Defect

[epilogue]

Hey guys! Sorry I totally blanked on this yesterday.... Happy Late Holidays!!!!

Hope you enjoy :)

***

Maddie sat behind a polished wooden desk, her hair pulled back in a neat bun and eyes only hinting at the tears I had watched her shed last night.

"We are here today to discuss the trial of Xander Jones, a minor accused of conspiring against those involved in a branch of the Non-Evo resistance, and of causing the eventual deaths of those who he exposed. Prosecution, you may give your opening statement."

She banged her gavel, the sound harsh in the still morning air, and I flinched right along with Xander.

The next few hours passed quickly, as expected. It'd be a day or two before we knew the verdict--this was a very controversial case, trying to balance the bad choices against the age and innocence of a little boy. It had been on the news for months, and there were strong opinions for both sides.

After the trial, Sofia and I met Maddie in the hall. Against the marble, her skin looked even paler, and for the millionth time, I wished I could help her more.

"Come on," Sofia said softly. "We'll drop you at home."

"Thanks," she replied. "I'm really glad you're both here."

"Of course," I said, smiling. "You know that Alex and Jax would be here too, if they could."

"Yeah," she said quietly. "I really just wish this whole thing was over."

"We all do."

"Hey, Maddie--I think you've got a visitor," Sofia said, surprisingly cheerful. We all peered out the window, seeing Jasper standing near the front door with a bouquet of white flowers. Maddie got out of the car, a small smile gracing her lips, and went to talk to him.

Sofia and I watched, giggling slightly as we watched their awkward exchange. "Twenty bucks says they're together by the end of the week."

"Make it end of the month and you're on," I countered, climbing up to ride shotgun and strapping in.

"Speaking of romantic things, how are you and Alex?"

"Good," I said, amused. "You ask me that every time we see each other, and I always feel guilty for not having more to report."

"Well, you guys are approaching what? Two years now? I'm waiting for the juicy gossip to start springing up."

I laughed again. "Sorry, no gossip as of yet. We're happy."

"Still, two years... That's serious. Think you'll do anything special?" she asked.

"I don't know," I said, still smiling. My eyes watching streets whiz past, little bakeries and vendors' carts becoming blurs. It was hard to believe that a whole year and a half had passed since the Wrobel had worked with us and attacked the city. It was even harder to believe that a year and a half had passed since we first began to rebuild everything. "Hey, you missed my turn."

"But did I really?" she asked, giving me a mischievous grin.

"Sofia... What's going on?"

"Nothing. I'm just following orders."

"Sofia!" She didn't answer me. In fact, she didn't say anything at all until we pulled up at a brick apartment building in a recently renovated part of the city.

"This is your stop."

"If this ends in me getting brutally murdered, I'm going to kill you," I said as I climbed out, still bewildered.