The Phoenix Ghost

The Destruction of the Blackbourne Family

Sang got back in the driver's seat, shocked, tears streaking her pale face, physically shaking in hurt and disbelief. How? How could her whole life have become so fucked up so suddenly? With trepidation in her heart she drove to see Uncle, North and Luke's family who'd she believed also accepted her as their family. He was waiting for her in front of his empty diner. She could see the rage on his face before she'd even parked as he too held a piece of paper crumpled in his hand,

'I knew from the beginning that you would break those boys apart from their families. Now you've done it. Are you happy with yourself? Did it ever occur to you that those boys mean something to others who want and need them in their lives too? No! You were selfish and only thought of your own wants and needs! Now my boys are gone and I'll probably never see them again.' Tears shimmered in his eyes, 'For god's sake if you have any pity in your heart, leave. Maybe they'll come back to the rest of us if you're gone,' He walked dejectedly back into the diner, without giving Sang an opportunity to speak.

Her heart iced over as she now knew her final remaining family member and contact as her liaison within the Academy, Phil, Dr. Roberts was undoubtedly going to be her final severance from the only family she'd known happiness with. But she had to try, just to know she'd done everything she possibly could to repair whatever it was she'd clearly done wrong. Her body was now shaking uncontrollably, a wave of nausea rolled over her causing her to bend over and vomit painful yellow bile from her stomach, burning her throat on the way through her oesophagus before she once more climbed into her SUV.

Sang pulled up at the hospital and walked through the reception without responding to her colleagues who were wishing her a good morning in their normal cheerful fashion. She missed the concerned, worried looks that passed over their faces as she walked zombie like through the treatment rooms toward her destination. She stood in front of Dr. Robert's door and knocked quietly,

'Come in, Sang,' At least he didn't sound angry, she thought, completely numb as she came down from the excessive adrenaline that had been coursing through her body. She opened the door and walked into the room before stopping in front of his desk, head down, looking at the floor, waiting for her third and final scalding rejection.

The chair pushed back and she could hear Phil move around the desk toward her. She stood trembling, for the first time in two years she wondered if once again someone she loved as family going to strike her, hit her, assault her. Instead she felt arms come around her to hold her, comfort her. And her heart simply fractured into a million pieces as she grieved for her lost family ripped from her so unexpectedly and cruelly,

'I honestly don't know what they are thinking, little bird. I received a letter telling me they had to go underground, no other explanation. But this isn't an assignment from the Agency, they've gone rogue.' Sang's head jerked up at Phil in shock,

'Why then? Why lie to me and say it's an assignment?' Sang waved the one paragraph Dear John letter at him. He took the letter and as he read it, his eye brows wrinkled as his face showed he was both perplexed and angry. Sang began to feel a different emotion from grief overtake her. She felt rage rip through her body,

'Those boys made promises to me! They have broken their word! Where is their loyalty to our family? Their honour?' Phil stared at Sang in utter disbelief, at the little bird who'd only ever been quiet, obedient and lately happy, to see an angry woman. A very angry woman who turned white as the blood drained from her face before she bent over to vomit directly into his waste paper basket. He cocked his head as a thought rippled across his face,

'Sit down, little bird.' Phil firmly directed Sang to sit in the chair in front of his desk. 'Your health has been much better over the last year since you've had a proper diet and exercise as part of your training, but I don't like you vomiting and your body responding so violently in the face of your emotions,' Sang opened her mouth to argue, 'Don't bother trying to talk me out of this Sang,' Phil gave her a controlled but intense look, 'Others may have let you down today but I'm damned if I will be added to that number!'