Chapter 20

Everything felt weightless. As if they were in zero G. Just floating off without a care in the world.

Soft, distant voices began echoing in the darkness. Familiar voices, but unable to be made out. They kept saying something.

"-ay... -ake..." The voice began to slowly get louder. "-you.. -wake... Mark!" His voice was shouted in desperation. "STAY AWAKE!"

feeling a sharp pain in his chest, Cal coughed blood up and onto the club floor.

"Sayori!" He shouted, looking around the room frantically. "Sayori!"

"She's fine, but you're rather fucked up." Jenn stated, her bedside manner really helping the situation. "It's gonna take me a second to patch you up." She said as she grabbed a few colorful bottles, a bottle of scotch, and a needle and thread. "Okay." She took a swig of the scotch before repeating herself. "Okay..." Grabbing the green bottle, she moved it to Cal's lips. "Drink."

Deciding not to argue, he did and, within moments, was out cold.

When he came to, Cal was inside his penthouse. Sitting up, Cal winced as a sharp pain rushed through his side. Moving the covers, he revealed bandages wrapped around his body.

Once he felt able, Cal got dressed and headed to the club. Upon arriving, Cal saw everyone gathered at the bar. Sasha, Lilly and Kimiko were off at the far end while Jenn and Makio were at the other end.

"Jesus, Nima. How long have you known?" Makio was talking privately with Jennifer.

"Only found out recently." Jenn answered.

"Christ. Do they know?" Makio asked.

"I'll tell the others when it's time." Jenn replied. "Compared to the other shit we've been through, it'll be fine. Don't worry so much."

"What's going on?" Cal asked, getting everyone's attention.

Everyone took a second to look at Cal before Jenn answered.

"Mark!"

Rushing over to him, Kimiko immediately wrapped her arms around Cal in a tight hug.

"Thank God you're alright!"

Cal returned the embrace, glad to see Kimiko was already recovering from her own wound.

"Glad to see you're up." Jenn said as she got to her feet, approaching the duo. "Figured you'd be out for a few more days."

"A few more days?" Cal repeated. "How long have I been out?"

"Three days." Kimiko answered. "You were so close to dying."

"Quite literally the border between life and death." Jenn added. "If I had acted a second later, you wouldn't be standing here."

Cal was at a loss for words.

"During the operation, I had to go into your subconscious and, quite literally, pull you away from the light." Jenn stated. "Not my first time doing so, but definitely the closest."

"Alright, can we stop talking about it?" Cal asked. "I'd rather not think about how close I was to meeting Jesus."

Jenn shrugged while Kimiko held Cal closer.

"Who the hell was that guy?" Cal asked.

"A hunter." Lilly answer. "Of the supernatural, I'm sure you can guess. He's not the only one. They're everywhere, but try to avoid L.A. since most of the big monster families own it. My own included among them."

"Hunters?" Cal repeated. "Keep learning something new about this life."

"The Hunters have a holding in New York and London. However, like I said, not many roam the streets of L.A. Only the young and foolish ones. Usually."

"Are we safe to go out?" Kimiko asked.

"Of course." Lilly answered. "I got my people to clean the mess. That Hunter was never here."

"What'd you do with the body?" Kimiko asked.

"You really wanna know?" Lilly asked.

She paused before shaking her head.

"I suppose not."

After their talk, Cal headed to the bar and took a seat. Being served a drink by Sasha, Cal drank it.

"Thank you."

"Course." Sasha said with a smile. "You saved our asses. Least I could do is give you free drinks."

Cal took Sasha up on her free drinks and had a few to help with the pain in his side. Afterwards, Kimiko took the seat next to him, glancing at his side every now and then.

"I can feel you looking." Cal said. "What's on your mind?"

"Just..." Kimiko spoke softly. "I'd never seen you like that before." Images of the night the Hunter attacked flashed through her head. "It scared the hell out of me."

"I don't remember much after he shot you." Cal gazed off as he reminisced. "Everything just went red. Next thing I know, I wake up with one helluva pain in my side."

The two shared a brief chuckle.

"Bet it'll make for one cool scar." Kimiko commented.

"Yeah."

Finishing his drink, Cal got up to head back to the penthouse.

"I'm gonna get some rest."

As he walked to the elevator, Makio and Jenn were silently arguing in the corner.

"If you don't fucking tell them soon-"

"Jesus, Nimh, it's not your fucking place." Jenn snapped, calling the young girl by her real name. "The amount of shit we are dealing with right now-"

"Ooh, a dead Hunter." Makio mockingly disregarded Jennifer's words. "Please. That's a bullshit excuse you're pulling to stall telling them."

"You have no right to-"

"It's your own fucking fault this situation has even manifested." Makio crossed her arms. "Step up. Own up. And fucking tell them." Makio stepped up to Jenn. "If not, I will. Choose." With that, Makio turned and walked off.

Alone, Jenn looked around, moving her arms nervously.

"Fuck."

Heading back to her penthouse, Jenn headed right to the bathroom. Bursting inside, Jenn headed to the sink. Leaning against it, Jenn could barely catch her breath.

"Fuck." She cursed herself. "Fuck." Looking at herself in the mirror, Jenn hadn't realized she'd been crying. Wiping her tears, she grabbed some tissues to dry her cheeks. Once she had, she tossed them in the trash.

Right beside a discarded positive pregnancy test.

End of chapter 20