Imperial Coffee

Homesick: Part Five

Cinder's heart skittered.

"You said she had a fever last time you called?"

"It got worse, and now there are all these rashes..." Iko's voice dropped. "They said...they don't know what it is, but her vitals keep falling dangerously low, and...and I think you need to come home."

She. Couldn't. Breathe.

"Cinder?" Iko's voice pitched up. "Cinder, Peony needs you. I need you. I just...I hope it's not too much to ask..."

"I'm coming." Brown, bouncing curls. Standing on tip toes, giggling and twirling and dreaming. Wide, innocent eyes, fixed on the future. Peony. Peony. "I-I'll be there as soon as I can. Please...tell her I'm coming."

"Eu te amor," Iko said.

"Eu te amor." The phone went dead.

Cinder's body went limp.

Cinder didn't know how she'd make it back home. She couldn't afford a plane ticket and it was a seven-hour drive—far too long for a taxi. Perhaps if she were on speaking terms with Thorne, she may have asked him to drive her, but they weren't. She could have taken a bus, but she was pretty sure she would have needed to buy a ticket in advance, and she wasn't sure how expensive those were either.

For the first time, she felt trapped in her new apartment, away from Iko, away from Peony. Distance never stopped her from seeing Iko, and she loved the freedom, the independence it granted her. She had her own worries, but at least they were free from Adri's scorn.

Now she was trapped in the place she escaped to.

"Peony," she whispered, cradling herself in her arms. "I'm coming. I'll find a way."

She pushed her hair back, turned her phone on, and scrolled through her contacts erratically. There had to be someone...

Mike. Thorne. Cress. Mr. Leal. Iko. Kaito.

Kai.

She stopped scrolling and hit his contact. She didn't know if he would agree, if he could really take time off of school for her own family emergency. She didn't know if she wanted him to either.

Was she taking advantage of his kindness? Only the night before, he'd...he'd...

She couldn't think about that, though, while Peony was stuck in a hospital bed. Possibly dying. She was desperate.

His phone rang twice before he picked up.

"Hey, Cinder. How are you?"

"I'm fine. But actually...I have a huge favor to ask of you, I don't know if it's reasonable at all or anything, and I completely understand if it's too m—"

"What is it?"

Cinder took a deep breath. Steeled herself. She could do this. She could ask for help. She could ask for help.

"My sister is in the hospital...a seven-hour drive away. I don't have a car, and I'd ask Thorne, but, um..."

"Is it serious?"

"She might..." Cinder paused. "She might be dying."

Cinder heard nothing for a few seconds and was about to say something before he responded.

"I'll be packed and ready in half an hour."

"You'll really—"

"I know what it's like. So just...hold tight. I'll be there."