Free Minds

Chapter 62.

   The moment we returned to the motel, Dorian, without wasting any time, led me to the bathroom in his room to tend to my wound.

   My mind was still refusing to come to terms with the fact that I was back here when Talise wasn't. While entering the bathroom, I got a glimpse of my eyes reflected in the mirror plastered against its wall. Although that was a few minutes earlier, I could still guess with firm confidence that they hadn't lost their sunken, red rimmed appearance. The only way they exhibited any trace of life was through the unscheduled tears that trickled down my cheeks.

   A sting rushed into my injured arm, suddenly dragging me back to earth and causing me to clutch it to my chest, releasing a hiss of pain.

"I'm sorry." Dorian grimaced as he raised his downward stare to meet mine.

   I merely nodded, not resisting when he took my hand and resumed cleaning off the almost dried blood around the wound and other parts of my arm and hand with a damp, lukewarm cloth.

   Glancing at Dorian who was crouched before my still frame seated on the closed toilet seat, I noticed he was still wearing his white shirt. The shirt which he'd ripped a part of to stop my bleeding arm while we were still in the van. His own arms and hands, as well as the remainder of the shirt he had on, had swipes of red across them. That, however, seemed to be the least of his worries.

   Dorian's eyebrows stayed pinched in focus as he used the cloth to wipe the parts of my body still tainted with blood.

   I stared down at his black locks of hair that were in my view. Its unruly nature led me to believe he'd run his hand through his hair multiple times when I wasn't looking.

"As we speak," Dorian stood from his grovelled position and walked to the bathroom sink while saying, "Camila and Aarav are brainstorming the various ways we can get your best friend back."

   After washing the bloodstained cloth, I watched Dorian as his hands rummaged through the top shelf beside the mirror. Eventually he grabbed a small, red box labelled 'First Aid Kit'.

   Assuming his previous position in front of me, Dorian opened the box and pulled out some cotton and a white bottle.

"I have to disinfect your wound," he said, with a tone low from what appeared to be remorse. "So, uh, sorry in advance."

   Like clockwork, my eyes squeezed shut from the burn that erupted when the methylated alcohol soaked cotton came into contact with my wounded arm. I chose to focus on the constant apologies from Dorian as the pain passed. Before I knew it, my right arm was all bandaged up and he let it go.

"Let's go see what Camila and Rav have come up with so far," Due to the fact that this was the first time I'd spoken since we got to the motel, my statement came off as soft croak. "If we want to get Tali back, we can't afford to waste any time."

   As I hopped off my seat and headed toward Dorian's bedroom, I could hear his light sounding footsteps trailing behind me.

"Of course," he said. "But we all agreed that it's been a long day, maybe you should get some rest first. You can join us later when you're refreshed."

"I don't disagree," I remarked, scanning the room for its exit. "But it's barely five o'clock. That's a few more hours to come up with the perfect plan and get some sleep."

   Dorian rushed from behind to face me, halting the steps I'd begun toward the bedroom door. But that only lasted for a moment. Avoiding his gaze, I brisk-walked around his tall frame, venturing nearer and nearer to the door until I could almost touch it.