Our Fate IV ➰Shadowhunters➰

➰Chapter VIII➰

➰Chapter VIII➰

"Not that I'm not glad you came but... Why is he here?" Walt asked, as he uncomfortably shared a small booth with Max, who was shamelessly stealing all of his french fries.

"Apparently, I need a bodyguard or else I become some weird human sacrifice," Andrea shrugged. "Besides, you try telling this guy not to be a pain in my ass."

"A pain in your ass that keeps you from being drained like a raisin," Max said, munching on another fry. His eyes quickly shifted over the table, obviously looking for something that wasn't there. "You'd think they would have brought some ketchup. Stay here, I'm going to get some."

As he stood up and left, Andrea realized that this was probably the only alone time that she and Walt were ever going to get, so she had to make the most of it. "I need to leave that Institute, Walt. They're all nuts."

"But what about Christopher?"

"I keep getting these... visions. For some reason, I keep dreaming about this golden lake, this bright glow..." Andrea said, sighing heavily. "I'm afraid I'm starting to go crazy. And they still haven't figured out why this mark appeared on my arm."

"Well, if anyone can figure out what's happening to you, it's these guys. You just have to patient."

Before Andrea could complain any further, Max was already back. Andrea noticed he didn't bring any ketchup with him, which probably meant he hadn't come back to continue dinner.

"Time to go back."

"But we've only been here for an hour—" Andrea started, but got immediately cut off.

"Don't care. I'm not getting in trouble for you again."

"It's alright, A. I'll head to the Institute to check up on you soon," Walt said, smiling warmly at her.

She sighed, reluctantly dragging herself out of the booth and following behind Max, who seemed overly eager to get back to the Institute. As she eventually slowed her pace, he groaned a complaint and turned to her with exasperation.

"What's it going to take for you to make my life the slightest bit easier?"

"I've been away from my family for over a week, okay? I'm not exactly thrilled about going back to jail."

Much to her surprise, Max didn't give her another of his snappy comebacks or a sarcastic comment. Instead, he sighed and gave her a somewhat sympathetic look.

"I'm sorry about your family, but we can't let you out of the Institute's custody until we figure it all out."

"I just want to see if they're alright."

Max sighed heavily, but nodded. "Alright. Follow me."

➰➰➰

The Institute was a mess. Everyone seemed to be entering in a chaotic panic, as the atmosphere filled with a tension that they hadn't felt in a long time. Not since the Mortal War.

"Izzy, what's all the fuzz about?" Clary asked, as she had only just joined her friends at the Ops room.

"There's been an attack in the London Institute. Apparently, twenty-one Shadowhunters have gone MIA, while another dozen were left severely injured."

"An attack? Of what sorts?" Jace questioned, as they gathered around one of the holographic computers.

"The security footage was wiped out, but the Clave has declared a state of emergency effective immediately, and all Shadowhunter personnel must adhere to the established curfews," Isabelle continued, as she sighed heavily. "I trust everyone's here?"