Recovery

Break-Out

A/N: Second last chapter. 

Alex sat on the sofa, listening to the announcements coming from the screen in front of them. 

Jay Dalmarta, Aven Dalmarta's cousin, has escaped from his prison cell. His whereabouts remain unknown. Any information will be rewarded. 

Alex felt her heart stop momentarily. It had had been two months since she had last seen Jay and he was arrested. She felt Kaiden's warm arms securely around her waist, trying to send her some sort of comfort and reassurance. And as much as Alex appreciated it, she didn't need it. She knew she could face him. 

She was stronger than this. She wasn't about to let this shred her to bits. She also had an upper hand. He would be weak from rotting in that cell and she knew he was a weak fighter, at least in comparison to Aven. 

She stood up, feeling five pairs of eyes burning into her. They were concerned eyes, she knew, but in that moment, they seemed scrutinising and disbelieving. She blinked back the sting of tears and tried to think rationally. It's not that they don't believe I can fight him, she reminded herself, they're just concerned that I'll, that I'll, freak out again. 

She ignored the burning stares and walked right out of the room to the balcony. She went to the edge and looked down, finally letting her tears fall. Just when she was starting to believe in herself, her friends stopped. Just when she finally thought that she could face him. Without her friends' support, however, what could she do? Nothing, she was powerless.

***

She didn't know how long she had been on the balcony for before she felt a light tap on the shoulder. She considered it to be Kaiden, for a moment, but Kaiden wouldn't tap her shoulder like that. So when she turned around, she knew exactly who was in front of her and she couldn't help but let out a quiet sob.

Jordan looked at her and hugged her, feeling guilt churn in his stomach. She was relying on him to support her and believe in her and he had given her just the opposite. They all had. 

"Alex-," Jordan started.

"No, Jordan. It's fine, really. You were just concerned. I get it. I'm not upset," Alex said, lying through her teeth.

"No, no, it's not fine. Whatever you need from us we're going to give it to you, okay? We're going to get rid of this Jay guy, alright?"

Alex nodded. "I know, Jordan, I know."