Revenge of Wounded (Book 2 of The Impossible trilogy)

Chapter 14: Our Conundrum

Fiera

After walking a couple of block's, we decided to split up to check all our houses and the other Teenage Impossible's houses, to make sure everyone was home and safe. Since I still have a splitting headache, it was decided my brother and I would go to my house, Tony would go with Malea to her house, Kyler would go with Shontelle to her house, and, despite Golden's protests, Golden would go around to the Teenage Impossible's houses. As Josh, Malea, Kyler, and I agreed, we didn't think we needed to place Golden, Tony, or Shontelle in the same group, as the four of us felt they needed a little time away from each other for now. After this, we would all meet back at my house to bring everyone up to date.

"Did you think Mom and Dad have already heard about what happened at the school?" I ask my brother as we walk towards my house.

"I imagine so, especially since an Impossible agent was on the scene." Josh responds.

"Yeah." Is all I say, our conversation falling into silence as we approach our darkened house.

"It looks like Mom, Dad, and Leo aren't home." My brother concludes. We exchange looks of worry, which compels us to get to the door faster.

When we get to the door, my brother takes out his key and puts it into the key hole. He then twists the key, but comes to a stop as he frowns. He looks at me with an unreadable expression, and says, "It's already unlocked."

Fear runs through me. Mom and Dad always locks the doors, even when they are home. I rush forward, opening the door and racing inside. Checking every room I pass, I look desperately for my parents and Leo, but I don't find them anywhere. I meet Josh back in the living room. He watches me as I walk up to him in defeat.

"They're not here. Where could they be?" I ask Josh, looking for an answer from my brother.

Josh brings his hand up to his chin in thought, while he observes the room. Finally, he voices his thoughts out loud. "Usually if Mom and Dad are going out, they call, text, or leave a note for us, but I didn't see or find any messages, which is odd. They could have been attacked, but there isn't any evidence of a fight or struggle."

In that instant, we hear footsteps at the front door. Holding up his finger to his mouth to inform me to be quiet, we creep to the entrance of the living room. Holding our breath, we look around the door frame to see Tony and Malea come into view, as they walk down the hallway. We start to breathe again in relief, which brings us out from our hiding spot and walk up to Tony and Malea.

"So what's the news?" Josh asks the two.

Tony gives us a discouraging expression. "Malea's house is a mess. There was broken frames, paper's everywhere, and scattered furniture. The worst part is, whoever destroyed Malea's house has her father and left a note tapped on to the TV." He passes me the note and I read it.

After I'm done reading the note, I sum up what it says to Josh. "It's from these people called Wounded. They're taunting us, daring us to try and get Malea's father back. They even gave us an address to one of the facilities he possibly could be in."

Concerned, I look up at the silent, downcast Malea, who happened to look up at the same time as me with a distraught look. "Fiera, are they going to hurt my dad?! I can't lose my dad. He's the only family I have left. He's all I have." Her eyes start to water as she chokes out the words.

As I go to give her a hug, my brother steps forward and hugs her instead, surprising both Tony and I. "Don't cry. It seems like they want him alive, so there is a chance we can get him back. We'll get your father back. I promise. So don't cry."