A Hero in the Dark: 2nd Edition

Chapter 93: Common Coma

~ Number Nine's POV ~

Okay, so after a day, we were all still on edge. Let another pass, and that feeling sticks around, but c'mon! Three days and things need to go back to normal soon! Right?

Nope. Even as I walk down the hall of the admin building—a hall that was miraculously not blown to bits—I can hear some of my students talking about what they think happened during the lockdown. It's impossible not to hear:

"If you ask me, Professor Nine beat her up real good. Serves her right."

"What's your problem with her? Emily's awesome! Do you even know what she does?"

"No, but I know she didn't save the fucking planet."

"But she didn't destroy it either," says Chloe. "John Smith stopped her."

"Yeah, calm down, Jarvis."

"Me calm down? She shouldn't even be here right now. I mean, what if she does something and attacks the HGA? My dad always said to stay away from her."

I clear my throat, and Ryley, Chloe, and Jarvis all turn to gape at me. "Professor Nine," jumps Jarvis—literally; he's probably the most scared kid in my class. I don't see him running my obstacle course any time soon, but gusto or not, he sure knows how to run his mouth, least 'till he gets caught.

I give him an icy look, hoping there's an obvious bite in my eyes. "Let's keep the talk to the course, yeah?"

"Yes, Sir." No doubt he's shaking right now.

"Have you been doing your homework, Jarvis?"

"Yes, Professor." I eye him warily, and he adjusts himself. "No. Not all of it."

"Get to it then, yeah? I don't want to have to make you run more laps than is fair, even though you probably need it."

"Sorry, Professor. I didn't mean anything by what I said."

"I'm sure you didn't," I say, blandly, rolling my eyes and stopping outside the door. "Which is why you and your friends are going to go back to class now, right?"

Jarvis says nothing, only nods, as if I'll pummel him to a pulp; I won't—wouldn't dream of it—but I'm glad they think I will. They skedaddle and I walk into her room.

The HGA Infirmary's one of the biggest areas at the academy; it takes nearly a quarter of the property. Emily lies in the first sterile bed and John's by her side, closest to the window but facing away from it—facing me. I'm sure he's still upset. He hasn't said much since I put her into her coma. Frankly, I don't think I've ever seen him leave the room. I shut the door slowly and approach with caution. "Hey," I start, trying to test the waters first. "She wake up yet?"

He doesn't bother to look up, but he spits, "What do you think?"

So that's a no. "Nothing? Not even a stir? You talk to Malcolm?"

John scoffs. "Yeah. I did. He said her vitals are normal and she's healing, but she hasn't even moved except for a cringe—probably a nightmare..."

"Oh."

"You didn't have to knock her out, you know," he says, and I feel the urge to roll my eyes. "I had it under control."

"It didn't look like it; it looked like she was puttin' you to sleep like a child," I tell him, only regretting saying so when it's out. "You're lucky I got there."

"Lucky?! I would've had her back if it weren't for you!"

I hold up my hands. "Hey, relax. It looked bad from my angle, John; that's all I'm saying. Maybe it didn't in yours, but it looked bad in mine, so I acted."

"Yeah, acted without any intel. Like always."

"His Cêpan told me if I wanted to bring him out, I had to knock the person out," I explain yet again. "And that's exactly what I did. Christ John, I didn't kill her."

"But you could've."

"How stupid do you think I am? You think I love to pick fights all willy-nilly? I don't. I know what it takes to kill. I didn't even lift her that high; it was only thirty feet. She'll be fine, and if she isn't, you can take it out on me. I won't put up a fight."

Finally, he looks up at me. I take it that's a start. "I'm not fighting you, Nine."

"Well, good. So, we're cool? I mean, we're here now. He's locked up for good, and so far, there's nothing to prove he's in either of us."

"Yeah... so far..."

Pixie bounds up onto the bed. I wasn't even aware the rabbit was here, but then again, why wouldn't she be? I haven't seen her for so long. I give her a pat, and John glares at me like I'm some sort of demolitions specialist about to do sketchy shit.

"Have you talked to her family lately?" I ask, changing the subject to try and rid the awkward tension. I hate to say it doesn't work very well.

"Little while ago," he admits. "Her dad pretty much hates me; thinks it's my fault."

"Well, that's bullshit. I take it you didn't tell him?"

"No, and I won't. Not unless she wants me to."

"Cute," I remark, however sarcastically. "Number Four: Best Loric Boyfriend of the Year. Hey, you should get shirts made, dude."

"Shut up, bro."

I feign defeat. "Hey, just trying to lighten the mood. It's probably better if they didn't know anyway. Might keep them safer."

"That's what I was thinking," he says, somberly, looking down at her again. She's breathing slow. "But they're at the academy now. It's been safe here for over a year, if you don't count Lucas, that is."

"True, but c'mon. Her family's probably not gonna stay here forever. They'll want to go home, eventually."

"I know..." It's like he can't look away from her. "You ever wish that we could go home?" he asks then, surprising me. "To Lorien, I mean?"

"Sure," I say. "I think we all wanted that at least once since we came here. Why? Are you getting sentimental on me? You know how I feel about that shit."

John actually chuckles, though it's heavy-hearted. "No. I'm not. Em's the only home I need."

"Ew, still sentimental, but whatever." I wave a hand through the air, tossing the matter aside. "I'm gonna go check on her family. They may hate us, but ya know—hospitality and shit. I want to make sure they have everything they need."

"That's a first. Don't you have a class to teach?"

"Yeah, in half an hour, but so what if I'm late? I'm their professor. I can do that. They know to do their warm-up exercises beforehand. Catch you soon, Johnny?"

"Yeah."

"And if she wakes up, you'll call me, right?"

"Third thing," he says, nodding, "after I get Malcolm in and call her family."

"Sweet. Be back, Pix," I say, waving at them both before heading for the cabins.