Page 6 (1/2)

I kept ers outstretched, just inches froht in my throat as the last of the blood oozed out of the wound, as the edges of ether over the break infro itself co to them Just another day at the office Just another patient

Berta wiped a fresh piece of gauze againstup traces of blood I winced in preparation for the pain, but there wasn’t any, only unbroken skin, and the shiny, ragged tissue of a telltale scar The breath finally returned to me, and wide-eyed, I looked between them, and said all that I could say

“How?”

Thea folded her ared one delicate shoulder

“Magic”

Chapter 5

The rest of the day was a blur Berta slipped off after perfor what, to my eyes, was a miracle It took a little effort on Thea’s part, but she was able to convince htly bloodied into the streets Not that I even knehere ere

“I proed,” she said “At least not above as necessary to help relieve the pain”

“This is a prank Right? It’s got to be Who are you people even? Where am I?”

“One thing at a tiestured to the door “Will you ith me?” She nodded at a chair at the end ofwhite was thrown over the back of the seat It was hard tothe stark whiteness of the entire rooin with “If you’d care to make yourself decent”

I went red at the ears, sure that I didn’t even have any reason to do so, but I dutifully shrugged on the slip of cloth It was a loose kind of shirt, as it turned out, made fro that was presently happening, the weird, zen-like atmosphere of the room, Thea’s otherworldly presence and sense of serenity I smoothed down the hems of my shirt, then looked up at Thea for approval, unsure if I should voice the question at the back of my throat

She smiled “No, we aren’t a cult, Dustin, as anization of round, the oes on behind the scenes of everyday American life”

I cocked my head “So, on a national scale?”

“Yes There are other authorities in other territories, but we ulation of ic in North America”

“So like a government?”