The Underground

I'm Back

Side chapter...

pov Johnny

I hadn't been to Utopia for a while, and thoughts of Julia had been on my mind constantly. I wondered how she was doing all this time and if they had been able to heal her. The uncertainty gnawed at me.

After a quick stretch to loosen my muscles, I activated my super speed. The world around me blurred as I zipped past countless people, unseen and unnoticed, until I reached the hospital where Julia had been treated.

The sterile smell of antiseptic hit me as I entered the hospital. I approached the receptionist, my heart pounding with anticipation. "I'm looking for Julia," I said, trying to keep my voice steady.

The receptionist looked up from her computer, her expression neutral. "Julia? She was released a month ago. She's living in an apartment near where you used to live," she replied, her tone matter-of-fact.

Relief and a touch of anxiety washed over me. Thanking her, I sped out of the hospital, my thoughts racing even faster than my feet. I made my way to my old apartment building, the familiar surroundings both comforting and strange.

Once inside, I began my search, knocking on doors and asking neighbors. The building was a maze of memories and possibilities, each door a potential answer to the question that had been haunting me.

I was left with one more flat on the 5th floor. Heart pounding, I knocked on the door, hoping it would be her. The seconds felt like hours until the door finally opened.

When I saw Julia standing there, my heart swelled with happiness and my face brightened. She looked fine and healthy, even standing on her two legs—no longer paralyzed.

Her eyes widened in shock at seeing me after so long. Before she could say anything, I quickly hugged her, my emotions overwhelming me. Tears streamed down my face as I held her tightly.

Julia hesitated for a moment, clearly surprised, but then she hugged me back. Her grip was firm yet tender, her own tears mirroring mine as they traced silent paths down her cheeks. The warmth of our embrace spoke volumes, conveying all the words we couldn't immediately find.

"I'm sorry for not being able to protect you, Julia," I said, my voice trembling with guilt and a sense of profound relief. I could feel my heartache spilling out with each word, years of worry and regret laid bare.

She looked up at me, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "It's okay," she whispered her voice a soft balm to my wounded soul. "I'm just glad that you're back." She pressed her face into my chest, her tears dampening my shirt as she sought comfort in the familiarity of our connection. Her vulnerability and the raw emotion in her voice were palpable, each word heavy with the weight of our shared past.

After some time passed from hugging each other, we sat on the sofa in the living room. Julia began to recount everything that had happened while I was gone.

"Fullerton covered my hospital fees and the rent for this apartment," she explained, her voice tinged with gratitude. "He visits me once a week to check on my health."

Her expression darkened as she continued. "Security has been tightened due to safety concerns.  because an intruder infiltrated the city and caused casualties during their attack. All the meta-human officers, along with the Founders, managed to defeat them. Regular officers protected the citizens throughout the ordeal. The invader and his men were arrested and sent to the deepest asylum under the city."

Julia was shaking nervously, her hands trembling, and her breathing becoming erratic. Her eyes were wide with horror as she relived the memories.

"There were so many people who lost their lives that day," she said, her voice barely a whisper. "The city was painted in blood."