Ghost Bird | ✔

Forty-Nine

Owen's POV

***

Which side goes over now? I look at myself in the mirror and frown. The tie is crooked and haphazard like the rest of me. I rip it off and grab an already tied black tie and tighten it around my neck. My shoes are dirty so I quickly wipe them off and throw the wipe in the trash.

I am falling to pieces. But I don't need anyone else to know.

I was already broken. Now, my broken pieces are falling, falling, falling. And I don't know how I will be able to find them.

From the other room, I can hear Sean muttering under his breath as he prays. Every day, thrice a day, Sean has prayed for the return of Gabriel, Silas, and Sang. He refuses to believe that they are gone. He doesn't even join the others in their search, claiming that they will come back. Sean continuously insists that the three will come back. I know better, though. They're gotten and we're all shattered. We're ruined by our loss.

Kota, Luke, and Nathan have all been determined to find them. They spend days searching the city for something. Anything. They find all these "clues" and "leads," yet they find no real evidence of anything.

North destroyed his trailer again yesterday. The only things in there are a mat, pillow, and blanket for a bed, the necessities, and pictures of Silas and now Gabriel. The photos are never destroyed. Somehow, though, he manages to destroy the few belongings he has.

Victor, like me, understands that they are dead. They are gone and we will never find them again. I'll admit, neither of us are really taking it well. We've both sunken into a deep, deep depression. I don't know how to come out of this dark hole that I've fallen into. But, the bigger question is: Do I even want out of this hole? Right now, I don't feel anything. I am numb. Empty. Hollow. Vacant. Sure, it isn't the best feeling, not feeling anything, but it is better than to feel. I don't want to feel that sorrow anymore. The sorrow I felt when my mother died.

I'd rather not feel anything than feel everything.

I sigh, thinking about this meeting that Kota called. Kota probably found some small piece of evidence and is freaking out because of it. However, he is our family and we have to help him through this just like everyone else.

I check my reflection again and decide that I look fine. If you look carefully, you can see the flaws in my appearance, but no one will notice. They'll be too caught up in their own grief.

I start my car and only have to wait a few seconds for Sean. His curly mop is all over the place and he is wearing only purple. In fact, I don't think I've seen Sean wear anything but purple. It's become a comfort of sorts to him. There hasn't been a funeral yet, but Sean will have to wear black soon.

We were broken by not being able to get to Sang. We were destroyed by the loss of Silas. The loss of Gabriel has caused to be no longer.

We drive in silence until we reach Kota's house.

"Whatever he says," I say finally. "Just remember that they are dead and gone."

Pain and anger flash in his shattered glass eyes. But I don't care. I needed to say it. Sean needed to hear it.

Sean gets out of the car, slamming the door behind him.

I'm glad that we are all meeting finally. We never really went back to the Academy, but I need to speak with them about getting help from the Academy. At first, no one wanted to because we knew the trouble we would be in. Now, anything would be worth it if I could just get the Academy to confirm that they are dead so the others stop searching.

I take my place in the living room and frown at the sound of the shower running. Kota wouldn't be showering now. Would he? It's been so long since we all met together face to face... Who knows the tolls the search has been taking on him...

Luke starts to engage in small talk, but only Nathan talks with him. North is glowering in the corner and Sean is muttering under his breath as he sinks further and further into the couch. Victor looks like he is on the verge of weeping.

Finally, the sound of footsteps draws our attention to the stairs. But there are two people there.

"Sang?!" Exclaims Luke. He is so excited that he is laughing and crying.

Silent tears slide down Victor's face as he stares at Sang in awe.

"She's real, isn't she?" Sean breathes.

At first, I think he is rubbing it in that she is there and alive. Then, I realize that he isn't sure if he is hallucinating.

I clap a hand on his shoulder and squeeze it comfortingly.

"As real as you or I," I assure him.

I look at Sang and lose myself in her eyes. I can't tear my gaze away from hers.

"Ms. Sorenson?"

Sang laughs, "And I thought Silas was joking about you addressing people so formally."

Her laugh... The sound isn't music to my ears. That would be selling her laugh short. It is the sound that has been missing from my laugh. I would do anything to hear her laugh again.

I shake my head. This must be the shock talking.

"Silas?" North echoes, sitting up and losing the glower for a hopeful expression.

Sang nods with a beautiful beam. "Silas and Gabriel are together and safe as of two days ago."

Kota clears his throat and states, "Silas and Gabriel are locked up. Sang will work with us to find them and bring them home."

"I am willing and will obey!" I state firmly, practically a shout.

"I am willing and will obey!" Luke cheers.

"I am willing and will obey," Victor chokes out with a broken smile.

"I am damn sure willing and will fucking obey!" North roars.

A ghost of a smile plays on my face at the familiar way North needs to put his own spin on the words.

"I am willing and will obey," Nathan says, dead serious.

"I am willing and will obey," Sean breathes, still looking at Sang with an amazed and adoring gaze.

"I am willing and will obey," Kota finishes.

And it is as if we are a family reunited.

Reunited by Sang.