Chapter Text
Day
Today is my release day, my Brain surgery was a success. And thankfully I was only out for two weeks. I was in a coma for one and awake for the second. They used some new technology from Antarctica that sped up the recovery.
Which I’m grateful for. My mom, John, Tess, and Eden come piling in. A few doctors come behind them. The doctor’s discuss the pills I need and surgery after care. I’m not sure what surgery after care entails…
I snap out of my thoughts when John muttered to the doctor’s. “Are you sure this is a good plan? I mean he went through brain surgery and got shot in the span of 24 hours only two weeks ago. Don’t you think we need more time?” I know John is concerned but I can’t stand this hospital bed any longer. So I reply on my doctor's behalf “John, I’m fine, I’m great in fact. The only thing I’m worried about is the fact that June isn’t here already.” Eden looks around expecting that June would magically appear in the room. Even if she did, the poor kid is as blind as a bat and wouldn’t even notice. He is getting new glasses today so he left his old ones at home. He was scolded by my mother when he ran straight into the glass door this morning.
Everyone glances nervously around. If they are trying to hide their worry they are doing a bloody terrible job at it. I know June. This isn’t like her. She shows up to things an hour early. Being late is not in June’s vocabulary. As if on cue I hear footsteps approaching the door. She is here now. She is okay, everyone is okay. Although my immediate relief turns into annoyance when June isn’t the one striding into the room. Anden confidently steps in with a smile plastered on his face. Everyone bows the second he enters. Anden laughs softly and gestures to stop. “Please, there is no need for that. We are all friends here” he shifts and looks at me for the last part. Sure we are friends in public but I’m still cautious of him.
When no one responds, Anden clears his throat “ Mr. Wing, how are you feeling? I heard that you were getting released today.” If June had a work emergency surely Anden wouldn’t be here. Panic straights me in the hospital bed. I realize I didn’t say anything back and staring idly at him when Tess speaks up. “Anden! Do you know where June is? We thought that she would be here already?” Besides the growing worry I smile to myself. I’m glad that there are more people in June’s life that care for her other than me. Her brother is gone and Thomas too. She doesn’t have anyone. It makes me feel guilty that I have my entire family with me when she doesn’t have even one relative in her corner. It warms me that Tess and June are starting to form a friendship.
Anden glances between me and Tess. “No, I haven’t heard from her. I assumed that she would be here with you.” Damn it. I was hoping that he would come in here and tell us that he shipped her off somewhere to do negotiations with the Colonies. I wouldn’t be happy about it but I would at least know she is alive. Tess pulls out her phone while mumbling “I will text her again.”
June has been with me every single day for the past weeks. I had to beg her to go home last night and get some rest. She has been sleeping on the plastic couch in my hospital room. They look so uncomfortable and I know it is by way June tries to hide her wincing when she sits back down. The nurse ratted her out when she told me that she would pretend to fall asleep until she knows I’m past out then watches over me all night. Making sure nothing bad happens to me while I rest. It worries me. I didn’t tell her I knew. If the situation were reversed I would be a nervous wreck. Checking the locks on the windows and doors obsessively. I would be just as bad or probably worse. That’s why I sent her home. In hope that she would actually fucking sleep.
My mom, without me realizing it, comes to sit next to me and take my hand and gently rub it. “Daniel, I’m sure she is fine. The poor girl hasn’t slept for days. She is probably just sleeping in, it’s only 8am you know.” I smile softly at everyone “you are probably right.” Although the thoughts seems far-fetched, the thought that June is sleeping peacefully loosens the knot in my chest. If that’s the case I will go to her apartment first. Maybe I should bring breakfast too. I want her all to myself. I haven’t been able to be selfish with her but that ends today.
The doctors resume talking to John while giving him a mini pharmacy’s worth of medication and pills. I feel my mom let go and is quickly replaced with Tess next to me. Holding one of my hands in both of hers. Her eyes shiny and forcing tears not to slip. Though she seems to be losing the fight. “Cousin what’s wrong?” I tuck a piece of hair behind her ear. With how short it is it falls out right away. She smiles back at me trying to lighten the mood “I’m just so happy you’re okay.” I grip her hand tighter for a moment “you didn’t think you could get rid of me that easy? Did you?” A few years slips down her check but her smile doesn’t falter.
Quickly everyone is pushed out of my room and the nurses start to untangle me with all my wire and IVs. I stand up shaky but I find my balance after a minute. A couple hundred release forms later and I’m finally free. We make our way down to the main floor lobby. I quicken my steps towards the glass sliding door when something flickers out the corner of my left eye. My steps falter when I glance at the tv in the corner. It glitches and makes a high pitch noise. Thinking that one tv might be broken I look to the other corner to see that tv do the same thing. The noise increases and people in the waiting room start to cover their ears and look around in panic. A nurse is slamming all the buttons on table tv trying to make it stop. After a moment the tv channel changes and it goes quiet. A line of black armored SUVs fill the screen. A loud ringtone goes off and everyone jumps a little in unison. I turn to see Aden taking out his phone from his pocket. His eyes never leave the tv. As he answers I swing my head back to the screen. “Yes, I’m watching the tv, why the hell are they filming the senators driving to Batalla Hall?” I realized I have never heard him curse before. If Anden doesn’t know what the hell is going on… A semi truck t-bones the first car in the line. The car flies off the road and rolls into a city building. Gasps and cries fill the room. My hand comes up to cover my mouth. The camera moves to another truck driving head on into the second SUV in the line. Causing the two cars to warp into each other. Both bursting into flames. I feel myself shake with the impending conclusion. This is an ambush.
The horror in the screen continues as the remaining SUVs try to dodge and swerve to not hit the car in front of them. The worst thought comes to me. One that causes all the blood in my body to drain. My voice comes out shaky. “Anden, is June in one of those cars?” When he doesn’t respond I peel my eyes from the tv and look at him. His eyes are wide. He has dropped his phone to his side. I feel so small. How can I keep failing at protecting people I love? What if she is already dead? Rage fills me and threatens to spill over. “Anden!” I shout. He quickly snaps out of the daze and brings his phone back to his ear and commands “who are in those cars?” Chaos still rages through the screen. Fuck it. I don’t even wait for Anden to get out a word before I charge towards the door. I recognize that street from the channel. I know where they are. The second I break through to the outside I hear gunfire and metal crushing metal. I make a run towards it.