes, forcing him to keep eye contact with me.

“Sad when?” He asks tilting his head to the side.

“I’m not blind. And being this small, I can see the smaller details in life much easier. I saw tears forming. So what’s wrong?” I ask more concerned. He sighs heavy then begins:

“I had a wife and two daughters. They were younger than you. Well… way younger than you. The virus caught them years ago and death took them away from me.” He looks away and pauses then comes back.

“When I first saw you I was surprised you were a female. Then I started to resent you because somehow you were still alive miraculously and not my wife and children. But then after you hugged me, I knew I was wrong for feeling that way and it all changed in a matter of seconds. And now I vow to protect you with my life since I failed my family.”

Simon hangs his head down and rests on the carpet face down in some kind of surrender. I can hear him trying to choke back tears.

“I hear you. Simon. And I know exactly what you’re feeling. And you already know I’m going to tell you that this isn’t your fault and you know that. There is nothing that you could have done to prevent what happened to your family.”

I walk up to him and put my hand on his forehead and run my fingers through his hair, leaning my whole body into him as if trying to give a tiny hug. It’s strange seeing a man so vulnerable at this size.

I pace backwards and grow back to my normal size, crawl around to his side and give him a hug around his chest from behind while he still lays covering his face. I rub the side of his head and brush nonexistent hair out of his eyes.

I try not to read his mind because it’s painful for me physically, so I just let his emotions flow through me to ease some mental pain.

The next morning I wake up looking for the alarm clock. 11:49AM. I roll over and see König is still there. Laying. Next to me. He’s facing the window I snuck in last night with his back to me.

It’s cold in his room. And I don’t have any warm clothes. I must be feeling either super brave or just cold enough to scoot close to him for some body heat. He’s big and surely has enough to share.

I press the whole front of my body against his back in a big spoon position and put my arm around his ribs pulling the blanket back up for maximum heat.

He doesn’t move but it still feels a bit strange. He owes me for his tripping and falling last night.

“Maus, your skin feels so cold. Like ice.” whispers. I jolt back thinking he was still asleep. He grab my hand and pulls me back in draping his arm over mine and grabs my hand placing it against his chest.

“I’ll warm you up, don’t worry. Sorry we keep it cold. It helps us wake up in the morning.” He continues.

“I’m not trying to be a perv, is this okay? I’m shaking it so cold and I don’t want to get up. I thought I would try using you as a heater instead of messing with the temp dial.” I explain. He’s so tall my sock covered feet don’t even reach his knees in this position.

“It’s alright. You can use my body for a heater whenever you like Clover.” I love when he says my name. But I also like when he uses German words in place of my name. I wonder what Simon is doing.

“Can we lay like this all day?” I ask jokingly. I scoot back a few inches and graze my nails along König’s spine feeling him quiver each time I get close to the small of his back. There is no squishy on him. Hes rock hard muscle everywhere.

“I thought you were hungry.” He says snidely.

“And I thought you had work.” I retort, sitting up and making my way off the bed.

“Wait maus.” I pause. “Come back. Keep doing what you were doing. Please. It felt nice.” He says still laying in the same position but turning his head to see me.

“You liked that, huh?” I ask with a smirk. I come back to where I was before stroking his back alternating between my nails and hand and even sliding up to the back of his head.

“Five more minutes then we need to get up before my stomach eats itself and then I don’t have one anymore. It’ll just be esophagus straight to intestines.” I say dramatically.

“I have to ask you something maus.” König begins. “You can heal people, as well as yourself. What else can you do? If you don’t mind me asking.”

“I can do a few things. I’m not really supposed to tell you but I trust that you and Simon aren’t out to get me so… I can size shift, and I can sometimes read minds. Also my sense of smell and hearing is crazy good but I never use it because everything is overwhelming most of the time.” I tell him this while still behind him. He really likes a good back rub.

“Size shifting? I’m guessing that means you can grow or shrink. One or the other? He asks.

“Both. I can grow and shrink but I’ve been so weak I haven’t been able to do it for a long time.” I say.

“Why didn’t you just grow or shrink to get away from that man?” He asks, starting to turn around and sit up.

“I know it seems easy but he threatened my family. I gave my life for theirs. Even if he was bluffing. I wasn’t sure. He never touched me so I could never read his mind to find out but his friends and others came and did his dirty work.” I say looking away from him. “Oh shit. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to say some of that.” I say with an awkward frown.

“Look maus, Clover I mean… you can talk to me about anything. I promise I cannot judge you. You are our friend and important to us both now and I want you to feel comfortable with your feelings. I know i must sound corny but-“ I cut him off.

“König. I get it. I told you I trust you. But I don’t want you to think I’m desperate or throwing a pity party. I appreciate your words.” I beg.

He watches me pace the room waiting for permission to leave and head for the kitchen. Yearning for the one thing I’ve been waiting for for the past two days. FOOD.

König looks at his phone then back at me. “I guess Simon went to get takeout.”

“Takeout for breakfast?” I ask making a face.

“It’s 12:30pm. You missed breakfast.” He says getting up and heading for the kitchen. My first instinct is the bathroom. I pee, wash my hands and brush my teeth with the new toothbrush that magically appeared on the counter.

As soon as I get to the kitchen, the side door that connects to the garage opens and Simon walks in with a bag of takeout, some other bags with clothing brand names on them and no mask or headgear. He’s in civilian clothes. This is the first time Ive seen his face. He’s also blonde with a lot of scars on the side of his face and dark hazel eyes.

It’s hard not to stare but the daylight is making everything so clear. This is the first time I’ve seen them both without uniforms and I hope it’s not the last. They’re both so good looking.

“I got you some new clothes. I’m sure you don’t want to wear my dead wife’s clothes that are too big for you anyway. I assumed your size. A medium?” He asks pulling clothes out of the bags.

“I’m hungry.” I say. “Oh I’m sorry meant yeah I wear a medium or small and 6 1/2 in shoes. Thank you Simon, that was respectable of you. I appreciate it so much.” He looks down with a lifted brow at me as I swoop around the corner and hug his waist. He doesn’t hug me back and it didn’t go unnoticed by me.

“I’m not letting go until I get one back.” I hiss. He reluctantly gives one back.

“I got you food. Eat whatever you want. And you’re welcome for the clothes. Also, you don’t have to show physical affection as a thank you. The words will suffice.” He says glancing at König.

We head back to the house. Simon and I walk around to the front of the house while König goes inside to open the window for me to sneak in.

“So I have to stay in here all night? What if I have to pee?” I ask Simon.

“Sorry luv. I think you’ll be alright. If you really have to go you can piss in König’s mouth. I’m sure he’ll love that.” He smirks then heads back into the house from the back door.

König opens the window and pulls me up by my wrists in through the pane. The plastic of the sill scrapes my thighs and knees so I wrap my arms around his neck for better support.

As he steps back to pull me the rest of the way in, he trips backwards and we both fall onto the floor, my arm still wrapped around the back of his neck. I’m so close to his face and just realized he’s not wearing his head gear. He must have taken it off before he opened the window.

I’m still weak from being locked away for years so his heavy head has my arms pinned under him. While in the moment, I notice he has piercing blue eyes and a blonde buzzcut. He has a somewhat sadness in his eyes.

“Oh I’m sorry I uhh…” he starts. I can feel his heart pounding against my stomach and shaky breath on my face.

“My arms are stuck. Can you get up please now…” I sound more demanding than asking. It was intimidating being that close to his face. He’s a beautiful man and his facial harmony would turn heads. Why does he wear a mask outside of work?

He gets up grabbing my upper arms helping me up at the same time.

“Sorry I must have tripped on something.” He says backing up to sit on the bed.

I turn around and look for what he was talking about.

“Oh, you mean the air?” I say with a straight face. He laughs under his breath and looks away.

“Something like that.” He says.

“So I guess you’re stuck in here with me. Unless you’re going to go hang out with your friends too.” I make my way over to his dresser and look at his things to hide the awkwardness. Some perfume, a couple family photos, a pair of square stud earrings and watch.

“No. Those are not my friends. Those are Simon’s friends. Well… coworkers. But they are all we know. I have my own friends who are also my coworkers. But I don’t see them much.” He tells me, averting my gaze again.

“Well, I’m your friend. And I’ll be here all the time.” I turn around and smile really big almost sarcastically.

“Then that’s enough for me.” König smiles back. He has a beautiful smile as well. It seems to reel me in and I freeze forgetting what we were talking about.

“Hey so I really need to get to sleep. It’s like 2pm and sleeping would be a good alternative to feeling these constant hunger pangs.” I say walking over to the other side of the bed.

“You’re hungry? I didn’t even think about that. I’m sorry. I can make you something before you sleep.”He begs.

“No really it’s fine. I can wait till morning. I just really want some shuteye. Please.” I insist. I start pulling down his blankets and crawl under them laying on my stomach facing away from him. He turns the light off and comes back to sit in the same spot he was in before.

“Liebling…” I repeat under my breathe. “What does that mean?” I ask König.

“It means darling in German. I apologize but I haven’t learned your name yet my dear.” He looks down at me with a soft expression.

“Oh… im so sorry I haven’t even told you guys my name.” I roll my eyes in more embarrassment. “It’s Clover. Like a four leaf clover? Clover Aesahaettr.”

“That’s a pretty name Clover.” König says playing with the pocket flap on his thigh. “Listen Clover… the world is a lot different than it was… 20 years ago.” He continues.

“Looks like you got a lot of catchin’ up yeah?” Ghost says from the front. “Don’t worry we’re almost home and you can watch the news channel.” He laughs.

I didn’t bring anything with me when I escaped. I didn’t have anything anyway. Everything I ever owned, my car, phone, pictures, clothes. All gone. As if I don’t exist. It’s better to keep it that way though.

Another few minutes of driving and we stop at the entrance to the base. An old abandoned marine base that the black operations team took over. It’s thriving. Almost as if it’s its own city.

When we arrive to König and Ghost’s home, he lets us out of the back and walks to the front door unlocking it and holding it open gesturing me to come inside quickly.

“Cmon now mustn’t let anyone see you luv.” He insists. I walk in with just my T-shirt which is all I own.

“Head for the shower. On the left down the hall. I’ll fetch you some clean cloths I kept from my late wife.”

It’s a little past midnight and I head for the couch after my shower. The clothes smell old and are a couple sizes too big. The house is pretty quiet. Exhausted, I throw myself onto the couch resting my eyes waiting for any potential instructions from Ghost or König.

“If you’d like, you can sleep in my bed.” König comes out of a near bedroom and walks toward me before sitting on the other end of the sectional.

“Oh no. It’s alright. This is good enough for me.” I insist. He looks at the floor and sighs.

“I’m sorry about what you’ve been through. Simon and I are here for whatever you need. Don’t be afraid of us.” He forms somewhat of a corner grin and heads back to the room he came out of closing the door behind him.

“Simon.” I whisper to myself. I’m guessing that’s Ghosts real name. I haven’t seen him since we got here.

I’m tired, exhausted, and still hungry I decide rest comes first. I lay facing the back of the couch and drift off.

Suddenly I wake up to a knock at the door. Fuck, who could be here this late? It’s still dark out. The pale faced man. He found me. I look around for an escape, a door, window, something. There’s a back door.

I tiptoe to the back door as fast as I can and unlock it, closing it behind myself quietly and limp away without looking behind me.

Simon opens the front door. Outside were a group of guys. Three of them all carrying a case of beer each. Lights start to turn on around the living room and König comes out of his room asking where Clover is.

“We’re supposed to keep her a secret König. What’s the matter? I’ve got friends over.” He demands.

“She was sleeping on the couch. Where is she and why did you think tonight out of all nights would be a good idea to have your friends over? It’s a Wednesday.” König retorts back.

“What ya mean couch? I thought she would be in your room.” He rubs his face with one hand in irritation.

“She was asleep on the couch and now she’s not here. The door knock must have frightened her and she left out the back door.” Sure enough the back door was unlocked whereas it wasn’t before.

“You’ll have to excuse us for a moment lads.” Simon tells his friends and both him and König step outside.

I haven’t gotten very far. All I know is to keep a safe distance but close enough to not get lost here. I can hear my name being called. I recognize those two accents anywhere. Is it a trick? How can I be sure if I don’t go back to them.

“I’m right here.” I pant from limping back toward the house as fast as I can. They both run up to me grabbing my shoulders.

“Why do you run maus? No one will hurt you. I said you could trust us.” König kneels down and pulls me in for a hug. It was awkward but it felt nice. I could feel his heart pounding through his chest to mine.

“I heard knocking I thought it was-“

“You thought it was your kidnapper.” Simon finished. He kneels down too. I’m so much shorter than both of them but this way we’re at eye level.

“I’m sorry. But yeah, I did. Who was it?” I ask.

“It’s a few of my friends. I forgot they were coming by late tonight. Late so it would give you more time to hide yourself. I didn’t tell König because I don’t expect you lass to be here. I do apologize.” Simon sounds unbothered. As if he was annoyed rather than worried.

“I’m tired and I want to go back to sleep. Now where will I sleep?” I ask Simon.

König sets me down on a bench in the back of the van closing the back doors in on us. He sits across from me and doesn’t say a word. He’s wearing what looks like a gallows hood mixed with military gear.

The other man that was with him is in the driver seat. We drive off.

I’m free. It’s all I could think about. How long I’ve been there, what’s the date, what food I’ll eat next. And also, where I’ll go, where I’ll live, and how I’ll break this news to my family.

Minutes pass by and still no words from either of them. I’m shaking. Cold, weak, hungry. Still in shock I suppose. Everything you would expect.

“You’re bleeding.” I tell König wide eyeing his thigh.

“I’m aware.” He says staring down at me. He’s a really big guy. Probably around 7 feet.

“I can help you with that.” I say. It looks like a gash that was recent.

“Don’t bother.” He chimes. “I’ll get it looked at when we get to the infirmary on base.” He looks away toward the other man’s direction.

“Ghost, how far out from base are we?” He asks looking back at me. Ghost. His name is… Ghost? I can work with that.

“Bout 10 miles out. Can’t you dress it before we get there so you lot don’t pass out? I’m not carrying your big ass if you do.” Ghost says with a serious tone.

I watch them bicker back and forth but I can tell König is stubborn. While he’s not paying attention I lick my hand, reach out, and place it above his knee where the gash is. He jolts and snaps his head back in my direction.

“What are you doing?” He asks perturbed.

“I told you I can help. I was serious and you weren’t going to do anything so I did. Besides. You saved me so I owe you.” I retort embarrassed. “I’m sorry. I’ll ask next time.”

He looks down and the open wound is gone. All that’s left is dried blood that already left his body.

“You healed me? How did you do that? How is that possible?” He asks eyes darting between me and his thigh were the wound used to be.

“My saliva and blood has healing properties.” I say, averting my gaze from his. I feel awkward just touching him with no permission already.

“Thank you. I- I- I didn’t know that was possible. I didn’t know that was a thing.” He stutters. Ghost has no idea what just went down. He’s too busy driving over gravel terrain.

“Ghost, she healed me!” He shouts up the front seat.

“What ya mean she healed ya? Like… magic?” Ghost asks. He continuously tries to turn his head long enough to see what’s going on between me and König in the back while he’s still driving.

“It’s not magic. Well… I’m not sure if it is. It might be. I’ve been able to do this since about 2013. When I was 14.” I tell them both.

“2013?” They both say simultaneously. “That doesn’t make sense.” Ghost says. “If you were 14 in 2013, then that would make you latter 40s and you don’t look a day over 25.” He continues. Before I can say anything…

“How long have you been in that house? I’m sorry I’m not trying to bring it up but we probably should know these things.” König asks.

“I’m not sure.” I answer. “More than a few years I suppose.” I really don’t know. I’m not lying to them. There’s no reason to. “Wait. What year is it? What’s today’s date?” I ask them both.

“It’s July 18th 2046. It’s Wednesday.” Ghost replies from the front seat. My body turns cold and I can feel blood rushing out of my face. “20 years. I’ve been there 20 years.” I whisper. König still heard me.

“20 years? How is that possible? You have no signs of aging!” He tries to get me to make eye contact but I’m frozen, bringing in every thought every possibility. Maybe he’s lying. Maybe he said the wrong year on accident. Maybe he is telling the truth and I really have been out of society that long.

“I was 26 when I was captured. I was driving from California to Florida to start a new life. I used to work as an aide at a research facility but subconsciously I knew their work was immoral and I left. I started hearing about the virus killing off females and I wanted to get back home to my parents as soon as possible. But I never made it.” I drop my head into my hands and choke back tears trying not to show weakness in front of these two brutes.

König leans forward and lays a hand on my shoulder giving me a light squeeze for my attention. “It’s alright maus. You’re with us now. You’re free.

“Where an I gonna go? It’s been 20 years my parents are surely dead and I have no siblings or cousins. I’ve always been on my own.

I can see Ghost turn his head back toward us and give König a strange look. Only something König would know what that look means.

“Are you sure?” König asks allowed. I dart my eyes between them as if trying to hear their telepathic thoughts. König is quiet for a moment possibly thinking about what Ghost’s look means to him.

It’s dark outside. Hard for me to sleep every night, hoping to be saved and only holding onto that hair width of hope. The house is never this quiet. Tonight is different. My kidnapper is out of town and I’m still chained to the wall in the back bedroom, weak and hungry with no thoughts of surviving these next four days alone.

Hours go by after sundown, no clocks that tell time, no access to food or even the toilet. I lay on the hard floor next to the twin size bed and sob.

A flash of a headlight passed the wall above me. Back so soon? He said four days… it’s early. At least I’m not alone now.

A knock at the door. He’s knocking? This has to be a test. I lay and don’t move knowing better than to make a scene and then pay for it when he walks in the door. Nothing. The knocking stopped and never came back. I wobble my weak legs trying to stand to look out of the window behind me.

A white van. My kidnapper- the pale face man- I never learned his name- has a truck. Not a van. Who’s out there and what do they want? No one knows I’m here. This is BFE.

I hear multiple voices circling the house along with flashing lights. Some shouting, some loud whispers. The window is thin enough to make out some words. I’m afraid to show myself so I lay back down.

I’ve been here for years. I stopped keeping track around the second month of my unfortunate stay. I was driving, traveling back from California to Florida. I guess my trip was long enough for me to be followed and kidnapped accordingly.

A loud slam comes from the end of the house. The front door was thrown open and two massive men dressed in all black holding huge guns appear sweeping the house slowly. Neither of them speak.

I know this is a test from the pale faced man. I have to hide. I roll under the bed before one of the men walk through the bedroom door. Boots slowly thudding and circling the twin frame. I try not to breathe so heavily but I’m terrified. I haven’t seen another person in years. What could they want?

A sudden jostle of my chain after I turn my head to watch his steps makes the man stop in his tracks. He walks back to the near side of the bed as his accomplice walks into the same room as us and starts talking.

“Oi König there’s nothing or no one here. He musta moved out a while ago.” The second man says with a British accent and deep voice. He stood at the threshold waiting for the first man’s response.

“I just have to check one more thing and then we can leave.” The first man; König says with what seems like a light German accent.

I cover my mouth knowing he heard my chain and possibly my panting. He knows I’m here. I’m going to die. Tears fill my eyes and the world turns blurry and all I can feel is the wind from the bed being forced off of me and to the other side of the room. They found me.

“Bloody hell.” The British man says. I don’t move, just wearing a large T-shirt, panties and this chain, I have nothing on those two.

“I knew it. I knew I heard something.” König says. I stay still waiting for my time to come. But nothing. König kneels next to me and puts his hand on my back while the other man rushes him to break me free and get out of there.

“Don’t worry little maus. I’ve got you now. Please don’t be afraid of us.” He rambles on but the only thing I hear is my heart pounding in my throat.

“Please. I’m sorry. I didn’t know what to do. Please don’t do this. I swear I was a good girl! I didn’t try to run!” I plead with tears streaming down my face.

But nothing happens. This man looks soft. Like he’s trying to understand me. Like he wants to help me. He puts his massive gloved hand on my cheek and rubs a tear away with his thumb tilting his head.

“I’m going to get you out of here. You will be safe with us I promise.” König says with his gentle German voice. I’m so confused. Who are these guys? Why are they helping me?

He grabs my chain and runs his fingers up the links till he hits the cuff on my leg. With both hands he yanks it open and the cuff breaks and all that’s left is a red mark on my ankle from years of wear.

I examine my ankle for a second before König stands up and gestures his hand at me. I’m too weak to stand on my own and he knows it.