Accessory Wars

Chapter 29-Felisa

            I marveled at how nice the Bailey hospital was. No wonder it was a tourist spot. The terraces looked out over scenic parts of the country and the ocean off in the distance. If it weren't so cold, I would have stood out there to admire the view. The halls were adorned with art I admired as we passed by. Stained glass windows dotted the upper regions of lofted ceilings, bathing the floors in rainbows.

Jay and Ki were in neighboring rooms in the ICU and an officer stood between the two doors. We stopped by Jay's room first. He was asleep and Kami moved his glasses from his nose to the side table. Aside from looking a little ashen, he seemed okay. I did note the handcuff connecting his wrist to the bed. We then went next door to Ki. His parents were there and they smothered Kami in a hug when they recognized her. Ki's mother gave me an equally tight hug when she greeted me. They informed us of Ki's condition, no different than what Nadia said the night before. Colfry went to Ki's bedside and ran his fingers through Ki's hair.

I wanted to give everyone some space, since I didn't know Ki that well, so I asked Officer Colfry for the numbers of Ki's friends. He gave me Reagan's and I stepped out to the hall to place the call.

"Hello?" Reagan's voice answered, sounding desperate.

"Hi, Reagan, this is Felisa," I greeted. "From the—"

"Felisa! Are you okay? What about Kami? Have you seen Ki?!" he demanded. I heard Mysti's voice in the background trying to calm him down.

"We're okay. We're at the hospital."

"Praise to Allah. You have no idea how worried we've been. I'm going to make some calls and then we're going to be right there. Are you admitted?"

"No. I'm here with Officer Colfry and Ki's parents." If the ERT hadn't given me more of the healing IV serum, I would have been staying down the hall instead of walking around. The cuts, bruises, burns and sprains ached. My shoulder hurt when I moved it more than a couple centimeters. It gave me a sense of déjà vu.

"All the better," Reagan said. I heard soft talking in the background. "Of course. Right. Okay. We'll see you in a bit, Felisa." Reagan hung up and I tucked my phone into my bag.

Now that I was by myself, I finally had a moment to think. I wondered how such an attack could occur. It started so late in the tournament too. I thought it seemed odd at first but the later attack time meant there was less fighters in the building. Less resistance.

I stood chewing on my thumb nail as I ran over more details in my mind. Why the ceiling? Why kidnap people? From what I overheard at the police station, the people who were taken disappeared via helicopter. There must have been more than one helicopter too because the one the ERT raided outside the stadium only had the pilot inside. Another was stopped a few miles away and the two people inside were rescued. It still left five people missing. What bothered me the most was why the rogues didn't Gravitate anyone. It was as if they were trying to be humane about their kidnapping.

"You shouldn't think so hard." I looked up to find Kami offering me a muffin in a plastic pouch. I accepted it and tore it open, taking a large bite of the baked good. More stale chocolate. "What has your gears turning?" Kami asked, tearing off a piece of her own muffin.

"It doesn't make sense. When I think it should go one way or another, there's too many flaws for it to make the picture clear," I said.

"Let me offer up a question to you. Why bring so few to a tournament loaded with others of higher caliber?" Kami brought up. I frowned, finding the question poking even further holes in my logic. "It's clear the rogues knew each other since they coordinated their fighting. However, I don't think they've fought together before."