Ethan knox - October 2120
I could've stayed there forever, honestly.
Just holding onto Kai, keeping him close like if I didn't let go, nothing in the world could touch him. No danger, no past, no whatever the hell is coming next. Just… us. Safe.
But then his stomach betrayed him with the loudest, most tragic rumble I've ever heard. I huffed out a laugh against his shoulder.
"Alright, hero" I murmured, nudging him gently, "guess even you can't fight hunger."
So we washed up and headed for food.
I thought the canteen would be quiet, but apparently cold weather turns everyone into indoor creatures. It was louder than usual, full of chatter and clattering trays.
"Do you think Miriam could make another cake?" Jack asks, tipping his chair back like gravity is just a suggestion.
I grin at him. "You want more?"
"It was so good!" he says, like this is the most obvious thing in the world.
I think back to it and laugh softly. "Yeah… I don't think you're wrong there."
Honestly, you could taste it. Miriam didn't just bake that cake, she cared about it... About Kai and it showed.
I sneak a look at Kai. He's focused on his food like it personally offended him earlier. Yeah… he must've been starving. Something in my chest tightens a little at that.
"Anyway," Jack says, dropping his chair properly this time, suddenly serious, "can you teach me more fighting moves today, Kai?"
Kai looks up mid-bite, still chewing, completely unbothered.
"Okay," he says after swallowing, a small smile pulling at his lips. "But I won't go easy today."
Jack lights up like someone just handed him the best day of his life and I can't help it… I smile too.
A few months ago, Jack was wary when in the same room as Kai. He thought he was dangerous. And Kai… didn't really know what to do with kids at all.
But Now?
Now Jack's practically vibrating with excitement, throwing punches into the air like he's already in training.
Kai keeps eating, but every now and then he corrects him."You need a wider stance and turn your shoulder." He says it so soft and casual, like this is normal.
I rest my head against my hand, watching them, a quiet warmth spreading through me. This… this is what I want for him.
The canteen doors suddenly slams open and I flinch slightly, instinct kicking in before I even think.
Daniel rushes in, breath uneven, eyes sharp as they lock onto us. Something's wrong. I can feel it before he even speaks.
He heads straight over. "Jack, you need to go now."
Jack frowns. "But-"
Daniel gives him a look. It's not angry or loud, but it is serious enough that even Jack stops.
"…Fine," he mutters, grabbing his things. Then he points at Kai, still half-pouting. "Don't forget your promise."
Kai nods once. "I won't."
Jack disappears out the door and I'm already on my feet.
Kai stands too, and I move without thinking, just a step closer to him. Not touching, just… there.
"What's wrong?" I ask, quieter now.
There's something tight in my chest. That familiar feeling. Like the air's about to change.
Daniel glances around, checking who's listening.
"We have an emergency," he says under his breath.
My stomach drops.
"What is it?" Kai asks, stepping closer.
Daniel hesitates for half a second, then...
"It's Christopher."
Everything in me goes still.
"He's gone."
___________________________________
We head down to the basement straight away, and for once, I don't try to fill the silence. That's usually my thing. Talk, joke, say something so it doesn't feel like the air's closing in on us.
But this time… it already has.
The second we step in, I spot Sophie near Katie's cell. She's hovering in that awkward, stuck kind of way, like she doesn't know whether to help or run or just pretend none of this is happening.
That alone sets something off in me.
I move toward her, slower now, my voice softening before I even speak. "Hey… what's going on?"
Then I see Katie.
"Hey-" The word catches slightly as I take in the blood. It's smeared through her hair, trailing down from her temple.
My stomach twists, but I keep my voice gentle. "What happened?"
She looks at me like she's still catching up to everything herself, hands fidgeting.
Katie voice breaks through the gap "they... tried... tried to take... I wouldn't... let... wouldn't... let"
"I… I think you should talk to the others first." Sophie cuts in.
I give a small, uneasy smile, trying to lighten it even though my chest's already tightening. "That's never a sentence that ends well, you know that, right?"
She doesn't smile back.
I follow her line of sight and immediately see it.
Christopher's cell. It's wide open. It hasn't been unlocked or left open.
Just… open in a way that feels completely wrong.
From here, I can see Edmund, Thomas and Issac gathered near it, all looking like they're already ten steps ahead in a situation I haven't even processed yet.
Kai and Daniel head over first. I stick close behind, my focus narrowing as I get nearer.
Then I see the door properly or what used to be a door. It's been ripped clean off like it didn't stand a chance.
"What's going on?" I ask, louder now, looking between them.
Edmund shifts slightly, arms crossed, posture steady but not entirely comfortable. He glances at Issac before answering.
"Issac came to check on Christopher and the others this morning" he says. "He discovered Christopher was gone."
Gone...
I let out a quiet breath through my nose, like that might help the word make sense.
"How?" Kai asks.
Edmund looks down briefly, then back up. "We checked the CCTV footage. Ray took him."
For a second, I actually think I heard that wrong.
"...Sorry, what?" I blink, a small, disbelieving laugh slipping out before I can stop it. "Ray? You mean our Ray?"
No one corrects me... No one even hesitates and just like that, the humour drains right out of me.
"Why would he do that?" I ask, more quietly now, because I'm not sure I want the answer or if there even is one.
No one speaks.
Kai steps forward, already moving past the shock, straight into action. "So what's the plan?"
"We go after them" Daniel says.
I look between them, something heavy settling in my chest. "Okay… and then what? We just politely ask them to come back, or…?"
"We cannot allow them to leave Trinity," Edmund says, voice firm now. "If they do, they pose a risk to everyone here. They must be stopped."
I let out a breath, shaking my head slightly. "Stopped how, exactly?"
No one answers, which is answer enough.
"So what, you want us to kill them... kill Ray?" I say, the disbelief clear in my voice.
"Ethan," Issac says, stepping forward, "if Ray took Christopher, then it can only mean one thing. He's betrayed us."
That word lands hard.
Betrayed.
I swallow, my chest tightening. "No… no, that doesn't- people don't just flip like that" I say, quieter now. "Not him."
Ray's helped me. He's been there when things got bad, when I got bad. You don't just erase that.
My hands clench slightly, tension creeping in, but it eases when I feel Kai's hand brush against mine.
It's such a small thing, but it steadies me instantly.
"I'll go and bring them back" Kai says.
Of course he will.
Edmund nods after a moment. "Fine. But if you are unable to, you know what you must do."
I don't like how easily that lands.
Before I can overthink it, I reach out and grab Kai's hand. "Fine. Then I'm coming with you."
He shakes his head, like I've just suggested something ridiculous. "I can't have you come with me. It'll be dangerous."
I let out a small breath, stepping closer, my grip tightening just enough to keep him from brushing it off. "Kai… everything we do is dangerous. That's kind of the theme around here."
He doesn't smile.
So I soften, just a little. "Let me help. I can use my sight. I can keep you one step ahead."
For a second, he looks away, and I can tell he's actually thinking about it, which only makes me push a little more.
"I can't risk you getting hurt" he says when he looks back.
I shake my head, a small, frustrated laugh escaping me. "Yeah, well, I can't risk you getting hurt either, so we're at a bit of a stalemate, aren't we?"
"I can't just stand here and let you go alone" I add, more quietly now, because that's the real part.
Daniel steps in. "Then I'll go with him."
I glance at him, about to argue again, but Edmund cuts in.
"Ethan."
I look back at him, already bracing myself.
"We don't know who Ray is working for" he says. "There could be a wider threat to the school."
I don't like where this is going... Not one bit.
"We need you here" he continues. "Your ability allows us to anticipate danger before it happens."
I let out a slow breath, my gaze dropping briefly before lifting again.
So that's it... They go out there and I stay here... again.
I tighten my hold on Kai's hand for just a second longer, like I can somehow anchor him in place if I don't let go.
But I know I can't.
Still, I try one last time, softer now. "Just… be careful, yeah?"
Because if I say anything more, I might not let him go at all.
_________________________________
The school shifts into action so fast it almost feels unreal, like someone flipped a switch and suddenly everything's louder, sharper, more urgent.
Lockdown hits and younger kids and those with no powers are rushed inside, while the rest of us are left outside to hold the line.
I stand near the car, fidgeting with my hands, watching Kai and Daniel load it up with weapons and gear like this is just another mission, just another day. There's more equipment than we've ever had before, thanks to Noah, and objectively… yeah, we're stronger than we've ever been.
But my chest still won't settle.
Because none of that matters if something goes wrong.
When they finally shut the boot, the sound echoes a little too loudly in my head. Daniel and Tessa move off to the side, talking in low voices,.
I don't hear any of it... I'm too focused on Kai.
He adjusts the straps of his harness, sliding two knives into place at his back with practised ease, then checks the gun at his hip like it belongs there.
Like this is normal.
My heart feels too big for my chest, beating too fast, too heavy.
This morning, I told myself I'd do anything to keep him safe.
And now I'm just… standing here, watching him walk straight back into danger.
He turns and starts walking towards me.
I blink quickly, willing the sting in my eyes to go away. Not now... I don't get to fall apart now.
Kai reaches me and lifts his hand, brushing his fingers gently along my cheek. I lean into it without thinking, and when I look up, he's smiling at me like everything's going to be fine.
"I won't be long" he says.
He presses a soft kiss to my forehead.
"You better not" I reply, aiming for light, but my voice cracks just enough to betray me. "I've got plans, you know. You're kind of required for them."
I don't give him a chance to respond before I pull him into a hug, arms wrapping tightly around him. He hugs me back just as firmly, like he understands exactly what I'm not saying.
He presses a kiss to the top of my head, gentle enough to almost undo me.
"Just promise me you'll come back safe" I murmur against him.
He pulls back slightly, just enough to look at me, and nods. "I promise."
I want to believe that promises mean something against whatever's out there.
Before I can say anything else, he cups my face again and kisses me, deeper this time, like he's trying to leave something behind.
Or take something with him.
Then he pulls away.
And just like that… he's gone.
He and Daniel head off, and I stay exactly where I am, watching them until they disappear, like if I look away too soon something worse might happen.
The space they leave behind feels too quiet.
"This is getting quite tiresome now" Tessa says beside me.
I glance at her. She sounds calm, like always, but I know her well enough now to see past that. The tightness in her posture, the way her arms are folded just a little too firmly… she's worried.
Of course she is, especially after what happened to Daniel last time.
"They'll be fine" I say, offering a small smile, but it feels thin and unconvincing.
More for me than her.
Tessa doesn't reply. We just stand there for a moment, both staring down the now empty path.
"Let's go," she says eventually. "We have things to do."
I nod, turning with her, forcing my feet to move even though every part of me wants to stay exactly where Kai left me.
We take a few steps.
Then something catches.
It's not something I see at first. It's more like a pull, sharp and sudden, right behind my eyes.
I stop dead.
"Tessa?" she says, turning back to me. "What is it?"
My vision shifts, the world around me blurring for half a second as that familiar flash of blue cuts through.
And then I see it.
Someone's coming.
"Tessa," I say, turning to her quickly, urgency snapping into my voice, "get Sophie. Now."
She doesn't question it. She Doesn't hesitate, she just runs.
I turn toward the forest, my focus locking in, heart already racing again for a completely different reason.
A second passes.
Then a figure breaks through the trees.
They're stumbling, barely holding themselves up.
My breath catches. Then I'm already moving, running toward them.
I reach them just as they start to fall, catching them before they hit the ground.
"Finn?" Panic floods my voice as I steady him. "Hey, hey, what happened?"
He looks awful.
Pale, barely conscious, his breathing shallow and uneven. My eyes drop and immediately find the problem, a makeshift bandage wrapped around his stomach, completely soaked through with blood.
"Shit," I breathe, my hands already trying to support him better. "Okay... okay, you're alright, Sophie's coming, we've got you-"
His hand suddenly grabs onto my shirt, weak but desperate.
"They took him…" he forces out, his voice barely there. "They took Noah."
Everything inside me goes cold.