Chapter Thirteen:

Ekka didn't realize how hungry she was until the fork met her lips. The eggs Adrian made her tasted like nothing she had ever had before.

Well, maybe Ekka was exaggerating --- a little --- but the hunger was still there. She scooped the eggs into her mouth as if she were never going to eat again --- and in her situation, it was quite possible she wouldn't.

"Slow down," Lucas laughed behind her, and Ekka froze, her breath hitching. She didn't want to make him angry by eating too quickly.

"Sorry," she mumbled through a full mouth. Then, she tried to eat more slower, which was practically torture because her stomach was growling non-stop.

Adrian, who had been at the stove cooking, turned around at her. "You don't have to apologize for eating, Ekka," he told her and then put more eggs on her plate. Ekka felt as if she would melt on the spot. She's hasn't been given this much real food since... She couldn't remember! "But be careful, though," Adrian continued. "Or, you could choke on it."

Ekka, too busy stuffing her face at a much slower rate, just nodded quietly. Adrian cooked Lucas and himself a plate of eggs and then he placed the dishes in the sink. Ekka sat quietly, staring at her hands as they ate and whispered conversations over the table.

A few minutes later, Lucas was done too. He took his plate --- and Ekka's when he noticed it was empty --- and placed it in the sink. "Okay," He grinned at Ekka. "We're going to go upstairs and take a bath, alright? Then, you can go lie down and sleep, if you want." Ekka nodded, she was really tired. She wasn't able to sleep at all for the whole night she walked to the Sheel building.

Ekka followed him around a corner to a staircase she never saw before. He then led her down a hall to a huge bathroom. It had a long mirror, a porcelain white toilet and a matching tub. There was a flurry white... Blanket on the floor and a shelf across the toilet with towels, rolls of toliet paper, and even books. The walls were a sky blue with white polka dots and it looked almost silly, and Ekka giggled.

Lucas grinned as she marvelled at something as simple as a bathroom, and looked very excited. "Alright, I'm going to run you a bath, and bring you some clothes.  Now, we don't have any little kid clothes, so do you mind wearing a big shirt?" Ekka nodded, but she wasn't quite listening. "Alright, then." He stepped forward and put something in the tub. Then, he turned the water on.

"Do you want bubbles?" Lucas asked and Ekka furrowed her eyebrows.

"Bubbles?" Ekka asked, confused.

Lucas blinked, then smiled, "So that's a yes." He turned to the sink and pulled out a very decorated bottle. Then, he dropped a capful into the water and set it down.

Ekka stared in amazement as small white... Circles appeared from the water. She recognized these from when she had to wash dishes at school, or when she cleaned the lions. But... She never knew they had a name! Or, that you could make them smell good! These 'bubbles', as Lucas called them, smelled like flowers in the spring. Ekka could still faintly remember that smell, even though she hasn't smelt it a long time.

"Do you like it?" Lucas asked and Ekka turned to him, smiling, excitement filling every inch of her.

Lucas looked proud. He smiled back and stood up, grabbing a small towel off the shelf and handed it to her. "Here. Use this to wash yourself off. I'll be back, alright? I'm going to keep the door unlocked too, but I'll knock before I come in." Ekka nodded and Lucas stood and left the bathroom.

Ekka waited a few seconds before eagerly peeling off the grimy, dirty clothes she had on. When she was ready, she stepped a toe into the tub and shuddered. It was hot, but not too hot that it burned her. Ekka loved it!

Ekka slowly, carefully, got in and giggled. The bubbles were practically everywhere at this point, and Ekka loved it. She picked them up gently, and they didn't pop! She tried to form different shapes in her hands and even on her face and giggled the entire time. Ekka couldn't remember the last time she laughed this hard.

There was a knock at the door and Ekka stopped immediately. She frantically tried to clear the bubbles out of her face and hair. "Ekka? Is it alright if I come in?"

"Y--Yes!" Ekka replied, wiping off a few strays before the door opened. Lucas stepped inside. He was holding a small bundle of clothes for her to wear when she finished and he set it on the sink.

Lucas looked at her and grinned. "Do you like the bubbles?"

"Y... Yes," Ekka replied shyly. He stepped over and kneeled down, wiping a bit off her eyebrows. She jumped, trying to move away, and he dropped his hand. He didn't let go of his smile though. Ekka noticed that his cheeks made small holes like craters when he smiled. She stared at them, is he alright?

"I'm glad," he told her and got up. "But, don't forget to wash, Ekka. When you're finished just pull that little plug out." Ekka nodded and he chuckled as he closed the door.

~.•*•.~

When Ekka had finished scrubbing everything, the water had turned mucky and brown. Not to mention, all of the bubbles were gone.

However, Ekka finally felt clean, something unknown to her for a long time. Even at school, she tried not to take showers when she did want to --- the showerhead scared her. It was a weird feeling, to feel clean. Ekka frowned, glancing at the water. She liked her grim, it was familiar. Now she was going to have to get a whole new set of dirty to put back on her.

Maybe she should go play with Brownie and Blanca?

Ekka dismissed the thought for now and stepped out of the tub. She was soaking wet and her fingers and toes were dried out. As soon as she left the water, she was freezing too.

Using the towel Lucas gave her, she quickly dried herself and put her new clothes on.

Ekka kept her undergarments and leggings from her school uniform, but when she put on the shirt, it shocked her.

It was huge. It went past her knees and her arms were stranded in the sleeves. Ekka frowned, glancing around for a spare, but that was all Lucas brought her. Ekka stepped back to the tub and pulled out the plug like Lucas told her. It began to make a strange sucking noise and Ekka yelped, stepping back. This was why she didn't like bathrooms! They're all evil!

Ekka hurried out the door --- mostly to get away from the evil tub. She didn't know where they were, at first, but then she heard talking downstairs.

Following the sounds, Ekka stepped down the furry steps and into the kitchen where Adrian and Lucas were talking over the counter. Lucas saw her first and smiled, "Hey, kid," He greeted and them grinned even wider when he saw the shirt on her.

Adrian looked and rolled his eyes, "'Back to the Future'? Really?"

"It's a great movie!"

"Only you, Luc, only you..." Lucas huffed, but came around to Ekka, who was still properly confused.

"Do you want to go to sleep now?" Ekka nodded and Lucas led her upstairs. Ekka stopped, her eyebrows furrowing.

"Upstairs?" She asked.

"Yeah. The bedroom are up here." Ekka bit her lip. She didn't want to be alone. She didn't even have Brownie. It would be like the cell.

Ekka stared at the steps and gave a shaky nod. She didn't want to make him angry. "Ekka? Are you okay?" Lucas asked.

"I--I am fine!" Ekka said quickly. If she made them angry, they'd send her away. Ekka would be outside and Xavier would find her.

"Ekka," Adrian's voice was gentle. Ekka turned to him. He was getting up from his stool and watching her. His dark eyes caring. "You can tell us if something bothers you. Do you want to go to sleep?" Ekka nodded and sniffed, wiping her eyes with balled fists. "Do you want to go upstairs?" Ekka hesitated, and he found his answer.

"You don't have to if you don't want to," he promised. "You can stay down here, if you want to." Ekka sniffed again. "Do you want to tell me why you don't want to go upstairs?"

Ekka's voice was trembling, but she said, "I... I do--do not want t--to be a--al--alone anymore."

Lucas' eyes widened in surprise, then he covered his face, and let out a silent groan. He should've known! He scolded himself. The poor thing would be terrified to be by herself.

"It's alright," Adrian assured and held out his hand. Ekka flinched and he dropped it. She really didn't like touching. "Do you want to sleep on the sofa instead? It's just over there." Ekka nodded and he led her to the sofa in the room adjacent to the kitchen.

Ekka was hesitant, but she sat down. It was soft and dark shade of blue to match the walls. Ekka liked it. Adrian pulled out a thick blanket and laid it over her. "Thank you," she whispered and he smiled.

"You're welcome." Ekka waited until he left the room to finally lie down. Her exhaustion finally seemed to catch up with her as soon as her head hit the throw-pillow.

~.•*•.~

Ekka was in her cell again and the door was opened. She jumped up and ran through, elation filling her chest. She was free! Actually, free! Xavier was no where to be seen and neither was Hank.

Ekka felt tears in her eyes and she did nothing about it. Ekka would run long and hard forever. She would get away from that school and... And live!

Ekka frowned, she didn't know how to live. What would she do? Ekka thought of Little Red Riding Hood. Her grandmother lived in a tree. Could Ekka live in a tree? Is that how you live?

Ekka suddenly hit something hard and fell to the ground. Her head was pounding, and she raised a hand to rub it.

Her hand was snatched away and help high. Ekka looked up and screamed. Father was in front of her. But, it wasn't Father. His dark eyes were gone and blood ran down his face. There were claw marks and scratches all over him. When he opened his mouth, it was just a gaping hole, he had no teeth or a tongue. His nose was hanging, ready to fall at any second and there was a liquid leaking from it.

"You... Killed me!" Her father boomed. Ekka still screamed, trying to get away, prying at his fingers. He raised his hand and in it was his knife.

Ekka began to sob, "I am sorry! I--I--I---" He took her hand and Ekka began to scream again, "No! No! No! Father! Please! Noo!" He took the knife and cut off her hand. It was clean and precise and Ekka was left screaming.

When her head hit the ground, she woke up.

~.•*•.~

"Ekka, Ekka, it's okay," Lucas said softly. "It's okay. It's okay," Ekka couldn't breathe. She gasped and clung to Lucas and tried to breathe. "It's okay," he assured. "Have they calmed down yet?"

"A little!" Adrian called back.

Lucas stroked her hair and She gasped, trying to calm down, but then she felt her hand burning --- her hand missing and she began to sob again. "It's okay, it was just a dream. It's okay, it's okay..." Ekka burrowed her face into his clothes, and tried to breathe again. She was shaking and her eyes were full of tears, but she was trying. And slowly, she was beginning to calm down.

Adrian soon came to her side as well. He looked just as worried as Lucas. He began to stroke her arm and Ekka felt calmer. She breathed slower. "It's alright, chula (cutie). You're okay." Ekka sniffed and looked up at the two, who stared down with watchful gazes. Then, she tried to look past Lucas and outside. She saw claw marks on the door leading outside.

Brownie and Blanca were sitting down in the kitchen. Brownie moaned, concerned. "I..." She whispered. "I am---"

"Don't say you're sorry," Adrian said. "You couldn't help that. Your nightmares aren't your fault." Ekka could only nod, and Adrian stood and so did Lucas. Ekka moved to sit back on the couch. Brownie came lumbering past the two men and sat with Ekka, resting his head in her lap. Blanca came too, sitting on the floor and licking at her toes.

Adrian and Lucas gave her one last look before both of them stepped into the kitchen and began to talk. Ekka tried not to listen, she didn't like to eavesdrop on conversations. So, she focused on Brownie and tried not to think. She tried not to think about Xavier or the school or the fact that he had to know she was gone by now.

Ekka tried not to think about the girl she used to escape, or the fact that now that she was gone, she had no where to go.

Ekka tried not to think about how confused and scared and hopeless she was. She tried not to think about how foolish she had been to get herself stuck in this situation and then get Lucas and Adrian spun into her issues as well.

No. Ekka did not think about any of that. Instead, she thought about Brownie and Blanca who were right here where she was. She thought about this new, and honestly quite beautiful, roof above her head. Ekka thought about everything and dismissed anything about Xavier or that school.

So, Ekka stayed silent, keeping her face in her knees and her eyes shut. She assumed that she would be alone to battle with these complex feelings, but then an arm wrapped around her shoulders. Ekka jumped, but he didn't let go. "I'm sorry," Adrian whispered softly. "I'm sorry you have to go through that."

Ekka sniffed and made a small nod of recognition. She didn't trust herself to speak because more than words would start to leak. Pain. Sorrow. Angst. Fear. Ekka could feel it building up in her chest, but for some reason, it was getting smaller and easier to deal with. Ekka did not know why, but she did not question it.