“Ellison’s family?”
I drop my invisibility and she screams, jerking back. “How is Ellison?” I ask.
“Where are your pants?” Lex asks.
“Landon really wanted them for some reason. Ellison?” I repeat, positive she was going to say something about him. “Is he…”
“He’s doing quite well,” she says, acting like something about this scene is wrong when half the people in this place are wearing less than I am. “The doctor would like to talk to you, so please follow me.”
I willingly follow her into a room where Landon throws me my pants, which I’m putting on when the doctor comes in. His eyes narrow, but he stays composed. “Ellison is doing very well. He’s lucky that all vital organs were missed and that we were able to close him up with no issues. He required a blood transfusion, but along with that and a super from headquarters who can help promote fast healing, he’s doing extremely well. It sounds like you got help for him quite promptly. He’s waking up now, but we only allow two back in the ICU at a time. The first two who’d like to go back, please follow the nurse?—”
“What kind of laceration was it?” I ask.
“What do you mean?”
“How clean was the cut?”
“Oh. The cut was extremely clean.”
“So something very sharp. Hmm… was there anything else that stood out?”
“No. He’ll wake up soon and hopefully will be able to tell you more.”
“Alright,” I say.
“I’ll take the two who’d like to see him first,” the nurse offers.
“Deus, go ahead,” Landon says.
“Nah, I’ll go later… when he’s more awake.”
“Come on,” he insists as he tries to tug me. “You’ll finally get to see him without a suit on! You might even see his tattoos.”
“I do… want to see his tattoos,” I say, like that’s a good excuse to go.
I reluctantly allow him to drag me after the nurse and into the ICU. Ellison isn’t quite awake yet, but I don’t like seeing him there on that bed. I watch him for a moment before giving Landon a thumbs-up. “I’ll go swap out with August.”
“Deus—”
And I slip out. He can’t depants me in the ICU where there are patients recovering, so I manage to dodge out the door and rush off.
Asmodeus, you were born for this. Do you understand? You weren’t born because your parents wanted you. Your birth was all a part of the plan. You can’t have attachments. You are to dismiss all familiar feelings. You are a product of a plan. Nothing more. And if you don’t prove yourself, you will be removed. You will have no purpose at all then. You go out there and do what you’re told. If you die doing it, then you should have been better.
That’s right. I should have been better and this would never have happened.
I can’t get caught up in my own feelings and thoughts. I have a job, so I must complete it.
At any cost.
CHAPTER SIX
ELLISON
When I open my eyes, I see Landon in the chair next to my bed. He lowers his book and smiles at me. “How are you feeling?”
“Acceptable for having my torso cut open and stitched back together,” I say.
“Well… I think that’s good? I’m not quite sure but I’ll say yeah,” he replies as he scoots his chair over. I find myself oddly disappointed that the chair next to him is empty, but why do I even care about that?
