Ingenious

Chapter Twenty Eight

"Our family," I whisper breathlessly as he leaves the room to go get them. "All our families are here. Here at Lakefield Institution." They are about so see me and I look like a complete wreck. Luckily Kacey rebraided my hair for me last night very loosely, but the ends are still frayed, my ankles and wrists are all bandaged and my clothing is bloody and dirty. I'm in no state for my family to see me. Because this is how they are going to remember me if I die. Not the way I was before, but as this mess who looks as if she's going mentally insane. As the first person walks through the door I have to say I'm a bit disappointed that Kacey's parents are going first.

"You have 10 minutes," he says, closing the door. If there wasn't glass around us, Kacey would've been in their arms within seconds. I can tell how much it hurts her to see them but still not be able to touch them.

"Mom!" she exclaims as her mom runs to the front of the glass. Their hands overlap each other as if they are touching. I grab Maia's arm and pull her back as we slouch against the back wall. We'll get our turn, but for now it's Kace's. And for the first time in almost 6 years she is seeing her family. "I've missed you guys." She says. As if on cue the middle glass wall falls. We all look around for who did it but all that matters is it's down. It isn't like we could get out either way. The doors need to be opened from the outside. Kacey is almost in shock for a second, before she jumps into her parents arms. She hugs them for so long I almost want to remind her that she only has another 8 minutes and 4 seconds.

"Kacey!" her mom exclaims looking at her, "you're so grown up!" Kacey smiles and I see the tears running down her face.

"Me!" she says, "look at all of you. I mean Mom and Dad you haven't aged a day since I left but Nathan god you look so old! How old are you now!" She's standing next to her brother now. He looks about my age.

"Just turned 18," he says laughing.

"Ellie, Jamie, you haven't changed that much," Kacey says joking as she goes to hug them.

"Oh come on Kace," Jamie says, "I had my testing like 7 months ago, I'm in pre-engineering!"

"Jamie, that's amazing! Elles you nervous for your testing? What is it for another 4 months?" she says as her sister Ellie nods. "And Josh and Rachel I haven't seen you two since you were basically babies!" she exclaims. I can tell they are both hesitant around her and if I'm right Rachel was only 1 when Kacey left and Josh about 4 or 5. She spends the first 7 minutes and 42 seconds catching up with them and basically marvels over how long it's been. I can't even imagine. Almost 6 years since she's seen any of them and now... I can't even imagine.

"Don't be rude Kace," her mom says nearing the end, "introduce us to your friends." Maia and I get up offering weak smiles. We are both anxiously waiting to see our families.

"I'm Raegan," I say shaking her Mom's hand, "you can call me Rae." She ignores my hand and hugs me.

"Thank you for taking care of my little girl for the past 6 years," she says to Maia. I almost laugh.

"If anything Kacey has taken care of us," I tell her as Maia stands off to the side. Her shy self is showing through again around the new people.

"How old are you girls?" her mom asks as Kacey chats with her siblings. "You look young!"

"I'm 17, Maia's 16," I say, "there are 3 more of us, but I'm not sure where they are right now. You would love them too." Kacey's mom smiles sadly.

"I'm sorry we can't do more to get you out of here," she glances at Kacey, "we were given this opportunity and we couldn't turn it down. It's just been so long."

"Of course, we understand," I say, "you should enjoy the last couple minutes with Kacey." With that she joins Kacey and her siblings and they keep talking right until the head doctor comes in.