The Enemy Beside Me + The Liar Beside Me (Book 1 and 2)

Chapter 25

NOW THAT WE ARE BACK IN OUR ROOM, Eien goes for a bath. I yell that he should've taken his towel with him. He says he can manage. Of course, who needs a towel when you can dry yourself?

I, on the other hand, decide to lie down. I'm in no mood to eat as the three had cooked too many servings. And I say this as a boy who eats a lot. Noritaka had mostly baked because that's what he loves doing. When we all praised him, he blushed so hard that he almost electrocuted Fumihiro.

The anorak turned into a tiny bird and flew away in an instant, dropping his plate. I wish I'd snapped a photo, but then again, we all wanna be discreet. As much as I wouldn't want to admit it to myself, we all need each other if we're going to keep this gift thing secret. Who else can you trust but kids like you who have no idea what the government will do once they find out what you can do?

Everything is great. Not only am I healing and have a nice bed, I recently contacted an agency and gave them my answer. Yeah, I'd be delighted to be a model for their company. It's the same old thing. I'll wear their clothes; they'll take photos of me and use my images to promote their clothing line. I didn't even have to audition.

I should call Uncle and tell him what's been going on with me. I'm sure he's got great news too.

Scrolling through my contacts, my eyes land on Mum's number. I wonder if I should give her a bell. Maybe next time, after this call with Ally. I tap on his name.

I whistle as I wait for him to pick it up, and then Eien whistles with me. We do this for about a minute until Ally finally answers my call. 'Thank God, you still know how to operate a mobile!' I blurt out, disappointed that I have to cut off my whistling duet with Eien.

'Jax...' Ally's voice breaks. 'I...something happened.'

I sit up straight. I grip my phone as I brace myself. Ally doesn't cry like this, even if no one's looking. 'What's going on?' I wanna cuss myself for being too direct, but my heart beats too fast, I can't think properly.

'It's Haru,' he whispers, as if he cannot bear to say her name.

'What about her?'

The sound of water running in the bathroom becomes louder than his breathing. 'There's a complication. It's either her...or the twins. I chose her. It wasn't easy, Jax. But she wants me to choose our twins. I don't know what to do anymore.'

My breath catches in my throat. My hands become so soft that I almost drop the mobile. Ally's voice echoes too far, as though he were at the end of a tunnel. The strange words of his news. The opening of a door. The question if I'm still here.

'What are you...' I clamp my mouth with my hand. He said he didn't know what to do. And yet that's the first thing I've decided to ask? Stupid, insensitive me. 'Where are you?'

He tells me the hospital address, and I know I should say reassuring words, but really...what can empty words offer to him?

'Who was it?' Eien inquires as I end the call. The school's dressing gown is quite large for him. He goes to my bed and seems to attempt to hold my hand but decides against it.

'Weren't you listening?'

He shakes his head. 'I do not listen unless I need to. I consider every call a private matter.'

So he can choose when to activate his enhanced listening. Like lightning, the solution strikes my brain so suddenly. I know this is an abuse of his gift, but I'm desperate to help Haru and Ally.

'Eien, I need your help.'

* * * * * *

'Why children? Why is it always them?' I have the urge to turn off my mobile or deactivate Cupcake for a while, but it seems Haru's family do not care about Eien and me. They're huddled in a corner, weeping and asking each other why this has to happen.

Haru's grandfather protested that they should save the twins instead. 'It's what she'd want to,' he said, followed by, 'Who will carry our name but that boy! We can never know if Haru will conceive another child after this.' I bit the soft side of my cheek to keep myself from screaming that Haru deserved to live too.

The corridor of the hospital is quiet. Only a few patients are walking with their nurses. It's strange. How can everything appear normal when someone I know is on the brink of death?

A team of medical professionals is deciding whether to save Haru or her twins. Behind the door of the operating room, nothing will ever be the same for my uncle.

Ally sits far away from us, his hands on his ears, barring every sound. He isn't crying, but I see blood crusted on his knuckles. If a nurse offers to treat his wound, he'll refuse. He'll refuse any help unless his family is safe in his arms.

'Eien, please...' I whisper. 'He knows what you are.'

The kid blinks and stares at me sympathetically, a hint of hesitation as he says, 'I can only heal, Mister Evans. I can't resurrect.'

My heart shoots through my ribcage. 'What are you saying?'

'I sense,' he lowers his voice even though he's already whispering, 'that one of the twins is already gone.'

Is it the boy or the girl? I shake that question off. 'Then save Haru. My uncle has chosen her. Please, do something.'

Eien chews his lips. He averts his gaze. 'I can turn invisible and stay invisible whilst healing her. But that'll take so much energy from me. It's much preferred if I could heal her without anyone guarding her.' He nods in Ally's direction. 'Sir Evans can do that. He could tell them to give him and his wife some time alone before he could give them his final decision. And when he's alone, I can infiltrate.'

I nod. 'That's a great idea.'

'It is. However, given the circumstances, I can't guarantee that I'll succeed. They might provide your kind uncle only a few minutes or so, and as someone who's been healed by me, I know you are aware that I will need at least half an hour. Still, I will try my best.'

'Oh God, oh God...' I bow my head, raking my fingers through my hair. 'We can try. Please. I know Uncle will buy you time. Let's do it. For him, please. I can't bear to see him like this.'

Every second that passes by, Haru's life is slipping from our grasp.

'You do not understand. If I fail, if I do not completely fix her, she either dies or she'll live but in a worse state.' He pauses. Guilt and sorrow bubble in his voice. 'She may never wake up again.'