Light Amidst the Chaos

Ch 8

Some things are just unavoidable in life. Stubbing your toe, losing your keys, misplacing your phone, and even spilling your coffee. Things just happen without you realizing it's going to happen and now you have to face the music. Although, questioning a 4 year old about a traumatic event is far worse than spilling a cup of coffee.

I know Maverick is our closest lead to figuring out who was with Levin and why my sister's clothes and crystal were taken. My sister isn't alive, it's impossible. I saw her charred and bloodied on the floor, she couldn't have lived through that. Besides, even if she was she would be in a vegetative state.

The Moldavite Charlotte wore around her neck being stolen is alarming, highly alarming. It was passed down throughout the generations on my dad's side to the oldest daughter. My sister was extremely attached to it. Now it's gone and is possibly being used as an energy source to destroy everything in this world.

"Okay buddy, I have a question." Garfield asked, sitting next to Maverick on my bed.

I figured Jason is way too emotionally involved with Maverick, and so am I. We figured it would be best if Garfield talked to him so we wouldn't lose our cool.

"Yeah?" Maverick asked, looking at Garfield.

Maverick looked just like his mom. My heart ached everytime I saw his smile because it resembled Charlotte's.

"A few days ago, who was the one that kept you safe before Loreli showed up?" Garfield asked, studying the small boys face.

Maverick shrugged, "Some man in a blue jacket." He looked down at his red socks. "He sang to me like my mommy does."

Okay, so it was a man.

"Did you see his face?" Garfield asked, looking to me and then back at Maverick.

The small boy shook his head. "He had a mask on, but his hand was covered in pictures."

A man with hand tattoos who sang in German. I had no idea any man with hand tattoos who sang in German.

"What did the pictures look like?" I asked.

"A big t." Maverick replied.

A man with a hand tattoo of a cross who sang in German. I knew of no one who fit that description, but the hand tattoo is a good start.

"You did great, Maverick." Garfield told him, ruffling his hair.

Maverick climbed off the bed and hugged my leg. I bent down and hugged him back before motioning for him to go play. I felt so lost, I had no idea where to begin. We're already combing through every power grid in this area and the surrounding areas trying to see if Levin is coming this way. Now I have to try and rattle my brain to figure out this whole man with a cross tattoo.

Maverick was now my responsibility. I love my nephew more than anything in this entire world and I would kill myself protecting him. I would give anything for him to have a future. He's my number one priority and if he's being targeted, they'll have to destroy me to get to him. Why wouldn't they have killed him along with the rest of the family if he was targeted to begin with? That's the part that doesn't totally add up.

I sat down on the bed and ran a hand through my hair. I felt a hand on my back and I looked over and Garfield was softly grinning at me. He was like a little brother I never knew I needed. Maverick adored him and I can see why, he's the sweetest thing.

"I just don't know, Gar." I told him, flinging myself onto my back. "Why not kill him too? Obviously he saw everything, which means he's a witness."

Garfield sighed and laid down next to me. "I know, it's weird. What about his dad?"

I shook my head, "I think we can rule him out. He called me yesterday and gave condolences and told me he was all the way in Japan still. It was a facetime so I know he wasn't lying." I put my hands over my face and groaned. "God it would be so much easier if it were him!"

"Am I interrupting?" A voice said from the doorway.

"Not at all, Rach." Garfield replied.

I sat up and saw Rachel walk in with Kory. Rachel was a little sister and Kory was a big sister. Kory seems like she'll be the one to slowly fill in the gaps where Charlotte used to. Rachel is the little sister that I've always wanted. Plus, it seems like her and Gar really like each other.

Even knowing I had all this help at my fingertips, I still felt completely and utterly at a loss. Everything has just been happening so fast and I haven't processed everything. I had to be strong for Maverick and I don't like anyone seeing me cry.

"We just wanted to let you guys know that Dick took Conner and Jason out on a lead." Kory told us.

I quickly sat up. "What?!"

"But it's probably a false alarm!" Rachel quickly jumped in.

"And that's supposed to make me feel better?!" I jumped up from the bed. "That asshole!"

"Loreli, wait!" Kory called.

I ran out of the room and into the control room. I had to know where Dick, Jason, and Conner were going. I guess I can't be too pissed at Jason and Conner, I'm assuming it was Dick's idea to go. I get that I'm too close to this, but it's my battle to fight. If any one of them got hurt I would never forgive myself.

I was checking the power grids, there was nothing flagged. I started checking police dispatch, nothing flagged. I decided to check a few surveillance cameras in the city. The one by an abandoned apartment building was flagged. I zoomed in a little closer to find out why.

"Oh you son of a bitch." I mumbled, looking closer at the screen.

Levin was standing there, welding what looked like a casing. What the casing was for I couldn't make out. Another man appeared but the feed was in black and white so I couldn't see what he's wearing color wise. He was in a jacket and what appeared to be cargo pants. I had never seen him before, this guy was new.

"Loreli, listen to me. Let Dick handle this." Kory told me, appearing next to me.

"Jason's out there. No way in hell am I letting those idiots go against him alone." I snapped, watching the feed. I couldn't find Dick, Jason, or Conner.

Kory put a hand on my shoulder, "I'm telling you this because Maverick needs you. If something happened to you, his entire family would be gone." She gave my shoulder a gentle squeeze. "Let Dick handle this."

"But Jason." I replied, looking up at Kory.

Jason has been my rock, my best friend, my person. I wouldn't be able to make it through this without him at my side. I know Kory's right about Maverick, I can't leave him without at least one surviving relative. He needs me. I need him. I need Jason.

I've loved him since we were 15. He always took care of me, listened to all of my problems, and was my partner in crime. It started when I broke my ankle on a mission and he nursed me better. Ever since then I knew I wanted to be with him as more than a friend for the rest of my life. I've kept this a secret from everyone for 3 years.

"I know you do." She replied, smiling gently at me.

"How do you-"

"-The secret is safe with me." She promised, patting my shoulder.

"I need to get to him." I told Kory, quickly standing up and running out of the room.

"Loreli!" Kory yelled after me.

I ignored her and kept running to my room. I quickly slipped my costume on and ran out of Titans Tower. I needed to get to Dick, Jason and Conner. I lost my family once and I'll be damned if I lose them all over again.

Levin, this means war.