Page 36 of Inhuman Nature

“Is there anything else I can do for you right now? I’lldab some Savlon on the cuts and we’ll be done.”

“Can I… Can I stay here until tonight?” Shaun sounded so pitiful that Rake wanted to ask him to stay forever.

“Of course.” There was no way Rake would let Shaun leave in the state he was in. He needed to speak to DJ so they could figure out what they should do.

As if Shaun could sense the direction of his thoughts, he asked, “How’s DJ?”

“He’s all right. Still in bed. Deej is not an early riser.” Rake snorted. “Unlikesomeone,” he added, injecting as much humour as possible into his voice so that Shaun could tell he was kidding.

Shaun managed a quirk of his lips. Rake set about dabbing the healing gel over the cuts with a bit of cotton wool. Shaun didn’t so much as wince.

Rake scrutinised Shaun. “Do you have any other injuries?”

Shaun seemed to consider the question before shaking his head.

“Forgive me if I don’t believe you. If you’re hurt elsewhere, let me see. At least let’s get you up off the floor.”

Shaun acquiesced, letting Rake lead him to the living room. Before going in, Shaun paused at the doorway, staring towards the closed curtains.

After a bit of prompting, Rake deposited Shaun on the sofa before wrapping him up in DJ’s favourite cosy blanket. He didn’t miss how Shaun pressed his nose into the material.

“Do you want any water or a cup of tea?” Rake asked.

“No, thank you.”

“I feel like I should get you some water.”

Shaun smiled softly. “If you want.”

Now that he was more awake, a few things occurred to Rake as he ran the tap. Shaun had made it up two flights of stairs in a few seconds flat, a feat which was impossible. Shaun’s eyes had bled, and he didn’t seem to find it unusual or disturbing. And—this one the most concerning out of a list of things that were, on the whole, rather alarming—Shaun hadn’t been to their flat before. Neither Rake nor DJ had given him their address at any point.

And yet, here Shaun was.

Rake scrutinised Shaun, who’d thrown his head back on the top of the sofa and was staring at the ceiling. “How did you know where we lived?” he asked.

Shaun turned his head. “I’m sorry.”

When Shaun said nothing more, Rake sighed. “Look, Shaun, I have no issue with you being here. I’m glad you came to us. But you can’t deny there’s something strange about this whole thing.”

“Why don’t we wait until DJ gets up? I promise I’ll explain everything. It’ll be easier only having to do it once.”

Rake brought the water over and placed it on the coffee table. “Drink,” he ordered.

Shaun eyed the glass like it might jump at him.

“I haven’t done anything to it. If that worries you, then why would you come here?” Rake couldn’t help but let his frustration show.

Shaun’s eyes widened. “No, I don’t think anything like that!” he protested a little too loudly for that time in the morning.

“Then you ought to drink the water. I should put some toast on, too.” Rake needed something to occupy his hands.

“I’m okay. Thank you, though,” Shaun said. “And again, I’m so sorry for waking you up.”

“What happened? You ran from the club, and now you’re turning up like this?” Rake gestured to Shaun’s… everything. “Something is going on, Shaun. I’m owed even a partial explanation.”

“I’ll tell you,” Shaun said, then tilted his head. “DJ’s awake.”

Rake couldn’t hear DJ moving around at all. He went into their bedroom, seeing DJ stretching his arms out and searching the empty half of the bed.