Flashf0rward

Chapter 32: Come Together

Connor

"They're back! Open the gates!" I heard Sparrow shout as we finally got within range of Sanctuary. Sighing to myself, I didn't fully calm down once the gates were closed. The plan had gone off relatively without a hitch, and I was thankful that everyone was still alive. Especially Ivy. I knew her brother would have killed me if she didn't make it back, but I didn't want to lose her either.

As we made it back inside, I could see several of the guards, along with Katrina and Wren crowding around us. Ivy was still carrying Jude, and she was looking tired. "He's...hurt bad. We need to get him some medical help." Wren nodded and took Jude's other side. "Follow me. Clear a path, everyone!"

We carried him through the centre of town, towards a large shack that had been built right next to the town hall. Deaths and mortal wounds never happened often, but when they did, this is where they would be treated. Thankfully, a few people with medical training managed to survive the Singularity and find us, and they were the ones who helped patch up who needed patching.

As we made it to the hospital, a man opened the front door, with dark skin, black hair, and glasses. "Dr. Rajesh, we got him." Ivy said, and the doctor looked down at Jude. "He looks pretty bad, but we need to get him set down now." Nodding, I helped Wren carry Jude onto a stretcher, who looked like he was already fading from consciousness.

"Stay with me, Jude, come on." Dr. Rajesh said, placing his gloves on and taking out a bag of morphine. We'd managed to raid a few of them from the hospitals in Seattle, and now they were finally coming in handy. Hooking it up to an IV tube, Rajesh placed it in Jude's arm, causing him to wince and groan slightly.

Ivy took his hand. "It's ok, you're gonna be fine." Jude turned to Ivy, and gave a weak smile. "Thanks for...coming back for me, Ivy. I knew I could...count on all of you." He looked at everyone in the room, including me, and even though I didn't feel deserving of his praise, I accepted it nonetheless.

His eyes slowly fluttered closed as the morphine took effect, placing him in a medically-induced slumber. Rajesh was listening to his heartbeat, along with feeling along his injuries and ribcage with his fingers. "How bad is it?" Wren asked, and Rajesh sighed, turning to him and taking off the stethoscope.

"A few of his ribs are cracked, his nose is broken in a couple places, and he's sustained severe cuts and bruises, but nothing too life-threatening. A fews days of rest and maybe a couple of stitches, and he should be alright." Everyone in the room let out a collective sigh of relief. We'd done it.

Wren turned to me, Ivy, and Yuko. "Good work, you three. What happened in there?" Ivy bit her lower lip. "They found us out and tried to kill us. But thankfully they were more focused on the fire by the time they were leaving." I looked at Wren. "Knowing Matthias, he's not going to be happy about this."

Sighing, Wren looked down, then nodded. "I know. But Ivy was right. We're not just going to sit back anymore. Matthias has to realize he can't push us around." Ivy crossed her arms. "But this was all part of his plan right? Now he has an excuse to fight us." Wren brushed his hair back. "Well, he's going to realize he picked a fight with the wrong people."

I was surprised at his attitude. "What happened to being peaceful?" I said, more intrigued than anything else. Wren looked at everyone in the room, then stared at his sister. "Ivy, I owe you an apology. I've been wrong this whole time. I've been so busy with trying to protect you and everyone else here, that I've forgotten what I set out to do 10 years ago...be a hero."

Wren walked over to a bed and sat down on the end of it. "You all know about Tobias. What he said to me, what he wanted from all of us. For some reason or another, he chose me. Since then, I've been doing all I can to be the person you all want me to be. But now I realize that's not what I'm supposed to do."

He placed his hands in his lap. "I've let you all down. I've been too afraid to stand up for myself and act because I'm afraid of what might happen. But now, staring down the face of someone who wants to wipe us out...I realize that I don't have a choice. I can either run, or I can fight. And for each every single one of you...I'm gonna fight."

No one spoke for a few moments, then Katrina walked over to him and sat down next to him, taking his hand. "Wren...you never let any of us down. We wouldn't be here if not for you. If you want to fight back against these guys, then we'll follow you. No matter what." Sparrow nodded. "Anywhere, anytime, I got your back." Ivy smiled. "You know I'm ready, big bro." I spoke up as well. "And me."

Wren looked at me with a hint of surprise. "I may not like you as much as I should, Wren, but you're finally becoming what I wanted you to be. A leader. And there's no one I'd rather fight for what I believe in with than you." Wren gave me a nod in return. Finally, an understanding between both of us. "Thank you. All of you."

Ivy looked outside, seeing the bright lights of the flames over the hill. "They probably won't retaliate until tomorrow. They've got bigger problems to deal with. I think we should double our security, keep someone on watch all night, make sure they don't counterattack." Sparrow nodded and sped out the door with a rush of wind.

Dr. Rajesh looked at Wren. "I'll watch over Jude, keep him stable. In the meantime, you should all get some rest." The four of us that were left got up. As we walked out, I saw that Wren and Katrina were walking away together, talking. Katrina was holding tightly to Wren's hand. I gave a small grin.

"Where are you going?" I heard behind me, and I turned to see Ivy. "I was heading home. Need to get some sleep for tomorrow." She stared at me for a moment, as if contemplating something. "Can I come with you?" She asked. That feeling I'd gotten when she kissed me came rushing back, and I was unsure of what to say for a moment. "Sure." I finally managed to get out.

Closing the door to my cabin, I sighed as I took off my jacket, and I saw Ivy undo her ponytail, her long red hair flowing over her shoulders. I was staring again, and she turned to me, blushing slightly. "What?" I shook my head. "Nothing." I wasn't going to take my eyepatch off, since she was here, but she walked up to me. "Here..."

She reached up to my eye, and I grabbed her wrist. "You don't want to see it." She looked at me with her bright green eyes. "Yes I do." Finally, I let her wrist go, and she untied the bandage from around my face. My scarred, mauled eye finally was out in the open, and I looked away slightly.

I felt her warm hand on my cheek, and she turned my face towards her. "You know...most girls like the whole pirate look." I couldn't help but smile. "You one of them?" Ivy smirked. "Maybe." We paused, then I felt her lean forwards, her eyes closing. I met her, and embraced her, our lips finally touching. We stayed like that for a long time. It felt like an eternity.