ROOM 7
Chapter Sixty-One: The Breaking
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Three days.
Jay had been gone for three days.
The police had no leads. The driver was found unconscious in his car on the side of the road, no memory of what happened. The van had no plates. The warehouse was untraceable. Yuri's house was empty—his parents hadn't seen him since the day of the annulment. His phone was off. His accounts were untouched. He had vanished.
Keifer hadn't slept.
He sat on the couch in the apartment, the shark in his lap, Bruce beside him. The city was bright outside the window. The sun rose and fell. The days blurred together. He didn't eat. He didn't drink. He didn't move.
Lyra brought him coffee. He let it go cold. Alex brought him food. He let it sit. Care and Cole came by. Mica and Calix. Freya and Erdix. Ash and David. Felix. Ci N and Rakki. They sat with him. They talked to him. He didn't hear them.
He was somewhere else. Somewhere dark. Somewhere Jay was alone.
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Part One: The Collapse
Lyra hadn't slept either.
She'd been searching. Every day. Every night. She'd called everyone she knew. She'd visited every place Jay might be. She'd walked the streets until her feet bled. She'd knocked on doors until her knuckles cracked.
Nothing.
On the third day, she stood in the middle of Jay's apartment. The shark was on the couch. Bruce was beside it. The coffee cups were on the table. The blankets were on the floor. The room smelled like Jay. Like flowers and coffee and home.
Lyra picked up the shark. Held it. Closed her eyes.
"Where are you?" she whispered.
No one answered.
She opened her eyes. The room was empty. The walls were bare. The windows were dark.
She walked to the door. Opened it. Stepped into the hallway.
The world tilted.
She grabbed the wall. Her vision blurred. Her knees buckled. The floor rushed up to meet her.
She didn't feel herself fall.
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Part Two: The Hospital
She woke to white lights and beeping machines.
The ceiling was white. The walls were white. The sheets were white. She was in a bed. Her arm was hooked to an IV. Her head was pounding. Her throat was dry.
Alex was beside her. His face was pale. His eyes were red. His hands were shaking.
"Lyra."
She tried to sit up. He pushed her back down.
"You're in the hospital."
She blinked. "What happened?"
"You collapsed. In the hallway. You haven't eaten. You haven't slept. You've been—" He stopped.
She looked at his face. At the fear behind his eyes. "How long was I out?"
"Six hours."
She grabbed his arm. "Did they find her?"
He shook his head.
She closed her eyes. Her chest was tight. Her throat was burning.
"Alex."
He took her hand. "I'm here."
She held on. Didn't let go.
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Part Three: The Waiting
Keifer came to the hospital that night.
He stood in the doorway of Lyra's room. His face was gray. His eyes were hollow. His hands were empty.
Lyra looked at him. "Keifer."
He walked to her bed. Sat in the chair beside Alex. His shoulders were slumped. His voice was low.
"They're not going to find her."
Lyra sat up. "Don't say that."
"They've searched everywhere. The warehouse district. The ports. The airports. The bus stations." He looked at his hands. "He's thought of everything."
Lyra grabbed his arm. "We'll find her."
He shook his head. "What if we don't?"
The room was quiet. The machines beeped. The city hummed outside.
Alex stood up. Walked to the window. His back was to them.
"Yuri's parents haven't heard from him. His accounts are still frozen. His phone is still off." He turned. "He's not coming back."
Keifer looked up. "What do you mean?"
Alex's face was grim. "I mean he's gone. He took her somewhere no one will find them. He's not planning to let her go."
Lyra's hand tightened on the blanket. "Then we find him first."
Keifer stood up. "How?"
Alex walked to the door. "We start at the beginning. The warehouse district. Every building. Every street. Every corner."
Keifer followed. "I'll drive."
"I'm coming." Lyra tried to get out of bed. Alex pushed her back down.
"You're staying."
"Alex—"
"You're staying." His voice was firm. "You collapsed. You're dehydrated. You haven't eaten in days." He touched her face. "I can't look for her and worry about you at the same time."
She stared at him. Her eyes were wet. Her lips were trembling.
"Find her," she said.
He kissed her forehead. "I will."
He walked out. Keifer followed.
The door closed. Lyra lay in the bed. The machines beeped. The city hummed. The night was dark.
She closed her eyes. Didn't sleep.
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Part Four: The Search
The warehouse district was a maze.
Rows of buildings. Rusted roofs. Broken windows. The streets were dark. The alleys were narrow. The air smelled like salt and decay.
Keifer drove slowly. Alex watched the buildings. They passed the first row. The second. The third.
Nothing.
They passed the fourth row. The fifth. The sixth.
Nothing.
Keifer stopped the car. Turned off the engine. The street was silent.
"She's here," he said.
Alex looked at him. "How do you know?"
Keifer looked at the buildings. At the windows. At the doors.
"Because I can feel her."
They got out. Walked. Building by building. Door by door.
The first building was empty. The second was empty. The third was empty.
The fourth building had a light.
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Part Five: The Light
The window was high. Covered in bars. The light was faint. Flickering.
Keifer stood beneath it. His heart was pounding. His hands were shaking.
"Jay."
No answer.
"Jay."
A sound. Muffled. Weak.
He ran to the door. It was locked. He kicked it. It didn't move. He kicked it again. It splintered. He kicked it a third time. It broke open.
The room was dark. Concrete walls. A single light bulb hanging from the ceiling. A figure on the floor. Wrists tied. Ankles bound. Hair matted. Clothes torn.
He ran to her. Knelt. Touched her face.
"Jay."
Her eyes opened. Blinked. Focused.
"Keifer."
He pulled her into his arms. She was shaking. Her hands were cold. Her voice was barely a whisper.
"I knew you'd come."
He held her tighter. "I'll always come."
She closed her eyes. Her head dropped against his chest. Her breathing slowed. She was asleep.
He carried her out of the building. Alex was waiting. The car was running. The door was open.
They drove away. The warehouse district disappeared behind them.
Jay was safe. She was home.
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Part Six: The Hospital
She woke in a white room.
The ceiling was white. The walls were white. The sheets were white. Her wrists were bandaged. Her ankles were wrapped. Her throat was sore. Her head was heavy.
Keifer was beside her. His hand was in hers. His head was on the bed. He was sleeping.
She touched his hair. He stirred. Looked up.
"Jay."
She smiled. "Keifer."
He sat up. His eyes were red. His face was tired. His hands were shaking.
"You're awake."
"I'm awake."
He touched her face. "You're safe."
She covered his hand with hers. "I'm safe."
He kissed her forehead. She closed her eyes.
"Yuri?"
Keifer was quiet for a moment. "He's gone."
She opened her eyes. "Gone?"
"The police searched the warehouse. He wasn't there. They think he fled. Maybe out of the country. Maybe—" He stopped.
She looked at his face. At the anger behind his eyes. At the pain behind it.
"Keifer."
He looked at her.
"I'm okay."
He pulled her into his arms. His face was in her hair. His voice was low.
"I thought I lost you."
She held him. "You didn't."
He held her tighter. "I know."
They sat in the white room. The machines beeped. The city hummed. The night was dark.
She was safe. She was home.
She was finally home.
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End of Chapter Sixty-One