The Secret City: Into the Lair

Chapter 2

In which the new family begins planning a search mission for Jason and his accomplices.

"June!" Minerva's voice called up the stairs. "Breakfast!"

"Coming!" June called back, setting her hair brush down on the dresser and bouncing down the stairs.

It had been a rough three weeks for them since Sam's funeral, most especially for Minerva. They were slowly getting back into normal life, but for Minerva, it would never be the same.

Hurrying into the kitchen, June tied her hair in a ponytail and rested her arms on the counter. "Anything I can help with?" she asked.

"I'm all set! Everything is on the table." Minerva smiled and motioned to the table where Iseral and B sat, scooping themselves plates of steaming food. "I made sourdough with brocato and bacon topping today. Trying something new!"

"Well, it smells amazing!" June heartily decided and sat at the table, taking a slice of bread and the spoon from Iseral's outstretched hand. She motioned for Minerva to come sit beside her and relax. "And you should sit and chill for a bit after your hard work!"

Minerva sat down, sighed and spoke something so softly that we couldn't understand her.

"What did you say?" B asked after a moment.

"I just said that I'm so thankful for you three. I don't know where I'd be without you kids." She hesitantly smiled and looked down. "I couldn't have asked for anything more."

"And none of us could have asked for a better mom," Iseral stated firmly.

Minera looked up, a genuine smile creeping into the corners of her mouth and eyes shining with tears.

"I agree." June nodded. "You have been amazing to us, Minerva. I'm so grateful." June looked at her now-brothers and they held the same look in their eyes as she held in hers.

"Can we call you mum?" B blurted out.

Minerva's hand rose to her mouth as she nodded. "Of course, oh, I would love that! Would you really want to?"

"Yes!" The three of us exclaimed in unison. We all gathered for a group hug and held each other close.

It felt like the beginning of a family. A new beginning.

-*-

"Okay," June contemplated, pieces coming together in my mind. "So, if we want to find Jason, we need to find out where the headquarters are for the doctors." It was after dinner and we decided together to start looking for Jason. It was a daunting task, given how big the world is. But it was important to bring him to justice. "Where were the group of doctors last seen together?"

"I'm not sure..." Iseral added, "But I'm pretty good with research, and I wonder if I can find anything online." He pulled out a laptop, a gift from Minerva, and began typing away on it.

"Awesome! Let us know as soon as you find anything," June thanked Iseral. "I'm going to make hot chocolate, anyone else want some?"
"I'll have some!" B and Iseral exclaimed together.

"I'm okay," Minerva replied softly, lost in thought.

"Okay. I'll be right back!"

June strolled out of the room and into the kitchen, her mind anticipating the warm, sweet chocolate drink awaiting me, paired with a soft cookie.

-*-

The sun's first rays poked over the hillside while June sat in the grassy knolls behind the house. It was early, 6:00 when she first came outside, wanting to be alone with her thoughts for a while. Never sure what's on her mind, June decided that sometimes it's just too much. The early mornings and late nights are the quietest times, and therefore her favourite times.

Last night, Iseral had found an article from nearly a decade ago about the doctors, although it didn't say anything about the accident that caused us. It was simply talking about their great medical achievements. June often wondered if they'd ever catch the ones behind it all and put an end to the evil in their world.

"June!" She heard a voice behind her call. She whipped her head around to find B standing there. "What're you doing up here so early?"

"Thinking," June replied simply. "What are you doing out here?"

"I was gonna do the same thing," He chuckled. He jogged over and sat down next to me.

June and B sat there in the grass sharing thoughts until Minerva called them in for breakfast, when they heaved themselves onto their feet and wandered back inside.