A Hero's Journey -- Part 32-

“Lucrezia, it’s a hospital,” Relena protested as her sister-in-law escorted her down the hallway. “I doubt there’s an assassin just waiting for me to walk by.”

The older woman’s eyes continually scanned the area around them. “You never know.”

Sighing, Relena realized that arguing was useless. Milliardo had ordered her stay with Noin and Hilde at all times, apparently fighting the urge to physically tie her to a chair. Even Duo and Quatre had lectured her on her safety. Heero’s warnings had been the last straw.

She regretted now that her last words to him had been so heated. However, once again, decisions were being made for her without her input. Relena felt like she was a teenager again, and she hated it.

“Well, it could be worse,” Relena admitted. “They could have locked me in a cell somewhere.”

Noin laughed. “If your brother had thought of that, he probably would have.”

“He might have tried to,” she replied, and the two women laughed. With her mood lightening, Relena began to relax. The tension that had been pent up from her days with Heero began to fade.

At the end of the hallway, they reached their destination. The small break room boasted coffee, sodas, snacks, and magazines. However, due to the late hour, the room was deserted.

Relena roamed from machine to machine, forgetting temporarily about Noin as she pondered her choices. She entered some money into the machine and selected two magazines. As she retrieved her periodicals, she noticed something odd in the glass.

“Noin?” she called, straightening back up and turning. She screamed as she realized that a pair of men was already restraining her sister-in-law. However, her cries were quickly shut off as a funny smelling rag was clamped over her mouth and nose.

Her vision was already blurring as she watched one of the attackers jab a needle into Noin’s arm. She felt like she was drifting a thousand miles away as Noin tried to gain enough attention for help. Then, the darkness closed in on her, and, although she didn’t know it, Noin followed her quickly afterward.

“Well, finish her off,” one of the men hissed, shifting Relena’s dead weight in his arms.

“That’s not the plan,” a compatriot replied, peering down at Noin. “We want her to be found. Rattle their nerves.”

The third man smiled. “Tell the boys it was a nice try, but better next time.”


Part XXXII “Lucrezia, it’s a hospital,” Relena protested as her sister-in-law escorted her down the hallway. “I doubt there’s an assassin just waiting for me to walk by.” The older woman’s eyes continually scanned the area around them. “You never know.” Sighing, Relena realized that arguing was useless. Milliardo had ordered her stay with Noin and Hilde at all times, apparently fighting the urge to physically tie her to a chair. Even Duo and Quatre had lectured her on her safety. Heero’s warnings had been the last straw. She regretted now that her last words to him had been so heated. However, once again, decisions were being made for her without her input. Relena felt like she was a teenager again, and she hated it. “Well, it could be worse,” Relena admitted. “They could have locked me in a cell somewhere.” Noin laughed. “If your brother had thought of that, he probably would have.” “He might have tried to,” she replied, and the two women laughed. With her mood lightening, Relena began to relax. The tension that had been pent up from her days with Heero began to fade. At the end of the hallway, they reached their destination. The small break room boasted coffee, sodas, snacks, and magazines. However, due to the late hour, the room was deserted. Relena roamed from machine to machine, forgetting temporarily about Noin as she pondered her choices. She entered some money into the machine and selected two magazines. As she retrieved her periodicals, she noticed something odd in the glass. “Noin?” she called, straightening back up and turning. She screamed as she realized that a pair of men was already restraining her sister-in-law. However, her cries were quickly shut off as a funny smelling rag was clamped over her mouth and nose. Her vision was already blurring as she watched one of the attackers jab a needle into Noin’s arm. She felt like she was drifting a thousand miles away as Noin tried to gain enough attention for help. Then, the darkness closed in on her, and, although she didn’t know it, Noin followed her quickly afterward. “Well, finish her off,” one of the men hissed, shifting Relena’s dead weight in his arms. “That’s not the plan,” a compatriot replied, peering down at Noin. “We want her to be found. Rattle their nerves.” The third man smiled. “Tell the boys it was a nice try, but better next time.”


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