brutal

Chapter 21

KAI

I had just about gotten used to the darkness when an annoying stream of light prodded my rest, and I had no choice but to surrender to the bitter battle of reality.

I saw it all before I felt it. The tube hooked on my arm; the scars littered all over my skin; the frowning man in the corner that glared a thousand promises of death. I'd seen the same sight a bit too much for my liking.

"You're finally awake," Drew said, emerging from the other room. He walked up to my bed and smiled, surveying my physical status before nodding to himself and turning his attention back to me. "How are you feeling?"

My eyes turned to Seth, who had his arms crossed now. I smiled at him, and his frown only deepened. "I'm fine, uncle."

"Good. You had to be resuscitated twice."
"Oh. Was that what the whole fuss is about?"

"You–" Seth took a step forward, pointed his finger at me, then took in a deep breath. He composed himself quickly before speaking again, "You need to speak truthfully, Kai."

"I am speaking truthfully, Seth." I splayed my hands, then lightly beat my chest with my fingers. Both of them took an urgent step forward when I did, and I chuckled. "Jesus. I'm seriously fine, guys."

"If you're fine, then fine. I've left you your medicine on your bedside table, Kai. You need to rest and recuperate for at least a week, which is still not enough but I know is the most your stubborn ass can handle." I grinned at him when he rolled his eyes. "In case you've forgotten, you died. Thank the technological age for your second life."

"I'll be sure to thank the Russians for the wondrous results of their human experimentations."

Uncle Drew snickered and shook his head. "Whatever. Good to have you back, kid."

I thanked him as he exited the room, then turned to Seth. He breathed deeply and neared my bed warily. I tilted my head at him and eyed his seemingly permanent frown curiously. "How bad?"

His lips thinned. "Real fucking bad," he drawled. "We thought we lost you, Kai."

"The devil still needs his keeper," I retorted with a smile. Seth sighed, whispering a quick "Fucking hell" to himself as I laughed.

"You're unbelievable."
"I know."

A beat of silence passed before I pulled out the tube from my skin and surveyed my stitches. Seth, who knew better, chose not to chastise me for it and simply kept his anger tampered down; it wasn't his business, anyway.

"What happened to the search I asked from before?" I asked.

My question made him stand a bit straighter. "Search?"

"The girl I asked you to find the day after I formed our unit."

"Oh," he said, trying to remember the request I asked him. When I'd learned of his technological prowess, it was one of the first things I'd thought of doing, though selfish.

I may have forgotten a lot of things from fourteen years ago, but I remembered her: Four. Pieces of her, at least. I just needed to know if she was alive.

She was the reason why I was still here— why I keep fighting. I refused to believe someone as strong and powerful as her was no longer on the same ground as someone lesser like me.