For the Sake of Breathing

Chapter Twelve

Lake

The alarm goes off. I sit up straight in bed, and turn it off irritably. I scramble to my feet, beam, get dressed, brush my teeth, comb my hair, and gaze into the mirror. My bloodshot gray eyes stare back at me. I'm going insane here.

        There's a bleep. I press my headset on, and the detective in charge of the search team  pops up. She smiles. "Hello, Mayor Simon." 

        I wave at her in return. "Hello," I greet.

        "So we found evidence that Kaylo Noon traveled south, presumably to South America." 

        I blink. "South America?" 

        She shrugs. "I don't know, but we're ending the search, because it's clear that she left of her own accord, and thus creating her no longer missing. She might have just left because she didn't want to see you anymore," she responds.

        They're ending the search? I nod, forcing myself to smile at her. "Thank you."

        She smiles in return. "You're welcome. Maybe she'll show up again."

        I pause. "What about Aven?"

        "Both Aven and his criminal brother are still missing." 

        I nod. "Okay, thank you."

        She salutes to me, and hangs up.

        I sit on my new couch. I had to get a new one. I couldn't bear to look at the one that Kaylo's friend died on, let alone sit on it. Snowy hops up onto the couch beside me, and rubs her cheek on my sleeve. 

        I pat her head absently, wondering where the hell they all went. And then it occurs to me: South America. 

        Of course. 

       I pack a suit case, a spare Carbon Shifter, my comb, my toothbrush and a tube of toothpaste, a traveling beam, and carry Snowy. "Don't breathe," I tell her, covering her mouth. Her green eyes stare back at me in utter confusion.

        I carry her outside, and I set her inside of my solar-powered helicopter. I throw in the suitcase, and get in. Snowy hisses once I power it.

        Cue the helpless mewling. 

        I groan, and prepare myself for the longest four hours of my life.

        I raise the helicopter off the landing platform, and fly over my city. People on main street glance up and watch me. They become dots on the ground. 

        Snowy glares at me, ears folded completely back, fur on end. She reminds me in a way of Kaylo. She is quiet, angry, and waiting for the moment to strike. 

        I never knew that a seventeen-year-old girl would be able to cause me so much pain and insanity. Sometimes I wonder what she would do if we saw each other again: Most likely kill me. 

        Goddamnit, why am I even going? I demand if myself.

        I already know the answer. 

        If I don't, I might as well put a bullet through my head. 

        Just like what you did to Ten.

        I tighten my grip on the lever. 

        It has been two months and sixteen days since the day that I killed Ten, and Kaylo ran out my front door with my traveling pack.