Kai Langford - August 2120
My heart is hammering, not because of what just happened, but because Ethan is still rubbing the blood from his nose.
It drags up a memory I don't want to think about.
He says he's fine, but I'm not convinced.
I scan the area again, searching for any hint of danger, but there's nothing. Still, I need to get Ethan somewhere safer. Away from the river.
I hold out my hand. He takes it without a moment's hesitation.
I don't want to ruin his birthday any more than it already has been, but I want to take him back to Trinity. Get Sophie to check him over.
"Maybe we should head back," I say, watching his face carefully.
There's a flicker of disappointment, but he nods.
"Yeah… let's go tell the others what just happened."
As we near the car, people drift around us smiling and laughing, completely unaware of what just went down by the river.
Ethan has been quiet the whole walk back, and the silence sits wrong in my chest.
I open the door for him and he gets in without a word. There's something on his mind, I can feel it but I don't want to push him.
Maybe he's shaken from what happened. Maybe he's hiding how badly he's hurt.
As I start driving, I keep glancing over at him. He's leaning against the window, staring out at the passing scenery like he's a thousand miles away.
"Are you okay?" I ask, reaching over to rest my hand lightly on his thigh.
He startles, then turns toward me, forcing a small smile. He covers my hand with his own, warm and gentle.
"Yeah, I'm okay. Thanks for saving me back there." He gives my hand a squeeze.
I look back at the road, but I can feel my ears turning red.
"What do you think that was about?" I ask.
He sighs and turns back to the window.
"I'm not sure. But at least now we know the shooter is definitely connected to the counterfeit vials."
The energy in the car is nothing like this morning. He'd been buzzing with excitement then, he could hardly sit still.Now he's quiet, distant.
When we arrive at Trinity, Ray is outside helping the kids with gardening. He looks up as we park, confusion flickering into concern at our expressions.
"I was expecting you two back later," he says.
"Well, we were interrupted," Ethan says, his usual charm gone.
"What happened?" Ray asks.
"Get the others and I'll explain." Ethan steps forward toward Edmund's office, but before he can take another step, I grab his hand.
"Ethan," I say, pulling him gently toward me.
He turns. There's still dried blood under his nose, and he looks tired."Go see Sophie," I say.
"I'm fine-" he starts, but I cut him off.
"Please." My voice is barely above a whisper.
He stops, then glances toward the school building.
"Fine. But only because you asked so sweetly," he teases, just a hint of his usual self.
He heads toward the main building. I want to follow him, but I need to explain what happened first.
Ray turns to follow Ethan, probably to gather the others.
I head to Edmund's office, knock, and hear a muffled, "Come in."
I open the door and step inside. Edmund is behind his desk and then I freeze.
Thomas is there.
He flinches when he sees me, just for a second, before smoothing his expression out.
"Kai? What brings you here?" Edmund asks. "I thought you and Ethan went into town?"
"There was an issue," I say, staying by the door.
Edmund and Thomas exchange a look before Edmund gestures for me to sit.
I don't move. The thought of placing myself cornered in a chair beside Thomas makes my skin prickle.
Another knock at the door and Ray enters with Tessa and Daniel. They look confused as they take in my expression.
"What's going on?" Daniel asks.
"We ran into trouble in town," I say.
I explain everything that happened by the river. When I finish, the room goes still.
"Is Ethan okay?" Tessa asks first.
"I think so," I say, but I keep my eyes on the floor.
He was forced to use his powers to protect me. I'm supposed to protect him, not be the reason he gets hurt.
"So the shooter was actively aiming for you? Not the woman?" Edmund asks calmly.
I nod.
"Strange. Before, he only went after that counterfeit dealer," Thomas says, rubbing his chin. "Why go after you?"
Everyone looks at me like I should have the answer.
"Maybe because I captured that woman?" I murmur.
"You think the shooter was trying to protect her?" Ray asks.
"Maybe. Maybe he wanted to make sure she didn't tell us anything," I say. "Unlike Bennett… she seemed aware."
"What do you mean by that?" Daniel asks, arms crossed.
"She seemed to be asking for help," I say quietly.
The room falls quiet again. I glance around, noticing the mix of concern and curiosity on their faces. Edmund leans back slightly, hands folded on his desk, studying me like he's trying to piece together a puzzle. Thomas's eyes flick between me and the door, tense but controlled. Ray's posture is rigid, ready to act if needed, while Tessa and Daniel exchange a look that says they're waiting for me to fill in the gaps.
"I didn't get a look at them," I continue, keeping my voice low. "But they're fast. Calculated. They knew what he was doing." My fingers twitch at my sides, shadows curl faintly around my shoes, restless. I force them back into me.
Edmund frowns, nodding slowly. "That's concerning. It suggests They're… aware of your power, Kai. They're adapting their methods."
Ray steps closer, folding his arms, voice sharp but controlled. "So, the woman you captured, she's not entirely innocent from that Ethan saw in his vision?"
I shake my head. "No. But she wasn't completely dangerous either. She wasn't trying to hurt anyone directly. She… I think she wanted help. I think she knew the shooter might come after her."
Daniel presses his lips together. "So, the shooter is hunting witnesses and anyone connected to them. That makes him more unpredictable than we thought."
I feel the weight of all their eyes on me. They want answers. They want a plan. But all I can think about is Ethan, how he's resting now, safe in Sophies office, and how easily things could've gone wrong if I hadn't reacted fast enough.
"I will take my leave now" I say calmly.
I am not part of their revolution so they will feel more comfortable talking amongst themselves.
Edmund leans forward, resting his elbows on the desk. "Of course, Kai. Go rest"
I nod, tight-lipped.
Tessa steps closer, voice softer than before. "Do you think he's linked to GeneX or the counterfeit vials directly?"
I shrug, unsure. "I don't know yet. But he's connected somehow."
Daniel exhales, rubbing the back of his neck. "Great. Another unknown variable to deal with."
Thomas doesn't commen,; he just studies me quietly. I can feel the tension radiating from him.
I turn toward the door and step out, shadows whispering faintly along my legs, ready to react to any sign of danger.
My first priority is him.
I make my way down the corridor toward the old nurse's office and knock lightly.
The door opens, and Sophie appears, adjusting her glasses nervously.
"Oh, Kai," she says in her usual hesitant tone.
I glance past her and see Ethan propped up on the bed. The moment our eyes meet, he seems lighter somehow. He jumps off the bed and walks toward me with that easy, bright smile that always manages to make my chest tighten.
"Sophie said everything's fine," he says, voice full of reassurance. "Told you I was."
Sophie pushes her glasses up nervously.
"Just remember not to push yourself," she warns, awkward as ever.
Ethan ruffles her hair gently, grinning. "Don't worry, I know my power best."
She freezes, apparently unsure whether to scold him for teasing.
"I'm not going to spend my birthday in the nurse's office," Ethan adds, turning back to Sophie, his usual charm beginning to return. "No offense."
"Of course," Sophie says with a small, awkward smile, "but remember to get some rest."
Ethan nods, then grabs my hand, tugging me down the corridor.
"I'll quickly explain things to Edmund," he says over his shoulder. "You go wait in our room, okay?"
"I've already explained everything," I tell him quietly.
He stops mid-step, blinking at me. "Oh… right."
"Did you want me to wait?" I ask, unsure. I didn't want him thinking about what had happened any longer, not on his birthday.
"No, no!" He waves his hands, pausing as if struggling to find the right words. Then he sighs. "I'm a bit tired… can we just go back to the bedroom?"
I nod, and he guides me back in silence.
When the door shuts behind us, I finally turn to look at him. Ethan watches me, and I feel slightly awkward. He's cleaned the blood from his face and hands, but my body still tenses, instinctively on guard.
He steps closer and places a hand on my chest.
Again. Just like by the river. My heart starts hammering.
"Erm… are you okay?" I ask, my voice low, uncertain.
He keeps his eyes on my chest for a moment before finally meeting my gaze.
"Can you take your shirt off?" he asks suddenly.
My stomach flips. Take my shirt off? Now?
Heat floods my cheeks as he unbuttons the first button. My hand instinctively moves toward him, to stop him, but when I look at him, I see the desperation in his eyes.
I freeze.
I let him finish unbuttoning my shirt, and when he does, I pull it off my arms without hesitation.
He just stands there, looking at my chest. Heat rises in my cheeks. I feel… strangely shy. Even though he's seen this part of me countless times before, this feels different. Vulnerable. Like he's studying me, trying to see every piece of me, every hidden part.
His hand moves forward, fingers tracing lightly over my skin. A shiver runs up my spine at the touch.
I glance down and notice what he's really doing. He isn't moving aimlessly, like he sometimes does when he's distracted. He's tracing the scars, every one of them, like he's trying to understand them, to read the story they tell.
I reach down, taking his wrist gently, and place my other hand on his face.
"Ethan… talk to me," I say softly, calm but firm. "What's wrong?"
His eyes lift to mine, glistening with tears. My heart skips a beat. I can feel the weight of his fear, his relief, his emotion, all of it aimed at me.
Without thinking, I place my other hand below his eyes, rubbing gently. "Are you hurt?" I ask.
"No… I'm fine. It's just…" His voice catches, and he swallows hard. "I saw you… die back there."
My stomach drops.