The Phoenix Society

Chapter 30

"Kya...KYA!" Lakens hurried voice entered my room pulling me out of my slumber. For once in my life, I had a peaceful sleep, and I couldn't help but think that Banks had something to do with that.

I glanced around the room, allowing my senses to come to me. My head still lay on Banks' chest, listening to the steady beating of his heart. His arm was wrapped tightly around my shoulder, holding me close to him. Beneath the covers, our legs were intertwined creating a blanket of warmth around me. Laken froze as he entered my room, his eyes flashing between me and the person in my bed. I jumped up quickly, feeling my cheeks redden as if I had just been caught by my parents. Feeling my movement, Banks began to stir.

"Laken." I said sitting up in bed. I nudged Banks, ushering him to wake up. Laken was panting as if he had just run a long way. His eyes were wide and frantic. It almost looked like something was wrong. Immediately I was on alert as I took in Laken's appearance. "Is everything okay?"

Sensing my concern, Banks sat up, suddenly wide awake.

"Tyler sent me up here." Laken said. His tone was rushed as he spoke. "He said you need to meet him in the PIT immediately."

Without a moment's hesitation, Banks swung his legs over the side of the bed. "Is everything okay?" Banks repeated my question. His tone was serious, and I could see in his eyes that he was wracking his brain trying to figure out what was going on.

Laken shrugged as I clambered out of bed. I threw a pair of pants and a shirt on. "He wouldn't say. Just that it was important. I think it has something to do with Marley and Elias. I saw a picture of them on the hologram before I ran up here."

Banks eyes flickered to mine as I slid my feet into my boots. I could see the panic running through him. We left Marley and Elias at the hospital yesterday, just as an extra precaution watching over Lydia Dune. Did something happen at the hospital? Is Lydia, okay? Are Marley and Elias, okay? Why did Tyler need to meet with us so suddenly? Given the urgent look on my brother's face, I could only assume that something bad has happened. My brain worked double time trying to pinpoint what was going on. I had so many unanswered questions running through my mind. Unfortunately, Tyler is the only one who has answers.

No matter how fast I moved, it seemed like I couldn't get there fast enough.

I ran into the PIT, Banks trailing behind me. We found Tyler and Lillian standing around a table in the center of the room. Tyler's arms were crossed as he spoke to Lillian. His brows were furrowed, forming a straight line. His expression did not change as he saw me and Banks making our way towards them.

"What's going on?" Banks panted, his eyes flickering from Lillian to Tyler, searching for any indication of what was happening. Despite our tiff yesterday, I stood next to Lillian. Her face was hard, almost mimicking Tyler's expressionless face. However, unlike Tyler, she bit her bottom lip anxiously telling me that she was worried about something.

"There was an attack." Tyler spoke. "At the hospital."

That much I had figured out when Laken said it had to do with Marley and Elias. But what...is my question. What happened at the hospital? Tyler motioned to the holographic image in the center of the table. He reached over, almost extending his arm through the image. Instead, however, he clicked on a small play button on the bottom of the image.

Immediately, the hologram burst into life playing security footage from the hospital. I recognized the images playing as Lydia's hospital room. I wasn't surprised to see her lying in the same position we had left her. She lay still, lifeless almost, her chest slowly rising and falling with each labored breath. Her eyes were shut as she was transported to, what I hoped, was a peaceful dreamland. I identified two other figures in the room with Lydia – Marley and Elias. Marley sat near the door, her head leaning against her hand, bobbing up and down as sleep threatened to overtake her body. Elias sat on the opposite side of the room, at the bedside of Lydia. His elbows rested on his knees as his eyes fixated on the women in front of him.