Later that night, while I furiously trying to shove every piece of clothing I owned into my motorcycle case, the door to the apartment opened.
Syl, who had arrived earlier in the evening, was already sitting and talking to Mom, while drinking coffee. I meanwhile, was faced with dilemma of if I should bring more pants than shorts on the trip with Max.
As the door opened, I snapped my head up and looked to see who had entered. Krit, followed by Dad, almost timidly entered the apartment.
"Zack!" Mom cried.
"Krit!" Syl cried as well.
I, of course, said nothing, but shook my head, smiling secretly to myself. Thank God, Mom's heat cycles were over. Otherwise, it was going to be war.
"I figured it was safe to come back now," Krit admitted.
"Are you," Dad began, shoving his hands in the leather jacket's pockets. He was obviously uncomfortable asking about others' feelings. "Are you ok, Max?"
She glanced at Syl, then slowly moved her eyes over to Dad. "I'm fine, Zack. Just fine."
He nodded curtly as if that was the answer he had been expecting. Krit walked over to where Mom and Syl sat. Dad grabbed two coffee mugs and filled with them either with tea or coffee, I couldn't be sure. Out of the corner of my eye, I watched them carefully, because I didn't want them to know that I was indeed watching and listening to them all the time.
"Odd family reunion-isn't it?" Syl asked as she laid her hand over Krit's.
"Most definitely," Krit agreed.
"All we're missing is Brin," Mom said.
"No," Syl protested. "Brin never was one of us."
"Yes, she's always been one of us. She's here, in Seattle," Mom told her.
"In Seattle?" Dad echoed in disbelief.
"Yes, that's what I said, Zack. Alanza saw her the other night…" Immediately, with the mention of my name, all four heads twisted in my direction. I snapped my attention back to packing and pretended that I hadn't heard anything. "Anyhow," Mom continued. "She's not doing too well. I don't know how much longer she has."
"Who cares," Krit muttered angrily.
"I care," Mom protested.
"All she ever did was become one of them!"
"No, that's not true. She wasn't completely brainwashed. Lydecker had her under his control. If she had left, she would have died without medical attention-"
"Like she is now," Syl stated.
"Exactly," Mom agreed. "She's not evil. She's too strong for that. We all are."
Krit sighed. "I wish I could believe you, Maxie, but it's hard."
"Too hard," Dad mumbled.
"Look, guys, I know that it isn't exactly easy for you to accept. Yes, she went back and betrayed us all at some point or another. But, she's not like that anymore. She's changed. I mean, when I broke into Manticore to save all of you…a long time ago…she didn't kill me. She tried to get me to leave so I wouldn't get captured."
"I doubt it," Krit said.
"Ok, what about Zack? Remember? He was evil. Downright evil," Mom stated. I don't think she meant to be purposefully cruel against Dad, but she wanted to get her argument across. "You even said it yourselves, 'He's going to kill you'. Did he? Came close to it. But I'm here. And you're all here, too."
"All right, Maxie, you've made your point," Krit sighed, running his fingers through his hair. "Maybe we were too judgmental on Brin after all."
"He's right," Syl began. "That was almost twenty years ago. Things change over that amount of time."
"Everything changes," Mom stated. "So, no, this isn't a complete reunion. We need Brin here, too."
"And Jace," Dad said.
"Max Jr., too," Krit replied.
"Maybe Case is still around, as well," Syl told them. "Last I heard, Charlie and he headed for Europe to get away from everything."
"Wouldn't surprise me any," Mom answered. "I just wish everyone could have been here." Everyone, of course, meant those that had died in the fire twenty years ago, and those that had never even tasted such a freedom-Jack, Eva, and the rest.
"They are here," Dad stated, surprisingly putting faith in something that he was unable to witness. "Even if we can't see them."
"Ok, you two," Syl said to Mom and Dad. "Alanza should be included in the family reunion too. I mean, what's a reunion without some kids?"
"I'm not a kid, though," I protested.
Dad laughed. "All that's missing here is Lydecker. The man who created us all."
"Where is he, anyhow?" Krit asked.
"Dead," Dad responded.
"Dead?" Syl echoed hopefully.
"As far as I know, he is."
Mom raised her coffee mug as if in a toast. "Well, then, here's to the man who started it all and couldn't be here to relish in the finale of his creations."
They all clinked mugs and took a drink, as most people do when toasting one another.
Standing up and hauling my case over to the opposite side of the couch, I instinctively shivered as goosebumps prickled over my skin. I though, must have been the only one who felt the cold breeze sweep through the apartment, for the rest of the adults continued their conversation. Gazing out into the night, I saw that the moon was full with heavy clouds gathered around it as a chill ran up my spine. And, I wondered if Mom had spoken far too soon.
