<strong>Outside Cafe Georgio's, one week previously</strong><br/><br/>Theo gave the guy with the axe a look, "Come on, Bill...I got a strong vibe for this."  But he doesn't argue, and he ends up putting the can away when the stretcher came out.<br/><br/>The lines of the burns gave the first impression of ropes, and in a few places, there were definite curves to lend credence to that theory.  The more work she was able to do upon the wounds, however, the less likely that such methods became.  It seemed almost like some sort of whip, which was either made of pure fire or soaked in some violently flammable chemical and ignited.  All of it seemed to be the same type of weapon, but if it wasn't a sword or whip, what could it be?<br/><br/>Although the men clearly knew, they didn't want to talk about it.  Red was off in dreamland from the morphine and his terrible wounds, and Theo just looked deeply thoughtful, trying to figure things out.  As they got Red into the van, Bill, the man with the axe, grabbed some chemicals from the trunk of the sedan.  Even if Mary didn't look, the strong smells of ammonia and gasoline were near impossible to miss.<br/><br/>"They're getting stronger," Red said suddenly without warning, looking in Theo's general direction.  Theo reached down and grabbed his only hand, deep concern splashing over his face.  "Normal people just can't deal at all.  They just go up.  What if they find a way to amplify their power so that they can do that to us as well?"<br/><br/>"Just relax, man," Theo said to him, his voice gently quivering.  "We got this one.  They're getting stronger, but so are we.  I'll find a way to fix you up, good as new.  I promise."  Red smiled but held no belief, and his eyes closed.  Once they had Red in the van, Theo climbed in as well, keeping their hands entwined as his eyes started to moisten with tears.<br/><br/>A sudden whoosh came up from the alley, crackling flames and harsh smoke as Bill limped his way out.  He left the axe and canisters behind, moving over towards the passenger seat of the van.  "Let's get going."<br/><br/>