Knights of the Grey City

Chapter 45 - DEPARTURE

Knock, knock.

I winced. "Come in."

I wasn't sure whether to feel relieved or worried when Eli entered, waving to me cheerfully. "Hey. You're looking much better."

"Yeah," I said, adjusting my hoodie over my cast. "Feels good to be back in regular clothes, anyway."

"I bet. You can't even tell that you're actually a mummy under there."

I scowled at him. I was sitting on the side of the bed, scrolling through the messages on my phone with my good hand. It had only been a few hours since both my family and Katie had taken off. Esther had left a veritable novel in my phone, trying to prod me into telling her what was really going on.

The phone suddenly lit up with a call: Joshua Huang. I tapped the answer button and ignored Eli's curious look. "Hey."

"Hey," Huang replied, sounding uncertain. "How are you doing?"

"Good, I guess. I'm getting out of here today."

"Oh, that's good news. And you're planning to stay in Toronto?"

"Yeah," I said.

"Katie was telling me your family really wanted you back in Ottawa. Have they left yet?"

"No... they're going to come back and see me before they head out." I shot a glance at Eli, who was now ambling around the room, poking at the dying flowers near the bedside.

"Good, then, there's still some time." He hesitated. "You should probably go with them."

"Uh, what?" I asked. "How does that make any sense?"

"Camilo, it's not like you're going to be that much use to us until you're all healed up," he pointed out. "If there ever was a time to take a vacation from the Grey City, this is it. We're not facing any imminent invasions."

"I know, but... I want to stay in Toronto." Eli shot me a glance, raising an eyebrow. "I'd rather stick around, is all."

"If it's easier for you, you should go," Huang insisted.

"Well, I'm not going to," I snapped.

"Why not?"

I forced myself to take a step back. Really—why not? What was so bad about taking a break and staying with my parents for a bit? They could feel relieved that I wasn't in any danger and drop this whole stupid argument. I was already strictly off of work for three weeks, so it wasn't like I had any commitments.

But the thought of leaving filled me with dread.

I let out a harsh sigh. "I just... I just don't."

"Okay," Huang said. "In that case, just let Katie or me know if you need anything. And if you end up in the Grey City without us, just lay low."

I groaned. "That better not happen."

"It probably won't... but just in case." Thankfully, he didn't keep pushing the matter, and we hung up. Eli turned and raised his eyebrows at me.

"Just a friend," I grunted, pushing myself off the bed. "He was telling me to go to Ottawa, too. Don't know what it is with you people."

"I don't know what anybody else's reasons are, but I just don't want you shuffling around the apartment and complaining all day," he quipped. I shot him a look and he shut up.

All my stuff (the one backpack of it) had been put together, and it was time to head down and check out. Moving was still quite a task: twisting or lifting things still seemed out of the question. Eli graciously picked up the backpack and matched my snail's pace as I started downstairs to check out.