Mission Cure

CHAPTER THIRTY TWO - M:FAC/3 - Charlie

CHARLIE

"Sweetie, those pieces are way too big for little kids!" Beth laughed and took the knife from Charlie.

He shrugged. "I like cake."

"Then make the pieces smaller," she whispered. "So, we can eat the leftovers later after everyone leaves!"

They laughed together. Charlie gave her a quick kiss and went to check on the kids.

There were over fifty people in the living room. He had to weave through the crowd on his way to the bedroom where ten boys were wearing blankets like capes and taking turns jumping off the bed with their cardboard swords stretched into the air.

"It's time to sing Happy Birthday!" he told the twins.

They cheered.

"Can I wear my costume?" Oren asked.

"Sure!" Charlie told him, patting his head and gesturing toward the kitchen.

Someone was turning off the lights, and everyone gathered around the table where Oren and Oliver took seats in front of their respective cakes. One vanilla, one chocolate. And all around were smiling faces aglow with the light of the candles. Friends and family coming together to celebrate life.

Charlie smiled as he sang. Beth leaned into him and wrapped an arm around his back. Everything was perfect.

"Dad," Dreary's voice called from far away.

He frowned and looked around. Where was she?

"Dad! Wake up!"

The faces darkened. The room lost its color then its sound, every solid object blurred into mere particles.

And all he could think was... please don't make me leave.

Charlie opened his eyes. A blurry image of Dreary came into view. It sharpened when he blinked a few times. She smiled.

"Dad!" Her arms wrapped around his neck in a tight hug.

He felt confused, but he hugged her back. Had he dreamed everything? The Voids, Jim, getting bit and tied to a chair? Then he noticed he was still tied to a chair.

"Oh," he sighed, realizing it had been real. He'd gone insane and thought the most horrible things. Had he hurt the boys?

Panic gripped Charlie's chest. He squirmed away from Dreary. "Where are the twins?" he asked, eyes wide.

"They're fine. They're with Roslava and Adrian. She had her baby. It was a girl," Dreary told him. "I'm so glad you're okay!"

"Am I okay?" he looked down at the tape holding him in place.

Jace seemed to be limping as he came over with a knife and cut the straps.

"What happened to you?" Charlie asked him, rubbing his wrists when his hands were free. Then he noticed his wrists and neck and shoulders were all bandaged and asked, "What happened to me?"

Jace smiled. "You did all that."

"Did I?

"You were pretty determined," Jace added, taking a seat on the opposite sofa. "And I got stabbed by one of the Voids, but I'm fine."

Dreary went to the kitchen and returned with a hot cup of chamomile tea. She handed it to Charlie.

He closed his eyes in ecstasy before taking his first sip. "You were always my favorite kid."