Mom calls me as the vans arrive to transport Einar, the Foundation, and Sydal Corp. I pull John aside to show him the incoming call while Nine handles the talk with Karen Walker, and he nods and lets me wander to the other side of the clearing. But while I can sense his eyes on me still, I try to ignore it. "Hi Mom."
"Hi, honey. How is everything?" And by everything, I know immediately that she's referring to me and John. I roll my eyes, settling on him and the others.
"Fine. We're fine. We're working on it."
"That's great! I'll see you tonight, Emi?"
"Maybe," I tell her, but honestly, I was hoping she wouldn't ask about that.
I can hear her breathing through the phone's receiver. "What do you mean 'maybe?' Your dad said you'd come home in September."
"I know, I know, but... things have been busy," I utter. "I'm dealing with some stuff, and—I don't think I can come home tonight. I have a job to do, ideas to bring up, and I just—"
"A job? Wow. So, you mean you're working?"
"Well, kind of, I guess, but not really. I don't have an income, but I'm keeping the Human Garde safe and the HGA secure. People count on me. I can't just up and disappear." I know that better than anyone now. Even going to see Naya for a week made me realize how much I missed.
"Ok."
"I'll be home soon though!" I assure her. "Say, in a week or two? I just need to figure some stuff out. I'll call you before I leave."
"Ok. I'll tell your dad," she says, and I'm honestly surprised it was that easy. "I love you, Emi."
"Yeah. Love you too."
When I make my way back to John and Nine, Ms. Walker smiles grimly at me as the vans depart, each holding up to ten mercenaries while Einar and Bea occupy others individually. "How long will it take to get them secure?" I ask.
"About eight hours," Walker says, in a way that makes me wonder if she covered this before. She must've. "Don't worry. We're delivering Mr. Magnusson and Mrs. Barnaby to a top-secret location apart from the others so we can get an inhibitor chip implanted in his head."
"Will I be able to talk to Mum eventually?" Nigel jumps in. "Or is she locked up for good?"
"She's locked up for good, Nigel," Nine answers.
"But I'm sure I can pull some strings and let you talk to her once she's incarcerated. Not sure if I can get more than one visit for you though."
"Thanks, luv," he says. "One visit should be plenty."
"So, you're all headed back to the HGA then?" Walker asks.
"That's the plan," John claims, then looks at me. "Unless you two have any other doings you need to, well, do here. Right?"
I shake my head and just slightly slide a little closer to him. After zapping all those people of their energies, I'm beat tired. I wasn't at first, but I guess sugar rushes don't last long.
Nine punches me in the arm. "We're good, Johnny! We're good! Let's get outta here!"
***
Dom powers off the chopper after landing like a baby kitten on the HGA helipad. "Job well done," Nine congratulates him, clapping me and John on the back. "Can't believe you were able to pull that off, Em. That was incredible! And oh, boy! I felt like a firecracker afterwards! It was wild!"
"Seems like it hasn't worn off," John mutters, and I can't help but chuckle.
"Whatever! I'm gonna go to the gym and work off all this oomph, yeah? Feel free to join me!"
YOU ARE READING
A Hero in the Dark: 2nd Edition
Fiksi PenggemarTHE EVENTS IN THIS STORY ARE REAL. NAMES AND PLACES HAVE BEEN CHANGED TO PROTECT THE LORIEN. WHO REMAIN IN HIDING UNTIL THE TIME IS RIGHT. - SHE HAS DEVELOPED POWERS. SHE CAN FIGHT BACK. SHE CAN HELP YOU SAVE THE WORLD, BUT SHE MUST CHOOSE A SI...
