Page 20

Rageful Remorse

Ultima: Rio

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I t’s been a few days since the declared emergencies across Zeala, and it’s surreal. Ultima members are questioning the fate of the world, and some have expressed concerns regarding the effectiveness of their powers. My brain is processing so much that it’s overwhelming to grasp it all.

Lynn joins me for breakfast, and she has a feast. Hash browns, sausages, cheesy scrambled eggs, pancakes, waffles, and bountiful fruit crowd our table in the cafeteria and it’s all for her... I think.

My appetite is nonexistent, but I settle for a freshly baked chocolate chip muffin just to have something to quell the anxiety boiling in the pit of my stomach.

“Are you really going to eat all that?” I ask Lynn.

“Correct,” she replies, reaching for the fruit. Her expression is blank and unbothered. She hasn’t said much, and it seems even after two years, I haven’t fully mastered how to welcome her to feel comfortable around me. Before the last few months, she always lurked beside her roommate, Scarlet. One reason I chose Lynn for the squad is because she’s incredibly skilled at fighting and a master violinist. Part of me hopes she’s enjoying herself since Scarlet took a leave of absence.

I fold my arms on the table. “So, um...”

“I feel without a purpose, Commander. Our standard missions are fine, but I like the investigative work. It’s a breath of fresh air from the near burns I’ve escaped with managing wild, injured dragons.”

“I—I’m sorry. Have you seen the twins?”

“Eric is spending time with Fiona, and Derrick is buying a teacup pig...” Lynn pauses, peering her green eyes through feathery lashes. “Not that I pay attention to their whereabouts or anything.”

I smirk. “Of course. Because you wouldn’t want to suddenly start caring about them, right?”

A small smile forms on her blushing face. “Right.”

I pull out my buzzing phone while Lynn inhales the fruit bowl in five seconds and reaches for the plate of sausages. I gulp from Master Cedric’s text and let the dread chomp at my organs.

“Sorry, have to go. Queen Oona must be here.”

Lynn’s eyes widen. “Oh. Best of luck.”

As soon as I leave the cafeteria, I unwrap the muffin and take another huge bite to have more in my stomach before this meeting. Crumbs crumple out of the wrapper as my mouth is stuffed, trying to chew and swallow quickly. My chest tightens from the fast excursion, and my face flushes from a few members witnessing my shame.

The meeting is taking place in the conference room instead of Cedric’s office to appear more inviting. The base is so quiet with fewer members around, but Guards flood the lobby with their Onyx Island insignias.

I sweep behind the receptionist desk to go into the glass conference room where a long table stretches amongst the entire length of the room. Queen Oona sits opposite of the door with five—no, seven Guards huddled behind her. Master Cedric sits directly across from her, so I take the seat juxtaposed of him.

Despite his grim stare, he seems somewhat pleased from the slight curve of his mouth. I never know with this gin-drinking, suit-wearing, watch-collecting man.

He clears his throat. “Let’s get started.”

Queen Oona smiles smoothly, mystic pink hair fluffed out and caressing around her round ebony face. She wears silver eyeshadow and a metallic high-collared dress that fits tightly around her shoulders and the sleeves billow out at her elbows.

“Oi, let’s,” Oona says. “Master Cedric, Commander Rio. Thank you for meeting with me regarding the complaint of contempt filed by Commander Rebecca Foster of the Elite Organization. Would you like to present your defense now, or after?”

I’m concrete and can’t even crack a smile. My spine is tight, my neck aches, and my head hurts.

“Now would be best. Rio?” Master Cedric gestures for me to begin.

I carefully clench my jaw, strain radiating the lower half of my face.

“Queen Oona. I’ve been concerned about an Elite member who attacked two of my members on Topaz. This same member also attacked a different teammate on Emerald. There was also reason to believe Elite was involved in a—” I stop myself short, not wanting to reveal Mildred’s conversation. Queen Oona raises a brow. “I uh... th-that’s all I have.”

No point in mentioning anything else since it’s not substantial.

I’m such a fool.

“Queen Oona, if I may add onto this,” Master Cedric says. “Commander Rio has been diligent with the missions he’s assigned in our efforts to keep dragons safe throughout Zeala. With the recent deaths, he’s been made aware of a few particular concerns he wanted to further investigate and eventually report to the appropriate officials.”

I hold his steady gaze and give nothing away.

Oona smooths out a folder laid out on the table, flipping indulgently through the pages with a soft, warm, twinkle.

“Thank you, gentlemen. I now present to you the complaint of contempt by the Elite Organization. Elite’s Special Agent, Alice Reid was on an investigative mission on behalf of Queen Sophie on Topaz Island. She was interrupted by two rowdy Ultima members whom she kindly asked to leave, and they did not.”

Alice Reid. My head swirls her name in a toxic spiral.

Mom and I are going to have a serious talk later.

“Combat first. Powers second.” I refute. “Alice did not follow the code adopted by both organizations.”

“This is indeed acknowledged by Elite. Rebecca states that Alice reacted appropriately to preserve the integrity of the investigation.” She flips the page. “With the matter of Emerald Island, Alice embarked on another investigative mission—the details of which are confidential—when she encountered an Ultima member who brought Alice under the belief she would help her when she was actually calling for backup. Upon discovery, Alice defended herself once again to preserve the integrity of her mission.”

I sigh and hang my head. Cedric clicks his tongue and leans back in his chair. His blond salt and pepper hair glows under the ceiling light.

“The complaint also outlines your deceit behind Natasha’s disappearance,” Oona continues. “Upon confrontation with Elite, you disclosed not knowing of Natasha’s whereabouts yet already had her in custody. Do you deny this?”

I gulp. “No.”

“Where was Natasha at the time of the confrontation on Emerald?” Oona questions.

“In... in the trunk of the car,” I answer.

“And how did you get Natasha to join Ultima?” Oona asks.

“Natasha was initially resistant and harbored ill feelings toward Ultima to the point where she attacked me and my team WITH HER POWERS FIRST after we helped extract the gem. She wasn’t happy but extensive counseling led her to have a change of heart.” I smile ruly.

“Did you get Natasha in the trunk with your powers first as opposed to combat?”

“Y-Yes.”

Oona’s nostrils flare as she takes notes. “Interesting. The code of combat first and powers second seems to be a moot point. I would recommend not further pushing that agenda, Mr. Shackler.”

“Ma’am, with all due respect. Elite has also come into Ultima and petrified a ton of my members,” I counter.

“Yes, yes. Agent Billie Castor was arrested and reprimanded for her actions,” Oona murmurs. “It seems you were satisfied with this outcome as you did not submit a complaint of contempt toward Elite. May I also mention that a member of your team attempted to attack Billie Castor first on Emerald Island?”

So, it’s my fault for being nice then.

Cedric nods. “Clyde Strife. He has been dealt with appropriately for his outburst.”

Queen Oona closes her folder with a heavy, dramatic sigh.

“Commander Rio, Master Cedric. This complaint is very thorough, and I must take everything into consideration. At this time, I don’t think it’s necessary to continue with the complaint, but I am giving Ultima a deficiency for this.”

I slam my fists on the table, shooting up to my feet.

“What? Are you kidding me?”

All seven Guards are aiming their guns and crossbows at me.

“Rio,” Cedric snaps. The grating edge in his voice is back. “Sit. Down.”

“Okay, Queen Oona, how does the deficiency work? Can we appeal it? I-Is it reported to the other monarchs?” I ask.

As soon as I sit down, the Guards slink behind their Queen. Master Cedric hides his face behind his hand, but I’m just lucky he didn’t crush me with his mind when he could have. I drum my fingers on the table—the embarrassment finally settling in.

“You can appeal after one month if you so choose. This is reported to other monarchs as a precaution on how they utilize your services in the future.”

Queen Oona stands up and bows to us. One Guard grabs her folder of documents while two of them lead the way out of the conference room, with the remaining four trailing after her. Once the door closes, I brace myself for the verbal assault from Master Cedric, but nothing comes. Not even physical pain.

He finally looks at me, but his face is expressionless. Every possible crease from an emotion is nonexistent. I can’t tell what he’s thinking and that might be even worse.

“That did not go... how I expected it to,” he whispers.

“S-Sir, I am so sorry for my unprofessionalism.”

“All we can do is move forward.”

My foot anxiously taps the floor while I attempt to control my erratic heart. I’ve gotten this far in my conversation without getting killed, so that counts for something.

“Um, sir? I think Mildred Anguine threatened my mom’s life,” I say.

Cedric jerks his eyebrows in a look of sheer mockery on his stubbled face. He usually rotates between gray, white, and navy suits, so this black suit must be new.

“That’s what you get for entertaining that beastly woman.”

“Her concerns are slightly aligned with my mission against Alice. I know we aren’t being deployed, but what if there are clues as to who is killing the dragons?” Saying Alice’s name gives me chills. Alice Reid. “I was trying to catch two dragons with one net, ya know?”

“No, I don’t.” Cedric shakes his head. “Who even says stupid shit like that? Try again.”

A shaky sigh relieves itself from within. “I was trying to—”

“Start over.”

Defeated, I mumble, “I screwed up.”

“That’s right. You did,” he agrees with a firm nod. “And because you’re such an imbecile, you’ve managed to achieve nothing but heartache and pain. If you have information on the situation at hand with the world, then it needs to be reported to the monarchs and Guards. Let them handle Alice if she is indeed the culprit, otherwise you’ll get us in more trouble.”

My arm hairs rise in guilty anticipation. Despite the cool, dry air, my face is scorching as my inadequacy as a Commander haunts me.

Cedric’s dark eyes bore through my confidence, but silence is my only chance out without spiraling into a pit of despair.

“H-How else can I fix this, sir?”

“Issue an apology to Elite and leave them alone. I will rip your throat out and do the same to every member involved in your shenanigans.” He clears his throat. “As for Mildred, that’s your own problem you need to figure out. Hopefully, she doesn’t crush your skull for being an ass-kissing idiot.”

A drop of sweat slides down my face. I stand up, sauntering out of the room, but I’m wobbly and... terrified.

My phone rings as I leave without a second glance, so I answer the unknown number.

“Rio Shackler. It’s Mildred.”

My legs seize up mid-step as I turn down the hall toward my office. I quickly touch the wall to break my fall. Lead piles in my blood, forcing me to drag my body along. Lynn finally leaves the cafeteria, so I signal her to follow me while I’m on the phone.

“Hi there. How can I help you?” I ask Mildred. We make it to my office, and I close the door while Lynn sets her violin down and sits in the egg pod chair, patiently.

“Rio, I hate to be a bother, but I’m in a bit of a pickle.” Mildred’s voice echoes in the background. “I have a few operating locations separate from the King’s estate. I’m afraid some Elite members have trespassed on one and started a fire before fleeing.”

I pull the phone away and put Mildred on speaker.

“I’m sorry, but did you say Elite came to one of your locations, started a fire, and ran away?” I ask. Lynn gets up and stands by me.

“Yes, and I’ve brought up my heartbreak with Master Azul, but she doesn’t seem receptive. Can you chat with Master Cedric about this, please?”

“I don’t think it’s best practice for Ultima to involve ourselves with this kind of situation. I’m terribly sorry.”

Silence lulls through the phone, electrifying the air.

“That’s unfortunate, Mr. Shackler.” Her tone shifts. “Anyway, I have this medical file from the hospital regarding Ethan Wu. Do you know who that is?”

Lynn gasps and covers her mouth. She shakes her head and backs into the wall, slowly reaching for her violin case.

“Um, can’t say that I do?” I reply.

“This man is on his last thread of life, so I may bless him with a visit to see how he’s doing,” Mildred drawls. The smile carries in her strident voice. “His time is certainly limited yet unknown, but I can’t imagine it’s for much longer. You understand, right?”

I want to throw this phone against the wall. My anger fumes in my feet. The office lights flicker along with my cell’s touch screen, so I take a few deep breaths.

“Mildred, I believe this conversation has become inappropriate for me to continue. Please provide clarification or I’m ending this call,” I demand.

“It seems my path creates a trail for followers; I worry for my safety and those around me as Elite continues their pursuit,” Mildred explains, no longer sending static feedback. It sounds like she’s outside now. “Who knows, maybe Elite is watching me now as I visit Ethan Wu.”

“Do it,” Lynn whispers. “Offer to help.”

“Advisor Mildred, I have to stop by Elite anyway, so I’ll try to inquire as a helpful source,” I begrudgingly reply.

Mildred laughs with a slight, deep squeal. “Perrrfect! Great things make the heart burst with joy, Rio. Talk soon.” Click .

“Dammit,” I grumble, gripping my phone and searching for viable places to launch it. Lynn straps her case on her back, her face shifting from frightened to stoic. She blinks rapidly with a slight tremor in her hand. When she meets my steady gaze, I frown. “This is not good for us, Lynn. We just got a deficiency for messing around too much.”

I can’t believe just mere moments after Cedric’s threat, Mildred decides to call and top his threat with her own threat. What’s worse now is Lynn is involved.

She crosses her arms as we leave my office. “I am coming with you. Are you going later?”

“Yeah, later tonight.”

I head to the infirmary, my phone buzzing with completed missions. As I’m waiting for the nurses to check me in to see two members, I check the reports. Fiona helped pull a thorn out of three dragon’s feet. Scotland ran through the forest to help a baby dragon free its wings from the tangled branches—a common recurring mission.

I smile at a report of one member taking a selfie with a hatched egg and a baby dragon licking his face. He safely transported the eggs to a safer location after they blew too close toward the ocean.

A doctor comes out to take me to Natasha’s room. She’s awake and watching TV, but not agitated. She waves and looks at the screen mounted on the wall. The doctor says she’ll be released tomorrow. Then I can resume her onboarding, the right way, and finally reach out to her parents.

I stop by Clyde’s room and he’s still recovering, status unknown of when he’ll wake up. Cedric really did a number on him. Perhaps this is the worst I’ve seen and the longest it’s taken to bounce back. Longer than any brainwashing I’ve done with my lightning.

I must be a better leader for them. I failed them.

All I can do is try to be the best version of myself, for Ultima, my mom, my friends, and for Zeala.

W e arrive at Garnet Island in the evening. What’s fascinating is the trains are built through the mountains and sometimes over them, but it’s a shame we never get to view the scenery because of how fast the trains go.

I stare at the twinkling sky. The evening air is quiet as Garnet winds down to a sleepy halt at the station coming from Onyx. The mountains hide in plain sight as dark silhouettes behind the tall buildings of downtown. Moss gathers and scatters through street cracks and crumbling sidewalks.

“Your dad lives here,” I state, grimly. “Is that who Mildred was talking about?”

Lynn sighs. “Yes. He is really sick, and I am the only person left to help him.”

She looks down at the wet asphalt roads, glowing and reflecting the ever changing traffic lights. She sports black techwear that engulfs her high ponytail.

“Commander, I know I said to offer to help, but it feels like meddling.”

“I understand, but my mom’s life is at risk, too,” I mumble, holding the envelope with my written apology. “I should’ve never agreed to help Mildred.”

“You were doing what you thought was right.”

I kick loose rocks down the street as we’re strolling. “Yeah, but I’ve been questioning what’s right and wrong these days.”

“I am surprised this is what it took for you to question that sort of thing,” Lynn snorts. “Not the fact that you literally electrocute people into loyalty.”

I chuckle. “I am... not a normal person.”

“Clearly,” she remarks.

We go on foot to head toward the Elite base, which may be a thirty-minute walk from this station. The streets are deserted, the drizzle is heavier. Lynn holds her violin in an iron grip.

The urban shops cut the lights, switch their open signs to closed, or walk up to the doors to lock up for the night—all with worn faces from a day’s work. The bakeries, jewelry shops, salons, and fashion boutiques survive another day in the valley of Garnet.

Lynn stops at an antique shop with one employee mopping the checkered floor before moving on down the sidewalk.

The rain is thicker as stray cars drive by, splashing deep puddles. It’s not that late—a little past nine o’clock, so I’m surprised how early Garnet wraps up its nights. It could be me used to my childhood in Topaz and never sleeping because of the excessive fireworks.

The walk is longer than I calculated with the soles of my feet aching.

“Remember when I said Mildred has dirt on the King? She really does,” Lynn mumbles. “One night, I snuck into Remington’s palace and begged the Guards to let me play for him. Luckily, he was laid back and let me in. Mildred was there, too.”

We pause at a crosswalk but proceed anyway because no cars are around. One traffic light is so inactive that it blinks on the red light.

“I mentioned my sick pa and asked to play for a fee. Remington allowed me and loved my music, but he wanted to keep me there and convert me to a young servant. I refused, but he would not take no for an answer and sicced his Guards on me,” she explains. “They took my violin away, but at that moment, I was Traced.”

To have a hobby that ties into your power is something I still don’t understand, but it amazes me. It’s almost as if the violin was Traced with her. Abilities are truly random but special to our personality. I can’t help but wonder, what is Alice’s story?

“You may not realize this—or pay attention to Garnet affairs—but shortly after, Mildred was promoted,” Lynn scoffs with a slight yet stiff head shake. “They returned my violin and let me go, fearing any harm on me would be frowned upon by the Superiors. I remember hearing Remington beg Mildred not to speak of that night to anyone as I was leaving. I returned home frustrated but kept my newfound power a secret. Took me a while to figure it all out.”

The nighttime sky hangs lower above us in a strange, misty fog that’s thick to see through. The later it gets, the quieter the streets are, the grayer and more timeless the buildings and cars become as tree roots wrap around benches. More traffic lights switch to an inactive constant blinking red light as street puddles widen and pool over into rusted sewer grates.

We’ve reached the steps of Elite’s headquarters. I look at Lynn, feeling scatterbrained. We take a few steps up but pause. My heart races. I don’t want to fail again.

“D-Do we just go inside?” I ask. The heavy rain slaps in thick droplets, urgently soaking our clothes.

Lynn shrugs heavily with little emotion. “I suppose it would not hurt.”

“No need to. We know you’re here.” Alice’s cryptic voice comes from the top of the stairs. My nerves are so jumpy that I almost yelp. Lynn is a statue.

Alice’s arms are crossed as she walks into view, foot tapping while wearing her usual “to hell with Ultima” scowl.

“What do you want?” she asks, fluttering her eyes from the rain.

My thoughts hit overdrive as millions of questions surface, vying for my attention, begging to be answered to soothe my stress. My hands tingle from the abundance of nerves firing off.

But all my lips can utter is, “S-Sorry.”

Alice’s foot stops tapping in the pounding rain. “What?”

“I... don’t know. Can—can we talk inside? It’s pouring out here.”

The rain has found the perfect spot to stream endlessly down the slope of her nose and drip off her lips. Her golden eyes dart between us, gleaming more in a shine from the gloss of mist gathered around us.

“No, we can all drown in this rain for all I care,” she says. The shadows of their security agents lurk behind her. “Tell me what you want before I get my Commander and Master out.”

I exhale sharply, holding up the soaked envelope. “I have an apology I’d like to share with you, if you even care or will relay this back to everyone.”

Alice takes one step down, smirking wickedly. “I’m listening.”

My hands tremble as I try to unfold the envelope and paper, but it rips between my thumbs. I crumple it up in my fist and try to go off script. I blink through the constant drops of rain—too much to even concentrate. It’s like I’m showering in my clothes.

“On behalf of the Protective Dragon Agents, Ultima, I, Commander Rio Shackler, would like to express my deepest apologies for the disruptions I and my teammates have caused to the Elite Organization.”

Alice narrows her eyes like she can’t decide whom to stare at, but her eyes slowly fixate on me. “The world is dying, but you apparently wake up every day and choose to be annoying. What did you hope to accomplish today? You all hurt so many people and never bat an eye.”

I take one step up, leaving Lynn behind.

“Including you?” I ask.

Alice steps down one step. “Yup.”

“Let me inside so I can explain,” I whisper, taking another step up.

She takes a step down, closing the space between us. Her nostrils flare with hate simmering in her auric eyes. I take a deep breath, chilling the burning heat in my chest and ears.

“I wouldn’t dare,” she hisses. “But I’ll let everyone know you stopped by.”

The heat within me deflates. Being this close to her in the pouring rain disarms my senses. I came to do what I needed to do and that’s it. No bickering, no fighting, no nothing. I need to let my pride go and leave. I can ask about Mildred, but what results will that yield?

“Goodbye... I guess.”

Alice falters for a second, the venom lost in her eyes. “Bye.”

But I’m at a loss that I stand in the rain for a second before moving. We eventually retreat off the property, but not without me almost skidding down the slippery steps. Lynn’s ponytail is undone, looking like an angry, black terrier soaking in the rain.

W e’re soaking as we walk into Ultima’s lobby. Lynn trudges off to the dorm hall without a word. I’m surprised to see Scotland awake when I walk into our room.

“Hey,” I mutter, scratching my hair in several directions.

“Hey man, I heard we got a deficiency?” Scotland rolls onto his stomach to look at me over his bunk. “Are we gonna be okay?”

I suppress an eye roll. “Yeah, we’ll be fine. I actually just came back from apologizing to Elite, so let’s hope that sticks. That girl... Alice Reid. She’s just so mean.” I head to the bathroom and hop in the shower. I think about how different our personalities are. I’ve been in Ultima for two years and never heard of her or her hatred toward us. How did this happen?

“How?” I whisper in the shower.

How? I wonder.

“How?” I ask Scotland after pondering in the shower. I’m still dripping wet with a towel wrapped when I question him.

Scotland looks up, raising his eyebrows. “How what?”

“I’ve never met someone so venomous like Alice. How is someone so... bitter?”

“I’d be annoyed too if you kept bothering me. Also, you have one hell of a one-track mind and drag everyone into your mess.”

I don’t respond and instead dry myself to put clothes on.

I lie down and drift to sleep faster than expected, but the loud banging on my door jolts me awake. My body aches in a strained, groggy way, so I haven’t been asleep for long. I look at the time and realize it’s because I overslept. I slowly roll out of bed and answer the door. Why does this keep happening?

Katarzyna’s pale expression startles me. “Rio! Come to the infirmary, quick!”

I follow her as she takes me to a bed at the end of the hall and peels back the rigid curtain. Natasha and Scotland crowd a bed, but I can’t see who it is. I’m doing better with not grinding my teeth, but the briefest flicker of light in the infirmary keeps me in check.

The members move aside, and Lynn’s charred body comes into view. I do a double take and almost choke on my spit.

No. No, no, no, this can’t be happening.

I stare intently at the blisters and her peeled skin, barely recognizing her. My confirmation is her violin lying faithfully next to her unconscious body.

“Elite did this to her,” Natasha says while shaking her head. Nice to see she’s fine now.

I scan everyone and see they all look a bit dumbfounded. Yesterday’s encounter was unsuccessful, but I didn’t think it would drive Lynn to confront anyone in Elite.

“Someone talk, NOW,” I demand.

“Lynn was acting weird after you two came back. I’m not sure why, but she disappeared this morning,” Katarzyna explains. “Scarlet is her emergency contact, so the train conductor called her, then Scarlet called me. Lynn’s been unconscious since the paramedics brought her.”

I nod and turn away. “This wasn’t Elite. It can’t be.”

“Nonsense,” Natasha growls. “Who else then? It sure as hell wasn’t a dragon!”

Wow, I am poisoning everyone. They don’t even know if Elite did this, but they’ll believe anything.

Two nurses rush in and weave through the group to tend to Lynn. We squeeze out and wait in the overflow walkway, but we’re more in the way than before. Machines chirp and beep all around. Some members groan and moan in pain from whatever brought them in.

Katarzyna looks up at me, searching my face with her freckled gray eyes. She fidgets and scratches her arms, leaving temporary peach streaks on her pale skin.

“It’s going to be okay, right? She’ll be fine... right?” she asks, wiping away tears. “C-Can we sue or something?”

“Probably not. Guards will laugh at us and say it’s our problem. They don’t like getting involved in organization drama,” Scotland says. “Let’s wait for Lynn to confirm what happened.”

Katarzyna’s breathing hitches. She rests her hand on her chest, but her rapidly flashing Trace Mark betrays her efforts. “This has gone too far.”

“Kate,” I groan. “Please just rela—”

“They almost killed Lynn! They almost killed me! They could’ve killed the twins, who else hates us this much except—”

“Enough!” I hiss, grinding my teeth. My palms hurt from how much I’ve dug my fingers into clenched fists. Natasha’s eyebrows shoot up as she weasels herself away with Scotland, leaving me with Katarzyna. Tears flow down her cheeks as her shoulders hunch in an obvious effort to keep herself together. It’s too much for me, but I expect it’s a mountain for her—for everyone. “I’ve got enough criticism and judgment to deal with, so the last one I need is from someone who chooses to suppress her wonderful gifts with her piss poor excuses.”

Katarzyna wipes her dripping nose with her thin fingers. “You know, you don’t care ‘bout any of us. You treat everyone like an asset. You’re not a nice person... or a very good Commander.”

I watch her leave as I go back to sit next to Lynn’s bed, my toes frostbitten from the aggressive AC. I’ve been meaning to put more clothes on rather than sit in boxers, but I want to be here when Lynn wakes up—whenever that is. Her memory may be fresh enough to give me clues on what happened. She just needs to confirm it wasn’t Elite.

I failed to protect her. Scarlet is gonna kill me.

I rest my elbows on my knees, burying my face in my hands to swallow a frustrated groan. When I look up, Lynn’s bright red body twitches once, and then again until her monitors beep faster. A nurse rushes in with cold compresses she gently lies over Lynn’s peeling arms. She places another one on an exposed area of Lynn’s neck and half of her chest. Lynn winces and scrunches her face, but her eyes eventually flutter open.

“Lynn.” I adjust to face her bed, but also not get in the nurse’s way. “It’s me, Rio.”

“R... Ri—Rio,” she whimpers. A few tears escape from the corners of her eyes, but she’s staring at the ceiling. Her chest quakes as the nurse carefully places a wet mask over her face to which Lynn shrieks enough to shake the room.

“I’m so sorry, sweetie. It’ll pass soon, I promise,” the nurse says. “I’m gonna grab another nurse to help me; be right back.”

As soon as she leaves, I scoot my chair closer to the bed.

“Hey.” I fumble over my thoughts and what else to say. “What happened?”

She struggles and swallows slowly, bringing some sort of pain that’s translated on her face. “Rio,” she croaks. “Someone... grabbed me. Was trying to visit my pa.” She stops to breathe slowly. “All I saw was their hand. There was a... red letter A tattooed on it.”