Chapter 14-Grassland

In the new light of day, the burned-down DRI building was skeletal.The flame burns with colors. Catherine never thought it would. Even from across the street, it's like a bonfire. 

They have been rescued after spending a couple of minutes in hell. Even with her ability, the smoke was their enemy. The rescue was a code black, and the rescuer had more subjects to extract after them. Luckily, it doesn't stop them from getting them all. They were suspended from the bottom in harnesses. It was the craziest ride ever, but they got every one of them.

Suddenly, the sound of the blast came as a terrible echo, as if it were the anguished cry of God. The eruption can be heard even from miles away, as they left the ruins after a thorough checkup from the medics and went to Sean's place as he offered her a night's rest.

The house was welcoming, from the open door to the wide hallway. On the sides were the photographs of his childhood, so loved by his parents. The floor was an old-fashioned parquet with a blend of deep homely light nude, and the walls were the dark greens of summer gardens meeting a bold white baseboard. The banister was a twirl of a branch, tamed by the carpenter's hand, its grain flowing as water might, in waves of comforting woodland hues. Under the lamp-shine, it was nature's art, something that soothed right to the soul. She did not expect that. She thought Sean was a bachelor pad kind of guy, but she was wrong. 

"I need to clean up. This shirt stinks. Where is your bathroom?" She hissed, making him laugh and pointing towards the guest suite.

Catherine's vision was hazy, her mind whirling into oblivion as she succumbed to unconsciousness.She was beyond tired. All she wanted was a nice bath and a good rest.

Here, just call me whenever you need comfort, okay? He said, "I'll be right next to you. Just knock on my door anytime. "He said this with a cracked smile and pulled her inside the room.

His eyes revealed a gentle concern. He laid his hand on her shoulder, he added, smirking. "If you require more than comfort, who am I to ignore your request?" The rumor was in his voice and he was hopeful. After the incident, Sean still looked as handsome as ever, but Catherine thought he was running out of control, with his prominent jaw curved around and the strength of his neck shown in the twining cords of muscle that shaped his entire body. She scolded herself for thinking too much about his flirting.

Hell no! Thanks for the offer, but no, thanks! " She responded with a little sneer. She then ignored him as she went inside. Sean glanced over, the corners of his lips fighting a smile, his eyebrows raised. Catherine looked away before that mischievous look spread across his face. She swears that the man's exuberance for trouble was contagion. But before she can strengthen her resolve to be aloof, she has already glanced back. In a few seconds, that pirate grin of his was on her face too, and she knew he meant something more than just flirting.

She knew she was in trouble from the first day she saw him, mischief lurking in his lips and eyes. It was there to see the fall leaves in the park. What else was she going to do but fall in love with him? Wasn't that what being a teenager was all about? The giggle rolled around the room like a child's spinning top, vibrant and heartwarming as it moved around the people in its chaotic way. It came in fits and bursts.

The bedroom was furnished on an ample budget. It was full of more warmth than she had seen in many years. On the back wall was a mural of a tree with every color of fall leaf imaginable, and a few more besides. On the crude pine, the bed had a hand-embroidered orange cover. 

The bathroom had an earthy feel. The walls were large format tiles of white honed travertine, and the floor was made of dull silver tiles. The vanities were of dark wood, and the counters were brilliant white quartz. There was no doubt she would stay here longer. A huge walk-in shower with two over-sized shower heads and a fluffy towel arranged. 

First, Catherine washed her hands with the cinnamon soap. Once, she indulged herself in sandalwood, Arabian fragrances, pastels, and lavishness all at the same time. 

She slides down into the water, letting it block out the surrounding sounds. She wishes the tub would expand so she could go swimming as she used to on hot summer Sundays in the woods with my mother. Those days were a special treat. She missed her.

An hour passed, her door opened and Catherine appeared with jogging pants and an open-necked pullover, her hair still wet. "You look good in my shirt, by the way." winking while making himself comfortable on the living room sofa. "(

"Will you stop doing that?" She stuttered, feeling every hair on her body stand up from Sean's compliment. She sighed, before meeting his eyes.

"Doing what? Telling the truth? " He remarked with a smirk on his lips. He began walking over to where she was and pulling her into her torso from behind.

"Never mind," she trailed off, not knowing what else to say to change his ways of flirting.

Sean was silent for a moment before she heard his tongue click in recognition, "But, without the pants, you'll be the death of me." He remarked. She rolled her eyes and grinned at the same time. 

"You wish." Her mind stopped focusing on the feelings of Sean's arm around her waist and focused her attention on the fireplace. Silently, minutes passed.

Then she concentrated all her thoughts on him with a stern look. Sean smirked down at their proximity, and she began blushing. "We need to have a plan. We don't know what happened to the rest of the team yet, especially to Nathan." He informed her as his expression became serious.

She bit her lip to stop herself from telling him he didn't need to think about it so much, but she resisted by walking over to the other side. She guessed Nathan had awoken before their trip to the Land of Nod, and she hoped she was wrong about the fire in the DRI building. Not only that, but she had many doubts and questions, but she refrained herself. Not yet! She pondered. 

Catherine had moved over to the fireplace, a plain wooden overmantel with an iron surround patterned with grapes, set in the middle of the right-hand wall. It must, she guessed, have been a year since a fire was lit in it for warmth. lost in their thoughts.

Minutes passed, and it was dinner time when they visited the kitchen.

They walked out of the living room to the kitchen when she felt Sean bend down so his lips were in line with her ear.

I forgot to mention how hot your a$$ looks in those pants tonight.You should wear them more often. " He pulled away, and she looked up at him with an expression of disbelief, blushing from his arrogant smirk.

"Shut up." She mumbled, pushing him away.

away from her body.

In the kitchen, the maid came from the back, pink in the face, her blonde bangs pasted to her forehead with either steam or sweat. She was childlike in her proportions but an adult. From the crows-feet around her eyes, she was forty-something. She smiled in the way inconvenienced people do.

With the goodness on the table, they dug up: creamy mushroom soup, bitter greens salad with tomatoes and peas, rare roast beef slices as thin as paper, noodles in a fresh sauce, cheese that melts on their tongue, served with sweet black grapes. She ate with gusto while Sean indulged himself with the wine bottle. It was the customary green, yet deeper where the red wine sat within. Unlike the bottles in her mom's cellar, it had a shine to it that accentuated the age of the label, time-yellowed with corners that curled.

She wanted a liquor bottle shaped more like an hour-glass so that her hand could fit around the middle more comfortably, or perhaps one of those corked fat bottles would be better, the sort that had a handle, she thought while enjoying her wine.