Three Hearts Left Intact

Chapter 54: Torn Apart

Several hours had passed as Mallix slept. It wasn't until Zander woke up for the second time today did noise begin to erupt in the cabin.

One after another they all began waking up. Zander was full of energy this morning, he was bouncing and running around the place. Laughter rang through everyone's ear as he chatted and joked all morning long. When Alex woke up, he and Mallix had a one-on-one conversation.

Meeting in the hallway alone, Mallix begged of Alex. "Can you do me a favor please?"

Without needing any further reasoning Alex nodded, he wouldn't turn down his request. "Of course you can, M. What is it?"

"Do you think you could call up everyone you know that would have any information about the Fendly's facility. I just want to see if there's anything else we can find out. Maybe even contact the guy who got us the map and ask if he can talk to his people on the inside. Right now any information would be great." He looked at Alex with fingers crossed.

"Consider it done." Alex smiled. "But no promises. What your asking for is dangerous. They may work for the Cave, but remember they have families too. And spilling any information about the Fendly's can be life threatening. They may not want to give up any information if they do know something. But, I'm just saying most of these people are only there to do their dirty work. Meaning there's a high probability they won't know anything to begin with."

"That's fine. Knowing that we tried at least would put my mind at ease, rather than not and never knowing what could've happened."

Alex hit Mallix's shoulder playfully, "you can count on me. I'm going to go grab Zander away from Nina since I can see her trying to read, and get him settled with a game or something. Then I'll go make those phone calls for you." He gestured a nod.

"Thanks." Mallix said as the two men parted ways. As he said, Alex walked over to Zander seeing him asking Nina question after question as he was bouncing on the couch.

Alex grabbed Zander down and knelt in front of him. "Lets leave Nina alone she's trying to read buddy. Why don't you go draw something for Mallix. He's going through some hard times and I think a picture might make him feel better."

"But I was just asking about that." He whined pointed towards the notebook in her lap.

"It really isn't a problem Alex. Besides you guys need to hear this. M wrote down everything we need to get the girls back in so much detail. I don't mind telling Zander what I've seen so far. Mallix definitely has been thinking about this for a long time, there's a lot to this." Nina calmly stated.

"See!" Zander jumped in excitement as he ran back to Nina just escaping Alex's grasp of him. "So can I stay and listen?!"

Looking over to Nina, Alex saw her smiling as she nodded. "Fine, but behave. I have to go make some calls to some people, I'll only be a minute. If I come back and Nina tells me you weren't listening then you and I are going to have a discussion in our room." He looked with serious eyes.

"Alex it'll be fine. I've watched him before. Go make those calls, we'll still be here." Nina assured.

Taking one last look at Zander, Alex went over to their room at the back of the cabin and began to look through his contacts.

Meanwhile, James and Nina had started their day not on the best of terms. The couple had not said a word to one another since James woke up. He groggily trudged into the kitchen making his usual cup of coffee, ignoring Nina who was giving him death glares occasionally as she looked up from the notebook.

Once Mallix was done talking with Alex, he had gone to James. Meeting his brother who was standing alone with his arms crossed sipping away at his coffee leaning against the counter, he raised his eyebrow. "What happened to you?"

"Don't even Mallix." James pushed past Mallix's shoulder, attempting to return to his room but Mallix stopped him. Gripping his upper arm with force, James jerked backwards looking at Mallix annoyingly. "Let me go!"

"What is your deal twerp?!" Mallix pushed James back into the corner he was in earlier, "I was just coming here to ask what was going on, you don't have to be such a jerk."

"I'm the jerk?!" He scoffed. "You're the one that caused all of this. It's your fault Nina thinks I don't know anything about empathy, or sympathy, or whatever else -athy." He said mocking Nina.

"My fault?! Last I checked I didn't do anything twerp! And if it's being an indecent human being what's she's going on about, then why don't you go look at a mirror to see where she's coming from!"

"Quit calling me twerp! If you didn't let Lain and Kaila get kidnapped in the first place, we wouldn't even be in this situation! It's all because you've been moping around like a loser that we're not talking to each other!"

Mallix paused. James words struck him hard as his breathing dropped. "DON'T YOU DARE ACCUSE ME OF LETTING MY WIFE AND LITTLE GIRL GET TAKEN! LAST I CHECKED YOU WEREN'T ANY HELP KEEPING THEM SAFE EITHER! IN FACT YOU WENT MISSING TOO! THAT WAS BEFORE YOU RANDOMLY SHOWED UP OUT OF THE BLUE!"

James face was flushed, by the way Mallix blew up at him—he could see his mistake of taking it too far. He just looked at his brother with an irritated glare as he rolled his eyes. "Whatever..."

"You are such a douche James! All I wanted to do was come over here and talk to you about what's going on between you and N, and instead I get whatever that was with you!" Mallix would've continued to argue with James if it wasn't for a ring buzzing from his pocket.

"Yeah, ok, whatever Mallix. I've got to take this." He grabbed his cup of coffee and stormed out of the house. As he slammed the door he scared Zander making him jump up slightly.

Mallix was full of fury, he shouted and yelled in his head to release his frustration. Grabbing a glass of cold water he walked into the living room, sitting down on a couch trying to relax. He hadn't noticed the two pairs of eyes staring at him from a distance.

"I haven't seen M shout that loud in a long time." Zander whispered very quietly into Nina's ear. She nodded in agreement before grabbing Zander's hand and leading him to her room to continue their conversation while giving Mallix his space.
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Let me know what you think. Thanks Lexx signing off