“Was?” She got up from the bed, shot a withering glance at the girl from above, and pointed to the door. “Leave me alone.”
“Eve...”
“Go away!”
Rhys would have continued to protest, but Evelyn went to the door and opened it with a determined gesture. Rhys looked down and pressed her lips together, as if suppressing the urge to yell back. She walked away, head down and silent.
* * *
Later she visited the clinic. Dawit had been hurt in the side with the fence of the facade of some residence when he was fighting against Ed. This had caused that the pyxis had advantage on him and neutralized him against the ground, where he tried to suffocate him until Tadhg appeared.
When Evelyn walked into the clinic, she found Dawit stretched out on the stretcher. His torso was uncovered and he was covered from the waist down with a white sheet like everything in that place. He seemed sound asleep, for his eyes were closed and he was breathing hard. She decided what better to come back later, when he was better and awake.
“Evelyn.”
Eve stopped halfway to the door and turned around. Dawit the look with radiant eyes.
“Are you leaving so soon?”
“I thought... you were sleeping,” she stammered.
“Close up.”
She complied.
Dawit was almost as tall and stocky as Tadhg. His shiny mahogany skin made it hard to notice the slight lacerations he had: there, in the pronounced pectorals, in the thick neck and shoulders. On one side of his body was covered with bandages and blankets the wound that had been caused by the gate.
“Are you feeling better?” She asked, when she hardly managed to take her eyes from the wound.
“Yes.” He smiled in good spirits.
“I think so.” Eve returned the smile. “The discomfort isn’t reflected in your face.”
“My mother always says that I have a good face.”
Evelyn knew that she was talking about Tabita.
“It’s been a day since everything happened and you seem almost new,” she said, “except for... that.” She pointed at Dawit’s wound with her chin.
“It doesn’t matter...” He was going to make a gesture with his hand, but his face contracted.
"At least I know it hurts,” Eve said with a chuckle. “You should not make sudden movements.”
“You start to sound like Claire.” Dawit had his eyes closed, as if concentrating to dispel the flash. “Or worse, like my mother.”
There was a long moment of silence. Dawit broke it after a minute.
“When the tip of the fence trapped my skin, I immediately thought of her,” he said. “I wondered if I would ever see her again, or if I would just keep the memory of her when we said goodbye. That was the worst, beyond the pain and the fact of being about to be suffocated.” He smiled briefly as if that sounded like a bad joke. He sighed deeply and looked at Evelyn, who remained undaunted. “Tadhg told me they met a week ago in Central Park, is that true?”
Eve nodded.
“Please, take me with you next time,” Dawit said, embarrassed; his tone was more like a plea. “You will do it?”
“I thought the Agency had laws about families,” Eve said. “Do not approach…”
“I already know the law,” said Dawit, discouraged. “I can’t approach her, I know. And I don’t plan to do it, I just want to see it from afar. Even if it’s one last time. Maybe it’s the last one.” He sighed lethargic.
“Tadhg would not forgive me if I knew,” Eve said. “But I can’t promise anything.”
Dawit’s face lit up, and he reached out to take Evelyn’s and thank her with a squeeze and a smile. Eve returned him with as much sweetness as possible. At least that could give her best friend’s son after what happened, Eve thought, a little comfort. Suddenly she remembered something.
“The other day you mentioned that your parents were good friends,” she began. Dawit nodded smiling. “And you also mentioned something about your sister. You have a sister, right? What did you want to tell me about her?”
Dawit’s smile faded, he frowned and looked down.
“Sometimes I talk a lot,” she said in a voice so low she could barely hear him. “Too much. Do not mind me, Evelyn. Yes, I have a sister; In fact, I have several brothers. But that’s all I’ll tell you.” He looked up and gave a fevered smile. “I hope that does not change things.”
Eve knew what he was talking about. She smiled
“They have not changed,” she said softly. “You should sleep.”
“I should...” Dawit murmured, closing his eyes. After two minutes he was already sleeping.
* * *
Autumn rushed over New York City two months later. Evelyn thought that time was going very fast, that she was so worried about it. Ever since the pyxis’ attempt to urge leading nations to a new war has been thwarted, there has been no further attacks by those beings. As if they had disappeared. Even more, when, during that time, no message was received from the future men. Maybe they had avoided the Great Catastrophe, they had thought at first. But if they had changed the future, they asked themselves later, why were the agents still in that time instead of returning to theirs, dragged by the threads of time and space?
Although the leading nations still had their disagreements, the meeting that took place on the first day of fury was decisive to calm the tensions a little. There would be no war, or at least the possibility had been ruled out through peace agreements motivated through the United Nations Organization.
Evelyn pretended to be optimistic, but the words of Professor Kerr jumped to his memory whenever one of the agents touched on the subject: “imagine that one day one of those pyxis’avalh seizes the mind and body of the president of the States United; the chaos that could be caused by being in command of the leading nation in nuclear energy... Catastrophe!”
She had seen what the olrut had done with Ed, and where it had come with that. She had seen what made the possession of an avalh to people who looked helpless, like the boys who attacked her that night in the edom, or even Siphrus Wayne. If any of those beings came to be done with the will of an important leader, there would be no peace agreement that managed to pacify the waters prior to a calamitous storm.
During those two months the routine activities at the agency did not stop. Although no message had been received from the time of the agents, they didn’t rule out the possibility that the pyxis were still walking among them, which they were waiting for the right moment to attack again. Evelyn continued her physical preparation to become an agent of the future. Becca also accomplished her mission, and given the precarious situation in which agents were found weeks ago, it was decided that she would also begin her training to become an agent of the future, although she did not like the idea of being trained by Juno instead of Tadhg.
Caleb continued his lessons with Dawit as an instructor, who claimed to live up to the techniques used by Tadhg for Evelyn. The fight between the two agents ended up taking their apprentices to a practical demonstration of hand-to-hand combat that left Evelyn as the winner in less than three minutes. Maybe she would have beaten him with less time, but Eve considered the situation.
About his relationship with Caleb, everything went smoothly. As time passed, she discovered that they’d much more in common than she had originally thought. It was great. A bond of immeasurable trust was developed in those last weeks. Evelyn confided that she had been in love with him since they met again in high school after the move; one and another laughed like a couple of children, as they once were. But she was not the only one who made an uncomfortable confession.
Caleb confided that he had fallen into a sinking state when his mother was diagnosed with cancer. That news further ruptured his family, after Mr. Goodbrother’s death five years ago. All this led Caleb to try new, illegal things. Evelyn thought that explained the dull state she was in when they first met in the edom. Yes it exp
lained him, but it did not justify him. Although Eve did not reproach him out loud, she thought that Caleb could have been stronger, endured the intense emotions, only to be there when the inevitable moment arrived, and his little sister needed him.
Because she was going to need him, sooner or later.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
It was a gray day in mid-October. Green-Wood's cemetery was especially bleak that day—although perhaps that was due to the approach of winter—or to the current state of mind of those around the niche where the shiny coffin was resting with the body of Caleb's mother inside.
Caleb's eyes were downcast, set with intense affliction in the shining wooden coffin. Little Cassie, nine years old, was in front of her brother; his huge dark eyes were filled with tears. Caleb had a hand on the girl’s shoulder, and he seemed to be leaning on her, not physically but emotionally. His other hand was languidly holding Evelyn’s, who was at his side.
The news had been received two days ago, after Caleb's last visit to the hospital where his mother lived. The cancer spread throughout her body. Nothing could be done. It was going to happen sooner or later. Evelyn was very sorry, especially after one of her last conversations with Caleb. She had known Mrs. Goodbrother since she was a child, and she had made a promise.
While the attention of all the attendants to the funeral was on the words of Reverend Moris, Eve took a quick look at the distant trees beyond the holy field. There, in the shade, stood two silhouettes looking at everything. She looked away when she felt Caleb’s hand leave hers.
Caleb approached the mound of earth excavated from the tomb; he bent down and took a handful of dirt and threw it into the coffin while it was in full decline. Then he left striding. Eve remained still. She knew he needed his space, to be away from everything and everyone for a moment, to be able to continue. She looked at Cassie, who repeated the same exercise as her brother. After throwing the dirt, Cassie was reunited with her uncles.
Evelyn had a blue rose in her hand, because she knew they were Mrs. Goodbrother’s favorites. She remembered seeing her planting some in the small garden she had planted on the roof of her old residence. Evelyn had watered them, and taken care, even after the parting of the Goodbrothers, until she returned from summer camp, a few years later, and found them all withered. She hadn’t remembered them until Mrs. Goodbrother mentioned it to her that night at the hospital.
She took a deep breath, approached and dropped the rose into the niche.
* * *
She found Caleb crying a living tear at the foot of a tree, away from anyone could see or hear him. Evelyn approached him from behind; she put a hand on his shoulder and the boy turned, a little startled. Seeing that it was about her, he sniffed and tried to wipe away the tears that ran down his cheeks.
“What’s going on?” He asked Eve in a raspy voice.
She looked at him for a moment.
“It’s over.”
Caleb ran his sleeve through his nose and sipped.
“Oh yeah?” He said, and glanced over Evelyn’s shoulder. “I see.”
“Caleb...”
He raised a hand.
“I do not want more compassion, Evelyn,” he cut her off. “I’ve made a decision and I need to... What the hell?”
Eve followed Caleb’s stunned look. Beyond, near the parking lot, Caleb’s uncles were reunited with Tadhg and Rhys; among them was Cassie, who had her head tilted back, looking at Tadhg with rapture. Then Rhys leaned over, smiling, and whispered something in Cassie’s ear as Tadhg talked jovially with the girl’s uncles. Then the brothers let Caleb’s uncles and sister continue on their way.
Rhys stood up, very straight, next to her brother. Then they both looked to where Evelyn and Caleb were.
“I'd better tell you now,” Caleb said when Eve fixed her attention on him again. “I’ll go with Cassie and my uncles to Wisconsin.”
Evelyn stiffened. Only a moment.
“What?”
Caleb repeated.
“You can’t,” Evelyn agreed, not raising her voice much, though that would be a great effort given the size of the madness Caleb had just told her. She glanced quickly at Tadhg and Rhys, who were still in the same place where Caleb’s uncles had left them, looking at them with serious faces. Calmer, she added: “They will not leave you. In addition, the pyxis are behind you.”
“I must go, Eve,” Caleb insisted, with cold determination. He looked bad in general—he looked paler and haggard, his lips were dry and his eyes were bloodshot with tears. He wore a scruffy black suit, no tie, and shoes of the same color. “I have to take care of Cassie. “
“Agents can take care of her,” she thought. “We can tell them that she could be in danger too. They’ll welcome her.”
“Don’t. “Caleb's acrimony chilled Evelyn. “I don’t want her to get involved in this. We've had enough. If the pyxis attack her, I want to be there for her. If they attack me, at least it will be defending my sister. “He squared his shoulders and put his hands on Evelyn’s; he stared at her. “I need to do this. And I need you to help me.”
The idea shook her.
“I?”
“Yes.” Caleb looked at her passionately. “I know that you can help me out of the Agency without them discovering me.” He took a deep breath and cocked his head slightly. Evelyn copied it partially. She saw that Tadhg and Rhys were advancing on them. “Please,” Caleb muttered, “tell me you will help me.”
“Caleb, I ...” Evelyn had no words.
“Please.”
The image of Mrs. Goodbrother crossed her mind. “Take care of Caleb. Please do it for me.”
“Please,” Caleb pleaded.
Tadhg and Rhys were already within one meter of them. Evelyn nodded.
“What are you talking about?” Tadhg asked, serious.
Belatedly, Eve looked away from Caleb.
“I try to comfort him.” She had recently discovered that the best way to hide her nervousness was to act as if she were angry, furious. “God, how annoying you are. Not even in a moment of deep pain like this do you feel sorry for him.” Tadhg was going to say something, but Eve stopped him. “Shut up!” She snapped. “And better wait for us in the car. We’ll go in a moment.”
Tadhg looked slightly confused. Rhys wrapped his arm around hers and groped him.
Evelyn looked back at Caleb.
“Thank you,” he murmured, a hint of a smile on his lips.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
A week after Evelyn helped Caleb escape from the Agency, Tadhg was still hostile to her. He did not look at her more than was strictly necessary. He did not speak to her. He did not share the same room where she was. And, of course, he had declined to continue as her instructor.
Evelyn, on the other hand, did not regret her actions at all. Seeing that faint smile on Caleb’s face, after his mother’s funeral, made her feel more confident in her decision. So that night, while everyone was asleep, she slipped through the gloomy corridors of the Agency and infiltrated the boy’s room, which was already waiting for her to escape.
She knew that if Caleb left the premises by the elevator, which would trigger an alarm that would alert everyone, it what would end the plan. Then Evelyn dared to upset the dream of professor Kerr, who was dozing on the large desk in the laboratory. Using as an excuse a bad dream and an express desire to read, Eve got Kerr to deactivate the alarm so she could leave the premises without any discomfort, and thus be able to pick up a book from the Public Library.
“There’s nothing better than a good book to calm thoughts,” the professor had said with a lazy smile.
And that was it. That easy. Caleb and Evelyn said goodbye hastily, just a hug and a light kiss on the lips. He promised he would come back for her, because she was important. Evelyn remembered thinking at that moment that she hoped so.
“Will you forgive me... some day?” The question came out in a choked voice.
Rhys w
as still lucid, even though they had practiced for almost two hours in the right way to neutralize their attackers with kicks when they had steel eggs. Hearing that explicit expression of Rhys, Evelyn had laughed like a blessed.
“Someday, yes.” She raised one knee forward and brandished it. Evelyn imitated her, though her version was more clumsy and unbalanced. “For now you will have to settle for their contempt.” Rhys took two fingers to her eyelids. “Look how I do it. Notice.” She raised her knee and brandished her leg with a strong kick. “Have you noticed why I do not lose my balance and you do?”
Eve thought for a moment.
“Your back,” she said finally, “remains straight, firm.”
“Exactly,” Rhys agreed. “Now try yourself. I want you to raise your thigh, keeping your back straight at all times, and release three backhand strokes.”
"But I'm his... mother," Evelyn said, doing what Rhys had said. This time, actively following each of her steps, she made her best projection of a replica of three egg kicks. Although Evelyn doubted that it could hurt those painless beings no matter how many kicks they received in the groin or other parts of the body. She sighed deeply. “I should have forgotten and already.”
Rhys laughed.
“It's not that easy.” She put a hand on her shoulder. “Also, Caleb is his father.”
“What do you mean? Tadhg hates Caleb, and I still do not know why.”
“Don't always hated him.” Rhys looked at her very seriously. “And despite bitter bitterness towards him, Caleb is still his father. You see, I can’t tell you anything. Not because of the stupid law, no. It is rather a necessary evil.”
They sat on the long wooden bench. Rhys handed Evelyn the metal thermos; she took it, opened it a crack and took a long sip. The water, very cold, eased a bit of tiredness, the feeling was similar to that felt when you drink a cup of coffee to calm the sleep. Evelyn lowered the thermos, panting with fatigue. Rhys was staring at her, smiling.
“What happen?” Evelyn asked, frowning slightly.
Days of Fury (Future Men Series Book 1) Page 24
