Still: Prologue

Part One-nine

I awoke slowly to Zimmer’s voice calling my name. His concerned face loosened when I was finally able to open my eyes.

“That’s it, Micca. Thank God you’re finally awake.”

I tried to get up, but Zimmer pushed me back down by my shoulders.

“You shouldn’t get up.”

I coughed dryly, clutching my chest from the impact. I smelled the remnant scent of fire.

I opened my parched mouth, and gasped, “Kids?” My eyes began to droop as I turned my head towards Zimmer.

He looked towards me and said, “They’re fine. Don’t worry about them.”

I relaxed and fell asleep, unable to say anymore, nonetheless stay awake.

When I woke up again, Zimmer was still next to me. He was awake as well, watching over me. I felt sorry for him, having to watch me for a long time.

“You can go home,” I quietly said. My voice was pretty dead.

“No, I’ll be staying until Travis comes. Then I’ll be going home.”

“Travis?” I wheezed.

Zimmer reclined back in his chair. “Yeah. I called him and told him what was up, and he’s on his way here now.”

“Oh…”

I felt more relaxed after hearing that Travis would be coming. Less sleepy now, I looked around the bland, very green hospital room.

I asked how Solana and Adais were doing again. “How are Solana and Adais?” I coughed once more.

“They’re both sleeping in the other room. The doctor said that you guys were lucky to have survived.”

“I know…” I said, “What happened? All I could remember was that we were trapped…”

Zimmer sighed and ran his hand over his hair. “So when the fire started, Travis was first to notice. He called me out of the blue, and I asked what was up. He told me that something was wrong at your house, and so I turned my car around and headed straight for your apartment and called Simple.”

Zimmer quieted for a while when the nurse came in to give me a glass of water and check up on me. The lady smiled and told me that I would be discharged soon. I thanked her.

“And so? What happened when you got to the apartment?”

Zimmer continued, “I was extremely worried when I pulled up on your block and saw everyone outside, and couldn’t spot you or the kids. The fire department wasn’t there yet so I ran in and up. Just as I ran up the stairs, I remember seeing a man in black rushing down on the other side, but I didn’t pay attention to him since I had to get you guys out.”

I nodded, and prodded for him to continue.

“I had to shoot my way in, and move the cabinets just to get to the room. I noticed that someone had cut your phone line,” He gave me a small frown, “ and so when I finally saw you and the kids, the room was entirely filled with smoke, and I needed help getting you guys out. Luckily, Simple came just in time, and carried the kids out while I took care of you. Then we rushed you guys here.”

“Where’s Simple now?” I asked, “I have to thank him.”

“He had to do something, so he left. He’s staying at my place for now though, so you can see him later.”

“I see.” I commented, “Thank you guys so much.”

“Hey, I’m sure you would have done the same.”

I smiled, thankful for having people like Zimmer and Simple protecting me and my family. Zimmer then left for the bathroom. I was in the hospital room, thinking about what to do after I was discharged.

I would go and see Simple, for sure. I hadn’t seen him in years, not after Nikka had disappeared, and plus I had to thank him for saving my children. Simple was an interesting boy, for he was the youngest out of all of us. While we were aging close to our late twenties, he was reaching his late teens. But despite age he definitely was a good person, and was highly talented in the work that he did with Crew 4. He was close with everyone, and had a nice personality that everyone could work with. Although sometimes he was very quiet when he was mad, he would still be able to do his thing: hacking.

Simple and Nicola were always battling each other through hacking, but ever since that last mission with Big-Shot, I’ve heard that they’ve been good friends. It was the others on Crew 3 that Simple did not get along with so well.

I said Simple ever since I had met him so easily, but honestly, he had never told anyone his name. It’s still a mystery to us, but he seems to be fine, being called Simple.

Maybe his name really was Simple.

Zimmer returned from his bathroom break and told me that we would be leaving soon. He brought me a pair of clothes and went outside while I put them on. The kids later came running in after I told Zimmer that I had finished. I hugged both of them tightly, inhaled their scents and held them close to me.

“It’s going to be alright,” I soothed, “we’re all together.”

The weight of my words did not carry far. I could feel the ominous presence of despair and destruction at the tips of my fingers.