BloodRose

Epilogue 2. The Muses

The next time I wake up, I am not on the ground, but in a bed. The heavy blanket is comforting and then the smell strikes me. My eyes fly open and I look around....my room? I am home. But how? Alias! Hannah!

Then, they are standing over me. Hannah's warm eyes are smiling and Alias' expression is all relief. I sit up, adjusting my pillow behind me and take in the comforts of my room. My eyes start scanning everything more quickly, panic filling me.

"Alias," I start, "Where-"

"Kyle is downstairs with Samantha, explaining things." His hand takes one of mine and I nod slowly as a new idea clouds my thoughts.

"What about The Augur? Is he...?"

"I don't know. What I do know is that you saved us. Thank you, Cal." The sentiment is nice, but an uneasy feeling still rests in the pit of my stomach.

Alias speaks again, "I mean also, you know, you never told me about your super freaky mind powers."

I punch him in the arm and try to look as offended as possible. I suppose the grin on my face ruins the effect.

"I didn't know about them," I say, "Come on, seriously. I would have told you."

He laughs, "Yeah right. You know, cause you always tell me everything. Like how you told me about your plan to take down a super-strong, psychopathic cult led by my old boss."

Two sets of feet run up the stairs as I slap Alias' arm again. The next grin I see only improves my mood and if I thought it was impossible to be even happier, I would have been wrong. A curly, blond head zips around Kyle and jumps into my arms. I'm taken off guard for a moment before I return the fierce hug.

I look in confusion to Kyle but he just grins wider.

"Thank you," the small voice says, squeezing me tighter.

"For what?" I ask.

"For saving my life," Samantha pulls back, "You're my new big sister." Suddenly shy, she retreats behind Kyle, peeking out from behind him. He smiles down at her and then jogs over and envelopes me in another hug.

When he finally sits back, his expression is more serious, "I'm glad you're okay, Cal." I nod, not trusting my voice. That darn face.

I have a moment to wonder how Alias feels about my new sibling situation before Hannah breaks the silence, "So who's your reigning Speed champ?"

Kyle shakes his head and looks down. "Unfortunately," he says, "That would be Alias."

Alias pumps a fist in the air and Hannah crosses her arms.

Her voice holds a challenge, "Well, let's see if we can't change that." The laughter as we all head down the stairs is a better remedy than anything else.

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*Garret*

The air is knocked from my lungs when I hit the ground. The light recedes. As I come to my feet, something slams into the back of my knees. Another force holds my head in a bowed position while my hands are bound in a rough length of cord. Child's play.

Who and what do these imbeciles think I am?

As the iron grip releases my neck, I pull my head back, prepared to show them the meaning of power. My thoughts spin. In front of me, hands also bound and on his knees is the last person I'd expect to see.

As he takes in my face, I can see his shock rivals my own. I set my jaw. He does the same. They have two of us to deal with now.

Their funeral.