Fractured Worlds (Worlds Away #1)

Brela Chapter 64: Hope

When I arrived in Rayja's room, Celia and Justin both turned and looked at me. As quietly as I could, I shut the door behind me, careful not to wake the sleeping girl.

"She's not asleep," Celia assured me after seeing my actions. To back up Justin's sister's statement, Rayja opened her eyes and looked at me. I gave her a smile.

"How did it go?" Justin asked, rising to his feet. I walked over to the three of them, refusing to take the chair Justin offered me. After a glare sent his way, he sat back down; he needed it more than me.

"Well," I said, taking a seat on the edge of Rayja's bed. She sat up as she too listened to my story. "Nothing big. I just caught the unit leaders up on what happened. We also made a few decisions."

"Are they going to kick me out?" The fear in Rayja's voice was thick, and when I looked her in the eyes, there were tears growing. She nibbled at her lip as it quivered.

"Rayja." I pulled the girl into a hug, careful not to put pressure on my bruised ribs. "No, they would never do that. You will always have a home here, no matter what." Celia grabbed Rayja's hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. After a moment we let go. I held onto Rayja's shoulders, looking her in the eyes. "You are safe here, and we will not take that away from you. I won't let it happen."
Rayja smiled at me. I gave her one back.

"Did you learn anything else about your blocked mind?" Justin asked.

"Not really, just confirmation of what we already knew. Edoline's not sure if she can remove it, but we both want to know why it's there. I don't like it though."

"Your blocked mind?" Celia's brow scrunched. "It saved you from Dewitt."

"And I'm extremely grateful for that. It's just..." I rubbed my hands over my face. "It's the fact that I don't know the truth. I hate being left in the dark and not knowing what is happening. I don't know why I have a blocked mind, and that scares me. I don't know who I am, because this means that my whole life has been touched by the omniverse, and that—" Pain from my ribs forced me to stop, my breathing hard. I slowed it down, the ache dying down. My hand went up to grab my necklace, only to find it missing. An emptiness filled me as I dropped my hand back down.

"Hey," Justin's hand rested on my knee, his other one grabbing my hand. His blue eyes looked into mine, so sure of what he was saying. "Just because your mind is blocked doesn't mean who you are has changed. It's just another element to you, and that's not a bad thing. Nothing about you has changed, and Edoline will tell you the exact same thing. You don't need to feel so unsure. And if you are, we are here to help." Justin gestured to Celia and himself.

My trainer was right. I wasn't alone, not anymore. These people were my family. They could help me. Like Mae had said, together was the only way through. "Thank you."

"I'm just glad that you're okay." Justin pulled me into a hug. He held me close, though careful not to cause me any pain. I sat there, shocked. It took me a moment, but I returned it. I didn't want to acknowledge her, but Celia was smiling at us.

Justin pulled away, smiling at me. "And I believe this belongs to you." He dropped something into my hand. It was my necklace, perfectly fine.

I looked up at Justin. "How?" I breathed.

"We found it at the place where Zerbelgrim grabbed you. I held onto it for safekeeping."

I didn't have the words to describe my gratitude. Justin saw that, and with a smile, he told me that he didn't need a thanks.
I replaced the necklace around my throat once more, the comfort it brought me renewed. Losing this was like losing a piece of myself. Having it back, it made me whole once more.

A knock on the door startled us. I quickly excused myself and left to answer it. Standing in the hallway was Socorro. He was dressed in a white hospital gown, with his left sleeve hanging limply at his side. I tried not to stare at it but was failing. Behind him was his wife, Cheryl.

"I was told you were looking for me?" Socorro's comment saved me from embarrassing the both of us. My gaze snapped from his missing arm and back to his face.

"Oh yeah. Give me a second." I ducked behind the door and grabbed the two swords I had left leaning there. "I saw these while I was escaping. I couldn't just leave them behind. I had to bring them back to their rightful owner."

Socorro's eyes widened at the two blades I offered him. There was no warning as he pulled me into a hug. I stiffened in shock and held back a gasp as my bruised ribs protested.

"Thank you. Thank you so much," he sobbed into my ear. He pulled away, grabbing one of the swords—Donovan's. Cheryl stepped up and helped him, pulling the blade from its sheath. Socorro admired it, tears in his eyes. He gave the sword back to Cheryl before grabbing his father's blade from me, which I had unsheathed for him.

"This should be Donovan's," he muttered, flipping the blade. With a sigh he looked back at me. "You have done so much for me. I don't know how I can repay you."

"I don't need a payment," I assured him. "Your happiness and gratitude are more than enough. When you get back out there, we're even."

Socorro nodded, a smile growing. "That, I can do." Socorro gave the sword to me, and I sheathed it for him.

"Good. I'll see you out there then." I offered him the sheathed sword back. He took it with a smile, passing me another look of gratitude. With that he left, his head higher and steps brighter.

"You've done more for him than you know." I looked at Cheryl, a question on my face. She didn't see it, instead watching her husband walk down the hall. "He was starting to lose hope, and you just gave that back to him." She sighed a happy sigh. "I guess you helped me too."

"I just did what was right. They belong to him."

"And his people. Don't be surprised if you get a lot of visitors coming to your door to thank you.

I just chuckled.

With one last thank you, Cheryl left too, off to catch up with Socorro. I watched her go.

I helped a lot of people that day. I had reunited a girl with her past, freed someone from the half-eternals, saved MEPA, protected my loved ones, and given hope back to a broken man and his people. I would help many individuals during my time with MEPA, and even beyond, most of which I never learned until later.

This marked only the beginning of my long career.