Anti-Academy

Awakened

Max POV

Heading into an unknown situation is the worst part of any job. Having no plan or goal in mind except to see what happens is practically torture during a walk through.

The house is quiet except for the static coming from the radio in Mom's room. Dad and her always played music at night to sleep to. Marie and I check every room starting with the kitchen, living room and dining area before heading up the back stairs. I scope out our bedrooms and grab our hidden weapons.

When I get to the hall Marie meets me at the front stairs. Seeing her frantic look sets me on edge. "Sang's not in her room. Her covers are hanging off the bed like she was dragged to the floor. But there's no other sign of a struggle. Maybe she just flung them off in a hurry?" Marie tries asking hopefully but the panic in her eyes tells me that she knows the truth. Somethings happened with Sang and we weren't here.

A piercing moan cuts through the air catching the exact moment the radio cuts for silence to switch to the weather announcement. 

I don't wait. I run down the stairs silently pausing at the bottom. I scope out the main floor. Everything seems darkened for the night. Then I notice the light peeking through under the door leading to the basement. No one ever uses that room. When we were kids there was nothing but old junk down there in too many boxes, stacked too high. The one time we explored down there the boxes almost crushed us. 

Motioning towards the door, I make a beeline and quickly but quietly twist the knob. The first thing I smell is blood and sweat. Lots of it. I look towards Marie, watching as her eyes widen. We have no cue what we're about to walk in on and I'd do anything to keep her from going in there with me. I wished the guys were here already. It'd be easier to send her outside to safety. But this is our family if somethings happening then we need to do something.

We slowly make our way down the stairs. Observing the parts of the room that become visible as we descend. Our eyes are continuously searching the room for anything out of place. The first thing that is noticeable is that someone has been cleaning. The boxes have been mostly cleared out or moved back. There is a huge shelf of 15 or more different types of cleaning supplies.

Scanning the room the next thing that registers is that Mom and Sang are the only ones down here. But before I find relief or relax at all I notice that Sang is bond to something bleeding profusely. And the last thing that registers is the fact that my mother is thrusting something into Sang's body and whispering to her.

I hear Marie scream behind me but I can't move. I can't do anything as Mom spins around. In the back of my mind I register her dropping the knife and falling to her knees. I'm stunned. Nothing could've prepared me...I never would've thought that this was what Sang had been hiding from me. I don't hear what Mother says or notice her again. My focus narrows in on Sang. 

She's bound to an odd looking wooden structure. She's incredibly pale. She looks so weak.

Until her eyes touch mine for a brief second I'm locked in place only able to observe. But as soon as her gaze meets mine I'm able to move. I just wasn't expecting her to flinch from me as I reached for her. It felt as if I had been stabbed with that knife. The pure terror on her face lets me know what she thought in that moment. She was afraid I'd finish Mom's task...that I'd join in or worse finish her off. Hell she probably thinks I would take Mom's side and blame her like I had been doing all week. 

My stomach threatens to rebel and heave the apple pie back up. This is beyond horrible; a living nightmare that has been her reality for who knows how long. How is she going to survive this? How has she lasted this long? How could I have missed this? We talked everyday! We've been here for days and never noticed anything...nothing to say how bad it had gotten. 

I'm aware that I'm talking but don't realize what I'm saying. My only goal is to unbind her; to finally free her. I'm not even aware that Marie approached and started to help until Sang starts to fall forward. Then I'm shocked once more when she whispers to Marie. "I didn't tell her. Your secret is safe." That one whispered phrase threatens to drown us in that moment.

I catch her as she falls forward; to weak to hold herself up any longer. Laying her gently on the floor I look at Marie. She's sobbing now as she tries to slow the bleeding with pressure. Marie's hands get soaked in seconds as she applies pressure to Sang's lower abdomen.

Hearing stomps on the stairs I spin quickly having completely forgotten calling for back up earlier. When I see whose arrived it pushes me out of my mind and I look around the room noticing my mother has disappeared. AJ, Sean, Owen, Axel and Raven file down the stairs quickly making their way to us. The curses that leave their mouths followed by their horrified expressions tell me exactly how bad this situation is. At AJ and Sean's request Marie and I move back and allow the doctors to do what they do best.

I pull Marie into my arms allowing her to cry into my chest. While I look to the other three. We're broken now. I don't even know how to function. What am I supposed to do now? Thoughts are flying around but I can't grasp any of them. I start thinking of how I would handle a situation like this as an agent but then I wonder why I didn't realize what was happening. 

"Max!" Axel shouts getting into my face to get my attention. "Who did this?" 

I look up meeting his eyes, "My Mother". It only comes out as a whisper but somehow all five of them heard it and immediately release curses in the air. Raven moves so fast heading for the stairs with Axel right behind him. I don't even question them. I know they will know how to handle this better than I can right now.

My eyes move back to Sang, laying on the floor looking so pale and lifeless. Sean and AJ are working hard, trying to stop her from bleeding out. I just don't know if it will help. I've never seen so much blood.  How could anyone survive this? Even if she does, how will Sang ever get over this? Our own Mother trying to kill her? This is not something anyone imagines could happen to their family.

I turn as more steps are heard on the stairs. Two EMTs descend with a back board. Sean and AJ talk quickly moving with the EMTs giving information and orders naturally. We follow them out and watch as they load up the ambulance. AJ and Sean climb in behind Sang with a promise to take care of her the best they can.

I watch as my reason for life is driven away as she fights for her life. Owen leads us quickly to a car closing the door after we both blindly climb in. I assume we are headed to wherever they are taking Sang. But my mind can only think about how stupid I have been.

Sang has been fighting for her life for the past three years. She's been fighting to survive while Marie and I have been living up our life in the city, ignoring our responsibilities. Tonight the fight...oh God...Please don't let this be the end. I need to make this up to her. I have too. This is all my fault. I was supposed to protect her.