The Skylar Experiment : The "X" in Apex

Chapter Thirty-One - No-Humans Club

Luc dropped me off before sunrise. I hugged Dad, fighting tooth and nail not to burst into tears.

Everything going on—Homecoming, Emma being in a coma with no surefire road to recovery, it filled me with a brand of fear I've never tasted. I bawled on his shoulder until I lost track of time, soaking his sweater. Silent, he stroked my hair until I stopped sniffling.

"Kiddo." He looked me in the eye and wiped my face. "What happened was horrible and very unfair. But as devastating as it is, it's not something we can control."

My throat was so tender that I didn't muster the energy to respond.

"You know, it's a part of life," he went on, and his lips stretched into a doleful smile.

Of all people, I knew he'd confronted death in the military, and in a harsh light. He never talked about it, but sometimes he'd return from abroad while his mind was stuck there.

"Mourning people, wondering what could have been. After what just happened, of course it feels wrong. It's okay to mourn your classmates. And thank God, you're okay too."

He kissed the side of my forehead. I felt like a pit opened itself in my gut and replaced my insides.

"I'm sorry I worried you, I—," I managed to croak. "—I didn't mean to get near again and not call you sooner and it was hard to get through the crowd—"

He gave an aggravated sigh. "It's alright, Riles. You did your best. We can only hope Emma gets better."

Dad sat me down at the kitchen counter where two cups of tea waited for us. I gladly accepted mine, but the smell and taste was clouded by stuffy sinuses. The sniffles weren't entirely gone.

"I was waiting for you to come home long before the night took a turn for the worst, actually."

"What?" I hiccupped.

He searched for words—or maybe how to broach what was on his mind. I saw the small battle on his face but I was far too tired to rush him.

"Your mom and I received an email from the school. She saw it first and called me, upset and knocked sideways." Dad's gaze was full of concern, and then it clicked.

Oh.

God, I forgot about the photographs. I wasn't sure I cared now.

"I'm aware you are among the girls targeted."

"I didn't get a chance to tell anyone. The thing broke out this afternoon..."

"Are you feeling okay? Do you know this boy?"

So much was going on, and I had a hard time weighing whether I should evade this conversation or trust that he won't storm into a staff meeting.

"It's a senior, but I barely know him," I whispered.

He sighed, clearly frustrated over so little information. I took a drag of tea because I felt another wave of tears coming up. If I could lay in bed, not to sleep but just to let the pure horror of this day sink in.

"Mom wants you to check in as soon as possible," Dad announced. "There will be a lot for us to talk about, but I'll try to hold it between her and me. And the school. Is that okay?"

I nodded without delay. The gesture brought out a sharp ache I hadn't been aware of.

"We should leave town for the weekend. Get some air."

Luc asked me about it in the car, so him and his people could focus on the problem and not spread too thin.

Not only did Dad agree to my request, but proposed to work remotely so we could take Monday, as well. Few things sounded more tempting than that in the immediate present.