What a waste

Storm arrived at his room with Ellie still in his arms. He let her down on the bed, squatted in front of her, looking into her eyes. "I'm sorry you have to go through all of that," he uttered.

Ellie shook her head. "Don't be. It wasn't your fault," she said, staring back at him. "You don't look okay. Why are your eyes like this?" She added a question. It had been bothering her ever since she laid eyes on him in the cell.

The smile that showed up on his face after the question dropped from her lips terrified her. "Don't worry about them. They'll be alright soon." Storm responded to her question, then stood up from his squatting position as all traces of that smile vanished from his face. "Stay here and wait for me. There is something I have to do. I'll be back."

When Ellie nodded with an "alright" response, he turned away from her and started toward the door.