Dave stood silently outside his sisters' room, his heart heavy with anticipation. He had spent the last few days carefully monitoring their condition, hoping and praying they would wake up soon. The sight of them lying motionless on the beds, pale and frail, had been almost too much to bear. But now, there was a small flicker of hope. They had been responding to treatment, and their vitals had steadily improved.
Pushing the door open softly, he stepped inside and took a seat between the two beds. The room was bathed in a soft, warm light, and the quiet hum of the machines monitoring their conditions was the only sound. He leaned back in his chair, letting out a deep breath. This was it—the moment he had been waiting for.
"Bella, keep a close eye on them," Dave murmured.
"Already on it, Dave. Their vitals are strong, and they're showing signs of waking up soon. Don't worry, I'll alert you to any changes immediately," Bella replied, her voice calm and steady.
"Thanks," Dave whispered, his eyes never leaving his sisters. He sat there for what felt like hours, lost in thought. His mind drifted back to the day he found them in that terrible place—broken, hurt, and unconscious. The rage he felt that day still burned inside him, but he forced himself to focus on the present. They were safe now. That was all that mattered.
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Emily's fingers twitched slightly. Dave's heart skipped a beat as he leaned forward, his breath caught in his throat.
"Emily?" he called softly, hope and anxiety intertwined in his voice.
Emily's eyelids fluttered open slowly, her gaze unfocused and hazy. She blinked a few times, trying to orient herself, and then her eyes locked onto Dave. A faint smile formed on her lips.
"Dave…?" she murmured weakly.
"Yeah, it's me," he said, his voice barely more than a whisper. He reached out and gently took her hand, squeezing it reassuringly. "You're safe now, Emily. You're home."
Emily's lips moved as if she was trying to say something, but no sound came out. Instead, her eyes filled with tears, and she squeezed his hand back. Dave's chest tightened as he watched her struggle to find the words.
"Take your time, Emily. Don't push yourself," he said softly.
Beside them, Sarah's breathing changed, becoming more labored. Dave turned his gaze to her, and a moment later, she too began to stir. Slowly, her eyes fluttered open, mirroring the same confusion and disorientation that Emily had shown.
"Dave…" Sarah's voice was a bit stronger than Emily's but still laced with exhaustion.
"Hey, Sarah," Dave said, giving her a gentle smile. "Welcome back."
Sarah glanced around the room, her brow furrowing as she tried to piece everything together. "Where…where are we? What happened?"
"You're at my place," Dave explained gently. "I found you both… and I brought you back. You're safe now."
For a moment, silence filled the room as the weight of his words sank in. Emily and Sarah exchanged a glance before turning their gazes back to Dave. Slowly, Emily sat up, though she winced slightly at the effort.
"Dave… what happened to us?" Emily whispered, her voice trembling.
Dave took a deep breath, choosing his words carefully. "You were taken… by a man named Helios. He experimented on you both. He's… he's the reason you're in this condition."
Emily and Sarah remained quiet, absorbing his words. Their faces were pale, and their hands shook slightly. Dave wanted to reach out and comfort them, but he held back, giving them the space they needed.
"You don't have to remember any of this if you don't want to," Dave offered quietly. "I have a way to make you forget… to erase the pain and the trauma. If you want, I can—"
"No," Sarah cut him off, her voice firm despite its weakness. "We want to remember, Dave."
"Yeah," Emily agreed softly, nodding. "We… we don't want to forget what happened. Even if it hurts."
Dave's heart ached at their resolve, but he respected their decision. He nodded slowly, his eyes filled with admiration. "Okay. I won't erase anything. But just know that… if you ever change your mind, I'll be here."
They nodded in unison, a small spark of strength returning to their eyes. Dave shifted slightly, his gaze flickering between them.
"There's something else you need to know," he said hesitantly. "Because of what Helios did… you both have… powers now. Superhuman abilities."
The room fell silent as Emily and Sarah stared at him, processing the information. Finally, Sarah broke the silence, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Powers…?"
"Yes," Dave confirmed. "It's a result of the experiments he conducted. You're different now… stronger. But I want to help you understand what that means. I want to help you control it, so you can use it safely."
"How?" Emily asked, her voice steadying slightly.
"There's a training system I have here," Dave explained. "It's called the POD. It's designed to help people like us—superhumans—train and grow stronger. If you're willing… I can put you through it. It will help you master your abilities."
Emily and Sarah exchanged another look, then turned back to Dave.
"We want to try," Emily said, determination in her voice.
"Yeah," Sarah agreed. "If it means we can protect ourselves… and never be that helpless again… we'll do it."
Dave felt a swell of pride and relief wash over him. "Okay. I'll set it up for you. But remember… you're not alone. I'll be with you every step of the way."
He stood up and helped them out of bed, guiding them carefully toward the PODs. Emily and Sarah hesitated for a moment, glancing at the strange, metallic devices that stood before them. But then, they each took a deep breath and stepped inside.
"Are you sure you're ready for this?" Dave asked one last time.
"We're sure," Emily said firmly.
Sarah nodded. "We can do this, Dave."
"Alright," Dave said softly, a small smile on his lips. "I'll be right here."
The doors of the PODs slid shut, sealing them inside. Dave watched as the machines hummed to life, his heart heavy with hope and determination.
"I'll make sure you both come out of this stronger," he murmured. "Stronger than you've ever been."