Consuming Fire

Chapter 53

It had been a very long night, but Joshua couldn't sleep. He and Ryo returned safely to the SSS compound, after which Ryo passed out and he let her angry brother take care of her. Joshua took the empty canister down to the hospital and Mark led him to a lab of sorts where he could run tests on it. It was lucky they had lots of resources and equipment there, or Joshua wouldn't have been able to try.

Joshua didn't know much about creating cures for poison, and it pained him to admit it. The only person he knew who might be able to help was someone he never wanted to speak to again.

But if there was a chance he could save Fearne, he'd do anything.

Mark told Joshua that they arrested both Alistair and Chevie and put them in containment where Mikayla was locked up. Alistair felt guilty about what he did to the soldier and didn't want to fight them, but Chevie was less enthusiastic. Regardless, they were both detained and Joshua asked a member of the SSS where he could find them. There were so many corridors within the compound that Joshua's head spun. Carrying a microscope, a laptop and anything else he could, he went into the containment ward and asked the security guard to let him in to see Chevie.

Joshua felt himself become cold at the sight of the man sitting on the ground in his cell. It was a well-furnished room, unlike those at ICE. Chevie looked up with a smile on his face.

"Can I help you?" he asked.

Joshua snorted and put his equipment down on the desk. "I don't know, can you?"

"I know it may seem like I'm this ... Prince Charming character, but looks can be deceiving. I know a lot about a lot of things. It's kind of my power."

"Oh really? I thought your power was fucking everyone over for your own selfish reasons."

Chevie chuckled. "You'd know all about that, wouldn't you Joshua?"

For a moment, Joshua looked away from his microscope and stared at Chevie. He used to think he was good at reading people. Most of them are either good or evil, and those in between hadn't decided where to turn to just yet. But Chevie was different. He knew more than he let on, but for everyone else he put on a show and pretended to wear his heart on his sleeve. How much did he really know?

But despite being furious with Chevie, Joshua suddenly realized he was right. If anyone knew the reason behind Chevie's actions, it was Joshua. Chevie did everything he could to save his father, his family, even if it meant sacrificing someone else. Joshua had sacrificed Jenny, Eli and Jack to keep Hunter's secret. 

That didn't stop him from being angry.

"You don't know what people will think of you when they find out," said Joshua. "They'll never forgive you."

Chevie nodded. "I know. That's why my father and I are leaving tomorrow."

"You're escaping your own compound?" He shook his head. "I don't think I've ever known a more cowardly act."

"You don't need me and my father here to remind you of what you lost. I'll stay for the funeral, but after that they'll likely put me on trial. I personally don't believe we deserve a trial. I did what I had to do, and it worked. I thought I'd be allowed at least some sympathy after I practically created this place, but I guess I'm not as valued as I thought. I have no other choice."

"We don't get to quit," said Joshua. "If you make a mistake, you do everything you can to make things right. You earn your forgiveness. I learned that the hard way."

Chevie looked pained for just a moment, then he got to his feet and brushed away the dust from his hands. "You're not here to interrogate me, are you?"

"Wow, you really are intelligent," spat Joshua.

"I want to help you try to save Fearne. It's the least I can do."

He tapped the microscope and wiped his hand over his face. "Go nuts."

Chevie sat down at the desk and leant his eye on the nozzle, twisting the dial and gazing into the lens for only three seconds before flipping open the laptop and quickly typing up a formula. A list of possible analysis began to upload on the side of the screen. "This poison is definitely a toxin, derived from a bacteria ..."

"Feucotetanus?"

Chevie shook his head. "I thought so at first, but it's not the same symptoms. I believe it's a form of poison mixed with Feucotetanus. That makes it deadly. You may be able to fight the bacteria-"

"Tried that. The poison kills the antidote."

"And it has already spread through her cells. I'll keep looking, but ... we may already be too late."

Joshua watched him type, wondering how he stayed close to sane after what he'd just done. Joshua went mad with guilt, but he was so casual. He stared at Chevie, not realizing exactly how bitter his expression was until Chevie glanced at him and managed to smile sadly.

"My dad once told me that I was chosen to have powers and that what I do with my life either honors that choice or destroys it. And when I was released, I was so messed up that I ran away and used my power to become one of the best poker players in the country. But it never filled the hole inside me. I was empty, and I couldn't escape the guilt of how I had disappointed my father." He chuckled to himself. "Amelia reminded me that whatever I did in the past, whatever circumstances I blamed myself for, I can always start a new page. It doesn't mean that the past becomes erased, it just means that we get to write a newer, better version of our lives. And before I found the SSS, I realized that I had to start using my powers not only to help people, but to help my father."

"That's a touching story," said Joshua. "But it doesn't save Fearne."

"That's my point," he grinned. "Whether we save lives or destroy them, we were chosen for a reason. May as well stop blaming ourselves for not being perfect and just keep fighting."

Chevie continued to work and Joshua watched him feeling his eyes slowly start to droop closed. He didn't want to be alone and unconscious with Chevie – still unable to trust him – but the night's events were drowning him in exhaustion and sure enough, he couldn't stay awake anymore.

While Chevie sat bent over the microscope, he fell into a dream.