"You didn't get scratched on the way out, did you?" Big Mike asked, worried, inspecting Marlene, J.L., and Shabazz.
"Naw, man," J.L. said with a breath of relief. "Shabazz and Mar had my back, and I had theirs - we're cool. Was able to get power up, too, from the garage panels."
"So what do we do with Dan?" Rider asked, finally nodding to the one person that everyone had left out of the discussion.
Marlene assessed Dan critically. "You know, if he came running to us under siege like that... might he be a new guardian?"
Although Damali agreed, she was notably quiet. There was much to absorb, and now they even had a new person to contend with. She said nothing. Later. Her second sight was ebbing, as were her other senses. She was exhausted, needed to eat and lie down.
"You have got to be kidding us, Mar," Rider said after a hang-jawed moment, and then slapped his forehead and walked away to flop down in an empty chair.
Ignoring Rider, Marlene stood and walked over to where Dan leaned against the wall.
"Dan, earlier you said it felt like something was chasing you before you saw it, right?"
All eyes were on him, even Rider's now.
"Yeah," he nodded, glancing around the group. "I could tell."
"How?" Damali asked, her voice just a weary murmur as she glanced at Marlene - who still could not look her directly in the eyes. "Describe it."
"My skin got all tingly, like the hairs were standing up on the back of my neck. Like an electric current, or something. Then I felt all creepy, crawly - started sweating, and it was hard to breathe... I could feel myself panicking, but couldn't figure out why. I'd just been in the Blood Music offices, everything was jaky, they said they would hire me, and the next night would show me the deal - the way they did business - and then I split. I didn't even wonder why I had to meet them at night so late - figured, hey, whatever, they're busy, keep artist's hours, ya know? I was feeling great, just glad to be a part of something for once. But then in the elevator, I could almost feel something in there with me." Dan glanced around the group. "I know this all sounds really weird, like I'm tripping, but I swear - "
"No, you're not tripping," Marlene reassured him. "What else?"
"I... I... uh, got out, passed the lobby guard, kept thinking I was the luckiest man in the world, that God was good. Soon as I thought that, this woman came out of nowhere - and she was all that. Baboom," Dan murmured, his gaze going off into the distance as he made the shape of curves and br**sts with his hands.
"I was like, now I know God is good, and then she was gone. I stood there for a moment because she had just been behind me, and then the creepy feeling started. I didn't know why, then, but I had the urge to run - so I was trying not to look like a fool in case she was watching me, but I started walking real fast, then trotted, then this terror vibe just slammed me - I said f**k it, and started running headlong toward my car."
"He's got the tactical sensory gift," Marlene whispered, closing her eyes and nodding. "I can see it. His story checks out."
Rider leaned back again with a sigh, as did Big Mike and Shabazz. J.L. sat down and extended a handshake to Dan.
"You're in for the ride of your life, new brother."
"What is going on?"
J.L. shook his head. "Mar will tell you. She briefs all the newbies."
"He's good on the vials, Mar," Big Mike confirmed. "Had dead aim - like a David and Goliath - type capacity. Want me to put him on explosives with me?"
Marlene nodded but glanced at Damali for approval. The team waited. Damali finally nodded.
"That's cool," she said in a distant voice.
"Wait," Dan whispered quickly. "You mean I'll have to hunt more of these things? We're not done?"
"Rude awakening, isn't it?" Rider closed his eyes and leaned his head back against the wall.
"For how long?" Dan's stricken gaze darted around the group.
"For the rest of your life... may it be a long one, too," Shabazz said, yawning.
"What!"
"Keep your voice down," J.L. told him in a casual tone. "We're in a hospital."
"Dan, Dan, Dan - always be careful what you pray for, 'cause you just might get it," Marlene said on a stretch as she sat down, leaned on Shabazz, and began dozing. "You wanted the exciting, adventurous nightlife. Hmmmph."