The air was thick with tension with the arrival of General Morgan. Jackie looked back at his father, his breathing was heavy and sweat trickled down his face. I wanted to disappear as General Morgan looked my way. His eyes were filled with rage as he started to approach me. Fuchsia reached out and grabbed his shoulder and said, “Listen we need to…”

He knocked Fuchsia’s hand off and turned around and roared, ”No you all have caused a huge mess and now I have to clean it up. I told you to wait!”

I saw something black drop from the shelving beside the door followed by angry hissing and growling. Nix ferociously attacked General Morgan’s face and the air was filled with a cacophony of curses.

Fuchsia stepped forward and cried out, “Nix! No!”

General Morgan pried Nix from his face and held him at arm's length by the scruff of his neck. The cat hissed and swatted the air with his tiny paws. In a stern voice he spoke to Fuchsia, “This little devil must be yours. I shouldn’t be surprised!”

Fuchsia took Nix from General Morgan and nestled him in her arms and said, “I’m sorry Sir!”

General Morgan wiped some blood from his face and looked at it and then let out a laugh that startled us all. He turned back around and walked towards me again, my eyes were locked on him. I couldn’t move and even if I could where would I go? Suddenly, Bren stepped in front of me.

I swallowed hard. No, I need to handle this, I thought. I reached forward and tried to pull Bren back but I stopped when I heard him speak. “Sir, we had no choice but to proceed with the mission without you. When we arrived at the hospital it was chaotic. Jax had been attacked and was lying unconscious on the floor. There was blood everywhere. Please understand… if we hadn’t moved when we did… Jax most likely would be dead.”

General Morgan nodded and waved Bren aside and said, “I mean him no harm, now move aside.”

Bren didn’t move and I was worried General Morgan would do something. I stepped forward and leaned my head onto his back and whispered, “It’s ok you can move.”

I could tell that Bren hesitated before moving but eventually stepped back so he was beside me. General Morgan stood right in front of me. The man was tall and fit. He had several scars on his face and had salt and pepper hair which was the only indication of his age. Jackie and his father looked a lot alike but Jackie didn’t have this foreboding presence. I shifted uncomfortably in front of him.

General Morgan let out a low sigh, “It’s a little late but I’m sorry for the loss of your father. He was a good man!”

I flinched, it was another painful reminder that I had very little memories of my father. I looked at Jackie, I couldn’t help but be jealous of what he had even if they didn’t get along they still had each other. Jackie had relaxed his stance, obviously feeling more at ease since he was no longer in his father’s focus.

General Morgan cleared his throat and said, “When I first met your father it was to convince him to join our science and research division. I wanted to use your father and his team's research to create better soldiers. He, of course, was well aware of my intentions and refused by saying that he wanted his research to be available to everyone and not controlled by the government or a corporation.

“When Jackie had his accident, I almost lost him. His injuries were severe and he lost all of his limbs. Although he survived the accident his future was bleak without some sort of major medical intervention. I approached your father and begged him to help Jackie and without a second thought he agreed. After the surgery Jackie needed rehabilitation and your father opened up your home to my son. I am forever grateful for what your father did for Jackie and the friendship that you offered to him when he was there.

“Not long after Jackie returned home, nefarious groups started making threats and tried to force your father and Eclipse Medical into submission. I reached out to your father with a different offer that would allow him to remain in control of his research and offer protection for all Eclipse Medical and you. He agreed and we moved forward relocating the lab, research team, you and your father to a safe area. The night that your father was in the lab he was visited by…”

I started to feel shaky and my body broke into sweat. General Morgan's voice trailed off and I think I heard Bren say something. I closed my eyes as the room started to spin and felt the cold surface of the floor beneath my hands.

* * *

I could hear a different voice now more clearly and it felt somewhat familiar. I opened my eyes and blinked. I was sitting in a chair, someone had their hand on my shoulder and lightly squeezed. I could see white out of the corner of my eye and I turned to get a better look. A man with a lab coat stood beside me. He was typing speedily with one hand on the computer. I heard another voice and looked for the source. My view was mostly blocked but I could see there was a man in black dress pants and dress shirt sitting cross legged, one arm lay over his legs and in his hand a gun was visible. I saw more movement in the room and another man in similar clothing stood at the door. The man beside me leaned closer and pushed something into my hand and whispered, “Liam, I will distract them, you need to run out the back. Find Fuchsia and then you both go to General Morgan. He will protect you.”

I looked down into my hand that now held a shiny metal object. My vision caught sight of something red, blood. I looked up into his face as tears began to form in my eyes, Dad. I started to panic and he gripped tighter on my shoulder and shook his head at me and whispered “You have to go, now!”

Dad smiled at me and then stood up tall, his trembling hand hovered over the keyboard. He shifted his body in front of me and threatened to delete all the data if they tried to hurt me. I grabbed the desk, I had to move but I didn't want to leave him. I looked at the floor and the blood was beginning to pool. I needed to get away and get help. Someone to help Dad. I took off running through the door and it slammed behind me. I heard several shots fired and turned around. I screamed angrily and took off running through the lab towards the exit. Tears ran down my face and my heart felt like it was going to explode. I broke through the door to the outside world, it was raining heavily but my feet hit the pavement and I ran. I heard men behind me and I tried to run faster. Something grazed my side, the pain spread around my chest.

I have been here before and I don't want to be here again.

I turned around to face the men.

Why didn’t I just die that day? Why?

I closed my eyes and fell to my knees in the street.

Loud sounds erupted and my eyes flew open. Was it finally going to end?