<br/><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: verdana;"><strong>Emily</strong></span><br/><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: verdana;"><strong>On the boat</strong></span><br/><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: verdana;"><strong>Getting cleaned up</strong></span><br/><br/><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: verdana;">It was handy that the shower was so small: it meant Emily didn’t need to balance.  Eventually blood stopped running out of her hair and she was able to wash the rest of herself.  Then she got out and leaned again the wall while she dried, patting her head carefully to avoid pulling the scab open and drenching everywhere in blood again.</span><br/><br/><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: verdana;">Well her hair would just have to stay a bit wet; it was warm enough down here at least…</span><br/><br/><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: verdana;">She put her bloodied party costume in the bin and went through to the bedroom to get dressed…sat on the edge of the bed…God, she was tired now…</span><br/><br/><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: verdana;">She lay down on the bed, head on the pillow, thinking she’d drop off instantly; but instead thoughts swirled round in her head.  </span><br/><br/><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: verdana;">Susan, who was with that big girl up there not here with her.  Why?  Well, they hardly knew each other really.  And somebody had to try and control that slightly mad Amazon, didn’t they?</span><br/><br/><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: verdana;">Did the Amazon even know what she wanted?  Her reasons for chasing after them didn’t make a lot of sense, really.  Did she belong anywhere?  It didn’t feel, somehow, as though she had a Family like Emily had…</span><br/><br/><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: verdana;">The Family would come round now, to the apartment; after a job they always did, to spend time with her, congratulate her, and explain how the world was a better place…it made her feel so good.</span><br/><br/><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: verdana;">Home.  She wanted to be home, really.  She’d like to take Susan home.  Or Chrissie.  </span><br/><br/><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: verdana;">She must get back to Chrissie.  Comb that long hair, teach her things…if not self-defence then something…or look up some judo on youtube and wing it…those robes they wore to do judo, with the big belt…JUST the big belt holding it closed…suppose she told Chrissie you only wore the robe, with nothing underneath?  At that age, she might believe her…what was that throw they did, right over the top?…a sacrifice?…yes, that was it…and just say it went a bit wrong and Chrissie didn’t go all the way over but instead landed right on top of her…</span><br/><br/><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: verdana;">Still dizzy but with a slight smile on her face, Emily finally fell asleep.</span><br/><br/>