Dawnpoint

Chapter 35

The corridors were bustling with activity despite it being early hours of the morning, with nurses passing each other coffee and updating the new shift before they grabbed their jackets and rushed home. He hadn't managed to get much sleep between the paranoia and interruptions of his vital checks. Kato had stayed by his side the entire night, explaining everything that had happened since he had been gone and how they had managed to get the chemicals with the help of her family friend.

But as he opened the door, everything else washed away as he laid eyes on the three people that held an extremely important place in his heart. He let out a small chuckle as he walked over to the chair Liliana was perched on and hugged them tightly.

"I'm so glad you're okay," he said, pulling away from them, and forcing Phoenix into a hug as well. "All of you."

"We're still adjusting," Phoenix said when he let go. "There's so many people."

Liliana grinned and caught his attention again. "He should be waking up soon."

Not once in his life had Micah been relieved to see someone in a hospital bed. Oryn looked peaceful. He finally had proper bandages on his wound and an IV in his arm to give him the correct fluids and medication he needed. He walked over to him as Kato leant against the wall with Phoenix and started a small conversation with him and Liliana.

He trailed his fingers across the bandage and smiled as Oryn stirred and slowly blinked his eyes open. His eyelashes brushed against his cheeks as he wiped his face with a heavy hand and yawned.

"Micah?" he said as he looked at the person hovering over him, expecting it to be a nurse or another one of Liliana's checks he was still alive despite the heart monitor indicating he was.

"Hey," Micah whispered and slipped his hand into Oryn's. "How are you feeling?"

He shrugged and glanced at his chest. "Weird."

He nodded and sat on the edge of the bed, facing the others as he continued holding Oryn's hand. "Have Lawrence and Crawford talked to you yet?"

Phoenix and Liliana grimaced. "Yeah," they said in unison.

"They made us sign something," Oryn added. "For some money."

Micah hummed. "That money can help you all have the life you want. You can get a house, visit places, buy whatever you want."

"Within reason," Kato joked. "But we can help you with anything you need or want to know."

"Has anyone contacted our parents yet?" Liliana asked, lowering their head, and played with the hem of the shorts Kato had borrowed them.

She shook her head. "I'll check."

As she left, the others stayed silent. The tension rose between them as they thought about seeing their family. The inevitable situation weighed heavy on their hearts, wondering if they would even recognise them or vice versa; there was no doubt in Micah's mind that it wouldn't be difficult for them to adjust. He was lucky: he had grown up here. But the others had developed with the harsh nature of the other world raising them and had no idea how to live without desperation or constant survival.

"I don't want to leave you guys," Oryn murmured, clinging on tighter to Micah's hand. "Our parents are practically strangers to us..."

Phoenix grunted and crossed his arms. "As much as I love my mums, I don't think I'm ready to see them yet."

"What if mine hate me?" Liliana whispered, clenching their fists. "What if they don't want me anymore."

"I'm sure that's not true," Micah interjected, sending them a small smile. "You're their child. They searched for you for years. They're going to love you no matter what."