𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐦𝐲 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝 | 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐎𝐧𝐞 | 𝐅𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐱 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫

𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚃𝚠𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚢 𝚃𝚑𝚛𝚎𝚎 | 𝙸 𝚑𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚍 𝚊 𝚛𝚞𝚖𝚘𝚛

^^^

I stood in the hallway, leaning on the door frame of Five's room. I stared at Mom's mechanical hands, which were applying a bandage to the boy's gunshot wound with exceptional gentleness.

Five was lying in bed. I couldn't tell if he was asleep or unconscious. He wore the same bloody shirt, completely unbuttoned. I calmed down a bit as I watched his chest rise and fall. At that moment, it was the only thing that confirmed my belief that he was alive.

'Why didn't he tell me anything? How on earth did I not notice this?'

These and other thoughts were running through my head. I was sure he was shot by the Handler during our escape from the Commission. Despite everything, I was angry with myself for not being able to notice that something was wrong earlier. Since we returned, he was pale and limping slightly. So why didn't he think it necessary to let me know? Why didn't he get help again?

'Well the answer is simple. Because he's a 36-year old looking like a child, acting like a child and also thinking he's all independent and doesn't need anyone's help. I think that description fits him quite well.'

My thoughts were interrupted by footsteps coming from the corridor. I pulled the leather jacket Allison had lent me tighter around me. Diego stood next to me and also started looking into the room.

I glanced at him out of the corner of my eye.

"Is everything alright?" I asked, feeling a sudden wave of concern radiating from his body.

"It's weird seeing her," he muttered, not taking his eyes off Mom.

"I think so too," I replied. "But let's look at it on the bright side. At least she was repaired."

Diego ignored my comment, lost in his own thoughts.

"I would like to tell her that I—"

He stopped when he saw my searching look. I raised my eyebrows, signaling him to continue his thought.

"Never mind," he said quickly, looking back at Five lying on the bed. "When did it happen?"

I sighed and leaned back against the door.

"When we were escaping from the Commission, that crazy woman started shooting at us. She must have gotten Five when..." I stopped, recalling that painful moment, "when he grabbed my hand and teleported us to the place where we were hiding."

"Good thing you didn't get hurt."

"Stop it," I said, intently watching Mom cover Five's wound tightly with a bandage. "It's only going to get worse now. How long will he take to recover?"

"Don't worry, he'll get over it. He's been through shit we have no idea about, and it's definitely not his first time."

I sighed.

"Yeah. You're right."

He put his arm around my shoulders. His touch was comforting, it's always been like that. Ever since we were children.

Our conversation was interrupted by the clicking of heels on the floor. I saw Allison stand next to Diego, her gaze also landing on Mom. I also felt a huge amount of care from her, but not as much as I felt from Diego.

"Anything?" The man asked.

Allison shook her head, which only confirmed my belief that it wasn't good.

"No one answers at Vanya's," she replied. "And the receptionist at the music school didn't see her at lesson today."

"How likely is it that she is in danger?" I asked.