Sparked (COMPLETED)

Chapter Twenty Six

Luke

"Is he going to be alright?"
"Calm down, Bronwyn, he'll be fine. He's still breathing after all."
"You're sure?"
"Of course I'm sure."
I opened my eyes, and my vision took a moment to adjust. A girl with caramel hair and baby doll features was sitting in front of me. I recognized her as the girl I'd seen laying in bed when we first escaped.
"Bronwyn," She said. "Your boyfriend's awake."
Bronwyn crashed into me. She hugged me with all her strength, which really hurt.
"Ouch," I said. "Wyn, baby, that hurts."
She loosened up. "I'm sorry." Her grey eyes were tear filled. "It's just... Bird, Luke, I was terrified. If you were dead, I didn't know what I'd do."
"Hey," I told her, wiping away a tear that was sliding down her face. "I'm here. I'm alive."
She kissed me. She smelt like smoke and blood, but I didn't care. All that mattered was that Bronwyn, my Bronwyn, was sitting in front of me. She was alive, and she was mine.
We broke apart. I had to resist the urge to kiss her again. After all, we had important things to discuss.
"Did we lose anyone else?" I asked, nervous. "Is the battle still going on?"
"No. We still have everybody. I can't believe you destroyed all of those automatons. You almost killed yourself for us, Luke," She replied.
"You guys killed all the wights?"
"Every last one."
"Who's she?" I asked, nodding at the girl with the caramel hair.
"My name's Genivee," She said. She had a German accent. "I'm nine and a half."
I swallowed back a sob. Genivee had been Vienna's middle name. Could this be a sign? The two of them even had the same hair color.
"Genivee saved your life," Bronwyn explained. "She's Peculiar. She can heal people with a simple touch. If it weren't for her, you'd be dead."
"Thank you, Genivee," I said. "No problem," She replied. "Your friends want to see you. Everyone thinks you're dead."
I stood up, expecting to feel woozy, but I felt fine. I grinned at Genivee. "You're Peculiarity really works."
She rolled her eyes. "Of course it does, Luke."
My smile faltered. "You remind me of her."
Genivee cocked her head to the side. "Of who?"
"My cousin," I replied. "Vienna. She was murdered."
She ran over to be and gave me a hug. "I'm sorry for your loss."
I didn't tell her that it was okay, because it wasn't. I missed Vienna.
"Thank you," I told her. "I miss her."

. . . .

"You're alive!" Olive called, running over and giving me a hug. "Yeah," I said. "Feels great." "Pick me up," She insisted. I did as she asked while I everyone else freaked out and cheered.
"We need to find out what to do next," I said. "I'm going back to Miss Blue Jay's Loop," Lisa said. "Same," Augi added. The two girls had bonded over their losses. "I'm going to head wherever Claire's going," Maxan said. "I'm not losing her again."
"I guess we'll go back to my place, then," Jacob said. "Until we can decide what to do later on."
"What about me?" Genivee asked.
"You could come back with me," I said. "To my house. My aunt would love you."
Genivee narrowed her eyes at me. "So I'm like a replacement," She said carefully. "For Vienna. The dead girl."
The dead girl.
I looked into Genivee's dark blue eyes. "You are not a replacement for Vienna, Genivee. I'm just saying that you're welcome at my home."
And she was welcome. One of the reasons I wanted Genivee around was because I had a feeling that this little girl could help Aunt Marcy cope with her daughter's death a little bit better.
Genivee thought about it for a second. Then she looked up at me with a twinkle in her eye. "Okay, Luke. I'll come back with you."
"I take it you're going back to your house?" Bronwyn asked me. "Yeah," I said. "I need to be there for my aunt."
I recalled when I realized that it was all a lie. Marcy wasn't my aunt. Vienna wasn't my cousin.
I now realized it didn't matter if you were related by blood or not. Marcy had raised me. I was like a son to her. She was more like my mother than my aunt.
Vienna hadn't been my cousin.
She'd been my sister.
And I knew that she would always be watching over me from Heaven. That God was taking good care of her. That she was in a better place now.
Bronwyn turned to her friends. "I'm going to go with Luke. I'll be right next door to you."
Emma gave her a hug. "I'm happy for you, Wyn," She whispered.

. . . .

We all piled in the rental car back in Florida. We'd bid Augi and Lisa goodbye. I wondered if I'd ever see them again.
I climbed in the driver's seat and glanced at Bronwyn. She was staring out the window.
I started the car and began to drive. I switched on the radio. A familiar song was playing.

If you let me, I could
I'd show you how to build your fences
Set restrictions
Separate from the world
The constant battle that you hate to fight
Just blame the limelight

I almost choked. Fences by Paramore. Vienna's favorite song.

Don't look up just let them think
There's no place else you'd rather be
And now you can't turn back
Because this road is all you'll ever have

And it's obvious that you're dying, dying
Just living proof that the camera's lying
And oh, oh open wide
Cause this is your night, so smile

"This was the band she liked, right?" I heard Millard ask from the backseat. He sounded like he was on the verge of tears.
"Yeah," I said. "It was."

. . . .

We arrived at the house. Jacob, Emma, Hugh, Fiona, Claire, Olive, Millard, and Maxan headed into Jacob's house.
I stood in front of my door. I took a deep breath, and opened it.
Aunt Marcy was doing the dishes.
When she saw me, she dropped a plastic cup. She quickly dried her hands and rushed over. "Lukas!" She cried, throwing her arms around me. "Oh, my baby, are you alright? I can't believe you made it!"
I grinned and hugged her back. She let go of me and looked at my girlfriend. "It's Bronwyn, right?" She asked.
Bronwyn smiled at her. "Yeah. I'm Luke's girlfriend."
Aunt Marcy smiled at me and winked.
"Hey," Genivee said. "I'm Genivee. Luke's friend."
"Hi, sweetie," Aunt Marcy said. "Genivee is my daughter's middle name. Did you know that?"
She stood up straight. "Where is Vienna?"
Nobody spoke. My aunt paled. She put a hand to her head and sat down in a chair.
"Lukas. Vienna made it, right?"
I shook my head, trying to keep myself together for her sake.
My aunt broke down crying. I hugged her. "My poor, beautiful daughter," She sobbed. "What happened?"
"She was murdered. Her throat slit. I tried to save her. I'm sorry, Mom."
I didn't realize that I called her Mom until she started crying harder.
"I need a minute," She said. "Luke, show Genivee the guest room. That'll be her room. Bronwyn can stay in your room, just use protection."
"We aren't going to be doing that," I groaned, blushing. Bronwyn was trying not to laugh.
I gave my aunt one last hug before heading upstairs.

. . . .

It was midnight. Bronwyn was curled up next to me, my arm around her. I listened to the rain hit the roof as I thought about the past week. Laying in bed with a full stomach almost felt wrong.
Vienna would've still been awake, singing karaoke in her room where she thought nobody could hear her.
I thought of the new friends I made. I wouldn't trade them for the world.
I thought about losing Vienna. She would never be forgotten. I had loved her half to death.
I thought of Bronwyn. I had a good feeling about us. The two of us would last. I was sure of it.
I thought of Lisa. She'd been a ymbryne, and I'd never known it. I hoped things worked out for her, and I prayed Miss Blue Jay could save her from her depression.
I thought of the friends we'd been betrayed by. Andrea and Reid. They were both dead now. For the better.
I felt Bronwyn cuddle closer to me. Although I'd lost somebody I'd loved, Vienna, I'd gained somebody too, Bronwyn.
And everything would be okay.
As long as we were together.

The End