Chapter 8: isolation

Andy was heading home from work, grabbing food for her and Kona. It'd been a while that he'd been there and they were starting to get a routine.

She was a couple blocks from home when she felt something prick her. Thinking it was a bug, she swatted at it and noticed a dart. She tried to focus to teleport home but soon collapsed. Her last thought was that she hoped Kona would be alright.

Food was strewn on the ground, and she was lifted and carried off.

When she woke, she looked around and found herself locked in a cell.

She tried to teleport but nothing happened.

She searched the cell for a means of escape but didn't find any. She finally sat down and waited to see if anyone came to visit.

Eventually someone came in and grabbed her arm, sticking her with a needle and injecting a syringe full of liquid into her.

She wasn't sure how often it was, but she knew it was a routine for them to keep injecting her. Outside of that, she was left alone in the dark cell, the only light from a small barred window in the wall. She tried to keep track of the time based on the amount of light but after a couple days she began to lose track and desire to continue.

She was past the point of hunger. They'd been bringing water though which she suspected had some kind of drugs in it, but she didn't care because she knew she needed the water.

She'd been sleeping more and more each day, slowly losing any hope that she'd ever be rescued.

Her cell door was suddenly pulled open. "Are you alright? Sorry it took so long."

She looked up at the voice in confusion.

"Hey, are you with me?" Tet crouched in front of her, his eyes worried.

"T-Tet?"

"Yeah, it's me. Here, wrap your arms around my neck." He picked her up gently.

"Where am I exactly? Who took me?" She asked quietly.

"Our friends at Section Z. Though what exactly their plans were is anyone's guess. Just relax now, okay?" Tet carefully brought her outside and approached an idling car.

She nodded slowly, "Kona okay?"

"He was the last time I saw him." Tet opened the door and placed her inside before climbing in beside her.

Kiba gave her a tight smile before pulling away from her prison.

She tried to stay awake but soon passed out, head leaning on the window.

Tet watched her with a sigh.

She eventually woke, looking around and trying to figure out where she was.

"Hey, you're awake!" Ryusei smiled at her. "Don't worry, you're safe. Our new hideout is well hidden."

She nodded slowly.

"I was told to make sure you ate." He reached for a tray with a bowl of soup on it.

She sighed and looked at the food. She slowly began eating, trying to convince her stomach it was needed.

"You alright? Do you want someone else here?" Ryusei asked quietly.

"I'm okay. You're okay." She gave him a small smile.

He hummed happily as he watched her. "I'm glad Tet found you."

She nodded and took another bite.

"Glad to see you awake." Tet entered quietly. "Feeling better now?"

"Yeah, a bit."

"Good. Once you finish, Kiba will take you home if you want."

She nodded, "Alright."

"And don't worry, we'll keep looking."

"Looking for what?" She raised an eyebrow.

"Your firebug."

"What happened?"

"Apparently they tried to grab him too. He set a couple on fire, alerted us and disappeared."

She nodded, "I can try helping once I'm strong enough.."

"Focus on yourself first. You were there for a week, you're not going to bounce back in a few hours."

She sighed, "Alright." She began to shiver slightly.

Ryusei wrapped a blanket around her with a worried look.

Tet's eyes narrowed, but he stayed quiet.

She stayed quiet and finished eating before heading home. When she got home the shivering increased, along with sweating. She was confused for a bit until everything clicked. She was withdrawing from whatever they kept injecting her with.

She climbed into bed and tried to fight the growing nausea.

Her bedroom door opened and Kiba entered. He sat beside the bed and wordlessly took her hand.

She tried to smile but stopped and grabbed a nearby trash can as her nausea grew worse. She tossed and turned when she finally got to laying down.

Kiba gently wiped her face, his face non judgemental.

She slightly opened her eyes, "Thank you.. and sorry.."

"For what?"

"That I'm like this right now."

"Don't apologize." He gave her a small smile. "Though this is the first time I've been on this side of things."

She chuckled slightly, "I don't even know what I'm withdrawing from exactly. I just know they kept giving me injections.."

"Be glad you weren't there longer. It would be worse." He wiped her face again. "Try to sleep."

She nodded slowly, her eyes slipping shut.

She woke feeling a lot better. Still not perfect but not as sick as before.

Kiba was sleeping in the chair beside her.

She smiled to herself, watching him for a while.

His eyes blinked open and he smiled wryly at her. "How are you doing?"

"Decent. Not as sick."

"Good. Guess who got dragged to the new hideout?"

She raised an eyebrow, "Did they find Kona?"

"Yeah. Tet's pissed cause the little brat tried to barbeque him and then made him chase his scrawny ass down. Pretty sure he's locked in the wolf cage now."

She rolled her eyes, "Sounds like him."

"Thought he'd be nicer with you taking care of him."

"He's a bit nicer. To me." She chuckled.

"Figures. You know half of us are your fan club now, right?"

She laughed, "Me? Why?"

"Risking life and limb to save our worthless hides a few times over ring a bell?"

She smiled, "Just trying to help."

"It was one thing when we were hostage or when that building flattened us. But reviving dead people? Going inside Section Z's base and rescuing Yu and Ryon? You didn't have to do either of those things. In fact, it would have been safer if you hadn't."

She shrugged, "You guys needed help. I couldn't just leave anyone there."

"You're a freaking saint."

She blushed slightly and looked down.

He leaned over and softly kissed her.

She was surprised at first but kissed back.

He drew back with an embarrassed smile. "Sorry."

She shook her head and pulled him in for another kiss.

He kissed her deeply, breathing hard when they finally parted.

She grinned at him.

He chuckled, then opened his mouth to speak. But he didn't get to as the door was thrown open.

"Mom! Are you okay?" Kona ran to her side.

"Yeah, hun. I'm doing better now. How are you?"

"Can I turn Tet into a bonfire? He locked me up." The teen sulked.

"He shouldn't have done that but no you can't."

"Pretty sure that's what he locked you up for in the first place, kid." Kiba snickered as Kona stuck his tongue out.

Andy chuckled as she watched them.

Kona finally sighed and settled beside her on the bed. "I was pretty scared when you disappeared."

"I'm sorry. I was worrying about you while I was gone."

"Really?" He looked surprised.

"Of course."

"No one's ever worried about me before."

Kiba growled under his breath.

Kona looked at him."What?"

Kiba didn't answer, turning away.

"Well, you have people to worry about you now."

The teen gave her a shy smile as Kiba got up."I bet Tet is waiting, so I'll just go now."

"Kiba?"

"What?" He looked at her quietly.

"Thank you. For everything."

"No problem. Be careful, okay?"

"You too. And if you ever want to talk or anything, you don't just have to contact me in an emergency."

He chuckled and nodded before disappearing out the door.