Catalyst

Chapter 23

Warnings: Language, Violence

Chapter 23:
402 A.V; Month 11; Day 2

I knew it was late morning when I finally woke and rolled out of bed. No one had come to wake me so I was already assuming that breakfast was done and passed. I didn't even bother getting dressed. My t-shirt and shorts that I'd used as pajamas were fine. If it offended someone, they could jump out a window. I trudged down into the kitchen area. Flint and Klider were sitting on the couch, watching TV. Maxine, Ayal, and Sabre were nowhere in sight. Neither was Priam. Jamie was sitting at the kitchen table reading a paper, although the paper didn't really look like paper. He glanced up as I walked by.

I spied Andon and Storm sitting in the office area with the bookshelves. They seemed to be discussing something important in hushed voices.

"I saved you some breakfast," Jamie said, causing me to turn and look at him as he approached.

 "How did you sleep?"

"Just fine," I answered as he stepped by to uncover the plate with a fancy lid on it. He then lifted it into what looked like the microwave at Sabre's house, yet it was slightly different, a little thinner and sleeker. Jamie watched me for a moment probably because I was scowling slightly.

"You going to spoon feed me my breakfast too?" I asked. He glanced up at the microwave and back down at me. He took a deep breath and let it out.

"Look, my adrenalin was racing last night. Things aren't going the way I would have liked and you're now in the mouth of danger, Alloy. I've spent my life making sure you were safe, fed, and had a place to sleep. Now, I don't have that sense of accomplishment. We were thrown into this mess. We are in the lap of luxury, so this is me making sure you're okay." I felt bad for being snappy, but he hadn't said anything about Andon and that's who I was most concerned about.

When Jamie handed my plate back to me, I found a fork and decided to try and go sit with Storm and Andon. I really wanted to talk to the both of them and if they were in the same place at the same time, then I could kill two birds with one stone.

"Where are you going?" Jamie asked.

"Over here," I said and pointed towards Storm and Andon's direction.

"No, you're not," he stated.

"Yes, I am because I need to talk to them."

"Then anything you say can be said in front of me." To my dismay, he followed me right over to the table. Storm and Andon looked up as we sat down. Storm looked unbothered, but Andon instantly frowned.

"We'll continue this conversation some other time," he hissed to Storm and got up.

"But—," I started to say, however, Andon turned around with a searing look.

"Be quiet," he growled and turned away, leaving the room entirely. I sat there, feeling a lump rise in my throat. His words had felt like a slap. I looked back down at my plate and tried to keep my emotions in check.

"See," Jamie murmured, "He's not what you think." I bit my lips to keep my comment back and started to poke around my food. Storm had stayed where he was and was watching us intently. Jamie was eyeing him as well, like an intruder.

"Do you know how Reaper Virus works?" Storm asked him.

"No," Jamie stated in a brusque manner.

"Would I be able to speak to your sister in private?"

"No," he answered in the same tone, "She doesn't need any of you here. We'll be fine on our own like we always have been." Storms eyes were calculating behind his glasses. I stayed quiet, letting Storm work, even though Jamie's answer pissed me off.