A Hero in the Dark: 2nd Edition

Chapter 115: Touchdown

Malcolm picks me up from the airport on the last day of August, and halfway through the car ride back, he asks, "How was the trip?"

"Fine," I tell him. Although, in all honesty, it was better than fine.

"Were you able to sort anything out in your head like you wanted to?"

"A little, yeah," I admit, though not everything. "How's John and Nine?"

He pauses and looks over at me, setting a sort of surprised but relieved smile on his face. "They're good. In preparation for the big day tomorrow, keeping track of loose ends, whatnot. Have you decided on joining them after all?"

"I have," I say. "I'll need to stop at home afterwards though. My dad wants me back by the first of September too, but this takes priority, I think."

Malcolm nods and Pixie snuggles into me. "I'll be happy to take you there," he says. I don't have the heart to refuse his offer or explain my want to take a Loralite stone instead though.

The rest of the ride is made in silence, and I keep my gaze out the window. For the first time in a while, things finally seem a little clearer. The future's still hazy—very hazy if anyone could possibly know what's on my mind—but maybe just slightly less so as of today.

I knock on Nine's door as soon as we get back, and when I hear him say the word to enter, I do, unkeen on wasting anymore time. Both Nine and John turn to stare at me in unison when I walk in. I try not to focus too hard on John; I look straight ahead at the brute behind his desk. "I'll do it," I spit. "I'll help you find Einar and put an end to the Foundation."

John's the first to stand, practically bounding out of the chair. He looks worse than I left him. "You told her!" he shouts. "I told you not to! I told you to leave her out of it! What were you thinking?!"

Nine does nothing but pull himself out to stand. He matches John's height easily, and he doesn't look intimidated in the slightest by his outburst. "I was thinking of ways we could finally get rid of these fuckers, Johnny," he bites back. "Trust me, I've thought this through. I have everything planned out down to every move, hell, every breath we take. Don't worry."

"Yeah, John, don't worry," I reiterate mockingly, and he looks my way like he's suddenly the victim of a satanic oppressor—with eyes of love, or lust, or sorrow; I can't tell which.

"Anyway..." Nine goes on. "Sounds great, Em. I'll let Lexa and Malcolm know you're in and get a tracking device ready for you. We'll head out first thing tomorrow."

I nod, and he breezes past me out the door, leaving me alone with my ex-alien boy. His shoulders relax a bit when I focus on him and the second he takes a step forward, I let out a harsh but low outbreath and turn to the door as well.

But with a blink, John's in my way, and I jump back. "What the hell!" I shout. Honestly! Teleporting in front of me to keep me from leaving! "Get out of the way, John."

"Emily, just listen for a second, please," he says, hands out in a gentle gesture—as if that'll be enough to lure me back to him. It isn't. It won't be. It just makes me want him more. "What happened that night... it wasn't supposed to be anything you think it is."

I cross my arms, spin with a groan, and fall back into one of Nine's client-chairs. Fine, he wants to talk this out—now—then fine. "Yeah? Then what exactly was it supposed to be? What else can it be other than you using me for sex?"

He cringes when I say it; I see it: the subtle tightness in his jaw. But he quickly sets it straight again. "It wasn't like that," he says again. "I was just—"

"Just what? Mad? I know."

"No. Well, yes, but..."

"Save it. I already know, John. I know you were mad. You wouldn't have acted the way you did if you weren't. I mean, honestly! I read people's energy," I tell him. "Do you really expect me to not figure out something was wrong? Even if I wanted to ignore the change in your aura, I couldn't. I wanted you, and you used me. You went too far and left me with nothing."