A Hero in the Dark: 2nd Edition

Chapter 33: Mixed Messages

I see them whenever I shut my eyes: mouths stuffed with cloth, bleeding, hurt, bruised, probably sorer than possible, wrists and ankles bound with rope. I try to forget it, but it's there. My parents, and my brother, aged only seven. I never intended to put them in harm's way. Never did I think they'd be in danger if I left them. If the Mogs want me, they'd chase me. I didn't think they'd be so needy as to find them as well. This is my fault!

I remember my brother, slipping in and out. It breaks my heart recalling the image. "I tried calling you," he said. I glance at my phone sitting atop the nightstand, bring it to my hand, and power it on. It takes a while to boot up, but soon enough it does, and I see it right away:

Thirty-eight missed calls. Sixty-nine unread messages.

He did. They did try calling me, but I never picked up. Suddenly, I'm filled with anger and regret. If I had answered just once—safety be damned—would they be there?

I tap the icon to view the messages; twenty-one from dad, thirty-six from mom, twelve from my brother.

I scroll through dad's texts:

          (20:14) Where are you
          (20:14) Come home
          (20:14) We need to talk
          (20:14) Don't ignore me
          (20:15) Tell me where you are
          (20:15) Are you safe?
          (20:15) Call me asap

I stop scrolling, then select mom's thread:

          (03:13) Honey
          (03:13) R u there??
          (03:13) Please answer
          (03:13) Where r u
          (03:13) We're worried

There's a gap, all messages sequential except for a three-day break in the middle. Then her texts continue:

          (12:14) Emi please
          (12:14) Somethings wrong
          (12:14) R u ok???
          (12:14) Call me
          (12:14) Text me
          (12:15) Please come home

I stop scrolling. My eyes are full of tears, vision fuzzy.

They were worried about me. Were they trying to find me? Is that when the Mogs found them? How did this happen?!

There's a scratching at the door; I ignore it and select my brother's chat thread with a sob that I can't keep in:

          (15:20) emily
          (15:20) where r u
          (18:09) dad's worried
          (18:10) mom's scared
          (18:11) please come home

My heart jumps a beat when I read his last text: help.

There's a knock on the door in addition to the scratching. "Hey Em? You okay?" It's John. "Can I come in?" I sniffle. I try to calm down.

Pixie bounds into the room when the door inches inwards and onto the bed. I look up at her then at John, but I don't look long. He sits next to me, at first, not saying anything. I can't stop thinking about them. This can't be real; it can't be. I never should've left. They're not safe and it's all because of me... "What am I supposed to do?" I can't stop shaking. "They have them. They're using them to get me because I didn't go back when I should have and I don't know what to do!"

"If that's true, we'll get them out."

"It is true!" I shout. "Look! They tried to call me, and I never answered! It's my fault they have them at all!"

John puts a hand on my knee; it does nothing. "Do you want to come out and talk to us? We'll come up with a plan."

I bite my lip while I think, and while I do, I see now the three-bouncing ellipsis at the bottom of my phone's screen. Someone's typing. My brother? He's okay?!

"John," I say, staring at the tech and nothing but. "Look."

My cell buzzes with the new message: We've had them for a while you see. We've waited for you, but you never came. Now we are giving you two options:

          (12:01) 1. Give yourself up
          (12:01) 2. Watch them die.
          (12:02) Which will it be?