✓ Chaos Theory | Diego Hargreeves [1]

【CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE】

—chapter thirty-five.

  ❛ the end of the world... ❜

THE TASK OF GETTING ALLISON BACK to the Academy was a struggle. Somehow the woman was still alive with barely a pulse pressing against Five's fingers, but Luther was adamant they took it and run. None of the other siblings seemed to have any issues against that.

Five had had the brilliance to use Elodie and she was tasked with cauterizing the wound. It had not been particularly difficult, just pressing and hoping that the boy-genius was right. But it brought back memories -- the smell of searing flesh, dark red blood soaking into her skin, getting under her nails and over her clothes. The only comfort she had was that it was for good that time around...but the memories still clawed their way in.

They were silent the entire way home, aside from Luther's quiet cries and a few sniffles from the others. Elodie's heart ached for the man and the obvious pain he was going through just then. Her mind was on Diego, though, selfishly hoping that he was okay, even though she knew that was impossible at the moment. His face was composed in his usual blank frown, but she knew that he was still grieving, and terrified with just a minuscule fragment of hope that his sister would survive. She knew he was probably also angry and frustrated with himself, blaming his own faults for the loss of his mom, Patch, and nearly Allison. Nothing she could say or do would probably change that.

Still, Elodie's hand snaked out and reached for his, holding it up until it was necessary to let go for Allison.

Immediately then did Diego spring into action, barking orders and racing inside to scream out for their mother (which confused Elodie), and then their butler Pogo, or just anyone to come and help. The rag-tag team of five, six including Allison, stood waiting for help in the foyer of the mansion, frozen until a willowy female silhouette came sweeping down the stairs.

Elodie had only ever heard about Grace from Diego. But every description he had fed her, declaring her one of the most beautiful women he'd ever known fit her perfectly. The woman, who looked no older than her children was tall, fair, and with one of the kindest smiles Elodie had ever seen. She was the very epitome of elegance and good nature and even when presented with the situation, she remained cool and collected, giving each one of them calmly spoken orders. 

Elodie, unspoken to, hung back and watched awkwardly.

"She's suffered a severe laceration to her larynx." Grace informed them, hands already stained a dark red. Her eyes moved up to glance around, "One of you will need to give blood."

Almost immediately, everyone moved to give an offer, all four boys crying out a unanimous 'I will!'.

Luther had been the loudest voice, naturally and moved to offer his arm. Only he was stopped short by a new voice. Elodie turned to watch as a smartly-dressed monkey, of all unexpected beings, stepped out of the shadows towards the group.