Chapter 147: Fugitive

I almost took a half step back out of pure instinct. She looked like warmed over crap the hospital chewed up and spit out again. Though I figured from her appearance she hadn't left treatment with permission.

"Pain." My first reaction faded quickly as I took in the dirty robe and the slippers on her feet, same industrial hospital issue. Her hair was a tangled mass held back by a large elastic, bits and pieces clinging in greasy strands to her cheeks and forehead. The skin around her eyes had that bruised look of the truly ill and she swayed where she stood, mouth slightly open, eyes wide and staring like she'd forgotten where she was and why she was there.

I looked around for Cydia's spirit but for now it was just Pain and me.

"Syd." She gulped once, voice cracking and hoarse. "Syd. It's you."

"Yeah, Pain, it's me." I reached for her hand, but she cried out softly, jerking herself out of my range like the least touch would hurt her.

"Found you." One of her knees let go and she dip