Part 3 Ch.22-2

"Don't be stupid. He knows your powers, Romero must have thought of everything by now." "When did this video come?" "Three days ago. A man stumbled into the docks. The camera was inside him in a plastic bag." I stop. "Inside him?" "They just stuffed it in his torso and sewed it up. He died soon after." I close my eyes against the image. These are the people we're dealing with. Mateo has been with them for a least three days, I try not to think about the torture they've given him. But he's alive, I know that much. At least until six hours from now. My eyes blur. Nothing I do is enough. I tried to save my friends but eventually got them killed. I tried to protect my family and now Mateo is at the mercy of Romero. I don't realize I've stood up until I'm half-way into the living room. I turn to Paxton. "I'm going. I don't care how many times I have to kill him, that son of a bitch is going to die." "It's very possible that he's immortal." "Then I'll just kill him every day!" I force myself to calm down but I can't. "He took them away. Carson told me they were safe. Damn it!" It seems like no matter how far I go or how much I do, the people I care about always get hurt. Mateo was right. If I had died years ago, none of this would have happened. I have to fix this. "I'll help." He says suddenly. "I'll go with you, wrap the shield around you. You might stand a chance." I look firmly into his eyes. "No, Paxton. Thank you but no. You're a better leader than me, I've seen you in action. If something happens to me at least I go knowing that the Yellow Thorns are in good hands." I look away. "Besides, this is my mess. I need to clean it up." "Elenora...I can't lose another friend." I take his hands and squeeze them. "Neither can I. Please, listen to me and stay here." "Do you at least have a plan?" "Yes." I lie. My plan consists of nothing more but hoping that Romero will keep his promise and let my brother go. "What about the police officer, he could help you-" "No. I do this alone." My eyes sting. "Paxton, thank you for standing by my side for all these years. I couldn't have asked for a better partner than you." He tries to smile. "I was just about to say the same thing." I need to leave now, because I know if I stay I will begin to doubt myself. "Take care, Paxton." I open a portal and fall through it. I appear in the kitchen. I study Carson's back as he washes the dishes. It's quiet here, peaceful. The radio plays a soft song and he's humming along to it as he washes the dishes. I calm down a little, although it's not so much because of the music but of Carson's presence. I must have made some noise because he begins to turn around. "Elenora." He almost drops a plate in surprise, he sets it back on the table. Almost immediately his features twist to annoyance. "You left without saying a word, do you have any idea how rude that was? Not to mention your injury-" "Stop. Just stop talking." He looks offended but I close the distance between us and put a hand on his shoulder. For the first time in a long time, my pounding heart is not because I'm being shot at. Time seems to freeze, washing all that has happened away. It's just him and me standing here. "Because I want to kiss you." He freezes for a second, takes him another second to absorb what I just said. "I thought you'd never ask." He closes the distance between us and out lips meet. Suddenly the world fades away and it's just us, standing together in the kitchen. We break apart to get air and pure happiness sparks through me. Despite my brother, despite everything that has happened, I can't not smile. I force myself to remember why I'm here. "Carson, there's something-" He kisses me again, pulling me in close, being gentle with my wound. Under my hand, I hear his heart pound hard. When we break apart again, his face is flushed and his lips pink. His blue eyes shine brightly. He's beautiful. My heart breaks. I don't want to leave him, not ever. But there's no other option. If I tell him what happened, he's going to want to help. It's in his nature to. And it's in my nature to not let him. "I need to go now." I manage. "But you just got here." I can't resist and I kiss him again. I tighten my eyes against the tears that are already forming. "Goodbye, Carson." I step away and fall through a portal.