Sidelines

Chapter Twenty-Eight: A Traitor

I glared at the green curtain separating me from the rest of the world. I wanted to check on Bree and see if she was alright. After we saw her parents, Chris rushed us to the infirmary so we didn't get a chance to talk or anything. When we reached the infirmary, Nisha and Dr. Kumar gave us beds to rest in. They wouldn't allow anyone in so I haven't seen anyone for maybe two hours now.

And I wanted to know how Bree was feeling, if she was okay. I wanted to see my family and my friends. But instead at that moment, I was dying of boredom. I had nothing to do other than get lost in my thoughts and I didn't want that. Going into my thoughts meant re-experiencing everything that had happened until we got rescued and I wasn't ready yet.

"Kaya?" I looked up hopefully but it was just Nisha checking in on me. "Are you done with your food?"

I rolled my eyes. "I finished a long time ago." It was true. When they gave me the food after I showered, I downed it all so fast that I nearly threw up. But it felt good to have something in my stomach. "Are you allowing visitors now?"

Nisha sighed. "You realize we only held everyone back because we didn't want to overwhelm you guys? But fine, I'll let everyone come in. Well specifically your family. Our friends are gonna see you later so we can speak to you and Bree at the same time."

I nodded impatiently. "Okay. Can they come in now?"

Nisha smiled, amused. "Okay, okay chill. I know you haven't seen you-"

I threw a small pen on the table next to me at her. "Stop talking to me and just let them in for goodness sakes."

Nisha ducked, laughing and closed the curtain. A few seconds later, the curtain was pushed to the side to reveal my parents, Brett, Aunt Laurel, Lena. Aiden, Chris and Uncle Nathan. Nana couldn't be there because she wasn't supposed to move from her bed. I would visit her later.

They all just stared at me at first, as if unable to believe I was actually there. Then my mom did something totally out of character. She ran toward me and hugged me tightly. I felt something wet hit my face and looked up at my mother in astonishment. She was crying.

"Mom?" I whispered. "Don't cry."

She just hugged me tighter in response. "I thought I would never get you back again. I-I thought..." She couldn't finish her sentence because she was sobbing. It was such a strange sight because my mom never cried in public. I think she thought of it as a sign of weakness. She was always so well composed and now . . . well now she was falling apart. Dad came over and hugged me from the other side. I honestly had never felt so loved.

When my mom broke away from me, I studied her. There were dark circles under her bloodshot eyes. Her usual beautiful hair was ratty and limp. She looked tired, like she hadn't slept in days.

She probably hadn't, I thought guiltily.

Aunt Laurel stepped forward and hugged me as well. I guess I wasn't done with hugs for the day. But like with Chris and my parents, I didn't mind them. It felt nice. It felt like home. "You understand you're in a lot of trouble, don't you?" She whispered in my ear. I grimaced and nodded. Of course I was. I didn't expect anything less.

"Laurel we'll discuss that another time. For now, my daughter's back and that's what we should focus on." Dad said, looking at Aunt Laurel with disapproval. She looked like she was about to say something but she changed her mind and stepped back.

Uncle Nathan spoke up this time. "How was it like?"

I looked up at him curiously. "How was what like?"

"The enemy camp. Being there. How was it like?"

Mom looked like she was about to snap at Uncle Nathan to shut up so I spoke quickly before she could say anything. They needed to hear everything anyway. "Bree and I were put in this weird prison thing. Then the head, Mr. Jagger called us out because he wanted to..." I trailed off, realizing I couldn't talk about it yet. It was still too fresh in my memory. I could still remember everything I felt in those moments. I probably wasn't even making sense anyway.