The Family - Volume 2

Chapter 4

- What's going on?" panicked Ken. Why aren't you teleporting?

He jostled his sister to place his hand on the teleporter.

- You're really no good, let the pros do it.

Behind him, Lia crossed her arms.

- Stubborn head, if I haven't succeeded, you're certainly not going to.

He ignored her.

- I, Ken Stilson, want to go to Reunion Island.

Like Lia, my cousin didn't disappear. He repeated the same sentence several times, without changing the result.

- What the hell?" grumbled Jon. That's all we needed, now we can't go to La Réunion.

- This thing finds its moment to stop working," said Matt, "right on the day the four of us are late.

- And right on the day Christopher goes to The Reunion for the first time," I added.

They all suddenly looked serious.

- Don't tell me," Ken began, "that Tyna is still in on it.

- Maybe it's just a fail-safe that kicks in once The Reunion has started, so let's not think it's a bad omen just yet.

- I wish you were right, Joy," Lia replied, "but if such a system existed, we'd probably know about it. It's Tyna's doing, there's no other possible suggestion.

I shook my head in all directions.

- Or maybe it's a technical problem that'll be fixed soon. It's not possible that Tyna is so informed about our movements, she's got a third eye on her skull, I can't see any other possibility.

- Not necessarily," said Jon. In the past, Nekrós did have spies within The Family, even if what he was doing wasn't right there was always a minority who followed him. That's probably what's going on with Tyna, there must be more moles in our ranks than we think.

- Well," I finally said, "all these suppositions are very pleasing, but there's no guarantee that they're true. Lia, do you think you could get hold of someone attending the Reunion from here?

- Yes, with a little push I should be able to.

- Well, try to reach Zoé then and connect the five of us if possible.

She nodded and I instantly felt a slight presence tickle my mind.

- Your mind's still a mess, Joy," Ken commented. Don't you want to stop thinking for two seconds?

- If you like, as long as you stop your own nonsense.

- Stop bickering, both of you, I'm reminding you that what's going on could be serious.

- Don't be so on edge, big sister, I haven't been able to criticize Joy for a while and, depending on what Tyna's up to I don't know how much longer I can get her drunk, so I'm enjoying it.

Lia must have thought it wasn't worth answering him, or was simply too focused on reaching Zoé to have listened to what he'd just said.

- Zoé answers if you can hear me, it's Lia!

It didn't take her long to pick up.

- What the hell are you doing? Do you think it's time to call me?

- What are you talking about? We're not in The Reunion and we can't get there.

- The teleporters aren't working," I added.

- Joy? Never mind, you can explain everything later. Tyna arrived a few minutes ago and it was she who blocked the teleporters so that no one could escape. Several people wanted to rebel against this viper, but it seems we have spies in our ranks and members of The Family sided with Tyna, everyone was overpowered in two seconds.

- Tell me they didn't take Christopher," I begged.

- That's the problem, Tyna spotted us from the start, I don't know how long she's been planning this. In any case, she's spilled the beans - all the classified files on Chris. He has no choice but to use his power to protect The Family. Plus, Tyna took Emma hostage and he couldn't resist. Right now, he's reanimating Nekrós' body. It's only a matter of time before this monster is reborn.

- It's not possible," I choked out. He's not coming back for us a third time!

- I don't think we have much choice," said Zoé. Anyway, our plan's still working, so far Tyna doesn't seem to believe you're still alive. She seems to think Chris came too late for you. And, everyone's forgotten that your cousins aren't here. I think the only one who'll notice is Nekrós, and he'll know you're alive too. So you don't have much time left to find a way to save us. I give you about an hour maximum.

- It's cool," said Ken, "these words don't put any pressure on us at all. But hey, we're getting used to it.

- I can't talk to you any longer, Tyna's going to find out eventually. Good luck to you all.

With that, Lia cut off the exchange in thought.

There was a moment of silence when everyone looked at each other with different expressions: fear, apprehension, doubt...

- Do you have an idea?" asked Matt. Do you have a plan? I mean, anything you can think of to get us out of this problem.

- No," replied the twins wearily.

- I'm dry too," added a dejected Lia.

All eyes turned to me.

- Okay," I finally conceded, closing my eyes and pursing my lips. I've got a plan for you, but it'll be the last one, and if it doesn't work, that'll be the end of it.

- No problem, we can achieve the impossible together," Ken said. Your plan will work, I'm sure of it.

The question wasn't whether my idea would work, but what the consequences would be.