Imaginary - Book 2 - Chapter 40 - Reunion (Patreon)

“Tamera! We were so worried! Are you okay?” Olivia exclaimed as she burst into the room a few minutes later, followed shortly after by Kyle, Amelia, Pam and Mac.

“No…” I whispered, trying to keep a quiver out of my voice. “Everything’s terrible right now. I’ve been trying to hold myself together, but I could really use a hug.”

“Of course!” Olivia exclaimed as she slid onto the couch and wrapped her arms around me. I hadn’t really had much time to process everything in the short time that Kira and I had been running for our lives, or even when the response team had swept into the area and managed to evacuate us; However, once I’d finally had a chance to sit down, and start processing everything, I quickly devolved into a blubbering mess.

Of course, Agent Hawkins just stood in the doorway, impassively watching as I cried my eyes out. Thankfully, I managed to finish bawling just before everyone else arrived so they didn’t have to watch me break down.

I didn’t harbour any illusions that I’d be able to hide the fact I’d been crying from everyone; I probably looked like a total mess after everything that happened, but at least they didn’t have to watch me break down. 

“What happ…” Amelia started, before Kyle interrupted her.

“Where’s my sister?” he asked firmly.

“I don’t know, they brought her down here before I even got off the truck. If I had to guess, probably back in one of the examination rooms, where the doctor and the medic are doing their best to stabilize her,” I replied, waving weakly at the door.

“I’m going to check on her,” he exclaimed, turning towards the door before Pam stepped in the way and placed a hand firmly on his chest.

“No, you’re not,” she declared. “I know you’re worried, but if you go running around the clinic there’s a chance you might interupt an important medical procedure, and put your sister’s life at risk. Just sit down, and wait with everyone else. I’m sure someone will come inform us about Kira’s condition as soon as she’s stable. Sit down and try to relax.”

“But…” Kyle started.

“No buts. If you’re worried about your sister the best thing you can do is leave the staff alone and let them work. Sit!” Pam snapped.

We all watched as a range of emotions flashed across Kyle’s face. Fear, despair, and then anger. For a fleeting moment I was afraid that he might actually take a swing at Pam, but in the end his face fell, a look of despair came over him, and he slowly stumbled over to the couch on the opposite side of the room.

Amelia followed him, and when Kyle finally sat down, and lowered his face into his hands, she sat next to him, gently rubbing his back.

“So what happened back there exactly?” Olivia asked quietly, once everyone had settled down. “We caught snippets from the radio in the bureau sedan that we met up with, and we heard your phone call, but other than that… we don’t know much.” She glanced over at Pam and narrowed her eyes. “Unfortunately, no matter how many times we asked, no-one would tell us what was going on.”

“Well, most of it’s a blur to me, it all happened so fast… but I’ll tell you what I can remember,” I said, before taking a deep breath to steady myself. “After we were cut off from the alley Kira and I tried to retreat up the street, and find another side path, but before we could that maniac appeared and attacked us. We tried to get out of the way, but…” my voice hitched, and I couldn’t help but to let out a small sob. 

“It’s okay,” Olivia said, patting my hand, “your safe now.”

I nodded, and took a moment to calm myself before continuing. “I managed to dodge, but it hit Kira just below the shoulder, and took her arm clear off. When the Sparks distracted Grey I dragged Kira into an alcove, to try and triage the wound,” I explained. “Unfortunately, that lunatic showed up before I could finish. I thought he was going to kill us, then an there, but before he could Tyberius showed up and launched him clear across the street.”

“Just out of nowhere?” Amelia asked. “You didn’t know he was back?”

“I had no idea,” I replied helplessly. “This was the first time I’d seen or heard anything from him since everyone disappeared two months ago. Actually, from the few words I managed to exchange with him, I kind of got the impression he was there for Grey…”

“What? Why?” Olivia exclaimed.

“I have no idea,” I said with a shrug. “He rushed off to fight Grey before I got a chance to ask. I guess I’ll just have to hope he’ll show up and have a proper talk with me before he disappears again.”

“And… my sister was…” Kyle choked out.

“Alive. She wasn’t in great shape, but I got the impression she wasn’t in critical condition when the response team arrived. They had a medic with them, who performed emergency medical procedures, before loading us both up in the back and sweeping us back here,” I said. “They rushed Kira into the clinic as soon as we arrived, and I haven’t seen her since, so I don’t know how she’s doing. Sorry.”

“You have nothing to be sorry for!” Amelia declared. “You didn’t ask to be stuck in that situation, and even when the worst happened, you did your absolute best to help Kira. She might have bled out and died out there in the street if it wasn’t for you.”

“And maybe she wouldn’t have been hurt at all if I hadn’t been there, or we’d split up or something,” I muttered. 

“Hey, none of that,” Mac exclaimed. “The only one to blame for this tragedy is Grey.”

I away from him, but still nodded. “What happened to Grey anyways?” I asked after a minute. “I thought I saw him collapse before we left.”

“You did, and, we don’t know,” Pam replied bruskly. “When the response team went to apprehend him they found him collapsed in the middle of the street, unconscious.”

I couldn’t help but glance over at her. I’d seen at least part of the fight between Grey and Tyberius, and how much of a beating my friend had given the guy. The bastard deserved everything he got, but if Tyberius had pushed too hard…

“Don’t worry, the jackass is alive. He’s got a couple cuts and bruises, maybe a broken bone, but he’s fine otherwise. One of the first tricks he learned was the ability to create armor on command, so if you don’t catch him off guard it’s extremely hard to hurt him. You’d need quite a lot of strength in order to punch through that,” Pam said. “They’re currently escorting him to a maximum security facility, for interrigation.”

“Don’t you mean to interview him?” Amelia asked.

“Look, I’m not going to sugar coat the situation for you kids. What Grey did is considered an act of domestic terrorism, and he’s strong enough to break out of almost any facility if we take our eyes off him. He’s not getting a nice calm interview, not after what he did,” Pam replied.

“Right…” Amelia muttered. I could see she wasn’t quite comfortable with what Pam had said, but it was obvious she wasn’t going to argue either.

“Speaking of the response team… Agent Hawkins, if you want to return to your team there are a couple of unmarked cars upstairs. Mac and I can handle protection duty.”

“I appreciate the offer, but we do have a truck upstairs,” Hawkins replied with a grin. “Besides, I should probably wait for my partner. The commander will probably want him to report on the girl’s medical situation when we get back.”

“That girl has a name,” Kyle growled. 

“And I’m afraid that I didn’t get a chance to learn it. I was too busy rushing her here to get medical support,” Hawkins snapped back.

Pam turned, and scowled at the other agent until Hawkins threw up her hands. “Well, since I’m not need, or particularly wanted here, I’ll go do a check of the main entrence and make sure that it’s secure while I wait. You have fun in here,” Hawkins declared as she turned and left.

“That woman is a menace,” I growled.

“She has a sharp tongue and says what’s on her mind,” Pam replied quietly. “I wouldn’t call her a menace.”

“You’re not an Empowered, and you didn’t hear what she said earlier,” I muttered under my breath. I cough Olivia giving me a inquisitive look, and shook my head slightly. Not the time or place to tell my friends what I’d learned.

“What was that,” Pam asked. Thankfully she’d been a little too far away to hear. 

“Nothing,” I replied, raising my voice again. “I’m just hoping that Kira is okay.”

“If you say so,” Pam replied. It didn’t look like she believed me fully, but I was okay with that. 

I’d already had a long day and I really wanted to put off talking to Pam about the combat tactics the BEI had put together for different Empowered people. It was still something that I felt the need to know, just not now. 

For now all I could think about was how Kira was doing, and hoping that this horrid day would soon come to an end. I’d already had more than enough.