Page 44 of Angels In The Dark
She sighs as if already regretting what she has to share. “The girl is in really bad shape. Ember said some guy did his best to care for her. Based on the description they gave me though, it sounds like whatever he did was surface level.” She pauses to collect herself. “Cy carried her in and started yelling for everyone to get out. Most of the Ascendancy crew is already packed up and gone.”
“Oh, Lord, I guess I will see when we get there. Did Ember give you any other details? I told them I would put together a supplies list.”
“Nah, none of us there know enough to be of any help, and I don’t think Cy would’ve let us near her anyway. He’s acting weird about her. He stormed through the place with the girl in his arms. I was only there for a short while before I left to come and get you.”
“Okay. Thanks.”
It’s then that I realize we held a whole conversation. I don’t think Ash has ever spoken so many words at one time. I look over in wonder before asking the question on my mind.
“Everyone’s really on edge about this, aren’t they? This doesn’t seem normal for y’all.”
“Yeah.”
It was the last word spoken on the drive.
With a crumbling façade that threatens to haunt you, a normal person would feel unnerved at the sight of the old firehouse building Cy and Ember converted into their home base. It still maintains most of its original design, and Kieran loves sliding down the fireman’s pole, but when you look closely, you can see the elements which have turned it into a fortress. The intimidating sight settles me though as we roll up to the garage entrance. I know we are safe in the apartment, but there is a different sense of security here.
Pulling into the garage, I can see Ember waiting for us by the stairs.
As soon as the car stops and the bay doors close, Kieran is out and running towards them, leaving me to grab his stuff as well as mine.
A mother’s work and all that.
“Hey, little man,” Ember teases. I can picture the massive eye roll from Kieran that accompanies the greeting.
“I’m not little,” Kieran whines back.
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. You’ll always be my little man though.”
As I join them where they stand, Kieran tucks beneath Ember’s arm. I look at them, searching for any indication of what I should be anticipating. When their face falls from the bright, cheery expression of moments ago, my dread builds.
Ember has a presence about them, likely due to their tall figure that stands several inches above my own 5′ 8″ frame. Perfect wings line their eyes, and the dark smokey makeup adds dimension where their natural features lack. They always keep their midnight blue hair short on the sides, but the waves atop their head always seem to have a direct correlation to their mood. Right now, the tousled and chaotic locks—disrupted by hands running through them over and over—raise the hairs on my neck.
“Okay, let’s get you settled in, little man. Your mom and I need to do something, but Ash can keep you company, and I’m sure Cy will come out of hiding if you’re loud enough.” They wink at him conspiratorially.
I can see the plan formulating behind Kieran’s eyes as he walks away with Ash. I can’t help but laugh at the mischief he will get into. I watch him climb the stairs with Ash, holding her hand.
Ember turns to me then. “Did Ash fill you in?”
“Kind of, but it sounded like there was not a whole lot to tell.”
“Yeah, I think it may be better if you see for yourself.”
The trepidation in their voice puts me on edge. I don’t like that everyone seems to be walking on eggshells. Whatever happened, I can handle it.
“Take me to her?” I ask hesitantly.
Ember nods and we head to the stairwell. A fog of anxiety consumes the air as we rise.
When we reach the second floor, they keep going, and they lead me to an area of the building I haven’t been in before. It’s brighter than I expect, and as we pass the various doorways, I realize we are in their living space. I know Cy and Ember live here, but I haven’t ever questioned why I have never been invited in.
What I am questioning is why I am seeing it now.
“Why didn’t you take her to the med bay? It has most of the first aid supplies.”
“Cy brought her up here. But we can get whatever you need from downstairs.”
It strikes me as odd that Cy would choose to bring her to such a personal space, but I won’t question his logic.