Ghosts

Chapter 9

When Carmina passed through the gates with three children and one Mai Takoda-Seed missing three hours ago, Thomas knew in his gut that something was horribly amiss. Mai's father, Jacob was up in an animated rage making multiple attempts to leave the grounds in search of his daughter after the Twins reportedly took her. It took Thomas, Mr. Rye, and about four others to restrain the man before he settled down. Thomas could relate to Seed's turmoil; he would have gone in search of Mai without a second thought, just as she had gone in search for him but he was torn between a sense of duty, responsibility and his own personal interests. It was his duty to protect and help the people of Prosperity, but Mai was his Captain and closest friend, and he owed it to her to go look for her.

The sun began to descend further and further as the hours ticked by and still no sign of Mai. Thomas' uneasiness continued to grow as he stood along the steps of the main building, the others inside deliberating their next move, if any.

"Fuck this." a male voice growled vehemently from inside.

Thomas turned around, barely stepping out of the way in time as Jacob Seed went storming past him towards the gate. Thomas followed suit, not knowing if he should say anything; all he knew was that if Seed was going, then so was he. Commotion up on the wall gave reason for the two men to pause, as people scrambled back and forth.

"It's her!"

"Mai is back! Open the gate!"

Jacob seemed to know Thomas was following him, as he turned his head over his shoulder, looking relieved. Thomas simply nodded in acknowledgement as the two men darted for the gate, waiting anxiously for them to part. Agonizingly slow, they began to open, revealing the silhouette of Mai's figure. As she stepped forward once and then another, like there were cinder block attached to her feet. As her face and the rest of her body came into the light, they could see why. Her face was all sorts of purples, blues and reds. You could see the streak of dried blood descending from her nose down to the very tip of her chin.

The others must've gathered behind them because he could hear the audible gasps of Carmina and Kim. Mai continued her approach towards her father and himself. Her father reached his hands out to her, but was almost afraid to touch her for fear of hurting her.

"Little pup." he murmured, "What happened?"

Mai made a sickening noise with her mouth before coughing out a spool of blood, culminating around the corners of her lips.

"The Twins wanted me to join up with them. I don't think they liked my answer."

Mai began to wobble, reaching out for something to grab. Thomas acted quickly, throwing his arms under hers. She slumped into his body as he and her father attempted to get her to stand.

"They're coming." she wheezed, "They gave me a head start to warn you."

She cocked her head up, her eyes leveling with his own. He was enraged as he look upon her in closer inspection. Her nose was definitely broken, blood vessels in her eyes hemorrhaged, and two deep cuts that would need to be treated right away. One under her left eye and one at the corner of her mouth.

"This is my fault." she let her tough guise act drop for a moment.

Thomas had to push aside his own anger to assure her that this was just not the case. Mai didn't need to disclose that she felt as if she carried the most guilt out of anyone here. Thomas could see it in the way she walked, in how she carried herself. Anything that happened, she had always blamed herself for somehow being a part of it. He placed his hands on her shoulders, gently shaking her back to her senses.

"Cap, look at me. None of this is your fault." he uttered.

He tried to share some of that own confidence with himself but they were nowhere near being ready to take on a force like the Highwaymen, especially on such short notice. You could see the fear in the other resident's eyes as they lingered on Mai's words.