JP - A hole in the ground

“I had some real photos of her that those thieving soldiers had taken in hidden in my room.” He had those photos hidden deep where the guards could never find them and did not have time to retrieve them before escaping. Those photos Tzeitel had been so worried about all those years ago? They still exist, a few of the soldiers shared them with others before Colt killed the bastards. And Clonestone managed to get them. “Let me see what you got.”

Coral opened her bag and used her water ability to hold up a few pictures, some of Tzeitel, others of Klaire, Evie, and some other girls. She apparently kept pictures of everyone. There was even an image of James, but he had a pissed off expression and his fist was coming toward the camera. “Oh, oops, that one is my personal favorite.” She giggled and hid the James image.

Clonestone stared at the photos, forgetting that Coral was even there as he did his thing. After he finished he tossed the soiled square of gauze into the water and fixed his pants.

Coral splashed that part of the water right back onto Clonestone as she put the pictures away. “Asshole!”

Clonestone frowned and flicked the gauze on the ground. He went to check on Bella.

She just splashed him again and followed. “Your human is all wet, Bella! He’s gonna give you a bath!” Coral called.

Bella whined and shifted in place, looking up at Clonestone. Indeed, he was dripping wet thanks to Coral now.

“You don’t need another bath yet, Bella.” Clonestone glared at Coral.

Bella grunted and tried to scratch at her bandaged side.

“Hey, don’t do that! You’ll open it!” Coral sputtered.

Clonestone gently stopped her from scratching and very gently scratched around the wound so it would itch less without damaging the stitches or slow healing.

Coral was surprised at how gentle he was with Bella, but did not comment for once. “We should probably get moving before those MegaCorp scum catch up.” She explained.

Bella’s tail wagged at the scratching.

Clonestone took off his wet shirt and threw it into the sea. He gently scooped Bella up in his arms. “I know this area… I have a lair only a few miles away.”

“Cool,” Coral said and followed him.

Bella squirmed a little until she was comfortable, glancing around as her tail wagged a little. Seeing what she assumed was a squirrel during the walk, she barked toward it.

Clonestone found his lair, it was literally a hole in the ground that smelled like death when he lifted the trap door. There was quite a lot of room in it though for the three of them, especially when the torture rack was propped against the wall. It was well-stocked with food and other supplies too. Clonestone got Bella a bowl of water and food and tried to get her to take her pill hidden in a biscuit.

Bella sniffed at the biscuit and turned her head away, making a grumbling sound. She did not want her medicine!

Coral looked around, not minding the smell since she actually couldn’t smell. Her nose was just for show, after all. She found a partially clean spot to sit on. “Gonna need to use a better trick than that, Cloney. Something with a scent that’ll overpower the pill’s scent.”

Clonestone found a pouch of peanut butter and coated the biscuit holding the pill with the peanut butter before offering it to Bella again.

Bella lifted her head and sniffed at the biscuit again before taking it in her mouth and eating, even the pill. The moment she finished, she drank some water and got comfortable. Healing from her injury was taking a lot of energy out of her.

“Smart man,” Coral giggled and formed a chair out of her water, swinging her legs absently. “So, when ya wanna find someone to play with? Bella is gonna need time to heal.”

Clonestone got some clothes from his supplies and got dressed in clean clothes that were not from MegaCorp. “I want someone right now.” He said. “I know where prostitutes hang out, easy pickings.”

“And there will be men looking for them, right?” Coral grinned. “Two birdies, one stoney!”

Bella rolled her eyes at the horrid joke.

“Some of them are men.” Clonestone shrugged. He would prey on both, women were usually just easier to overpower.

Coral’s water rippled all over her, as her, and she tilted her head. “Well, which you goin’ for tonight?” She asked and watched Bella. The dog was so cute when she slept.

“Whatever I can get.” Clonestone said. “Then I’m going to start looking for Tzeitel.”

“I can actually do some looking around for Tzeitel while you play,” Coral admitted and grinned. “I’m also gonna get some dog food for Bella.”

“I wish I could use the lair in the Morgan Hills Forest.” Clonestone sighed. It was where he had Tzeitel and twelve others. If he went there he would be recaptured. “I’m going to steal a car on my way to get a hooker.” He pushed the trapdoor open.

“You do that,” Coral said as she slid out ahead of him once the trap door was open. “I’ll tell ya what I find.” And with that, she was gone.

Clonestone went out and stole a Kia. He traded with license plates and tooled around until he found some desperate looking people on a street corner. His lip curled.

Coral would do a good bit of research on her own, even getting to torture a few men along the way, before finally returning with the dog food for Bella.

The man on the rack was screaming as Coral returned with the dog food. Clonestone looked up at Coral. “Find anything interesting?”

“A little, but yer not gonna like it,” Coral said, ignoring the man on the rack as she found a clean bowl and gave Bella a little food. “There you go, sweetie.” Standing up, she got to watching. “We’re gonna have to travel a few states to even get near where she is. And…very North.”

“Where is she?” Clonestone asked, taking a red hot butter knife from the camp stove.

Coral nibbled on a snack she got while out. “Connecticut from what they told me. They’ll probably keep moving, though. She’s with all her little friends.” She explained and pet Bella.