Chapter 26

"You can't just leave and take all this shit on by yourself! One more day, that's all I'm asking for!" Adam paces behind Axel who is adamant that he needs to leave right away.

"Estel and I have studied all the details of that fortress. Once she is awake, I can get you in. By tomorrow more of our fighters will be ready, just wait one day that's all I'm asking for," Adam insists.

"You know I can't do that!" Axel shakes his head in disagreement.

"What use are you gonna be to Blaze and Leon if you're dead? Aside from Steffan, there are at least fifty fighters guarding that fortress, not to mention Mr and Ms Y lingering around. We think they're planning to use several satellite dishes around the perimeter to signal to and control Wood Oak City. If we act too soon, we could jeopardise everything!"

"Then you're asking me to choose between saving the city and saving my family…" Axel argues.

"No, I'm not. But you said it yourself, we're stronger in numbers! I've found shelter plus we need food. You have a better chance at helping your family if you build up your strength. We just survived a plane crash or have you forgotten? Plus you're still injured, think about what you're doing!" Adam insists.

Axel takes a brief exhale, exhausted but not wanting to rest for a moment. He knows that everything Adam is saying is right. But leaving his family alone with Steffan for one more day sends shivers through his bones.

"You don't understand what he's like! He's different to Mr X. He has a way of manipulating people then taking everything! Anything could happen to them…"

"You heard him yourself and you know that Steffan's goal is to take their powers so that means he loses if he harms Blaze or Leon. The twins are also buying time. Trust me on this, where do you think I stole this backpack from in the first place?" Adam explains.

He takes a couple of steps forward, placing one hand on Axel's shoulder.

"Blaze and Leon are smart, they're survivors! We'll do everything we can to get them back, I promise."

Axel sighs, crouching down towards the ground whilst examining his injured arm from the biker attack last night.

"I can't Adam…" he shakes his head "if anything happens to them…"

"Just have a little patience. All of us will win this when you're strong enough".

"How far is the shelter you've found?" Axel raises his eyebrows, feeling drained and famished.

"Only 2 miles away…"

"Ok," he sighs, burying his head into his hands. "Just one day and that's all…" he gives in.

"Good morning sleeping beauty!" Adam smirks, looking down at Estel who is slowly regaining her consciousness after suffering a head injury during the crash.

"If you want to keep your dignity, don't ever call me that again!" She gives him an evil, but flirtatious stare back.

"You don't mess around do you?"

"I'm not the fairytale type….. Owww" she complains, holding onto the back of her head. "How long have I been out of it?"

"Almost a day…" Adam answers.

"And where are we now?"

"After the crash, I went to find medical supplies then I stumbled across this abandoned farm house. Food that we caught is being cooked right now outside and we've managed to gather up water…"

"How's your brother doing?" She cuts in, concerned.

"Sammy is stable for the time being. He'l have to stay here though with someone when we leave for the fortress…" The look in Adam's eyes at her is one that is pleading with Estel, rather than informing her of the news.

"No, no way! I'm going with you guys. We've spent weeks training for this!"

"I know how bad you wanna arrest the twins but…"

"It's not just that. I wanna be there when Steffan falls! He ruined my life once, or have you forgotten?" She lowers her shirt underneath her collarbone to reveal the top of her scar.

"And that's exactly why I want you to stay here!" Adam argues.

"Don't let your feelings get in the way of our mission!" Estel sits up with annoyance on her face.

"I care about you…."

"I know you do. But I'm a big girl, I can look after myself…" she purses her lips.

"Daddy? Estel?" Cherry interrupts, running over towards them.

"Give us two minutes please," Adam requests.

"I'm sorry, I just overheard your conversation. I want you both to know that I've decided I'll be the one to stay and look after Uncle Sammy" she reveals.

"Wise decision! Because I was gonna tell you to keep your ass here anyway. It's too dangerous!" Adam nods in agreement.

"I got away from the crash though with only minor injuries, but that's not the point." Cherry frowns.

"Then what's wrong then? You're our fastest fighter…" Estel frowns.

"If…" she sighs then continues, "when Uncle Sammy wakes up, I think it's better if I stay with him, that's all".

"What are you two hiding from me?" Adam folds his arms.

"Nothing!" Cherry defensively shrugs.

"I know when you're lying…."

"Uncle Sammy hasn't been himself for a while now but you've been really busy to see it. Until this mission and training of ours, it's been the first time that I've seen him happy again filled with a purpose. I'm just scared he'l go back to…"

"Go back to what?! The boy comes and goes as he pleases when he wants something. He's got his own life now! Once we're all back in Wood Oak, Sammy will only distance himself from me again! I know about the shit he's been doing behind my back. Smoking weed, stealing money, losing money…" Adam explains, exasperated.

"Did you ever think to ask him why?... Guess not" Cherry shakes her head pessimistically.

"Fine, you're right. It's better that you're here then when your Uncle wakes up." Adam turns to walk away, hiding his feeling of guilt.

Later on whilst the others are distracted, Adam takes the opportunity to see how his brother is doing. He slowly approaches the bed where Sammy is laying down in one of the other rooms. He can't help but stare with guilt and sorrow in his eyes at his younger brother who is fighting for his life.

"I err…." Adam sighs as he quietly takes a seat next to the bed.

"I want you to know that I'm sorry, for everything. I should have been there for you more. I knew that things weren't right but I gave up on you and I regret it. I've never asked you for anything, but I'm begging you now bro, to make it through this. When we get back home, I'll make everything right again, I promise." He removes his shades in order to wipe the tears from his eyes.

"Adam?" A voice suddenly catches him off guard. He looks down at Sammy who painfully opens his eyes, reaching for his brother's hand.

"Skates!" Tears of joy roll down Adam's face with relief that he has finally regained consciousness. "Hold on, don't move! I'll get one of the others.." Adam halts him as soon as Sammy shrieks in agony, tightly holding onto his side.

"Wait….!" Sammy pleads. "Did you mean what you just said?"

"Of course I did," Adam replies.

"Then I have to know the truth!"

"What truth? Bro, now's not the time for philosophical shit. You need rest, we'll talk once you're better…"

"Adam, I almost died on that plane! I ain't avoiding this conversation or running away from it anymore!" Sammy demands, looking up at the ceiling with worry on his face.

"Ok. Ask me. This one time and that's it!" Adam sighs as Sammy diverts his gaze back towards Adam. He takes a long deep breath before speaking out. Then the words just fly off the tip of his tongue.

"Did Lauren really choose to have that abortion?"

"How… how do you know about…?" Adam frowns, puzzled.

"She told me a year after she went through with it, just before we broke up" Sammy replies.

There is a brief pause before Adam shakes his head with regret on his face.

"I tried to talk to Tim. You and Lauren were both only 18 at the time but it wasn't his decision to make. Tim blamed me just as much as he blamed Axel for Jake's death. Understandably, he wanted nothing to do with us so he pressured Lauren into getting the termination done. I tried to talk him out of it, but he threatened me. He promised that there was evidence out there and that I'd go down for Jake's death as an accomplice to murder if you or I ever tried to speak to Lauren again. I couldn't stop him, I'm sorry".

"Did Lauren know that her father blackmailed you?"

"Yes. And despite that, she still secretly kept seeing you behind my back for almost a year. But I didn't say anything. I knew you two were happy for a time until you found out about the abortion. You blamed her, but it wasn't really her fault."

"Why didn't anybody tell me the truth?"

"Because you would have gone after Tim and I would have gone down for murder. I wish I could turn the clock back, I really do. I would have arrested Jake and done things differently….Keeping this whole secret from you, it tore me up inside. I couldn't stand it! I couldn't be around you either…."

"I'll never blame you bro! This is not your fault Adam and Jake had to die one way or another after what he did. I just want my brother back now and when this is over, I'm ready to come back home…" he says as Sammy's eyes start to water.

"I want you to come back home, more than anything" Adam replies, reaching forward to hug him.

"Ahhh…" Sammy aches, clutching onto his side.

"I'm sorry man, you ok?!" Adam panics.

"Yeah, I'll be alright. Just this bullet wound is a bitch! The sooner you get those motherfuckers arrested, the sooner we can go home".

"Amen!" Adam agrees.

"Oh and tell Cherry not to worry about taking care of me. Take her with you. You need someone on the team much faster than you old man!" Sammy half heartedly grins through the pain.

"Watch your mouth kid, I'm not that old yet!" Adam points, cracking a smile back.

"Show him the surveillance of Break once again!" Steffan orders, observing a colourful display of energy that lights up the laboratory.

Today's simulation couldn't be more different to yesterday. Leon calmly sits in the chair with the headset over his eyes as spark after spark and flame after flame explode with ease out of his hands.

"We're collecting double the amount of chi we took from him yesterday" Dr Dahm observes.

"You know what they say, when one door closes, another opens. That plan yesterday with Break paid off. Now the boy hates his father."

Shortly after their discussion, the machine stops and Leon's wrists are carefully untied with barely a scratch or ounce of blood on his palms.

"You did well today and that power of yours is strong" Steffan compliments.

"I wanna see my mom now," Leon demands as he steps out of the chair.

"Of course," Steffan nods.

This time, the walk towards Blaze's room appears to be different. Instead of approaching the basement levels where the other labs are located, they walk up several flights of stairs leading to the very top of the fortress.

"Wait, why are we somewhere else?" Leon queries.

"We had to move your mother. Given that your father and Ms Y got past our security with ease, we're not taking any more risks. She is much safer up here." Steffan says as he takes out a key to unlock the door.

They then step into an old attic, guarded with iron gates and chain mailed chandeliers that hang low from the ceiling. The morning sunshine beams through the colourful painted glass windows, each one bearing the symbol 'X'.

"It's cold up here, are you sure this is the right place for her to stay?" Leon questions as he worriedly stares down at Blaze who is still unconscious and breathing through an oxygen mask.

"It's not ideal, but this is the safest place in this whole fortress".

"But doesn't fire rise up? There are no exits apart from that door if he comes back!"

"You're right Leon, and you've pointed out something very important. So what do you suggest then? What would you like us to do when your father comes back?" Steffan tilts his head to one side.

"I want an explanation from him. As to why he did this…"

"You know that my team and I are always ready to fight if he threatens you or your mother again…."

"We don't need your help!" The boy snaps.

"Then you realize that when Axel returns, you'll have no choice but to kill him yourself. Because of your father, your little sister will never have the chance to live. And we don't know if your mom is even gonna come out of this alive. Are you sure you're willing to face him?"

"I have to", Leon replies with certainty and anger in his voice.

"Very well… you know how to use one of these right?" Steffan carefully removes a handgun from under his jacket.

"Yeah,"

"Good. Keep it with you at all times as a precaution in case we have another security breach. It's loaded."

"OK…" he nods, taking the gun.

Leon then glances back at Blaze one last time before he leaves the room by Steffan's side.

As soon as the door shuts and locks, Blaze immediately opens her eyes, gasping for air after having just heard their entire conversation. She painfully removes the tubes attached through her skin from her arms as well as the oxygen mask covering her face. As she tries to get up out of bed, the pain at the side of her stomach is excruciating where she is barely able to move. So she decides to lie there for a moment on her back until she is strong enough again to move.

With barely any energy left, Blaze holds out her right palm towards the light. She tries again and again to project her chi, but disappointingly, nothing appears above her hand.

"Come on. Any sign of fire… please…" she says to herself, hoping that what she heard about the baby isn't true. All she can do for now is wait with the hope that Leon wont make the wrong decision.