Triple Point

Chapter 37: Safe Haven

Present day

06 JUN 33AE, 0024

Barracks, Los Angeles

It was the feeling of warmth spreading throughout her body that forced Camilla to jolt back to consciousness. Her first thought was that she was on fire, since one of the last things she remembered was fighting a raging ball of flames. Instinctively, she tried to roll to the side, but her body felt too heavy to do what it was told. So she tried again, mustering whatever strength she had left to move even an inch. Except all that did was move her body in a weak flopping motion and send a sharp pain buzzing up each of her arms.

"Easy, Camilla, it's just me," a low, unfamiliar voice said.

Unfortunately, those words were definitely not reassuring to Camilla when she had no idea who said them. Her survival instincts kicked in and she managed to push herself up enough to sit up and scramble backwards, only stopping when her hands felt the edge of the balcony floor. Her vision took a little longer to put things into focus, but luckily the stranger kept their distance.

"It's just me," the voice repeated. "Mack. Mackenzie. Olomana."

Camilla knew the guy, but that didn't mean she trusted him.

"What are you doing here?" she demanded, her voice sounding much stronger than she felt.

"I just want to help," Olomana said, trying to sound as reassuring as he could. "Your cells—some of them are seriously damaged. You shouldn't even be leaning on your hands right now."

"I'm fine," Camilla insisted, just as one of her hands gave out under the strain of her leaning on it. She amended, "I will be fine."

"Camilla..." Olomana began.

"Don't act like we're friends."

"Sorry, habit." He sighed. "Wyatt, I understand if you don't trust me, but please, just let me help you get out of here, at least."

Camilla scoffed. "And why would you do that?"

Olomana's answer was definitely not what Camilla had expected: "Elsie asked me to. Elsie Bates."

Suddenly, Camilla's instincts fired up again, but this time it wasn't for her own well-being.

"Elsie?" she repeated, unable to hide the worry in her tone. "Is she alright? Where is she?"

"She's fine," Olomana insisted, but Camilla wasn't convinced. "She called me asking if you were alright, since you weren't answering your phone. I told her I would find you."

So Elsie was okay. Camilla felt a wave of relief wash over her, but it was quickly followed by an inkling of suspicion.

"What's in it for you?" she asked, her eyes narrowed.

Olomana looked like he was about to sigh again in frustration, but he restrained himself.

"Nothing," he claimed. "Elsie's my friend, and I want to help her. And you're my colleague. We have to look out for each other."

Camilla had some issues with his last statement, but she decidedly kept them to herself. She had bigger concerns to deal with, and lying there wasn't doing her any good. She needed to see for herself that Elsie was okay.

As she started to struggle to her feet, Olomana quickly approached her.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa," he said, his hands trying to keep Camilla where she was without actually touching her. "Let me heal you a little first."