Well, this is it I guess. Only the epilogue to go. Thank you all soo much for your support, and all your votes have amounted to this. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I've enjoyed writing it. This final chapter is mostly about Austin. Don't worry, the epilogue will touch more on the others. Also, shoutout to R5Auslly. Love your work too, and so glad you enjoy mine! And to everyone who reviewed saying you loved this story, this chapter's for you guys. You've made this into what it is today, so it's only right for this chapter to be dedicated to you guys. Thanks again. You're all incredible. Enjoy ;)
"Austin wake-up!"
My head hurts, I can't feel my leg, and my arm feels like it's sinking into whatever it is I'm lying on. but the next words catch my attention and pull me from the haze.
"Austin, we need to know if Ally's contagious and if we can treat her. Austin, Wake. UP!"
My eyes open, and it takes a moment for Tommy's face to form abovemy head. But that doesn't make sense. Tommy works for Interpol in Italy. What is he doing in Kolyma, Russia?
"Thomas?" I mutter. White lights blind me, and as I try to move, pain shoots through me in bursts, and I wince.
"Don't move Austin. Yeesh. I didn't realize you were stupid enough to come here without backup. Thank goodness I was near when your friends sent up that signal. I've contacted IMF, they should be here as soon as possible. But the town medics need to know if Ally's contagious."
I manage to shake my head as his information goes over my head. "The minerals in the ground. They stop the disease," I mutter. "Find Acacia. She knows exactly what. Where is Ace? Joella?" As my memory comes back, so does my spike of panic. "Where's Lauren? Is she...?"
"Alive?" Tommy mutters grimly. "Hard to tell. But we got her and Zach out. She was taken right away to intensive care. Zach's with her. So has Ally and Joella. Acacia, Dez, Sam, Trish, and Elliot were taken for a checkup. Your Unle and Grandfather are in a containment ward until further notice, along with the rest of the Prisoners."
I finally take a moment to look around. "Where are we?"
"We had to fly you to the nearest Hospital. Some town who-knows-where. Joella's pilot seemed to know where to go though, so here we are."
"And the base?"
"Blown Kingdom Come," Tommy confirms. IMF took care of it. All that equipment hsa been squashed between hundreds of tons of rubble. Your parents should be heading over here as soon as it's done."
Tommy opens his mouth to say something more. but then a flicker of hesitation passes through his features, and he closes his mouth again. I narrow my eyes at him.
"What is it, Tommy?"
He lets out a sigh.
Never a good sign.
He runs his hand through his dark locks, and for the first time, I see the darkbags beneath his equally dark eyes. "We're going to have to amputate your leg."
It takes a moment for it to sink in.
"What?"
He bites his lip, and I can tell by the way he keeps glancing at the door that he wishes the nurse would walk in. But he's not so lucky as he turns back to me.
"The muscle has been ripped away completely. It's so shredded that it's beyond repair. You can either choose to have it fully amputated, or sewn back and welded to another piece of metal like it previously was. TheDoc should be in soon with a waiver for you to decide and sign."
I stare at my foot. The thought of it being gone is just weird. Although having a dysfunctional leg for the rest of my life doesn't sound like fun either, having no leg is unimaginable.
"What are the advantages to both?" I croak out, my voice cracking at the reality of the situation. I'm only seventeen. I shouldn't have to deal with decisions like whether or not to amputate my leg.
"If you have it amputated, there's the possibility that you will be able to enter the field again, and eventually work around your disability. It's the logical choice. If you choose to keep your leg, you'll be labelled a cripple for life. And while you'll retain walking, you won't be able to do much more than that. I'm sorry Austin. I know this isn't going to be easy."
I laugh at that. Talk about the understatement of the year. Either I give up my foot, but keep my job, or keep my foot, and loose my job. That's the plain and simple of it. And in the end, it's not all that simple at all.
The door opens.
My panic immensifies as I fear that I have to make the decision even sooner. But a flash of familiar red hair causes my panic to stop short.
And the real fear sets in.
Because now I know what my cousin can do, has done. And as I remember, I want to be sick all over. Her face is stony, as she addresses Tommy.
"I want to speak to my cousin. Alone."
Tommy doesn't argue as he gets up and leave, and it takes all my willpower not to childishly call out and beg him to stay. Because as Acacia enters the room, I don't feel as though I'm with my cousin. I feel as though it's a stranger in my cousin's body who sits across from me. And I want to puke in revelation.
We sit silent for a few moments, and she takes note of my injuries. So I spend the time to observe her. Her fiery red locks have been brushed, and the dirt washed frm her pale face. A couple of scratches marr her freckles, but other than that she seems fine - the injection site on her neck completely gone. But her eyes are what haunt me most. They're cold and detached. Not the loving eyes of my cousin, but the insitient ones of a killer.
A serial killer.
Because isn't that what she is now? A serial killer? Well, I suppose she would fit the term assasin too. But the thoughts in general revolt me, so I push them from my mind. Where's my little cousin who loved cookies, and played basketball better than any pro? What happened to the girl who loved Justin Bieber and promised me we would make it back in time for the Winter Dance?
Because she certainly isn't here with me.
"How's your arm?" She asks, her voice just as detached as her eyes. It takes me a moment to collect my thoughts before answering.
"Sore," I murmer. "But I'll survive thanks to you cleaning it so wel," I offer her a wary smile. She just stares at me blankly.
"That's good," She responds automatically.
I frown. "Acacia, look. About what you did back at that base-"
"-I did what I needed to ensure my family's survival, along with the destruction of that virus," She cuts me off coldly. "And I don't regret it."
"Even killing Zach'smom in front of him?" I can't help it. I burst at the lack of emotion my cousin displays.
She stares at me with a stony face. "Especially that."
I don't respond to her answer. Because she's gone. My cousin is truly gone. I understand that she did what she had to to survive. But there's a line you should never cross in our line of work. Because if you cross it, there's truly no difference between you and who you fight. And unfortuantely my cousin crossed that line. And now there's no way back.
"But just so you know," Acacia tells me, "Because of what I did, Lauren's going to live. The Doctor just announced it."
While her words are a guilt punch to my gut, at the same time, it feels as though a great weight has been lifted off of my shoulders. Because Lauren's alive. And in that moment, nothing else matters.
"And Joella?" I ask hopefully. Acacia shrugs asshe stands up.
"Blind for life," She says nonchalantly. "But other than a little brain damage, she'll be fine. She might have a slur for a while, and a problem with her languages, but no permanent brain damage. And before you can ask, Ally's going to live. I gave the Doctors the list of minerals. They recently just gave her concentrated doses and her system is stabalizing out. They want to keep her in intensive care for a few days to be sure, but she'll be fine. Better condition than you probably."
I let out a breath. Acacia walks to the door, leaving me to digest the information she's left me. Everyone should be fine.
Everyone except her.
But then, just as she's about to leave, Acacia turns back to me. And in her eyes, although they're still detached and cold, there's a spark there. A spark of something familiar. And she gives me the smallest of smiles.
"Keep your leg Austin," She whispers so quietlyI'm unsure whether or not I actually heard her. Then she's gone, and in her place is the Doctor, a stethescope around his neck, and a clipboard in his hand as he offers me a warm smile.
"Mr. Moon," He comes close. "Your parents have arrived."
At that my mom and dad come rushing into the room. My mom is a tearful mess, and I'll admit, I might break down a bit myself. My father is a bit more conservative as he enters behind her. But he rushes to my bed nonetheless.
"Austin my baby!" My mom cries a little too loud for my liking as she wraps me in a hug that makes me cry out in pain. She lets go much to her distaste as the Doctor steps forward.
"Please Mrs. Moon. I realize that this is quite a reunion for you, but Austin hasn't been operated on yet, and you must try to refrain yourself from physical contact."
"Of course," My mom responds, grabbing my good hand instead and opting to run her other hand through my hair much to my annoyance. But I don't deny her, knowing I need this as much as her.
I meet my father's eyes hesitantly, unsure of what I'm going to see, seeing as how the last time we talked didn't turn out so well. But to my surprise, he gives me a teary smile.
"Acacia gave us a report," My mom continues, drawing my attention from my father. "You are most definitely grounded young man," She fumes. "Partnering up with a thief, running halfway across the world, and exposing yourself to a deadly virus! You were supposed to be safe at Private School!"
I open my mouth to respond, but to my surprise, my dad beats me to it as he places ahand on her shoulder.
"Mimi," He startes gently. He turns to me. "I'm proud of you son. You did what you had to do. You fought for what you believed was right, even if it was in the most unconventional of ways. And... and I'm alright if you want to use your life how you wantto use it," He adds quietly.
I stare at him in shock. "Really?"
"Yes,son," He smiles kindly, placing his hand over mine and my mom's. "We both do. And we've come to realize that you're at the age where you can choose for yourself as well. You're an amazing boy, Austin. And we know you can be amazing at anything you want to set your mind at."
"Thanks," I murmer, I feeling of warmth blooming somewhere deep inside of me. The Doctor clears his throat and steps forward.
"On that note," He interupts. "I have the waiver for you to sign and decide Austin. I hate to rush you, but we need to start operating soon."
He hands me the clipboard along with the pen. There's two sheets of paper. One signing the right away for the Doctor to amputate my leg, and other signing away the right for the Doctor to surgically alter it to the best of his ability, while implacing another metal attachment. I stare at both pieces of paper, realizing that this is the defining moment of my life. From here on, my life will change. And I can only make this decision once.
I look up at my parents once more, my mother's tearful joy, and my father's warm smile. I think of my cousins, and my grandfather, and Dez, and my team, and Ally. And lastly, but for the first time, I think of myself. And with a shaky hand a sign the paper.
The paper saying I will keep my leg.
