Steel Ethereal

Ch. 36 The Journey North

            

Rob

            "... of all the incessantly stupid things you've gotten yourself into, this is by far the most idiotic, Liam. You should have known much better than to do something like this."

It is the angriest I've ever seen Riley, and he is utterly terrifying. His face is lit and almost red. He's shouting at the top of his lungs. Jenna stands to the side afraid herself, even though she is not the medium for his anger.

"And you!" He says pointing to me, I cringe a bit, "You should be much smarter to know not to let him manipulate you!"

"Hey," Liam snapped, "leave him be. I twisted his arm... I..."

Riley cuts Liam off, "No, no, Liam, this is where you shut up before I knock your aged body to the ground and finish what your stupidity started!"

Liam's brow furrows, "Hey, fuck off! I wasn't going to leave my baby sister in that shithole."

"It was out of line!" Riley takes a deep breath and his hand gravitates to the back of his head, where his scar resides. He speaks softer, but there is still an edge of firmness in his voice. "You're Apex, you should know that if we leave someone, no matter how heartbreaking it is, that we have a reason."

"Nah, fuck that. That's hypocritical bullshit and you're the king of it all, Riley!"

Jenna stands by Riley's side, but she remains silent.

After our arrival, Jenna meets us, and though she shoots a cold look to Liam, she looks to me and seems worried. She walks over and begins patting my face and my body, as if checking for broken bones or bruises.

Now she stood, not giving an opinion. She didn't side with us or enforce Riley's words, something she usually did. Maybe she knew about what had happened to Luciana and would have felt guilty for siding with Riley and would have felt as guilty for siding with us due to her not having done anything.

Riley is spitting mad, and I know why. He leads us properly. He keeps us together. He gained his position as the head of Apex for good reason. Should anything happen, I don't think anyone else would have been able to replace him. He's relieved, that Luciana is home, but still has a job to do.

"You're speaking out of line, Luciana is safe and sound, but your actions are still inexcusable. You're excommunicated from Apex and will return to your duties as a doctor. Count your lucky stars I kept all this from the medical community or you would have lost that too."

Liam scoffs and turns, "If it means I won't be a part of the organization that left my baby sister to be raped to death, then a big fuck you to you all, I'm out! You disgust me and I pray you are hit by a drunk fucking truck driver!"

Liam slams the door, cracking Riley's glass pane with his name engraved on it.  Some of Riley's pictures on his bookshelf fall and shatter on the floor.

Jenna walks over to clean the mess and I help. She looks to me briefly and smiles weakly.

I wince as Riley turns to face me. I'm disappointed in myself for upsetting Riley even though I felt my actions were justified. I'm nervous to be in the same room with the man who could beat me with both arms broken and a fracture in his ankle.

"Rob," Riley sighs, "Your actions were admirable, and from Liam's report, you truly are something extraordinary. But you WILL receive community service and you WILL not repeat something like this. Am I clear?"

His voice is calm, but razor sharp. I feel as if I had gotten off better than Liam, but I still feel an ultimate shame.

"Should we need you for Apex reasons, we'll call you. Meantime, you are to remain on standby," Riley announces sternly.