by Aella Black
Other sounds reached my ears now. Shouting. Gunfire. Crying. Help.
My eyes flew open, and Phoebe’s tear-streaked face was the first I could see. It was the only thing I wanted to see.
“Xander!”
I groaned and touched my chest, where a bullet had ripped through me. “Fletcher’s not a bad shot.”
Phoebe crushed me in a hug, and I felt her body trembling. “I thought I’d lost you. I thought I was too late.”
I wrapped my arms around her, pulling her close. “You’re right on time.”
Looking past her, I saw Rocky grappling with Fletcher, his perfectly styled hair looking less than perfect. They looked like they’d been going at it a while. My entire body tensed. Phoebe, realizing there was a problem, pulled back immediately. It was at that moment I saw Fletcher throw Rocky to the ground.
His eyes locked on mine, and he stalked toward us. “Why won’t you just die?” he growled.
A shot rang out, and Fletcher jerked back. Then he looked down at the blood blossoming on his stomach in disbelief.
Phoebe’s father stepped into view, his arm still outstretched with the gun in his hand. Fletcher looked over at him, a look of betrayal on his face. “Marcus. How-how could you?” he spluttered.
Then he laughed.
The guy had a bullet in his gut, and he was laughing.
“I guess that makes me Caesar, huh?” Fletcher said, collapsing to the floor with a sound that seemed to shake the walls. Blood trickled from the side of his mouth. He began convulsing, and after a long moment, he went still.
No one said a word. It made it all the more jarring when a loud voice suddenly filled the hall.
“Weapons down! Nobody move!” the voice commanded.
Reinforcements had arrived.
Phoebe turned back to me, her eyes wide. When she saw the look of relief on my face, she smiled the sweetest smile I’d ever seen. I wanted to give her another hug, but neither of us wanted to get shot again—especially not now.
This was it. This was what we’d been hoping and praying, and plotting and planning for. This was the day we were going home.
After all medical needs were attended to, we were herded into the cafeteria. Phoebe limped beside me. She’d almost fully healed, not because of the paramedics but through the healing power of her own tears. It turned out, wiping a few in her open wounds worked just like it did on the rest of us.
Her father went outside to talk to the feds, and she and I sat at a table with our group of friends.
“Can you believe it’s really over?” Tex asked.
“It doesn’t feel real,” Cathy muttered. She was right, it didn’t.
Birdie looked happier than I’d seen her in months. Though that wasn’t really saying much, seeing her with a grin on her face was just about the best thing I could imagine. “I can’t wait to see my mom! And my brothers and sisters!” she gushed.
“This’ll probably be the last time we’ll see each other for a while,” Cal said.
“I’ll miss you too, dude,” I said, mussing up his hair. As if it wasn’t already.
Chuckles all around, and then, “Well, I, for one, plan on sticking around to see this stupid city I’ve ‘lived’ in and never seen.”
Phoebe perked up. “You’re staying?”
Rocky shrugged. “Not like I have anywhere to go back to.”
I’d forgotten Rocky’s parents turned her over to the SCC. I didn’t know how many there were, but some families wanted their kids here. Whether they knew exactly what went on here was another matter entirely.
A fierce expression filled Phoebe’s face. I sat back, smiling, wondering what was going to pop out of her mouth.
“You’re going to live with me,” she told Rocky. Her tone and words brooked no argument.
Rocky’s face went uncharacteristically soft. Then she recovered. “I’ll think about it,” she said, but there was a hint of a smirk on her face. Phoebe looked like she was going to argue, but then Rocky grinned and punched her lightly on the arm. They hugged one another, and I knew, without a shadow of a doubt, I’d see a lot more of Rocky in the future.
Cooper chimed in. “I haven’t been gone as long as y’all, but man, I can’t wait to get back home.”
The others agreed, and we all began discussing the things we’d missed most.
Family. Friends. Sports. Surfing. Riding horses. Decent food. The list went on and on until we were interrupted by someone calling my name. Or rather, my prison name.
“Chief!”
It was strange to think I’d leave here today and not hear someone say it on a daily basis. An even stranger feeling of melancholy struck me at that very moment.
I turned to see Venom bounding toward me. “Can you believe this? Can you?”
My cellmate looked more enthusiastic than I’d ever seen him. And that was saying something, because he was a pretty animated guy. Of course, his moods swung both ways, so it was nice to see a happy one for a change.
“Crazy, huh? I’m glad you’re okay, man.” And I really was.
“Yeah, solitary sucked,” he said, but his wicked-looking grin grew bigger. “But at least I didn’t have to hear your snoring every night.”
“Ha, ha,” I said, but I laughed along with everyone else.
It felt so good to laugh again.
Venom’s attitude was how I imagined this moment. Optimistic, ecstatic, hopeful. Melancholy shouldn’t even be on my radar, yet, for some reason, it was.
Sure, it appeared we were headed home and could return to our lives like before. Except that it would never be like before.
We’d seen and experienced things that most people never did—especially most teenagers. It was hard to imagine returning to school, playing football, doing all the normal things other high school students did. Would we fit back in? Did I even want to?
And then there were all the kids who didn’t get the chance to go home. The ones who’d died on the great hall floor, and all the ones who disappeared before.
Like Hot Rod, the kid at Leavenworth who tried to escape, never to be seen again. There were others before and after him, from what I’d heard. Lucy, Titus, and dozens more whose parents wouldn’t be able to welcome them home when it was all said and done. Guards… young ones whose families would miss them too. Oscar, Wolf, and Heath immediately came to mind, but I knew there were dozens more of them too.
I felt a hand touch mine under the table, and I immediately locked fingers with Phoebe. She was the bridge between my old life and this one, and then, if all went well, my new one after this. She’d be in school with me, both of us needing to complete our senior years. And hopefully, she’d be by my side walking down the halls of our high school every single day. Just the thought of it—of a future with her—pushed the melancholy back where it should be right now.
Birdie, who’d been going around the table giving everyone hugs, wrapped her arms around me and squeezed. “I’ll miss you, Chief.”
I’d miss her too. We all would. But it wasn’t like there was an ocean between us. My parents had access to private jets and private retreats paid for by donors, readily available to us at a moment’s notice. I’d make sure we all got together as often as we could.
When I told the group this plan—and it wasn’t just an idea, we would do it—the mood at the table shifted from content to euphoric.
After everyone had calmed down, Cal asked, “How will we keep in touch until then?”
Tex responded immediately. “Y’all have social media, right?”
An official walking by held a clipboard, and we borrowed some paper and a pen. We exchanged ways to connect with each other and agreed to exchange phone numbers as soon as we had cell phones again. Then we could create a group chat. It wasn’t as good as seeing each other every day, but it was something.
And I had a feeling we’d all be happy with that “something” for the opportunity to be home.
Cathy opened her arms wide. “I think we really
need a group hug,” she said.
Rocky shook her head. “No, we really don’t.”
But we did. Rocky ended up crushed in the middle and, whether she’d admit it or not, loved every minute of it.
As we all held one another, I truly came to realize this wasn’t the end for us. I’d talked up a good game about staying in touch—which we would—but I’d secretly been lamenting the loss of our time together. Our shared experiences bonded the people in this group in ways that defied time or geography. With tears flowing between us, I knew our bond would always remain.
“You’re free to go, Alexander,” I heard someone say.
I pulled away from my friends with a reluctance that any casual observer would find odd, considering I should have been racing toward the door right now. “I believe your parents are waiting outside,” the man said and then walked away.
Outside.
I couldn’t count how many times I’d longed to spend even a minute breathing fresh air. Being forced to clean windows I couldn’t see out of had been a special type of torture. Now, no one would stop me from ever looking outside or being outside ever again.
But first…
“Phoebe, will you walk me out?”
She didn’t hesitate. Our friends smiled as we joined hands, and after a final farewell, Phoebe and I strode out of the cafeteria.
Together.
We took our time walking through one corridor after another without a guard in sight. No one telling us what to do, where to go, or when to be there. No one barking orders at us or hitting us with a taser if we didn’t comply immediately.
“Doesn’t this feel weird?” Phoebe asked, our thoughts obviously in sync.
“It does,” I agreed. “I think I’m going to have issues with people trying to control me for the rest of my life.”
“Same,” she said.
Just another reason we were perfect for one another. I only hoped Phoebe knew that.
There was one way to find out.
Tugging on her hand, I pulled her into a shallow alcove. When I saw the spot where the water fountain should be, a memory sprung to mind.
We’d stood in an alcove exactly like this one… except at Leavenworth. It was a testing day—my first after I arrived—and Phoebe was scared and upset. I gave her a hug to comfort her, and she’d hugged me back. I would never forget that moment, because it was the first hug we ever shared.
Since then we’d kissed—several times—but our proximity wasn’t all that brought us together. It helped, though.
If Phoebe and I hadn’t been tossed in the same prison, I couldn’t say what would have happened. But I didn’t think it was an accident. Phoebe and I were meant to be together.
Maybe not now… but someday. Although I’d be perfectly happy if someday started right now.
Taking her other hand in mine, I looked into her tired but happy eyes. “Phoebe, I need to tell you something.”
She looked at me curiously but nodded her head. “Do you remember the first day of kindergarten?” I asked her.
Now she looked confused. “Not really…”
“Okay, well. You and your cute pigtailed self told Mrs. Lee you weren’t going to take a nap because—and I quote—‘I can sleep when I’m dead.’”
Her mouth dropped open. “I said that?”
“You did. Kind of ironic, now that I think about.” My lips quirked upward.
“I’ll say,” she said, choking out a laugh.
“Anyway, I never forgot it.” I swallowed past the lump in my throat. “And I never forgot you.”
Her eyes widened. After a pause, she asked, “What are you trying to say?”
“I’m trying to tell you that I’ve liked you since we were kids.” Her eyes grew impossibly wider. “All through elementary, middle, and yes, even high school.”
Phoebe’s expression was dubious, so I continued. “I’m sorry I never said anything before. After you moved away, I only saw you in classes, and I… I just didn’t know what to say. Which is a terrible excuse, I know,” I added quickly. After taking a deep breath, I finally got to the point. “Those feelings have changed though.”
The way her face fell was almost comical. “They have?”
“Not like that.” I smiled at her, squeezing her hands in what I hoped was a reassuring gesture. “They’ve grown deeper—much deeper. And how I feel about you now is better than I could have ever imagined. You are better than I imagined. I love you too, Phoebe.”
Her expression morphed to shock. “You heard me?”
I nodded. “I was in there the whole time. I just needed you to pull me back out.”
Tears had filled her eyes and were now spilling over. I reached up to wipe them away.
“I didn’t think I had any left,” she said with a laugh. “Apparently, I was wrong.”
“I guess what I’m asking is if I can keep seeing you after we get home.”
I held my breath while she searched my eyes, my face, my mouth…
They’re all yours.
Then a smile as bright as the midday sun beamed back at me. “Yes, please do.”
She’d barely gotten the sentence out when I wrapped her in a hug so tight I had to loosen my grip for fear of hurting her. And like before, she hugged me right back.
“By the way,” she whispered, “I beat you.”
I pulled back. “Say what?”
“I liked you before you liked me.”
Shaking my head, I said, “No way. Not possible.”
“It’s absolutely possible. I used to watch you outside my window, running around in the street and riding your bicycle.”
“What are you talking about? You were with me,” I reminded her.
“Not always,” she said, her tone mischievous.
It was so cute, I couldn’t help myself. I leaned forward and planted my lips on hers. It felt like I was home already. I could only imagine how it would feel to kiss her every day like this.
When we were both out of breath, I pulled back again, absorbing the significance of this moment. We were free… and we were going to be free together. I doubted there was another feeling quite like it.
We walked toward the exit together until we reached a heavy set of double doors. They’d been left wide open.
Stepping outside of Lansing for the first and last time, I paused on the landing and breathed in the evening air. A magnificent sunset painted the Kansas City sky. With Phoebe by my side and my parents waiting in the car, I’d never forget this moment as long as I lived.
We could leave—and no one was going to stop us. It might have seemed like such a simple thing, but Phoebe and I now understood what so many took for granted.
Freedom was a gift, and it needed to be protected at all costs.
Epilogue
I slammed my locker closed and hoisted my backpack over my shoulder.
I walked out into the parking lot, relieved that the weekend was finally here. Halfway to my car, I felt strong arms wrap around me.
“Ready for tonight?” Xander moved to my side and placed his hand in mine.
I never in a million years would get used to that. I hoped not, anyway.
Xander reached over, and, cupping my chin, he pulled me in for a kiss. Butterflies took flight, and I never wanted to get used to that feeling either.
We separated, and I stood looking at him like I didn’t see him every day.
Xander had never looked so handsome. Of course, he never really looked bad, but his fitted black t-shirt and jeans were a huge upgrade from the prison uniform. Even after a solid month of wearing regular clothes, it was still a novelty to see each other in something that wasn’t gray. I didn’t think either of us would wear that color again.
“Take a picture, why don’t you?” he said with a smirk.
Oops, caught staring again. What was the question? Oh, right. Tonight.
“Don’t be late, or Dad might turn you away at the door,” I warned him.
Xander laughed and
pulled me close again. I loved that he couldn’t seem to get enough of me either. “I’ll be on time,” he promised. “I’m just glad I get you at all. Gina does not like to give you up on Friday nights.”
He was right. Mrs. Fletcher had been as shocked as anyone that her husband was capable of such atrocities. She’d written him off when he left her and the twins, so his death wasn’t exactly a sore subject.
Zoe and Zane were happy to have their babysitter back, and Gina enjoyed going out with the girls. Xander must have promised lawn-mowing services or something to snag me away tonight.
Before, Xander would have had football games, but he didn’t play anymore. In fact, most Fridays he hung out with me and the twins. Saturdays, he usually had debate practices or tournaments.
After experiencing what he did, he was now planning to go to law school after college. Maybe to follow in his parents’ political footprints, or maybe not. Either way, he wants to make changes for the good—and not the “greater good” kind of good.
Plus, someone has to look out for us supernaturals to make sure nothing like what happened ever occurs again.
Xander and I took off in opposite directions to get into our respective cars. Those butterflies kept flapping the whole way home in anticipation of our date.
I pulled up in the small driveway of our new house and turned off the car. Dad had set up a makeshift office in the garage, so he was always in there now, analyzing data and typing away on his laptop.
“Want something to eat?” I asked, ducking my head inside.
“Hey, Phoebe. How was school?”
“Weird, as usual. I’m used to being surrounded by people with powers who want to tear at each other’s throats. Suddenly, the cheerleaders are less terrifying than they were.”
Dad laughed. “At least it’s only one more year. Then you can do whatever you want.”
“I’m actually thinking about going to nursing school,” I said.
He looked up. “Oh, yeah?”
I nodded. “Maybe even become a doctor. I want to help cancer patients. Kids, especially.”
His eyes moistened. “I think that would be wonderful, sweetheart.”
