He quickly realized, there had never been any intimacy with Galar.
How long has it been since she has been touched in a gentle way? Even a baby dies for lack of fond caress; a woman shrivels with such neglect.
And indeed, Gem had shriveled...to nothingness...both physically and mentally.
Loni's hand slid over her belly, caressing, easing...but mostly, to see if the baby still lived. It did not move.
Barely alive. And...the child is too far along even to be Galar's. He is not the father. This child is mine!
Loni invaded Gem's mind, searching for what had transpired in the interval she had been lost to him. And came away shocked, both by the fact that her psychic abilities had been kept deficient, and were almost nil, even now; and at the appalling dealings at the hands of Galar and Scar...but most of all, at the horrific happenings of the past few hours.
Loni was almost relieved at the death of Galar...almost, but not quite, joyous at the freedom so hideously gained. Even he agreed, he wouldn't wish such a death on his worst enemy.
Yes, at times, I wanted to kill the man, but it was merely anger speaking. Never...like this!
Loni shivered at the memory he'd read.
Will she ever, again, be the same happy Gem I once knew?
****
Once she had passed into a fitful dream sleep, limp and unconscious, Loni raised his unresisting burden, and slung her across one shoulder. He started down the ladder, on the long journey home. He had little choice, but to return to the inner dome. Loni knew nothing of the valley below the ledge, of the surface, and inside, all was familiar. There, he could help Gem, tend to her needs, maybe even, heal her psyche.
He would not take her through the slaughter house, but he would have to pass by there, to get through to the rainwater drain grate.
****
Scar was so lost, he had sat down, and given up, yet if he had only realized it; he was right next to the main drain tunnel. In his mind, it was okay if he died in here.
It is better than being alone.
He felt as if he, and Galar, had been torn apart, forever; more so than at any other time. He had sensed the rip a short while before; like suddenly Galar was no longer there...had ceased to exist.
Scar didn't know the meaning of dead, but that is what he remotely reasoned had taken place.
Maybe, Flaw killed Galar; that's why I can't feel him..
Just as he was thinking of the blue-skinned man, Scar heard a grunt, and felt the wall next to him vibrate, as if someone carrying a heavy burden had slipped, and hit the rock behind.
Scar lifted his head, abruptly alert. His thoughts went immediately to his own needs.
Maybe, whoever it is, can lead me out of here?
He peered around the corner cautiously; the man was moving slowly away, a body slung over his back.
That's Flaw!
At first, Scar thought the body the man carried was his brother, but he quickly realized it was that of a woman.
He has our female...or...does it belong to Flaw, again?
No matter. Maybe it is better not to have her. Galar and I can be together again, this way.
He drew back, once more, until the man was near out of sight. Then, Scar followed after, at a safe distance.
****
The first place that Loni went, was to the showers.
When he had touched her stomach, Loni had realized much more about Gem than her simple pregnancy. She had gone through periods of violent vomiting, sever lack of appetite, and at times, bouts of ravenous hunger. At some point, Galar had force fed her raw, or half-cooked rancid meat. Because of this, her belly was infested with worms, which constantly competed for the nourishment both she, and the small one needed. That was why Gem was nothing but skin and bones.
Loni knew how to purge her; he'd watched the physicians do it many times. And this was the perfect time. While she was unconscious, she wouldn't feel a thing.
Or so he thought...
As he set the mask over her face, and watched while the machine pumped out the contents of her stomach, Loni couldn't help but marvel, how the physicians never seemed affected by the patient's discomfort.
He sensed every upheaval, and elimination, and was feeling quite ill by the time the lower bowel also had been emptied. And the treatment to prevent further infestation, was no better. Near the end, Loni was gagging in reflex.
It seemed impossible, even though Gemma was listless, and barely aware, that she did not feel his cruel ministrations. Yet, he knew, it was all necessary, for her future well being...and that of the infant she carried. Neither would survive, if this were not done.
The inner finally dealt with, Loni took Gem again into the shower section, to restore the exterior. First thing he did was attack the hair. All her once beautiful silver-blond curls were so matted, and infested with lice, he felt crawly just touching it. There was no way he could untangle it, or rid her of the moving pests, except to shave her.
It will grow back again...just a matter of time. My poor, poor Gem.
He wouldn't touch the mass, simply allowed it to sluice away into the drain. Then he treated the scalp sores; disinfected against the eggs left behind.
He bathed her, every inch of her bruised, scraped, emaciated body, tenderly, carefully, halting purposely over the undersized swell of the baby bump, to treasure and caress. It brought tears to his eyes, but he swallowed back the emotion, and continued on.
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