Chapter 30: Crisis
Bright sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose.
"Phones are expensive these days, you know," he muttered. "Why are you so careless with them?"
Emily didn't respond right away.
She was staring at the screen, her fingers trembling slightly, face pale.
"Bright, you're still joking at a time like this?" she finally said, her voice uneven. "There are portals everywhere, and you're making jokes?"
Bright frowned. He hadn't meant to sound dismissive—but was it really that bad?
Then her phone buzzed again.
She snatched it off the floor, her grip tightening as she glanced at the screen. Her mother.
Bright stayed quiet as she answered.
He couldn't hear what was being said, but Emily's posture stiffened.
A sharp "Yes."
Then the call ended.
Emily lowered the phone slowly, her expression unreadable.
Bright's unease grew.
"Okay, seriously. What's going on?"
Emily turned to him, grabbing his wrist.
"We don't have time. They might start coming out any minute."
Before he could ask who she meant, Emily dragged him out of the room.
---
Carter Mansion - Living Room
The moment they reached the main hall, Bright immediately spotted Mrs. Carter.
She was pacing back and forth, her phone clutched tightly in her hand.
She looked completely unlike the composed, elegant woman he was used to seeing. Her face was tight with stress, her free hand repeatedly running through her hair.
Elijah sat on the couch, tense, shoulders squared, clearly waiting for instructions.
The atmosphere was heavy.
"Mother, what should we do?" Emily asked as soon as they entered.
Before Mrs. Carter could respond, the call she had been frantically dialing finally connected.
"Honey, where are you?! You need to come home! The portals are everywhere, and—"
Bright winced.
She was talking so fast it almost sounded like she was rapping.
Then suddenly, she stopped.
Cut off mid-sentence.
Mr. Carter must have spoken.
Her breathing slowed.
"...Okay," she finally said, the panic in her voice dulling just slightly.
She lowered the phone, exhaling shakily, before finally turning to Emily.
She pulled her into a hug.
Emily let go of Bright's wrist, hugging her mother back.
Bright stood there, suddenly feeling awkward.
Like an outsider intruding on something private.
Mrs. Carter didn't even glance his way.
She pulled Emily to the couch, Elijah shifting slightly to make space, and the three of them began talking in low voices.
Bright stayed where he was.
Standing.
Waiting.
Listening.
But not included.
---
A Familiar Pain
Bright wasn't stupid.
He could tell they were talking about him.
Emily would occasionally glance his way, her brows knitting together before turning back to her mother.
Even Elijah threw a quick look at him.
But Mrs. Carter?
Not once.
Not even a single glance.
It was like he wasn't even in the room.
Like he didn't exist.
Bright swallowed hard.
He shouldn't care.
Why should he care?
This wasn't new.
Being left out. Being ignored.
He had grown up like this—an orphan, a street rat, an outsider.
Nothing had changed.
He had no place here.
No home.
No real reason to be part of any of this.
Emily…
She was different.
She was strong. Smart. Beautiful. Loved.
She had a family that cared about her.
She belonged.
And he didn't.
Bright's throat tightened.
Suddenly, he felt small again.
Like the kid who used to watch through the orphanage window as families came to adopt other children.
Never him.
His stomach churned.
What was he even doing here?
---
Snap Out of It
A sharp sting bloomed on his cheek.
Bright's eyes widened.
He blinked.
Emily stood in front of him, her hand still raised from the slap.
"What the hell, Bright?!" she snapped.
Bright barely processed the words.
He touched his cheek, still feeling the lingering warmth of her palm.
"...What?"
"I've been calling your name for five minutes," Emily scowled. "You were just standing there, staring into space like a ghost."
Bright swallowed, forcing a small laugh to cover the hoarseness in his voice.
"Ah… Sorry. I was just checking my screen."
Lie.
Emily's frown deepened.
For a moment, it looked like she was going to press the issue.
But instead, she sighed.
"You made me worry, idiot."
Bright couldn't bring himself to respond.
Emily grabbed his wrist again.
"Come on. We need to go."
Bright let himself be dragged.
---
Outside
The moment they stepped out, Bright finally understood.
His breath caught in his throat.
Three. No—four.
Four portals.
Just in the mansion's compound.
Glowing, pulsing, swirling masses of blue light, littering the ground like open wounds.
Bright's heart pounded.
Two hours.
Two hours until every monster inside came flooding out.
Before, it had been easy to stay calm because there had been fewer portals.
But now?
Now there were too many.
"Bright, hurry!" Emily's grip tightened as she broke into a run.
"Where are the others?" Bright asked, forcing himself to move.
"They went ahead to the bunker," Emily panted. "Father came and took them. You wouldn't respond, and we didn't have time to wait."
Bright clenched his jaw.
How long had he been standing there, lost in thought?
---
Carter Training Room
Elijah stood behind his mother, his hands clenching the fabric of her coat as he stared at the portal glowing ominously in the training room.
Mrs. Carter had nearly jumped out of her skin when they entered.
The space was cold. Metallic walls. Dim lighting.
A safe haven—except for the portal lurking in the corner.
Elijah turned his gaze to his father.
And the three men standing with him.
Franklin. The butler. The monster.
Elijah had always been terrified of him.
Gray-haired, but impossibly strong. A master of guns, blades, and martial arts.
Next was Brolly, the heavily tattooed man.
Elijah didn't know much about him, only that he was dangerous.
And lastly, Michael.
Elijah had thought he was a woman the first time he met him. Elegant. Polished. But eerily possessive of his father.
Michael clung to Mr. Carter's arm, his other hand pressing a hidden panel on the wall.
A hatch slid open, revealing stairs leading underground.
Mr. Carter descended first, Michael sticking close.
"Honey," Mrs. Carter's voice shook, "are you leaving your daughter behind?"
A hostile scoff from Michael.
A grunt from Brolly.
Franklin barely spared her a glance.
Mr. Carter paused, turning only slightly.
His expression was cold. Impatient.
Then—
Emily and Bright burst into the room.
Bright barely had time to process the gazes on him before Emily spoke.
"Father, let's go. Sorry for keeping you waiting."
Immediately, Mr. Carter's mood shifted.
Bright frowned.
Did he have a soft spot for her?
Without a word, Mr. Carter continued descending.
One by one, they followed.
Finally, the doors sealed shut.
They were inside.
And outside…
The countdown had begun.