Hugo's POV
It was the first morning of Stage Two and Hugo had cornered Eric and Four with Declan. It wasn't time to be rounding up the initiates yet, they'd all still be in the dinning room. Hugo nervously glanced at Declan as Four sat down and Eric leaned against the wall of the small room the brothers had guided, well, pushed them into.
"So," Four started, his fingers tapping on the table. "What's this about?"
"We just though we'd give you guys a heads up. . . ." Declan trails off, looking between the pair. Dec sighs as he pinches the bridge of his nose. "Issy's not overly fond of needles after. . . that." Hugo watches as Eric tenses, his eyes never leaving Declan's.
"Not overly fond may be an understatement brother." Hugo's face scrunches as he tries to word his thoughts. "To put it bluntly, there's a high chance needles will be in her fear sim." Silence falls between them as the instructors take it in.
"Also don't come at Issy straight up with the needle." Declan looks away from Eric nervously as the young leader stands up straight.
Eric's hands flex before they clench tightly. "How would you go about sticking a needle in her then?"
Hugo snorts lightly as a memory surfaces. Eric and Four both shoot him questioning glares as Hugo shrugs. "Well after she broke a guy's nose from being restrained we just didn't."
"Is she any better with family in the room?" Four looks between the brothers. "When she's being injected?"
The brothers simultaneously freeze. "They've always shoved us out of the room when it came to that." Hugo sighs. After a moment the brothers turn to each other with an emotion that can only be described as curiosity and slight awe as they come to the same conclusion. "Are you suggesting that we be in the sim room with her?" Hugo waggles his finger at Four as the gears turn in his mind crossing out each variable that doesn't seem logical. "It could work,"Hugo thinks aloud to himself, his eyes darting to his brother to Eric and back to Four. "She could be calmed by our presence. . ." Hugo trails off.
"Or it could just set her off more." Dec adds, smirking when Hugo shoves his shoulders.
"Be serious Declan."
"I am. Don't you think I want our sister to do well?" Dec raises an eyebrow. "Surely you can take some joy in the fact that she made a thirty-year-old man cry 'cause she just wouldn't let them inject her. I mean, she practically spends her spare time annoying Four becauseshe finds him to be an easy target –" He shoots Four a lopsided grin when he started to interrupt. "No offence Four but you kinda are. And because of that she'll most likely pick on Four 'cause he's there." Dec shoves his hands into his back pockets as Four scowled. "Have fun with that man."
Hugo rolls his eyes. Declan loved to tease Four but Hugo doesn't mind him, mostly because whenever shit kicked off it would be Four, Blake and Hugo watching from the side lines rolling their eyes and only stepping in when they got bored of whatever was happening. That didn't mean he didn't enjoy it when Issy's sarcastic nature rein upon Four.
Four sighed as he rubbed his face. "Don't you both have work you need to be doing?"
"Nope." Hugo grins, glancing at Dec from the corner of his eyes.
"Shit! I haven't updated that report!" Declan slams the door open and runs out, shouting as he goes. "Call us when its time! Later guys!"
xXx
Hugo stared down at the metal disc, no bigger than the span of his hand, as it hovered over his desk. From the notes he had taken from Issy's rambles he had several prototypes ready to be tested. The one in front of him appears to be the most reliable. Its the only one to hover non stop for over three days. Its storage captivity is smaller than Hugo would have liked but when connected to Dauntless' data base it expands with no end. Hugo wants to be able to connect the soldiers' tablets and/or phones to them so messages and calls can be sent through them but he doesn't quite know how to connect it all together yet. He went along with Issy's idea of the headset with projections but also he added ear pieces to the design. The jackets have yet to be designed but it all falls to what prototype Leadership go with.
He sighs, rubbing his face as the device hums in the background of his office. On the walls are blueprints upon blueprints of designs. Some he hasn't had change to play around with yet, others have either been scrapped or worked successfully. One of the more successful ones leans against the wall by his door, one he made just in case things didn't go so well today but then again, it couldn't be that bad. It had been one of the first designs he came up with. The idea came to him while he went through his fear sims, Issy was in it and immediately his mind started to explore the possibilities. It looked like the guns they use for Capture, just with a few differences. Instead of stimdarts, it shot small darts that reduced movement in the muscles, making them limp.
His phone beeped loudly, demanding his attention. He unlocked his screen and pressed his brother's chat head.
Eric just called, its time. Meet me at the corridor that leads to the back of the sim rooms.
Hugo glanced at the gun one more time before he locked his office door and heads to meet Declan.
xXx
Declan bounced on his heels from the other side of the door. Hugo could practically feel the waves of anxiety flowing from him, he could see it by the way he couldn't keep still. Hugo was just as worried for Issy as Declan was but Hugo didn't show it. One of them had to be strong, even if Hugo would rather it not be him. Four sat fiddling with the computer as Eric stands behind it, staring at Declan.
Hugo looks between his older brother and Eric intrigued as ever. Just like the rest of the Vince family could, Eric and Declan could have silent conversations without hardly moving. Hugo would be lying to himself if he said that he didn't see Eric as family. At first Hugo was put off by the coldness of Eric's character and confused by the rumours that followed Eric about as he walked through the corridors but he trusted his brother's judgement and now he would happily stand beside him.
Four looks up suddenly, nodding to Eric and then turning to the brothers. A solemn look crossed his face, nodding to the both of them before he opened the door and called out for Issy. Everyone in the room tensed up, Hugo stood up straighter as his brother stopped bouncing and Eric held the needle behind his back. She strides into the room with her eyes on the chair then her gaze flickers up to Eric. Four comes into the small room from behind her, moving to stand in front of the computer and the door slams shut. Issy jumps, looking back in surprise as she notices himself and Declan either side of the door. She hesitates, looking around the room again.
"Sit down Issy." Four says as he nods to the chair. Her eyes dart around the room as she sits on the every edge of the chair. Hugo smiles reassuringly even though she's not looking at him. A smirk finds itself on Fours face when Issy turns back to him and for the first time in his life Hugo wants to wipe that smirk off of Four's face. "You can sit back, we don't bite."
His little sister looks around the room again as she shuffles back into the chair. "You're all making me nervous." Hugo knows that, he can see it by how her eyes pale significantly. "You look like you're expecting an attack." Simultaneously Declan and Hugo tense the tiniest bit but Issy still catches it.
"We're just making sure everything goes smoothly." Hugo's eyes flicker to the needle subconsciously, not even realising his mistake until he's done it. He gnaws at his lip as she freezes almost as subtly as himself and Declan did but he see's it nonetheless. 'Fuck!' Hugo shares a look with his brother, bracing as she bolts from the chair. The brothers manage to wrap their arms around her waist before she grabs the handle and pull her back into the room. Issy struggles against their hold as they try to pull her back to the chair.
"Issy! Issy! Calm down!" Declan shouts over her snarling. "You're not with Jeremy," Hugo's hold tightens at that god forsaken name. "You're in Dauntless! Dauntless Issy! Calm down!" She wriggles against their hold again, Hugo doesn't actually think she heard him. Before Hugo can even blink, Declan is on the floor, yelping as blood runs down his face. He gets back up quickly grabbing onto her shoulders as Hugo holds onto her waist. Hugo only just registers Four and Eric standing to the side, jaws on the ground in shock.
"A little help?!" Hugo shouts to them and they snap into action. Four moves forward, holding her legs. A moment later Issy slams Four into the wall which surprises Hugo and his grip loosens. Eric is by their side and her thrashing gets wilder when he grabs her neck.
"Back the fuck up!" She growls at him, eyes laced with fear and anger. Somehow she still manages to move in his hold.
"ISSY!" Eric bellows and she freezes in surprise, it even makes Hugo freeze at the loudness of his voice. Taking his chance, Eric injects the serum in her neck and they drop her not so lightly into the chair with their muscles aching.
"Bastard!" She hisses and Four proceeds to explain what's going to happen. Her eyes start to flutter as the serum takes affect.
"Be brave." Hugo mumbles as her eyes close and the screen slowly comes to life. Eric moves to the other side of Declan as they stand around the computer.
They watch as the screen becomes covered with smoke, they can barely see Issy through it and then they hear the crackle of flames. Hugo chokes on the lump in his throat when the screen becomes clear. Its there old house and Hugo know that whatever her brain makes up, its not going to be good. Issy looks around what was once their kitchen and then moves into the hallway that both Declan and Hugo grew to know better than the back of their hands. A noise echoes in the background and her head cocks to the side, listening. The wails of a small child echoes again, clearer now and Hugo shuts his eyes, praying for it not to happen again as the crying gets louder.
"Reece." She whispers.
The child cries out so loud it feels like yesterday. "Mama!"
The siblings breathe in sharply together as Issy shouts. "REECE!"
"Iszee!"
As Issy sprints up the stairs Hugo feels Declan grab his wrist, his nails digging into his skin. She slams open each door and in each room she has no luck until she barges into Reece's room and there he sits, just how Hugo remembers him. Light brown hair and the families' blue eyes. Reece sits in his cot, his small hands holding onto the bars as tears run down his face.
Issy gasps her little brother's name, dashing forward until she runs straight into a barrier. Issy begs as she slams her hands onto the barrier. Hugo retches himself away from Declan as he begins to pace back and forth with tears streaming down his face. He clasps his hands over his ears but he can still hear them, he can still see them. Hugo looks to Declan's face and he has tears on his own running free, reddening his cheeks. Hugo turns back to the screen and Issy is still begging. "Pull her out." He gasps and Four turns sharply to him. "Pull her out!" Hugo demands as he takes a step forward only to stop when Declan holds his arm out, his eyes never leaving the screen.
"She'll, uh, she'll get through it." Declan stutters slightly. "Issy is – Issy is strong, she'll get through it." Declan's tone didn't reassure Hugo in the slightest but he takes a step back away from the screen, gripping onto his brother's hand. Then a cold laugh came from the sim that sent a shiver down Hugo's spine. Both Declan's, Hugo's and Eric's backs snapped straight when Jeremy appeared on the screen. "Shit." Declan mumbles and his grip tightens. Its now Eric's turn to pace while Jeremy grins at Issy's failed attempts to get through the barrier.
"No! No! Put him back! Leave him be!"
"And why should I do that?" He walks closer. "What can you offer me instead?"
"Take me!" She screams and Hugo swears his heart breaks as she rams her shoulder into the invisible wall. "Take me instead! Please!"
Her screams get ignored as Jeremy grins again. He hold Reece up and the room flinches as Reece's head cracks against the wall. Hugo was wrong. He was so wrong. It could be bad, it could be really bad. His sister screamed while her knees buckled from beneath her and she slid against the wall, crying her eyes out, and shouting her throat raw. While she did that Jeremy grinned. He grinned. When Issy started hyperventilate, Eric marched forward, shoving Four out of the way as he goes and begins to steadily pull her out of the sim.
Hugo takes a few steps so he's on Issy's right and Declan takes up her left. Issy's shortening breaths are the only indicator that she's coming to. The brothers watch as her eyes snap open and her whole body jerks up. Her eyes are unfocused as she stares past their shoulders.
"Issy?" Hugo's voice shakes.
"Iss?" Declan moves forward a bit when her breathing gets faster. "Issy, are you okay?"
Suddenly the brothers are pushed out of the way as Issy launches herself from the chair, hurling the door open and sprints out of the room. Hugo jumps to his feet, lips parted to shout her name as he catches the door, shoving it open to see her hair flowing behind her as she leaves the room. Alec is also on his feet, wide eyed and shouting after her.
Alec turns to Hugo, worry painted on his face. "What happened?"
Declan gently pushes Hugo into the long room, out of the way of the door. "Alec, go on in. We'll look for Issy after." Alec nods his head slowly before walking into the room and the door slams shut. Declan sighs as he sits down in in one of the chairs. "Hugo sit down. Staring at the door won't bring her back."
His brother was right. Hugo had been staring at the door where he saw Issy retreating figure vanish like she'd come back and plop herself in the chair next to Dec. He slumps into the chair next to Dec, shifting a bit so he can lean his head on his brother's shoulder. Declan lets his head fall on top of his, shifting to make them both comfy. Suddenly Hugo feels like a child again, back to the moments when he was upset and he and Dec would simply sit side by side until either one was ready to talk. He finds himself remembering those moments where Issy was missing after the Dauntless patrol found Reece, where Declan and Hugo would sit side by side with Hugo's head on top of Dec's shoulder and Dec's head on top of Hugo's, sharing each others strength. Their mum and dad would have been close by, grasping hands, and Cara would be clinging onto Alec as he cried for his twin.
"Don't worry Hu, she'll be okay." He can feel Declan's breath with every word he said on his hair. Hugo doesn't say anything. They have nothing left to do but wait.
xXx
The brothers' spines snapped up straight when the door opened to reveal Alec. Their little brother stumbled out of the room, jumping when the door slammed shut behind of Four and Eric. Nodding to Dec, Eric strode from the room with determination on his face with Four watching him go.
"I'm off up to the control room." Four looks back to the brothers. "I have a shift there anyway but I'll look out for Issy while I'm there."
"Thank you." Dec smiles, his eyes lighting up slightly as Four leaves. "So, where shall we go first?"
"The dorms?" Hugo offers up.
"The tattoo parlor?" Alec says at the same time.
"Tattoo parlor first as its closest and then the dorms." Declan holds the door open and weirdly he starts grinning. "You know what just popped into my head?"
"What?"
"'We're going on a bear hunt. We're gonna catch a big one.'" Hugo and Alec start laughing, and Hugo feels a little bit better because of it. "Just don't ask why."
Issy wasn't at the parlor. Apparently Josh and the other tattoo artists haven't seen her all day. It was when they were on the way to the dorms when Declan's phone rang.
"It's Four!" Dec quickly answered the phone. "Yeah? Really? Okay, thanks Four." Declan grinned, grabbing Hugo's and Alec's arm, and began to drag them in the opposite direction. "Four saw her on the cameras. Apparently Eric carried her into my flat so lets go."
Hugo and Alec followed behind Declan as he ran through the corridors. They don't stop running until they get to Declan's door with the number 26 gleaming in the low light. Dec slams the door open and he slams it closed after Alec gets in. With no sign of either off them, Hugo jogs to his brother's bedroom. They charge into the room and there Eric is with Issy in his arms, a few steps away from the bed.
"Where did you find her?"
"Is she okay?"
"What happened?"
Eric glowers at them, his jaw clenching. "Shut up!" He hisses and they abruptly close their mouths. Eric huffs at them while he leans down to place Issy on the bed. They watch as Eric tries retract his arms from her she whimpers, clutching his jacket tighter. Hugo was surprised how well Issy had connected with Eric and he was more surprised at how it was rather beautiful how he put her insecurities to sleep. Even if it was unconsciously, even if she didn't know it was him. Eric took off his jacket and wrapped it around her. He smirks lightly as she inhales deeply and snuggles in closer. Eric then turns his gaze to them, narrowing his eyes. "Kitchen. Now." His voice left no room for argument, they knew that as they filed back out of the room with Eric following behind them. The bedroom door was shut firmly behind them and Eric strode into Declan's kitchen, pulling out a bottle of whiskey and four glasses onto the island separating Eric from the brothers. They watch as Eric pours the amber liquid in each glass. He places a glass in front of Dec and Hu before placing one in front of Alec. Eric holds up one finger. "One only." They knock it back and Alec pushes his glass away from him as he gets onto one of the seats in front of him. Eric takes the glass and places it in the sink 'cause Declan is an old fashioned bastard and refuses to get a dish washer. He refills his, Dec's and Hu's glasses before knocking it back again and the brothers follow suit. Eric sighs as he looks at them. "I found Issy where she normally is at night if she's not wandering around. From what I can gather she is mentally stressed and exhausted. She told me what really . . . happened." Hugo anger sparks suddenly, he doesn't know what happened that day, even Alec doesn't know what happened. Hugo's mouth clamps shut when Eric shoots him a glare. "Before you bitch at me or Issy, I simply asked if she wanted to talk about it or not and she answered in her own time. I didn't force her to say anything and I would have dropped it if she didn't want to. Yes, you all have the right to what happened but it isn't my right to tell you." Hugo swirls the whiskey in his glass with cloudy eyes and Declan stares open-mouthed at the bedroom door. Alec is the only one to meet his gaze with an understanding nod and a small smile. "Don't push her," Eric continues in a softer voice and three sets of blue eyes meet his. "A hell of a lot of shit has just resurfaced. She'll tell you when she feels ready." Eric puts his own glass in the sink before heading to the door. Just as he opens it he turns back around. "I can pull a few strings if Issy and yourself want to stay her tonight instead of the dorms?" Eric tells Alec.
"Thanks Eric." Alec says with a cheeky grin and Eric turns back to look at him. Eric nods back with a small smile before he leaves. Alec turns to Hugo and Dec. "What the hell was that?" Alec points to the door. "How the hell have I not noticed that?"
"Because you, my brother," Dec grins as he walks to the sink and starts running the tap. "Have been too wrapped in Lilah to notice it."
Hugo smiles and suddenly everything becomes fine again.