Chapter 149
- Evan -
Josh stumbled out from behind them, supported by a nurse. His face was ashen, and the moment he saw us, he shook his head—not in refusal or fear but in disbelief.
"They... they had to take her into full surgery," he rasped. "They found more glass. Tiny shards everywhere. She—she couldn't breathe on her own anymore."
His voice cracked as he sat heavily beside Micah, burying his face in his hands.
"She's still under right now. They said...that she will be here awhile."
"She has to be," he whispered.
But before I could say anything or any of us could breathe—
The doors to the main lobby slid open.
A woman with the same wild curly hair as Becky stormed through, followed closely by a broad-shouldered man and a young boy, maybe 12 years old, clutching a backpack.
"That's Mr. and Mrs. Flatter, Becky's parents," Micah whispered.
Most of our group has seen them once or twice, but for the most part, they were away from the house when we met.
Her mother spotted Josh instantly.
And froze. Her eyes went cold.
She recognized most of us, but not him. He came around later.
"Who," she demanded, stepping forward, "are you?"
Josh stood as fast as his body would let him, his legs wobbling beneath him, still streaked in soot and dried blood—his usually crimson red hair now covered in dust.
"I'm—" he tried to answer, voice caught. I'm Josh."
Her father looked him up and down, as if inspecting a suspect at a crime scene. The boy's eyes welled immediately; he recognized Josh from pictures of when they were little and from stories Becky shared. But the parent...
They saw a threat.
They saw a boy covered in their daughter's blood. And between Josh's tattoos, piercings, and the unnaturally red hair he was born with. The image of him didn't help their suspicions.
"You're the one she's been seeing." Her father's voice was low, shaking. "You brought her into this?"
Josh swallowed, but he didn't back down. "Sir, I—I did not hurt her. I was helping her breathe until—"
Her father stepped closer, towering over him. Then grabbed his shirt and slammed him into the wall. "My daughter is in surgery, fighting for her life."
Every word was a quiet accusation.
"Enough," Becky's mother snapped. Her voice unwavered—although there was fear beneath the fury. "I want to see our daughter and Kaysi."
Kaysi lived with the Flatter family as next of kin when her mother died, and her brother didn't have the ability to take her.
"They won't let you in yet," a nurse said gently. "She's still under anesthesia. And Kaysi is still quarantined with her immune system on overdrive."
The mother turned away sharply, one hand pressed to her mouth. The boy tried to reach for her sleeve; she missed it. The father glowered at all of us as if we were a threat to be guarded against.
Especially at Josh. Josh dropped his gaze, shoulders bowing. He didn't argue. Didn't defend himself. He let them judge him—because in his mind, he deserved it.
He thought every terrible thought they had of him and wore it as if it were true.
Micah whispered. "I would have spoken up, but I don't know if I know them well enough to change their minds. I only see this as getting worse before it gets better."
I rubbed my hand over my face with a sigh. "Well then, we need a miracle."
Then the intercom buzzed overhead.
"Family of Rebecca Flatter... Please report to recovery room 2."
Josh's head snapped up.
Her parents rushed toward the hallway, fear turning them quick and sharp. Josh stood too, but hesitated. Like he wasn't sure he'd be allowed.
I grabbed his arm. "You're going. She needs you."
He stiffened but walked—broken, terrified.
We trailed after them, the nurse guiding us down a long corridor.
When we entered the room—
Becky was awake for the first time in weeks.
Barely.
Her eyes were half-lidded, blurry, and unfocused. But she breathed in her own. Machines hummed around her, tubes still in her arms, but the worst had finally passed.
Her mother burst into tears, clutching her hand.
"Oh, honey—thank God—"
Josh froze in the doorway, unable to step closer.
Becky's gaze drifted... sluggishly... then sharpened when she saw him.
"Josh..."
Her voice was weak and raspy. But she lifted her hand towards him.
And that was all it took.
He rushed to her side, falling to his knees. Her parents stiffened but didn't stop her when she curled her fingers into his.
"You stayed," she breathed.
"I'm never going to leave you again. I am going nowhere." He choked.
Her little brother sniffled loudly. "Becks...you scared us."
Becky smiled softly at him—then suddenly winced, her eyes glazing for a moment, as if something unseen pulled her attention.
She wasn't staring at Josh.
She wasn't staring at us.
She was staring past all of it.
Somewhere else entirely.
Mother leaned in. "Sweetie? Are you okay?"
"I am fine, Mom, just tired. I would like to say goodbye to my friends, and I will catch up and tell you everything once I have rested."
Becky's mother kissed her on the forehead. That's fine, and we are going to take you, brother, to a sitter. We didn't have time before—the call was just sudden. Sorry."
"Don't be, and thank you for being here."
Once they left, she turned to us.
"The truth is I saw a place... a light... someone calling back...
Her fingers squeezed Josh's—harder than she should've been capable of.
"It wasn't my time; I sent it back. Be—because Kaysi..."
His voice is trembling.
"She's dying."
The room went cold.
Baby stepped closer, eyes widened. "Becky—what do you mean you were sent back?"
Becky blinked, tears gathering.
"I saw her. Not her body—her soul. She's trapped in something dark. She can't find her way. She needs..."
She swallowed, breath hitched.
"She needs me."
Josh gripped her arm. "Becky, you just came out of surgery; you need to—"
But Becky shook her head with sudden fierce clarity.
"No, I was shown how I can help her."
The heart monitor beeped sharply as she tried to sit up.
Micah lunged at Becky, trying to help her. "Becky, LIE DOWN. You're going to rip yourself open—"
"She's not going to die," Becky whispered. "Not while I'm still breathing thanks to her!"
She lifted her hand.
I felt the temperature shift.
A faint, shimmering frost crawls across her fingertips—
Glowing
Icy
—Eternity ice.
Josh's eyes widened. "Becky—your powers?"
"They're responding because Kaysi is close," Becky said softly. "She's slipped too far. Only I can reach her before she's gone."
"I can't walk yet," she admitted, voice trembling, "but take me to her room. Please."
James stepped forward. "You're going to want to trust her... Kaysi sacrificed herself, putting her faith in us, knowing that once Becky was healed, she could bring her back, but not if she goes too far."
Baby nodded. "If she says she can pull Kaysi back, she can."
I didn't wait.
I moved to Becky's side. Josh, you lift her gently—but securely—in your arms. She was light for Josh, even with his weak state. She did lose a lot of weight. I stayed close by just in case. Her eyes were determined, glowing faintly blue.
He carried her; she leaned against his shoulder, breath just whispering in his ear.
"Hurry, Josh."
A light glow eased across his body. He took a large gasp, the energy chilling his body. All his wounds healed, and fatigue was erased. The hair on his arm stood up as if being shocked from something between caffeine and jumping into winter waters.
"I'm here if you need me, but you look better than any of us."
She closed her eyes, gripping his shirt.
"I am better than ever. Let's go save her before it's too late. He nodded with determination.