(Fin’s point of view)

I was still adjusting to my new reality. Five days had already passed, five days I’d spent in bed.

If not for Lenora coming by to make sure I ate at least twice a day, I might’ve died of starvation, or dehydration, or maybe just boredom. Given my luck recently, it wouldn’t have happened.

I couldn’t even turn on a holoscreen without seeing my brother's face next to our father’s.

Gill was still being held on campus as far as I knew. Taking him anywhere else would’ve required a hero for the escort. Any less and they’d risk him breaking free.

My dad was still in hiding. I hadn’t gotten so much as a message from him since this all began. Anytime I tried to call his comm it just rang endlessly, no option to leave a voice message, and definitely not an answer. I gave up trying to reach him after the third day.

No matter the broadcast, Vania was reminded every five minutes that my father still hadn’t been found. I suspected he’d already left the SAFE zone, or maybe he was just hiding in plain sight. Either way I didn’t care. He’d abandoned me without an explanation so why should I worry about what happened to him?

My brother though, I wanted to see him. He owed me an explanation. Not just about what the man said in the cave, but also about our mother. If he really sent Siena to kill her, I would make sure he never saw the light of day again.

Given his crimes and the fact that the MCI was convinced I was guilty too, I knew it’d be damn near impossible to see him.

Like Lenora, MCI Cordavous visited me everyday, only his visits weren’t out of concern. He just wanted to know if I’d heard anything from my father.

As soon as he confirmed that I was still only receiving death threats, he’d leave.

During one of his visits I decided to risk asking, “can I see my brother? His trial is coming up and if I don’t see him soon, I might not be able to.”

Cordavous looked up from my messages, “are you serious?”

I nodded.

“You can’t see him before the trial, but you’ll have a chance after that. He’s been slated for a public execution.” His revolting cackle filled the room, but I knew he wasn’t joking.

“What if he’s innocent?” I demanded.

The MCI sobered up pretty quickly at my comment. With an eyebrow raised and a twisted lip he stared at me for a moment. “You… you can’t really believe that. You do realize Pyro himself is your brother’s accuser.”

I dropped my head, unable to look him in the eye. I didn’t believe it, but I still hoped it might be true, that there was some mistake… but Pyro was perfect—he didn’t make mistakes.

Cordavous placed my comm on the counter next to a meal-O-matic and a sink. “Let me know if you hear from the old man. He and I have a lot to catch up on,” Cordavous said as he left the room.

As expected, my official request made through the MIC was immediately denied. Although, exactly three minutes after he left, I got a mysterious message.

‘Meet me by the cafeteria bathrooms after curfew and come alone.’

The message came from an unknown contact and tracing was blocked so naturally I replied ‘who is this?’

Within a few seconds my comm chirped again.

This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

‘Someone that wants to help.’

I tried sending a few questions to probe the identity of the sender, but got no response.

I wasn’t really sure I should go. The possibility of this being a trap was high, but if there was any chance I could see my brother, the risk would be worth it.

When the time came to be at the meeting place I was surprised to see the rookie from the med bay fidgeting nervously near the restrooms. It was exactly the kind of thing I’d expect from MCI Cordavous in his zealous attempts to prove me guilty.

For a while, I watched from a distance, careful not to be noticed. Ten minutes passed and no one else had come. The boy pulled out his comm then after a few seconds I got a message on mine.

‘Time is running out, it’s now… or never.’

So the mystery sender was the rookie.

I knew there was still a chance this was a trap, but I wasn’t going to miss my opportunity. Even if I did end up arrested, that would probably be better than spending the rest of my life hiding in my room.

“A bathroom is an odd place to be standing guard.” I joked as I got closer. “Especially this late.”

Rubbing the back of his head he chuckled awkwardly. “Yea… I guess it is.”

By his stiff posture and forced smile I could tell he was as uncomfortable as I was which, given the circumstances, was a bit reassuring.

“So uh… you said you could help me?” I asked, then silently admonished myself for sounding so pathetic.

He nodded. “Yea, I can help. But this is going to have to be a one time thing, and it’ll have to be very quick. You took longer to show up than I was expecting so you’ll only have three minutes.”

“Right, then let’s go.”

“Huh? I’m not going with you, I have to stay here.”

I was puzzled by his response and unsure what to make of it, but before I could ask he pushed me into the men’s room. “Just hurry up. I told you there ain’t much time left.”

I stumbled into the wall, but caught myself so I didn’t hit my face.

“Always bumbling into trouble, aren’t you little bro?”

My brother's voice caught me by surprise and I spun to see him leaning against a stall. He wore magic suppression cuffs and an all white jumpsuit. His face was black, blue and so swollen I barely recognized him. When I saw the symbol we used to brand traitors had been carved into his face my heart sank. It meant that his guilt was already decided, but usually traitors were banished, not executed. Of course, traitors usually weren’t branded for attempting to kill a hero, so…

Ordinarily I would never let myself cry in front of another person, but there was nothing I could do to stop the tears rolling down my cheeks. “What’s going on Gill, what did you do?”

“Don’t cry for me. I’m fine.” Gill pulled me in for a quick hug and kept talking. “I did it. Everything they’re saying I did, I did it. I can’t tell you why though. Just trust me, it’s better if you don’t know and Fin, promise me you’ll leave Sky Haven before they arrest you too.”

I pushed myself free of his embrace and wiped the tears from my face. Steeling myself emotionally, I asked a question I wasn’t sure I wanted the answer to. “What about mom? Did you do that too?”

He didn’t answer with words but his face told me everything I needed to know. “You’re not my brother!” I shouted, unsure how else to express what I was feeling. I wanted to kill him right there, but it wouldn’t have solved anything and I knew I’d regret it after.

In an instant the young guard came rushing in. “What’s going on in here?” He barked then pinned me against the wall. In a low voice he whispered. “You need to leave now.”

As he guided me out of the bathroom I couldn’t take my eyes off my brother who was casually pretending to take a piss.

“Damn, can’t a guy at least take a whiz in peace. Ah well. I guess I can’t complain.” He grumbled offhandedly.

Seeing him like that pissed me off even more. A swirl of emotions raged in my heart, swallowing and drowning any remaining sympathy I felt for his situation.

“I don’t think this was a good idea.” The guard mumbled before releasing me. “I’m sorry. They said it would help but—”

“Don’t worry about it. I should be going now, but before I leave, please tell me your name.”

The boy fidgeted nervously. Eventually, he mumbled, “Kyle. My name is Kyle Flywel.”

He had a lot to learn and perhaps it wasn’t smart of me, given his willingness to break rules, but I made it a point to commit his name to memory so that if I ever reclaimed my family’s place as the head of SAFE I could repay his help with a promotion. “Kyle Flywel, thank you.”