After what seemed like a million years, but actually a couple of hours, we were finally back on our school bus-craft. We were finally heading back to the dormitories. Belle's head laid on my lap and my finger hovered over a small scratch she had endured on her forehead. Her long lashes fanned over her high cheekbones and her lips parted slightly, letting out a whispered snore. Daxton sat behind me, his leg pressed against my seat, that gave me a comforting reassurance.
Hayden reached out to me from the seat next to me. "Hey, are you okay?" I looked at his misty green eyes and smiled weakly. The bruising under his chin had begun to heal and appeared a mild yellow. The Mendex Box was truly a miracle invention. "How's she?" he asked, nodding his head towards Belle.
"She's coping. Atleast, as much as she can." Hayden nodded slowly. "How are you?"
"I'm all good, babe, as you can see." His lips tipped up on one side. "It's going to take a lot more than that to take me away from you."
"Don't say that." Worry resurfacing in my heart.
"I'm kidding. I'm sorry." Hayden squeezed my hand in comfort. His eyes glided away from me and out the window. "What's going on out there?" The ship landed with a loud bang, my jaw dropped.
Belle groggily woke up at the noise and gasped as she peered out the window, so did Daxton behind me. "Mom!" Belle whispered excitedly.
As we descended down the stairs of the ship, my Mom hugged me in a tight embrace. "Nyla! Are you okay?" Her voice trembled. "I heard what happened. How's your leg?" She pulled away only slightly to inspect me. She frowned when she noticed that I didn't have a cast or a brace on my leg. "They told me you had hurt your leg."
"Their medical advancement is insane, Mom. Got my leg fixed within hours. Why didn't we have that at Earth's Center? We could have saved ourselves from Daxton's weeks of whining," I said, my eyes looking at both my Mom and Daxton, knowingly.
"Hey!" Daxton shot daggers my way, which made me grin. "Like you were any better. Remember summer camp? Or should I remind you how you hurt your leg because you were running away from a squ-" I smacked my hand against his mouth.
"I get it. Now, shut up!" I glared. "Also, I was six. My legs were short."
Daxton pulled my hand down and a wicked smile stretched on his face. "Sure, my dear baby sister! Whatever helps you sleep at night."
"Watch your back, Daxy boy." My eyes narrowed.
"Kids, stop," Mom scolded. "Now is not the time to behave like this. I'm sorry, darlings. This is all my fault," Her face fell, making me curious. "I shouldn't have sent you here when things were so wary."
"Mom, no one predicted that this would happen. Neither the school personnel nor the AIB. We were all ambushed by the attack," Daxton reminded, as we began to walk inside the school premises. "Anyway, what are you doing here?"
Mom's brows furrowed as she sighed deeply. "I'm sorry, kids. This is all my fault. But no longer."
My forehead creased in confusion as I stepped forward, in front of Mom. "What do you mean?"
"I'm taking you guys back home." Mom smiled weakly.
I stumbled back. "What?"
"We are all here to take you kids home," she said.
I looked around and saw the other parents surrounding their kids. And every one of us, equally shocked. Some in happiness and some in perplexity. I was definitely in the latter.
~*~*~*~*~
Everyone had gathered inside the bright blue leisure room. It was the only great part of the dormitories. It wasn't exactly a room, but an entire floor with a game section, a theater stage, a dance studio, and a meditation station. I sat on the black couch with Avery on one side and Hayden on the other. Daxton sat in front of me on the futon that was pressed against the wall and Meryam sat beside him. Erik and Sumi sat on the floor pillows, resting their backs against the bolted down table. Tomas stood awkwardly against the wall next to Daxton and Meryam. Our dear Eybosnian buddies were nowhere to be found. Annabelle was sent to sit with kids of her age near their dormitories.
"So, I'm going to speak up first and say that I'm glad this is happening," Erik said, raising both of his hands before crossing them over each other and pressing it against his chest.
"No one cares what you think, Erik," Avery retorted.
"What? You want to stay here?" He raised a brow.
"I didn't say that. I said no one cares what you say." Avery was clearly irritated. She really loathed him. And it seemed way too deep-rooted than the silly pranks he pulled when we were kids.
"Avery, Avery! Even if no one cares what I say, they're all thinking about it. Aren't you, Sumi?" He nudged the girl next to him. Sumi bit her lower lip and nodded slowly.
"Don't force her to agree with you."
"But I'm not forcing her. Avery, as much as I find you and your butt great, your head, not so much," Erik said, standing up slowly. Avery clenched her jaw and was ready to strike. "Not everyone here was quite thrilled to be actually 'here', you know. Not all of us have baggage big enough to leave home and never to come back."
I frowned at his comment. What the actual f-
"Erik." Daxton warned.
Erik rolled his eyes. "We hate the Eybosnians as much as they hate us. And leaving this shit prison is good for us. We can go back to our lives. I'm sure Nyla would agree. She hated this place from Day Zero. Isn't that right, Nyla. Aren't you happy that we're all going back home? Isn't this what you wanted?"
Everyone's gazes fixated on me, waiting for me to answer him. And I couldn't deny his claims. It was true. All true. I hated being here. I hated that we had to be subjected to discrimination and harassment on a daily basis. However, I was a girl on a mission. I couldn't leave now. Not at least knowing what was behind the Yellow Door.
"I don't know," I said finally.
Erik scowled. He strode towards me. "What do you mean, you don't know?" He grabbed my arms and pulled me up halfway. "Nyla, have you forgotten what they've done? What they did to you?" He whispered loud enough for only me to hear. I doubled back. What was he talking about? "You know what I'm talking about, Nyla."
My frown deepened. How did he know? Hayden pushed Erik back and covered me as I fell back on the couch. Daxton, too, stood before me, protecting me as he held Erik by his collar. Avery reached out to me and began comforting me as she shot daggers at Erik.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Daxton's voice dripped with barely tamed anger and rage.
Erik raised his hands in peace. "Nothing man. I was just heated. No harm done."
"Keep your hands away from my sister, Erik. Or next time you won't have them," Daxton threatened.
Erik chuckled darkly. "Tough words from the sweet boy. What're you gonna do, huh? Hit me with your fuzzy slippers?"
Before Daxton could react, Hayden smacked Erik across his face. "Shut the fuck up, Erik. Have you lost your damn mind?" Erik stared at his best friend, bewildered. He scoffed before marching out the room, slamming the door loudly behind him. "What the hell was wrong with him?" Hayden ran his fingers through his hair.
"Nothing is wrong with him. That's just how he is," Avery commented.
I stared at the door, thinking back at the things Erik had just said. How did he know about what happened? I hadn't told anyone. Not even Avery or Hayden. Heck, even Daxton had no clue. So, how did Erik know about that damn day? Did he hear something from someone? Was it Hyrad? Or Shade? Or was he involved in it somehow?
No, no.
It can't be.
He wouldn't.
Would he?
As I was lost in thoughts as were others, an awkward silence fell between us. Tomas took Erik's spot and Hayden sat back beside me, holding my hand in a tight grasp. Just then the door creaked open and Shade stood on the other side.
"You guys are expected in the auditorium."
~*~*~*~*~