WHAT LIES BEYOND
Chapter 16- Fire and Ice
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How can I save
A fallen angel in the dark?
Never thought you'd fall so far
Fallen angel, close your eyes
I won't let you fall tonight
Fallen angel
"Fallen Angel" by Three Days Grace
A fallen angel in the dark?
Never thought you'd fall so far
Fallen angel, close your eyes
I won't let you fall tonight
Fallen angel
"Fallen Angel" by Three Days Grace
Dinner had come and gone with no sign of Adam. Kai could sense Mira's mounting tension as they'd made their way back to the room. He sensed it even now, while they sat around doing nothing. Could this be another aspect of his freaky knowledge thing...? Or... maybe it had something to do with Mira's anxious pacing. Yeah, that was probably the case.
Kai bounced a rubber ball against the wall, frowning. He'd nabbed the ball from one of the upstairs offices while desperately searching for ideas last week, and it had come in handy since. Especially now; bouncing the thing was a great way to at least try to ignore his own fears.
It wasn't that Kai wasn't worried about Adam, or that he didn't care where his friend had gone. Heck, he was scared out of his wits! But if there was anything he'd learned from the old Adam, it was that keeping calm and collected helped other people keep calm and collected. And Mira could really use some calm-and-collectedness right now. She was gonna walk a ditch into the floor if she wasn't careful.
Unfortunately, "Operation: Keep Calm and Collected" didn't seem to be helping.
"He should've been back by now."
Kai stopped bouncing the ball and turned it in his hands. Try to sound calm. "He probably went up to the lookout deck again." That just sounds like an excuse.
"We can't just assume that," Mira argued, folding her arms. "Something's wrong, Kai. He's always back before 7:30. It's already 8:00."
Try to sound collected. "Maybe he's on his way back now!" Yikes... squeaky much?
Kai's lame attempt to encourage fell on deaf ears. "We've got to find him."
Kai knew she was right. He rose from the floor with a tight sigh. "Then we should go look for him before it gets dark." He tossed the ball into an open drawer and slammed it shut. "I think we should try the lookout---"
"No, wait!" Mira held up both hands. "I think I know where he is!" She hurried out the door.
Kai scrambled after her and matched her quick pace, now strolling alongside her. "Where are we going?"
"Floor 50," Mira answered.
Kai balked. "What? But... Mira, shouldn't we try our floors first? Cause if he isn't down there, we---"
"He's there. I'm sure of it," Mira stated bluntly. "During our conversation earlier, he told me he was going to 'find out' what he thinks Vanessa is hiding from us." Her tone softened. "He seemed pretty serious about it."
Kai shook his head, brow furrowed. Whether Adam's suspicions about Vanessa were true or not didn't matter. Adam himself was convinced, and he would stop at nothing to prevent any potential escape from happening beneath his nose. Sleep-deprived or not, that was the sort of guy he was: tenacious and loyal to the core.
And that tenacity, paired with his senseless obsession, was what worried Kai the most.
"We'd better find him fast, then," he said. "Cause if he's right and they do have a way out, there's no way they'll help us if he shows up looking like a... you know." His gaze dropped to the floor. He didn't want to say "lunatic", but that was the only word that came to mind. He certainly looked the part, all ragged-haired and wild-eyed. What else would the others think if they saw him?
Mira's eye twitched; she knew what he'd meant by 'you know'. "He's unstable," she said, a sharpness in her tone. Lowering her voice to a murmur, she added, "I just hope he's OK."
Kai swallowed a growing lump in his throat. "That makes two of us."
The pair made their way down the stairs to Floor 50, then fast-walked through the main hallway, whisper-shouting Adam's name. There was no sign of Vanessa or her friends anywhere, but they could never be too careful. Getting caught was not on their agenda. Quickly and quietly was the name of the game, and they were sure to play it straight.
Ten minutes in, Kai opened his mouth to call out to Adam again, when Mira slammed her hand over his face. Kai glared at her, one eyebrow raised. "Hmm?"
Mira let go. "Do you hear that?" she hissed.
Kai squinted, listening as hard as he could. His ears picked up on some faint, unnerving, breathy rhythm--- and it was coming from around the next bend. Kai froze. "Y...yeah."
"It sounds like breathing," Mira whispered.
Kai clutched her arm, shuffling further behind her. "Do you think it's him?"
"If not, we'll just have to explain ourselves." Mira nudged his hand away and patted his shoulder. "Wait here." She strode on ahead, her steps uncertain, but hopeful. "Adam?" Mira turned the corner. She gasped. "Adam! Kai, I found him!" She ran further down the hall.
Kai followed, relieved at first--- but that didn't last for long. He didn't know what he'd expected to see, but what he did see sure wasn't it. They might have found Adam, but he was in far worse shape than Kai could have ever imagined. There he lay, curled up in the middle of the hallway, eyes shut and lips parted. He never moved a muscle. Kai briefly wondered if he was dead--- but the rise and fall of his ribs said otherwise. Thank goodness.
Mira touched her hand to Adam's forehead, then shook his shoulder. "Adam? Adam, what's wrong?" She touched his forehead again, then looked up at Kai with frightened eyes. "He's burning up. Quick, go get me a damp towel!"
Kai hurried to find one without remark, his heart racing like a freight train. Something had happened to Adam--- something bad--- and as far as Kai was concerned, the towel was a matter of life or death! He grabbed a towel from the nearest room, poured cold water onto it, wrung it out, and returned to the hall, where Mira still sat at Adam's side.
Adam seemed to be stirring now, but he was very out of it. Kai handed the towel to Mira. She gently pressed it to Adam's forehead and spoke softly to him. "It's OK, Adam. You're safe. It's us." Gradually, life returned to his bony frame. His eyes opened further and, with Mira's help, he managed to sit up and lean against the wall. "What happened? Do you need anything?"
Adam waved a weak gesture. "Water," he croaked.
Kai hurried back into the room where he'd gotten the towel, grabbed a disposable rinse cup and filled it. He brought it back and handed it to Mira, who held the cup to Adam's lips and helped him drink. After a few sips, Adam refused the cup, turning his face aside. He leaned his head on Mira's shoulder, eyelids drooping. "Mira'm tired. 'Mm sleepin'," he slurred.
Mira gently nudged his head off her shoulder. "I know," she said. "But why were you asleep in the middle of the floor?"
"Just... too tired," breathed Adam.
Mira turned to Kai. "We need to get him to bed," she said.
"How?" asked Kai. He gestured down the hall with one sweeping motion. "We're not dragging him up seven flights of stairs like this, are we?"
Mira bit her lip. "We can put him in one of these rooms for now," she said. "With any luck we can spend the night and get out of here without Vanessa or anyone else knowing we were ever here."
"Do you think they saw Adam?" Kai said, hushed.
"I don't know. But... that doesn't matter right now." Mira wrapped one arm around Adam's torso. "C'mon, help me get him up."
Kai obliged. Together, he and Mira lifted their weary friend from the ground and walked him into the nearest room. Then Adam crawled into the pod on his own and settled onto his side with a soft sigh. He was asleep seconds later.
"Whoah... he really was tired," said Kai.
"At least he's asleep now," said Mira. She smiled and gently ran her fingers through Adam's messy hair. "Sweet dreams, Adam."
"Yeah. You're not gonna have any nightmares tonight if we have anything to say about it." Kai sat down right beside Adam's pod. He determined that he wouldn't leave the room until Adam woke up a new man.
But, at some point between sitting down and eagerly waiting for Adam to wake up a new man, Kai had dozed off into a dreamless slumber--- all the while with his back against Adam's pod, his neck tilted sideways, head rested against the Engage machine. Kai stirred with a newfound pain in his neck.
"Oof... ow," he grumbled to himself, rubbing his neck. Maybe, instead of convincing himself he just needed to "shut his eyes for a few minutes," he should've crawled into bed and slept like a normal person.
"You're not normal."
The thought, spoken in someone else's voice, floated through like a bad memory. Kai pushed it away and rose to his feet, stretching his back. Mira lay asleep in another pod, snoring softly. Kai looked down at Adam, still asleep and in the same position they'd laid him. Kai hesitated a moment--- What if he accidentally woke up?--- and lay his hand on Adam's shoulder. Adam didn't stir; he didn't even twitch.
That's good, right? The longer he stays asleep, the better... I think.
But what if he never wakes up?
He'll wake up. Kai bit his lip. Of course he will.
But Kai had to admit, Adam didn't look so good. He was sickly; sweaty. His cheeks were too narrow and his eye sockets were too deep. His collarbone stuck out way too far; so did the tendons in his neck.
It was crazy how skinny he looked now. Kai was used to being the thinnest in a crowd, but now Adam seemed even thinner than Kai--- something Kai was startled to realize. Adam's broad shoulders had no doubt masked his transformation, but the longer Kai rested his hand there, the more Kai realized even those strong shoulders had a bony quality about them. Kai's brown knit. He'd been eating all right until a couple of weeks ago; he'd seemed healthy then. But this radical drop had to have been going on before then; there was no way he'd lost so much weight in just two weeks.
Something else had to be at play here. And that something had affected them all. That little voice in the back of his head told him so. Not as real words, but as a suggestion. Kai peeked back over at Mira. Had she lost any weight? He couldn't recall. Then again, he hadn't noticed this happening to Adam either. What a bastion of reliable observations he was.
Kai had been so busy criticizing Adam for his theories and behavior that he hadn't noticed what a sharp turn his friend's health had taken. His heart fell like a stone. Adam had been deteriorating for some time now, and what had Kai done? He'd argued. He'd made a pain of himself. Instead of debating Mira about how sane or not sane Adam was, he should have been following her example and trying to help Adam, not calling him out every chance he got.
"Some friend I am," Kai muttered to Adam's sleeping form, folding both arms over the side of the pod. "This whole time I just thought you were grouchy, or else crazy. I never thought you might be sick." He shook his head. "I feel like I've been nothing but a jerk to you lately, and..." He sighed, his stomach knotting up with guilt. "I'm sorry, dude. If you never wake up, I... I just wanted you to know that."
Kai bounced a rubber ball against the wall, frowning. He'd nabbed the ball from one of the upstairs offices while desperately searching for ideas last week, and it had come in handy since. Especially now; bouncing the thing was a great way to at least try to ignore his own fears.
It wasn't that Kai wasn't worried about Adam, or that he didn't care where his friend had gone. Heck, he was scared out of his wits! But if there was anything he'd learned from the old Adam, it was that keeping calm and collected helped other people keep calm and collected. And Mira could really use some calm-and-collectedness right now. She was gonna walk a ditch into the floor if she wasn't careful.
Unfortunately, "Operation: Keep Calm and Collected" didn't seem to be helping.
"He should've been back by now."
Kai stopped bouncing the ball and turned it in his hands. Try to sound calm. "He probably went up to the lookout deck again." That just sounds like an excuse.
"We can't just assume that," Mira argued, folding her arms. "Something's wrong, Kai. He's always back before 7:30. It's already 8:00."
Try to sound collected. "Maybe he's on his way back now!" Yikes... squeaky much?
Kai's lame attempt to encourage fell on deaf ears. "We've got to find him."
Kai knew she was right. He rose from the floor with a tight sigh. "Then we should go look for him before it gets dark." He tossed the ball into an open drawer and slammed it shut. "I think we should try the lookout---"
"No, wait!" Mira held up both hands. "I think I know where he is!" She hurried out the door.
Kai scrambled after her and matched her quick pace, now strolling alongside her. "Where are we going?"
"Floor 50," Mira answered.
Kai balked. "What? But... Mira, shouldn't we try our floors first? Cause if he isn't down there, we---"
"He's there. I'm sure of it," Mira stated bluntly. "During our conversation earlier, he told me he was going to 'find out' what he thinks Vanessa is hiding from us." Her tone softened. "He seemed pretty serious about it."
Kai shook his head, brow furrowed. Whether Adam's suspicions about Vanessa were true or not didn't matter. Adam himself was convinced, and he would stop at nothing to prevent any potential escape from happening beneath his nose. Sleep-deprived or not, that was the sort of guy he was: tenacious and loyal to the core.
And that tenacity, paired with his senseless obsession, was what worried Kai the most.
"We'd better find him fast, then," he said. "Cause if he's right and they do have a way out, there's no way they'll help us if he shows up looking like a... you know." His gaze dropped to the floor. He didn't want to say "lunatic", but that was the only word that came to mind. He certainly looked the part, all ragged-haired and wild-eyed. What else would the others think if they saw him?
Mira's eye twitched; she knew what he'd meant by 'you know'. "He's unstable," she said, a sharpness in her tone. Lowering her voice to a murmur, she added, "I just hope he's OK."
Kai swallowed a growing lump in his throat. "That makes two of us."
The pair made their way down the stairs to Floor 50, then fast-walked through the main hallway, whisper-shouting Adam's name. There was no sign of Vanessa or her friends anywhere, but they could never be too careful. Getting caught was not on their agenda. Quickly and quietly was the name of the game, and they were sure to play it straight.
Ten minutes in, Kai opened his mouth to call out to Adam again, when Mira slammed her hand over his face. Kai glared at her, one eyebrow raised. "Hmm?"
Mira let go. "Do you hear that?" she hissed.
Kai squinted, listening as hard as he could. His ears picked up on some faint, unnerving, breathy rhythm--- and it was coming from around the next bend. Kai froze. "Y...yeah."
"It sounds like breathing," Mira whispered.
Kai clutched her arm, shuffling further behind her. "Do you think it's him?"
"If not, we'll just have to explain ourselves." Mira nudged his hand away and patted his shoulder. "Wait here." She strode on ahead, her steps uncertain, but hopeful. "Adam?" Mira turned the corner. She gasped. "Adam! Kai, I found him!" She ran further down the hall.
Kai followed, relieved at first--- but that didn't last for long. He didn't know what he'd expected to see, but what he did see sure wasn't it. They might have found Adam, but he was in far worse shape than Kai could have ever imagined. There he lay, curled up in the middle of the hallway, eyes shut and lips parted. He never moved a muscle. Kai briefly wondered if he was dead--- but the rise and fall of his ribs said otherwise. Thank goodness.
Mira touched her hand to Adam's forehead, then shook his shoulder. "Adam? Adam, what's wrong?" She touched his forehead again, then looked up at Kai with frightened eyes. "He's burning up. Quick, go get me a damp towel!"
Kai hurried to find one without remark, his heart racing like a freight train. Something had happened to Adam--- something bad--- and as far as Kai was concerned, the towel was a matter of life or death! He grabbed a towel from the nearest room, poured cold water onto it, wrung it out, and returned to the hall, where Mira still sat at Adam's side.
Adam seemed to be stirring now, but he was very out of it. Kai handed the towel to Mira. She gently pressed it to Adam's forehead and spoke softly to him. "It's OK, Adam. You're safe. It's us." Gradually, life returned to his bony frame. His eyes opened further and, with Mira's help, he managed to sit up and lean against the wall. "What happened? Do you need anything?"
Adam waved a weak gesture. "Water," he croaked.
Kai hurried back into the room where he'd gotten the towel, grabbed a disposable rinse cup and filled it. He brought it back and handed it to Mira, who held the cup to Adam's lips and helped him drink. After a few sips, Adam refused the cup, turning his face aside. He leaned his head on Mira's shoulder, eyelids drooping. "Mira'm tired. 'Mm sleepin'," he slurred.
Mira gently nudged his head off her shoulder. "I know," she said. "But why were you asleep in the middle of the floor?"
"Just... too tired," breathed Adam.
Mira turned to Kai. "We need to get him to bed," she said.
"How?" asked Kai. He gestured down the hall with one sweeping motion. "We're not dragging him up seven flights of stairs like this, are we?"
Mira bit her lip. "We can put him in one of these rooms for now," she said. "With any luck we can spend the night and get out of here without Vanessa or anyone else knowing we were ever here."
"Do you think they saw Adam?" Kai said, hushed.
"I don't know. But... that doesn't matter right now." Mira wrapped one arm around Adam's torso. "C'mon, help me get him up."
Kai obliged. Together, he and Mira lifted their weary friend from the ground and walked him into the nearest room. Then Adam crawled into the pod on his own and settled onto his side with a soft sigh. He was asleep seconds later.
"Whoah... he really was tired," said Kai.
"At least he's asleep now," said Mira. She smiled and gently ran her fingers through Adam's messy hair. "Sweet dreams, Adam."
"Yeah. You're not gonna have any nightmares tonight if we have anything to say about it." Kai sat down right beside Adam's pod. He determined that he wouldn't leave the room until Adam woke up a new man.
But, at some point between sitting down and eagerly waiting for Adam to wake up a new man, Kai had dozed off into a dreamless slumber--- all the while with his back against Adam's pod, his neck tilted sideways, head rested against the Engage machine. Kai stirred with a newfound pain in his neck.
"Oof... ow," he grumbled to himself, rubbing his neck. Maybe, instead of convincing himself he just needed to "shut his eyes for a few minutes," he should've crawled into bed and slept like a normal person.
"You're not normal."
The thought, spoken in someone else's voice, floated through like a bad memory. Kai pushed it away and rose to his feet, stretching his back. Mira lay asleep in another pod, snoring softly. Kai looked down at Adam, still asleep and in the same position they'd laid him. Kai hesitated a moment--- What if he accidentally woke up?--- and lay his hand on Adam's shoulder. Adam didn't stir; he didn't even twitch.
That's good, right? The longer he stays asleep, the better... I think.
But what if he never wakes up?
He'll wake up. Kai bit his lip. Of course he will.
But Kai had to admit, Adam didn't look so good. He was sickly; sweaty. His cheeks were too narrow and his eye sockets were too deep. His collarbone stuck out way too far; so did the tendons in his neck.
It was crazy how skinny he looked now. Kai was used to being the thinnest in a crowd, but now Adam seemed even thinner than Kai--- something Kai was startled to realize. Adam's broad shoulders had no doubt masked his transformation, but the longer Kai rested his hand there, the more Kai realized even those strong shoulders had a bony quality about them. Kai's brown knit. He'd been eating all right until a couple of weeks ago; he'd seemed healthy then. But this radical drop had to have been going on before then; there was no way he'd lost so much weight in just two weeks.
Something else had to be at play here. And that something had affected them all. That little voice in the back of his head told him so. Not as real words, but as a suggestion. Kai peeked back over at Mira. Had she lost any weight? He couldn't recall. Then again, he hadn't noticed this happening to Adam either. What a bastion of reliable observations he was.
Kai had been so busy criticizing Adam for his theories and behavior that he hadn't noticed what a sharp turn his friend's health had taken. His heart fell like a stone. Adam had been deteriorating for some time now, and what had Kai done? He'd argued. He'd made a pain of himself. Instead of debating Mira about how sane or not sane Adam was, he should have been following her example and trying to help Adam, not calling him out every chance he got.
"Some friend I am," Kai muttered to Adam's sleeping form, folding both arms over the side of the pod. "This whole time I just thought you were grouchy, or else crazy. I never thought you might be sick." He shook his head. "I feel like I've been nothing but a jerk to you lately, and..." He sighed, his stomach knotting up with guilt. "I'm sorry, dude. If you never wake up, I... I just wanted you to know that."
Day 47
Some time later, Kai had drifted off to sleep--- somehow, all the while still in a semi-upright position, draped limply over the edge of Adam's pod like an understuffed plush toy. But he was asleep, no doubt about it--- dreaming about ocean waves rocking him back and forth. Dark clouds gathered overhead and refused to leave; a storm was brewing. Kai was the captain of his ship, caught between merciless waters and a strangely familiar nauseating greenish-black sky. Unnatural lightning flashed overhead, crackling and flickering.
Someone shouted.
Kai gasped. "Man overboard!" he wailed. One of his crew had fallen off the ship, cast aside by a furious tidal wave. Adam thrashed around in the dark waters, shouting at the top of his lungs. Kai dashed around the deck, desperate to find a life-saver, or a rope, or anything else to keep his best friend from being swallowed up by the deep.
"KAI!"
"I'm coming, buddy!" Kai squeaked as loudly as he could. "I'll find a way to get you out of there, I promise!"
"Kai, the life-saver!"
Kai spun around. Mira ran toward him, waving the life-saver around in the air. "Quick!" Kai yelped, waving her over to the side of the boat. "He fell over this side!"
"KAI!"
Kai thrust himself over the side of the boat, waving at Adam. "We've got you, buddy! Help is on the way! You're safe!"
"Kai!" Adam's head bobbed beneath the waters.
Kai panicked. "Hurry up, Mira!"
"Kai!"
"Mira... Mira, he's..."
A hand shook Kai by the shoulder. "Kai... Kai, are you OK?"
A man is overboard! A man is overboard and she's asking if I'm...! "No I'm not OK, Mira!"
"Mira?" A decidedly masculine voice chortled weakly. "You even awake there, buddy?"
Kai's eyes snapped open. The boat, the sky, the waves... everything was gone. Though he still felt like he was leaning over the edge of a boat; his ribs were sore. That same hand was on his shoulder, too. But it wasn't Mira's hand, and it wasn't her face looking him in the eye either.
Kai's face split into a delighted grin. "Adam!"
Adam smiled, lip quirked in a way that seemed both curious and amused. "How did you fall asleep like that?" he croaked.
Kai extracted himself from the edge of the pod, moaning loudly as his body decompressed. "Stupidly," he groaned, massaging his throbbing ribs. "I didn't wake you up, did I?"
"Actually, Mira did. I guess," Adam said. "She left maybe five minutes ago. I'm surprised she didn't wake you up."
"Me?" Kai chuckled. "Nah. I'm a heavy sleeper."
"I'll say. I've been trying to wake you up since I woke up."
Adam still lay in a resting position in the pod, though he'd propped himself up against the back plate. His eyes were tired and shadowy, but no longer angry. Every ounce of the incredible rage that had once been there had gone. If it weren't for the dark clouds above his head, he might have even looked normal.
Kai rubbed the back of his neck. "So... how're you feeling?"
Adam exhaled strongly. "Great, actually." He clenched his fists together, then flexed his fingers in and out. "Kinda weak in the knees, maybe. But my head's clear." He barked once. "Mira was right; maybe I just needed to sleep."
Kai smiled. Adam wasn't a hundred percent yet--- he probably wasn't even fifty. But he was loads better than he'd been a day ago, and that was easily worth smiling about.
A moment later, Mira returned, carrying a plate of plain pasta and a glass of water. She nodded to Kai. "Great! You're up too." She slowed to a stop beside the pod, then gently set the food on Adam's lap. "Eat this," she said. "It'll give you some energy."
"I've got plenty of energy. I feel great," Adam insisted. He nudged the plate aside.
Kai frowned.
"No, Adam. You need to eat," said Mira, firm. "You've lost way too much weight." Adam just stared at her. Mira stuck to her guns. "I'm serious. I'm not gonna sit here and watch you continue to wither away like this. Adam, please." She shoved the plate back onto his lap and handed him the fork. "Eat."
With a reluctant sigh, Adam dug the fork into the pasta, then took a humble bite.
Kai again rebuked himself for his ignorance to Adam's condition. Adam had become startlingly thin and frail; long gone was the lithe athlete from days past. Kai could understand forgetting to eat here and there--- he was notorious for it himself, after all. But what would cause someone to neglect his own health like this for so long? And why hadn't they tried to stop him from reaching this point? They'd known he'd gotten bad, but... how had they not noticed how far he'd let himself go?
Speaking of forgetting to eat, that's exactly what Kai had done amidst all his worrying. His stomach rudely reminded him of how long it had been since he'd last eaten--- a solid 13 hours--- and he was running on his last fumes. Mira read his mind--- or, far more likely, heard his stomach's boisterous complaint. "Kai, you can go get something to eat too. I'll stay here with Adam."
Kai enthusiastically jumped up and made his way for the door, but stopped when a hand brushed his arm. He spun back around. Adam had a grateful smile on his face. That moment, a flash of his old self--- the kind guy who always had a word of encouragement for Kai when he felt down--- shone through the shadows.
"Thanks, buddy. For sticking with me all night."
Kai beamed. "It was nothin'. Well, it was something, obviously, but..." He shrugged. "Whatever. I'm here if you need me."
"Me too," Mira added. "We're both here for you. No matter what."
Adam's smile faltered, that brief spark of life again muddied and shrouded in blackness. He looked down at his lap and pushed the pasta around with his fork. "Thanks," he rasped. He looked back up at his friends, a gloomy shadow in his eyes. "No matter what? Even if I did something... kinda wrong?"
Mira set her hand on his shoulder. "No matter what." She smiled. "We're your friends. It's... kinda part of the deal."
Adam half-smiled, then returned to staring at his food. "Thanks." After a moment, he heaved a sigh and took another bite of pasta. "Next time, add some sauce. This stuff is dry."
Kai smiled. "You're gonna be good as new, dude," he said. At last, he headed out the door to tend to his own need.
He thought about trudging back up to their own floor, but didn't want to venture too far. And as much as he hated the thought of spending any amount of time casually cooking in Vanessa and company's kitchen, he wanted to head right back to his friends as soon as the meal was ready. Besides, hungry as he was, he couldn't care less about which kitchen he cooked his food in, so long as the result was edible.
As soon as he reached the kitchen, Kai got to work. He grabbed a couple of bowls and filled them with the necessary ingredients, slipped into the back room, grabbed some cookware and turned up the stove.
Kai had discovered a real knack for cooking. Though it developed from necessity (Kai wouldn't trust Mira within twelve feet of a skillet and a kitchen stove), Kai genuinely enjoyed the creativity and science behind it. His favorite part to work out was how to make the meat substitute taste loads different, depending solely on how it was cooked and prepared. He loved hand-rolling little sausages and ironing out strips of fake bacon (facon?), then frying them to hell and back. It was fun. It was relaxing. It was a great escape from the utter hopelessness of their situation.
And best of all, it tasted really good when it was finished!
Kai filled two plates with all he had cooked--- one for himself and one for Mira, just in case she hadn't eaten. And if she had, Kai sure wouldn't mind a second helping. Win-win!
He stepped back out into the main area... and nearly bumped face-first into Vanessa. Kai let out a small squeak. "Vanessa?" he choked. He forced a bark of laughter and shuffled past her, then set the food down on the island. "How long have you been standing there?"
"Long enough to wonder what you're doing in our kitchen," Vanessa answered dryly.
Kai threw out both arms to show off the steaming hot food. "Cooking. Ta-dah!" he announced.
Unimpressed, Vanessa leaned against the compartment wall, folding her arms. "Is your kitchen broken or something?"
"No." Kai shimmied himself (and the plates) closer to the exit. He wanted to get out of here, not stay here talking to her! Her, with her ice-cold eyes, suspicious and angry as they bore into his brain.
"Then why are you here?"
Kai answered curtly. "A situation came up."
"Oh?" Vanessa sauntered toward Kai. "Does this 'situation' involve Adam?"
Kai's throat dropped down a few stories. He gulped, suddenly frozen in place. "Y...yeah. How'd you know?" His gaze drifted down her neck, to her shoulder, then down to her upper arm, where he saw an ugly purple bruise slightly smaller than Kai's palm sprawling across her pinkish skin. He indicated the bruise with a nervous point. "W...What happened to your arm?"
Vanessa's eyes were dark despite the light shade of blue, full of wrath and untold secrets. Kai shuddered inside, but held his ground. He straightened his shoulders and faced her eye-to-eye. "Your fearless leader assaulted me and threatened to kill me if I didn't tell him what he wanted me to say."
"What?" Kai burst, cold to hot within a couple of seconds. "Adam wouldn't---!"
"And now, I suppose, he's sent you to spy on me instead," said Vanessa.
"What? No!" Of all the tin-foil hat theories out there...
"Poor choice of spies. You're anything but subtle, Kai." She patted his arm softly, much to Kai's chagrin and mounting anger. "I feel sorry for you. Adam's really losing his head, isn't he?"
Kai seethed. "No," he growled. "No, look! I'm not spying on anyone! And don't talk to me about Adam 'losing his mind'! You wanna see someone who's lost their mind? Go look in a mirror!" he screamed. "Adam's been lying half-dead for the past twelve hours, he's in no shape to give out orders, and if I find out you had anything to do with it I swear, I'll---!" He bit his lip--- too much, Kai! Tone it down! He changed his tone to a deeper growl. "Don't lie about Adam, to my face, ever again! He'd never threaten to kill someone. Not even a rat like you!"
Vanessa remained infuriatingly calm and cool in the face of Kai's boiling speech. "And I should believe you, why?"
Kai summoned every ounce of willpower he had left to resist punching her in the lips, holding his fists stiff at his sides. "Cause I'm actually honest," he growled. "Something you'd know nothing about, I'm sure."
Vanessa continued to frown. "Go home, Kai," she demanded. "I don't want to see any of you down here ever. Again."
Kai snatched up both plates of food. "Fine by me!" he said. "Have fun getting back to earth without us!"
Kai stormed through the hall, muttering curses to Vanessa under his breath. Who did she think she was going to fool with a stupid story like that? Not Kai. Kai was done believing everything he was told. Particularly if it came from Vanessa's mouth.
But... in a way, now that he was beginning to cool down, her accusation didn't seem that unlikely, all things considered. Namely, Adam's recent lack of good judgment, and that explosive temper. He certainly could have... snapped in an intense moment. But... he hadn't. He couldn't have, could he? Adam may have lost his marbles, but he was no psycho.
"Even if I did something... kind of wrong?"
Adam's words struck Kai in the back of the head like a boomerang. Why would Adam ask such a question if he hadn't done something he'd regretted? Something he wouldn't want his best friends to know about? Something... like a death threat?
Kai mentally slapped himself. She's getting to you again, Kai, warned a voice. You're better than this, man. Get a grip!
Another voice interrupted the first. You idiot. You're so stupid. You're questioning such an obvious lie? At this rate, you're never gonna get over her!
"Do I have a choice?"' Kai muttered aloud. Situation required him to interact with Vanessa on occasion. It was hardly his fault she was so untrustworthy.
But totally my fault I'm so trusting. Better than being Reeve and trusting no-one, he guessed. No wonder Reeve and Vanessa were always butting heads--- Reeve was too stubborn and Vanessa couldn't control him.
Kai opened the door to their makeshift room. To his delight, Adam was standing and walking around, Mira at his side. A little twinge of distrust pinched Kai's insides. He shook it away--- how stupid!--- and greeted his friend with a warm smile. "Adam! You're up!"
"And feeling better than I have in weeks," said Adam, smiling back. "No nightmares. It was... nice."
"Great!" Kai crushed the crack in his voice. He cleared his throat and offered Mira one of the breakfast plates, which she'd been eying hungrily ever since Kai had entered.
She smiled gratefully and took the plate. "Thanks, Kai."
Kai grinned, turning all warm inside. "Psh. No biggie." He sat down on the back counter and dug into his well-earned breakfast. Even though it was cold now. No matter--- banana pancakes were good at any temperature. Grease-laden facon and sausage, not so much, but they were still sort of warm. The eggs were room-temperature. Leave it to ice-cold Vanessa to ruin a piping hot breakfast. She probably ruined breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert when she got the chance, because apparently, she liked to ruin every good thing in Kai's life!
Vanessa! That reminded him.
"So, guys... I had a nasty run-in with Vanessa out there---" Kai noted Adam's posture go tense, "---and royally ticked her off. She never wants us on this floor again."
Adam swallowed what must've been a hefty lump in his throat. Kai watched him with a new twinge of suspicion, taking a slow bite of egg. "Sounds great," Adam croaked. He sounds nervous. "I'll feel better once we're back on our own floor." He took a few steps toward the door.
"Wait!" said Mira. Adam stopped, and both boys looked to see her eagerly devouring the cold breakfast. "We've got to finish eating before we go. Wow, Kai. You really outdid yourself on these pancakes."
Kai brightened, forgetting his suspicion of Adam for a moment. "Thanks! Sorry it's so cold, but..."
"That's OK!" Mira approached the boys, mouth full of pancakes. "Banana pancakes are good at any temperature." She offered the plate to Adam. "Pancake?"
Adam, who was exceedingly antsy to leave at this point, turned the offer down.
"I'm not asking again," said Mira. "And y'know... it's really good." She smiled.
After a few seconds more of hesitation, Adam gave in. He gingerly lifted the remaining uneaten pancake and took a little bite. "Hmm." He shrugged.
"Well?" Kai asked. "Is it good?"
A small but genuine smile graced Adam's lips. "I'd eat it again." He took another bite.
Kai beamed with pride--- well, before another wedge of suspicion came and sucked it all away. Why would Adam react so nervously if he hadn't had some unpleasant interaction with Vanessa that he didn't want anyone to know about?
He's just Adam, said one thought. He's been paranoid and antsy ever since we got here. Kai wanted to believe the voice, but now the other voice was so much louder.
Yeah, and he's lost it. He took a train to Crazy Land and he probably said some nasty things to Vanessa while there. Who knows what else he could have done?
LEAVE ME ALONE, he shot back to both voices. The conflict in his own mind was getting to be too much for his one brain cell to handle. All his energies were directed toward resolving the mental conflict instead of doing what actually mattered right now. That was, finishing his breakfast. Now it was not only cold, but tasteless. Ruined.
Kai finished the last bite of his food and swallowed hard. These thoughts had already spoiled his appetite. If he let them go much further, he feared he might end up like Adam--- bony and paranoid.
Breakfasts finished, the trio left the room and headed for the stairs, ready to return to their own floor and get out of Vanessa's way. None of them noticed the figure who trailed far enough behind to remain unseen, yet close enough to follow the sound of their footsteps.
Seven flights of stairs was no walk in the park for someone so exhausted. Despite how Adam had claimed to feel energetic, he'd collapsed into his own pod and fallen right back to sleep within minutes of their return.
Kai stood nearby, hands in his pockets, a frown on his face despite Adam's serene expression. Mira wasn't sure why; she, for one, was glad to see her friend peacefully at rest. He still had a long way to go, that was for sure. Sleeping was a huge step toward his recovery, and Mira couldn't overlook the significance of that. But that fact seemed to be lost on Kai.
"He just woke up," said Kai, hushed. "Why is he asleep again?"
Mira paced closer to Kai. "He's still weak," she said. "It'll take him some time to get his strength back."
"If he gets it back," Kai muttered.
"Don't talk like that, Kai."
"But what if he doesn't?" Kai burst, throwing out his hands. "What if he's a lost cause? What if... what if this place really messed him up?" His eyes glittered with restrained ferocity.
"Then it'll take longer," said Mira. She stubbornly folded her arms. "He's going to recover. That's final."
"You don't know that for sure."
"Yes, he will!" Mira sighed gruffly, glaring hard into Kai's sad blues. "He needs the sleep. He's needed it for a long time, and now that he's getting it, you're worried he won't make it?"
Kai's brow softened. "Don't get me wrong, I know he needs to sleep. But..." His throat bobbed. "He looks so lifeless. What if his body just gives up on him? What then?"
Mira watched Adam's chest slowly rise and fall. He looked peaceful, but his breathing was faint. Almost too faint. Kai's fears, she realized, might not be so unfounded. Swallowing, she tried to ignore the sinking feeling in her gut. "I don't know," she admitted. "But we can't give up on him, Kai." She squeezed her fist. "He needs us."
Kai stared at Adam's motionless form like a fearful child. His frown hadn't left, and he still slumped, his big blue eyes sadder than ever. He shook his head, drooping even further. "Will he ever be OK?"
Mira set her hand on Kai's shoulder. "We can hope," she breathed.
The two stood there for a long moment, silently comforting one another. Adam could get better. He wasn't so far gone that he could never recover. Kai's defeatist attitude wasn't going to get under Mira's skin; not now. Not when Adam was finally getting the sleep he so desperately needed.
"...Hey."
Both Mira and Kai let out startled yelps as a soft voice rasped from the doorway. They whipped around to see a tall, wavy-haired blond boy standing there, blue-green eyes dim with remorse. He'd lain his guiding staff over his shoulder; no wonder they hadn't heard him coming. He was a friendly face--- but one that was nonetheless unwelcome.
"Skeet!" Mira hissed. The Mama Wolf in her rose up as she stormed toward the intruder, metaphorical hackles raised. "Were you spying on us?"
"Uh... more like eavesdropping," Skeet quipped.
"Same difference," Mira retorted.
Skeet raised his hand. "I'm not reporting anything back to Vanessa, if that's what you're worried about. Sorry I had to sneak up on ya like that, but I couldn't risk Vanessa hearin' me." He patted the metal pole.
Mira stood face-to-face with Skeet, hands on her hips. "I hate to sound like Adam on a bad day, but... how do I know we can trust you, Skeet?"
"Yeah," said Kai, joining Mira. "You were eavesdropping on us, dude. Even you have to admit that looks kinda suspicious."
Skeet's brow furrowed. "Listen, dude. If I was spyin' on you guys, I wouldn't of come in and told you I was here, now would I?" His face softened, and his head drooped. "The truth is... Reeve and I... we were talkin' yesterday, and..."
Mira raised an eyebrow. "And... what?"
"We think Vanessa is... well... actin' weird. Adam mighta been crazy, but he coulda been onto something about her."
Kai stepped closer. "How weird?"
Skeet bit his lip. "OK. So she's not the big villain here like Adam thought. But she hasn't been entirely honest with you guys."
"Tch. Big surprise," Kai remarked, folding his arms.
"Reeve and I wanna meet when you get the chance. We're willin' to talk, person to person, even if Vanessa and Adam aren't." He lowered his voice, and his aimless gaze almost met Mira's eyes. "Things might get a little more peaceful around here." He held out his large, blocky hand, unsure. "Deal?"
Mira and Kai shared glances. Then Mira stepped forward and grabbed Skeet's hand. "All right. We've got to take care of Adam first, but Kai and I'll meet both of you in three days on Floor 53. Seems like a good halfway point."
Skeet smiled and shook her hand. "Sweet."
Someone shouted.
Kai gasped. "Man overboard!" he wailed. One of his crew had fallen off the ship, cast aside by a furious tidal wave. Adam thrashed around in the dark waters, shouting at the top of his lungs. Kai dashed around the deck, desperate to find a life-saver, or a rope, or anything else to keep his best friend from being swallowed up by the deep.
"KAI!"
"I'm coming, buddy!" Kai squeaked as loudly as he could. "I'll find a way to get you out of there, I promise!"
"Kai, the life-saver!"
Kai spun around. Mira ran toward him, waving the life-saver around in the air. "Quick!" Kai yelped, waving her over to the side of the boat. "He fell over this side!"
"KAI!"
Kai thrust himself over the side of the boat, waving at Adam. "We've got you, buddy! Help is on the way! You're safe!"
"Kai!" Adam's head bobbed beneath the waters.
Kai panicked. "Hurry up, Mira!"
"Kai!"
"Mira... Mira, he's..."
A hand shook Kai by the shoulder. "Kai... Kai, are you OK?"
A man is overboard! A man is overboard and she's asking if I'm...! "No I'm not OK, Mira!"
"Mira?" A decidedly masculine voice chortled weakly. "You even awake there, buddy?"
Kai's eyes snapped open. The boat, the sky, the waves... everything was gone. Though he still felt like he was leaning over the edge of a boat; his ribs were sore. That same hand was on his shoulder, too. But it wasn't Mira's hand, and it wasn't her face looking him in the eye either.
Kai's face split into a delighted grin. "Adam!"
Adam smiled, lip quirked in a way that seemed both curious and amused. "How did you fall asleep like that?" he croaked.
Kai extracted himself from the edge of the pod, moaning loudly as his body decompressed. "Stupidly," he groaned, massaging his throbbing ribs. "I didn't wake you up, did I?"
"Actually, Mira did. I guess," Adam said. "She left maybe five minutes ago. I'm surprised she didn't wake you up."
"Me?" Kai chuckled. "Nah. I'm a heavy sleeper."
"I'll say. I've been trying to wake you up since I woke up."
Adam still lay in a resting position in the pod, though he'd propped himself up against the back plate. His eyes were tired and shadowy, but no longer angry. Every ounce of the incredible rage that had once been there had gone. If it weren't for the dark clouds above his head, he might have even looked normal.
Kai rubbed the back of his neck. "So... how're you feeling?"
Adam exhaled strongly. "Great, actually." He clenched his fists together, then flexed his fingers in and out. "Kinda weak in the knees, maybe. But my head's clear." He barked once. "Mira was right; maybe I just needed to sleep."
Kai smiled. Adam wasn't a hundred percent yet--- he probably wasn't even fifty. But he was loads better than he'd been a day ago, and that was easily worth smiling about.
A moment later, Mira returned, carrying a plate of plain pasta and a glass of water. She nodded to Kai. "Great! You're up too." She slowed to a stop beside the pod, then gently set the food on Adam's lap. "Eat this," she said. "It'll give you some energy."
"I've got plenty of energy. I feel great," Adam insisted. He nudged the plate aside.
Kai frowned.
"No, Adam. You need to eat," said Mira, firm. "You've lost way too much weight." Adam just stared at her. Mira stuck to her guns. "I'm serious. I'm not gonna sit here and watch you continue to wither away like this. Adam, please." She shoved the plate back onto his lap and handed him the fork. "Eat."
With a reluctant sigh, Adam dug the fork into the pasta, then took a humble bite.
Kai again rebuked himself for his ignorance to Adam's condition. Adam had become startlingly thin and frail; long gone was the lithe athlete from days past. Kai could understand forgetting to eat here and there--- he was notorious for it himself, after all. But what would cause someone to neglect his own health like this for so long? And why hadn't they tried to stop him from reaching this point? They'd known he'd gotten bad, but... how had they not noticed how far he'd let himself go?
Speaking of forgetting to eat, that's exactly what Kai had done amidst all his worrying. His stomach rudely reminded him of how long it had been since he'd last eaten--- a solid 13 hours--- and he was running on his last fumes. Mira read his mind--- or, far more likely, heard his stomach's boisterous complaint. "Kai, you can go get something to eat too. I'll stay here with Adam."
Kai enthusiastically jumped up and made his way for the door, but stopped when a hand brushed his arm. He spun back around. Adam had a grateful smile on his face. That moment, a flash of his old self--- the kind guy who always had a word of encouragement for Kai when he felt down--- shone through the shadows.
"Thanks, buddy. For sticking with me all night."
Kai beamed. "It was nothin'. Well, it was something, obviously, but..." He shrugged. "Whatever. I'm here if you need me."
"Me too," Mira added. "We're both here for you. No matter what."
Adam's smile faltered, that brief spark of life again muddied and shrouded in blackness. He looked down at his lap and pushed the pasta around with his fork. "Thanks," he rasped. He looked back up at his friends, a gloomy shadow in his eyes. "No matter what? Even if I did something... kinda wrong?"
Mira set her hand on his shoulder. "No matter what." She smiled. "We're your friends. It's... kinda part of the deal."
Adam half-smiled, then returned to staring at his food. "Thanks." After a moment, he heaved a sigh and took another bite of pasta. "Next time, add some sauce. This stuff is dry."
Kai smiled. "You're gonna be good as new, dude," he said. At last, he headed out the door to tend to his own need.
He thought about trudging back up to their own floor, but didn't want to venture too far. And as much as he hated the thought of spending any amount of time casually cooking in Vanessa and company's kitchen, he wanted to head right back to his friends as soon as the meal was ready. Besides, hungry as he was, he couldn't care less about which kitchen he cooked his food in, so long as the result was edible.
As soon as he reached the kitchen, Kai got to work. He grabbed a couple of bowls and filled them with the necessary ingredients, slipped into the back room, grabbed some cookware and turned up the stove.
Kai had discovered a real knack for cooking. Though it developed from necessity (Kai wouldn't trust Mira within twelve feet of a skillet and a kitchen stove), Kai genuinely enjoyed the creativity and science behind it. His favorite part to work out was how to make the meat substitute taste loads different, depending solely on how it was cooked and prepared. He loved hand-rolling little sausages and ironing out strips of fake bacon (facon?), then frying them to hell and back. It was fun. It was relaxing. It was a great escape from the utter hopelessness of their situation.
And best of all, it tasted really good when it was finished!
Kai filled two plates with all he had cooked--- one for himself and one for Mira, just in case she hadn't eaten. And if she had, Kai sure wouldn't mind a second helping. Win-win!
He stepped back out into the main area... and nearly bumped face-first into Vanessa. Kai let out a small squeak. "Vanessa?" he choked. He forced a bark of laughter and shuffled past her, then set the food down on the island. "How long have you been standing there?"
"Long enough to wonder what you're doing in our kitchen," Vanessa answered dryly.
Kai threw out both arms to show off the steaming hot food. "Cooking. Ta-dah!" he announced.
Unimpressed, Vanessa leaned against the compartment wall, folding her arms. "Is your kitchen broken or something?"
"No." Kai shimmied himself (and the plates) closer to the exit. He wanted to get out of here, not stay here talking to her! Her, with her ice-cold eyes, suspicious and angry as they bore into his brain.
"Then why are you here?"
Kai answered curtly. "A situation came up."
"Oh?" Vanessa sauntered toward Kai. "Does this 'situation' involve Adam?"
Kai's throat dropped down a few stories. He gulped, suddenly frozen in place. "Y...yeah. How'd you know?" His gaze drifted down her neck, to her shoulder, then down to her upper arm, where he saw an ugly purple bruise slightly smaller than Kai's palm sprawling across her pinkish skin. He indicated the bruise with a nervous point. "W...What happened to your arm?"
Vanessa's eyes were dark despite the light shade of blue, full of wrath and untold secrets. Kai shuddered inside, but held his ground. He straightened his shoulders and faced her eye-to-eye. "Your fearless leader assaulted me and threatened to kill me if I didn't tell him what he wanted me to say."
"What?" Kai burst, cold to hot within a couple of seconds. "Adam wouldn't---!"
"And now, I suppose, he's sent you to spy on me instead," said Vanessa.
"What? No!" Of all the tin-foil hat theories out there...
"Poor choice of spies. You're anything but subtle, Kai." She patted his arm softly, much to Kai's chagrin and mounting anger. "I feel sorry for you. Adam's really losing his head, isn't he?"
Kai seethed. "No," he growled. "No, look! I'm not spying on anyone! And don't talk to me about Adam 'losing his mind'! You wanna see someone who's lost their mind? Go look in a mirror!" he screamed. "Adam's been lying half-dead for the past twelve hours, he's in no shape to give out orders, and if I find out you had anything to do with it I swear, I'll---!" He bit his lip--- too much, Kai! Tone it down! He changed his tone to a deeper growl. "Don't lie about Adam, to my face, ever again! He'd never threaten to kill someone. Not even a rat like you!"
Vanessa remained infuriatingly calm and cool in the face of Kai's boiling speech. "And I should believe you, why?"
Kai summoned every ounce of willpower he had left to resist punching her in the lips, holding his fists stiff at his sides. "Cause I'm actually honest," he growled. "Something you'd know nothing about, I'm sure."
Vanessa continued to frown. "Go home, Kai," she demanded. "I don't want to see any of you down here ever. Again."
Kai snatched up both plates of food. "Fine by me!" he said. "Have fun getting back to earth without us!"
Kai stormed through the hall, muttering curses to Vanessa under his breath. Who did she think she was going to fool with a stupid story like that? Not Kai. Kai was done believing everything he was told. Particularly if it came from Vanessa's mouth.
But... in a way, now that he was beginning to cool down, her accusation didn't seem that unlikely, all things considered. Namely, Adam's recent lack of good judgment, and that explosive temper. He certainly could have... snapped in an intense moment. But... he hadn't. He couldn't have, could he? Adam may have lost his marbles, but he was no psycho.
"Even if I did something... kind of wrong?"
Adam's words struck Kai in the back of the head like a boomerang. Why would Adam ask such a question if he hadn't done something he'd regretted? Something he wouldn't want his best friends to know about? Something... like a death threat?
Kai mentally slapped himself. She's getting to you again, Kai, warned a voice. You're better than this, man. Get a grip!
Another voice interrupted the first. You idiot. You're so stupid. You're questioning such an obvious lie? At this rate, you're never gonna get over her!
"Do I have a choice?"' Kai muttered aloud. Situation required him to interact with Vanessa on occasion. It was hardly his fault she was so untrustworthy.
But totally my fault I'm so trusting. Better than being Reeve and trusting no-one, he guessed. No wonder Reeve and Vanessa were always butting heads--- Reeve was too stubborn and Vanessa couldn't control him.
Kai opened the door to their makeshift room. To his delight, Adam was standing and walking around, Mira at his side. A little twinge of distrust pinched Kai's insides. He shook it away--- how stupid!--- and greeted his friend with a warm smile. "Adam! You're up!"
"And feeling better than I have in weeks," said Adam, smiling back. "No nightmares. It was... nice."
"Great!" Kai crushed the crack in his voice. He cleared his throat and offered Mira one of the breakfast plates, which she'd been eying hungrily ever since Kai had entered.
She smiled gratefully and took the plate. "Thanks, Kai."
Kai grinned, turning all warm inside. "Psh. No biggie." He sat down on the back counter and dug into his well-earned breakfast. Even though it was cold now. No matter--- banana pancakes were good at any temperature. Grease-laden facon and sausage, not so much, but they were still sort of warm. The eggs were room-temperature. Leave it to ice-cold Vanessa to ruin a piping hot breakfast. She probably ruined breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert when she got the chance, because apparently, she liked to ruin every good thing in Kai's life!
Vanessa! That reminded him.
"So, guys... I had a nasty run-in with Vanessa out there---" Kai noted Adam's posture go tense, "---and royally ticked her off. She never wants us on this floor again."
Adam swallowed what must've been a hefty lump in his throat. Kai watched him with a new twinge of suspicion, taking a slow bite of egg. "Sounds great," Adam croaked. He sounds nervous. "I'll feel better once we're back on our own floor." He took a few steps toward the door.
"Wait!" said Mira. Adam stopped, and both boys looked to see her eagerly devouring the cold breakfast. "We've got to finish eating before we go. Wow, Kai. You really outdid yourself on these pancakes."
Kai brightened, forgetting his suspicion of Adam for a moment. "Thanks! Sorry it's so cold, but..."
"That's OK!" Mira approached the boys, mouth full of pancakes. "Banana pancakes are good at any temperature." She offered the plate to Adam. "Pancake?"
Adam, who was exceedingly antsy to leave at this point, turned the offer down.
"I'm not asking again," said Mira. "And y'know... it's really good." She smiled.
After a few seconds more of hesitation, Adam gave in. He gingerly lifted the remaining uneaten pancake and took a little bite. "Hmm." He shrugged.
"Well?" Kai asked. "Is it good?"
A small but genuine smile graced Adam's lips. "I'd eat it again." He took another bite.
Kai beamed with pride--- well, before another wedge of suspicion came and sucked it all away. Why would Adam react so nervously if he hadn't had some unpleasant interaction with Vanessa that he didn't want anyone to know about?
He's just Adam, said one thought. He's been paranoid and antsy ever since we got here. Kai wanted to believe the voice, but now the other voice was so much louder.
Yeah, and he's lost it. He took a train to Crazy Land and he probably said some nasty things to Vanessa while there. Who knows what else he could have done?
LEAVE ME ALONE, he shot back to both voices. The conflict in his own mind was getting to be too much for his one brain cell to handle. All his energies were directed toward resolving the mental conflict instead of doing what actually mattered right now. That was, finishing his breakfast. Now it was not only cold, but tasteless. Ruined.
Kai finished the last bite of his food and swallowed hard. These thoughts had already spoiled his appetite. If he let them go much further, he feared he might end up like Adam--- bony and paranoid.
Breakfasts finished, the trio left the room and headed for the stairs, ready to return to their own floor and get out of Vanessa's way. None of them noticed the figure who trailed far enough behind to remain unseen, yet close enough to follow the sound of their footsteps.
Seven flights of stairs was no walk in the park for someone so exhausted. Despite how Adam had claimed to feel energetic, he'd collapsed into his own pod and fallen right back to sleep within minutes of their return.
Kai stood nearby, hands in his pockets, a frown on his face despite Adam's serene expression. Mira wasn't sure why; she, for one, was glad to see her friend peacefully at rest. He still had a long way to go, that was for sure. Sleeping was a huge step toward his recovery, and Mira couldn't overlook the significance of that. But that fact seemed to be lost on Kai.
"He just woke up," said Kai, hushed. "Why is he asleep again?"
Mira paced closer to Kai. "He's still weak," she said. "It'll take him some time to get his strength back."
"If he gets it back," Kai muttered.
"Don't talk like that, Kai."
"But what if he doesn't?" Kai burst, throwing out his hands. "What if he's a lost cause? What if... what if this place really messed him up?" His eyes glittered with restrained ferocity.
"Then it'll take longer," said Mira. She stubbornly folded her arms. "He's going to recover. That's final."
"You don't know that for sure."
"Yes, he will!" Mira sighed gruffly, glaring hard into Kai's sad blues. "He needs the sleep. He's needed it for a long time, and now that he's getting it, you're worried he won't make it?"
Kai's brow softened. "Don't get me wrong, I know he needs to sleep. But..." His throat bobbed. "He looks so lifeless. What if his body just gives up on him? What then?"
Mira watched Adam's chest slowly rise and fall. He looked peaceful, but his breathing was faint. Almost too faint. Kai's fears, she realized, might not be so unfounded. Swallowing, she tried to ignore the sinking feeling in her gut. "I don't know," she admitted. "But we can't give up on him, Kai." She squeezed her fist. "He needs us."
Kai stared at Adam's motionless form like a fearful child. His frown hadn't left, and he still slumped, his big blue eyes sadder than ever. He shook his head, drooping even further. "Will he ever be OK?"
Mira set her hand on Kai's shoulder. "We can hope," she breathed.
The two stood there for a long moment, silently comforting one another. Adam could get better. He wasn't so far gone that he could never recover. Kai's defeatist attitude wasn't going to get under Mira's skin; not now. Not when Adam was finally getting the sleep he so desperately needed.
"...Hey."
Both Mira and Kai let out startled yelps as a soft voice rasped from the doorway. They whipped around to see a tall, wavy-haired blond boy standing there, blue-green eyes dim with remorse. He'd lain his guiding staff over his shoulder; no wonder they hadn't heard him coming. He was a friendly face--- but one that was nonetheless unwelcome.
"Skeet!" Mira hissed. The Mama Wolf in her rose up as she stormed toward the intruder, metaphorical hackles raised. "Were you spying on us?"
"Uh... more like eavesdropping," Skeet quipped.
"Same difference," Mira retorted.
Skeet raised his hand. "I'm not reporting anything back to Vanessa, if that's what you're worried about. Sorry I had to sneak up on ya like that, but I couldn't risk Vanessa hearin' me." He patted the metal pole.
Mira stood face-to-face with Skeet, hands on her hips. "I hate to sound like Adam on a bad day, but... how do I know we can trust you, Skeet?"
"Yeah," said Kai, joining Mira. "You were eavesdropping on us, dude. Even you have to admit that looks kinda suspicious."
Skeet's brow furrowed. "Listen, dude. If I was spyin' on you guys, I wouldn't of come in and told you I was here, now would I?" His face softened, and his head drooped. "The truth is... Reeve and I... we were talkin' yesterday, and..."
Mira raised an eyebrow. "And... what?"
"We think Vanessa is... well... actin' weird. Adam mighta been crazy, but he coulda been onto something about her."
Kai stepped closer. "How weird?"
Skeet bit his lip. "OK. So she's not the big villain here like Adam thought. But she hasn't been entirely honest with you guys."
"Tch. Big surprise," Kai remarked, folding his arms.
"Reeve and I wanna meet when you get the chance. We're willin' to talk, person to person, even if Vanessa and Adam aren't." He lowered his voice, and his aimless gaze almost met Mira's eyes. "Things might get a little more peaceful around here." He held out his large, blocky hand, unsure. "Deal?"
Mira and Kai shared glances. Then Mira stepped forward and grabbed Skeet's hand. "All right. We've got to take care of Adam first, but Kai and I'll meet both of you in three days on Floor 53. Seems like a good halfway point."
Skeet smiled and shook her hand. "Sweet."