The man sat in front of her on a small box and motioned her to sit in the back seat of the car. "So the introductions first, I am Archimedes, a majestro. I am majorly a healer but I am also a sensor, I can sense the other Majestros if they are within a certain range. And you are?"
"I don't trust you. If at the end I believe your story I'll tell you my name." Nora said.
"Fair enough." He nodded, "So as you know I was being chased. I am not a criminal on run, I am a surgeon. Not long ago rumours about me being a majestro started going around. And then people I treated, whose lives I saved, started pointing fingers at me, that I wrongly saved their lives by using my powers." He let out a laugh, "humans are stupid beings, once they knew for sure I was a majestro, I was kicked out and labelled a criminal. Things have changed now, I am not the life saver I was rather I am a monster who only knows how to take lives. The people out there are fucking hypocrites." He said with a smirk. "As for the reason they were following me today was because I tried to save a life, people recognised me and drove me away. The kid died." He looked up at Nora with pain in his eyes. "Yes, for them catching me was much more important than saving the life of a kid who was choking onto a small toy." He paused for a moment, "This is the beginning of the end, I would say, history will repeat itself and once again we would be the ones carrying the blame for their unforgiving mistakes." He took a long breath and looked at Nora whose eyes were focused on him. "So do I deserve to know your name now?"
"Nora." She said.
"And you are a?"
"I cannot tell you that but if you need any help, any financial help. I will try my best."
"You think I'm broke?" He smiled, "I have enough money to live peacefully my entire life, but how am I supposed to live in a society that doesn't accept me, that money is useless."
"What can I do then?"
"Protect yourself. That's all I'll say." He gave a gentle smile. Nora nodded, "Can I go back now?" Archimedes chuckled, "Wait here." He got up and moved towards the entrance of the alley.
He returned a few minutes later, "It's safe now. I'll drop you off and I will not harm you."
Nora got up followed him, he stopped in front of a black limo. Nora looked at him, "I told you I'm not broke." He shrugged his shoulders. "Get in before anyone comes."
There were no small talks on the way back, Archimedes was busy reading tabloids. The limo came to a halt, he looked up at her, "This is where I took you hostage, I hope you can walk back from here?"
Nora nodded and opened the door. "Take care of yourself." Archimedes said.
"Sure and you too." She got off and shut the door, the limo sped away almost instantly. She started running, realising it was too late. She reached Slurpies, the place where everything began and looked at her reflection. She looked like a disaster; her hair a complete mess, her shirt still stained with the milkshake and a little blood, the jeans was ripped at her knee. Explaining her appearance to someone was going to be a difficult task. She tied her hair neatly and straightened her shirt, if she was a disaster earlier, now she was just a mess.
A hand on her shoulder, made her turn around quickly, she looked up at the person and her mouth dropped open.
"What the fuck Nora. Where have you been?" Luke growled.
"I.." before she could say anything, Luke grabbed her wrist and started walking, "You're in trouble I guess, Tina's going to eat you alive."
"At least listen to what I have to say." She said barely managing to keep up with him.
"Don't tell me anything. It's Tina who called me, tell her whatever you want."
They reached the car, "Get in now." He ordered. She didn't argue and got in at once. Luke made a call and got in, he didn't say anything.
He stopped the car at Big Joe's, he passed the keys to the valet and pulled Nora out. "Hey easy there." She said. He did not pay any heed and climbed up the stairs, they entered one of the private rooms. The table was occupied by Tina and George, Tina's head was in her hands. "Here she is." Luke let go of her wrist. Tina looked up at him and then at Nora, her eyes red with anger.
Tina was the coolest person round the corner but when her anger reached its peak, better take cover. "Nora Williams." She spat out the words. "Do you have any fucking idea how long we have been searching for you?!" She stepped forward, "You're done for good today."
"Wait just hear me out once." Nora said trying to calm her down.
"Oh no, we'll talk later." There was no way Tina was going to listen to her, if she didn't do something Tina would explode. She looked around and took the decision, she jumped behind Luke, holding onto his shirt tightly, "What the.." Luke looked down at Nora.
"Step aside Luke." Tina said. He stepped aside but Nora didn't let go of his shirt, still staying behind him, "let go of me." He said.
"No, ask her to calm down or we stay like this forever." Nora said. He sighed, "Tina calm down, give her a chance. Hear her out for once."
"No!" Tina was adamant.
George stood up and held Tina by the shoulders, "You said you're worried about her. Hear her out, she's not an idiot doing something like that. And you said you would give her chance."
Tina looked over at Nora who was still behind Luke, "Fine. Come out and say what you got." Tina said and moved back to the table. Nora stepped out and followed Tina to the table, Luke and George settled down too.
"Speak." Tina growled.
"Okay." Nora started narrating the whole incident, cutting out some of the parts. With every passing second Tina's expression softened. When done she looked at all of them, "That's what happened."
"Oh Nora I was so worried about you. You have no idea, I waited for you till eleven but you didn't show up, then I called Luke, he told me you left hours ago. We all looked for you like crazy." She sighed.
"I totally understand." Nora smiled.
"Good you were able to escape from that man. You're not hurt anywhere, are you?" George asked.
"No. I'm fine, he actually healed my cut." She pointed at her throat.
"Jerry's in trouble." Luke looked at Nora.
"No. It's not his fault, he was reluctant to let me go, I forced him. I said that you won't do anything. I'm at fault." Nora pleaded.
"He was assigned a task, he did not do it, whether not he listened to you is a different case. He'll have to pay for his mistake." He shrugged.
"Please don't be like that, Jerry is innocent." She looked at him.
"So you understand, that your reckless actions can have dire consequences on others too?" He asked. Nora nodded.
"Don't worry, Jerry's fine. But he was worried about you." He said.
"So you're not going to anything?" Nora asked, he shook his head, "It's not his fault anyway. You are the idiot here."
"Thank you. So let's go, I'm tired after all of the action." She got up.
***
"Thank you both of you. I have no idea what I would have done without you." Tina said.
"Don't worry, you contacted us and we were supposed to help you out." George smiled. "You better get going now."
The car drove away, "Nora what else did that guy say to you?" Tina asked.
"He asked me to protect myself and of course he knows I'm a majestro too, but he doesn't know my ability." She said.
"So he's a bad guy?" Tina asked.
"I don't think so, the way he narrated his story, he seemed quite genuine." Nora shrugged.
"As you say. But you better not run around like that, fortunately he was a good guy."
"Yes ma'am." Nora grinned.
"Good. Now go clean yourself up, you look like a..."
"I understand. No need to tell me." Nora raised her hands.