Author's POV
The jet doors closed behind them.
And just like that—
New York disappeared beneath them.
The engines grew louder.
Everyone settled into their seats.
The same people who had been laughing together only hours ago were now sitting unusually quietly.
The atmosphere had changed.
Completely.
Keifer sat near the window.
His phone was still in his hand.
The screen had gone dark, but he hadn't put it away.
Jay sat beside him.
She looked at him for a few seconds.
He hadn't said much since they left the base.
Not because he was panicking.
Keifer rarely showed panic.
He had always been frighteningly controlled when something serious happened.
But Jay knew him.
She could see it in the way his fingers occasionally tightened around his phone.
The way his eyes kept returning to the screen.
The way his jaw remained slightly tense.
She quietly placed her hand over his.
Keifer looked down.
Then at her.
"You okay?" she asked softly.
He nodded.
"Yeah."
Jay gave him a look.
"You don't have to say you're okay if you're not."
Keifer was quiet.
Then finally—
"I'm worried."
It was barely above a whisper.
Jay squeezed his hand gently.
"I know."
He looked out the window.
The clouds were already below them.
For a few seconds, neither spoke.
Across the cabin, Percy sat beside Aries and Angelo.
They weren't talking much either.
They knew Keegan.
They knew what happened when he became overwhelmed.
They knew that locking himself away wasn't new.
It had happened before.
More than once.
Usually, Keifer could reach him.
Sometimes another trusted person could.
And eventually—
Keegan would open the door.
But this time had already lasted too long.
Cora quietly glanced toward Luna.
Luna leaned closer.
"Has he done this before?"
Aries answered from across the cabin.
"Yes."
Cora looked at him.
"Then why is everyone so worried?"
Aries hesitated.
"Because this time he hasn't opened the door."
Percy added quietly,
"And it's been more than a day."
Cora's expression changed.
She understood.
This wasn't a completely unfamiliar situation.
But it was serious enough to make everyone uneasy.
Alex looked toward Keifer.
"Did the staff say whether he's responding?"
Keifer shook his head.
"Nothing."
"Not even to them?"
"No."
Denila looked between them.
"What usually happens?"
Keifer answered calmly.
"I talk to him."
Everyone became quiet.
"He usually opens the door after a while."
"And if he doesn't?" Luna asked.
Keifer looked down at his phone.
"Then we wait."
Jay looked at him.
"And stay with him."
Keifer nodded.
"Yes."
That was it.
No dramatic speeches.
No one tried to pretend they knew exactly what was happening.
They simply understood that Keegan needed someone calm.
Someone familiar.
Someone he trusted.
And Keifer intended to be that person.
Two Hours Later
The jet had been flying for a while.
Most of the cabin had become quieter.
Some people were sleeping.
Jay had eventually leaned against the seat, quietly looking through the photos from their day in New York.
She smiled at one.
A picture of Percy arguing with Aries.
Another of Cora laughing.
Then one of everyone together.
Her smile faded slightly when she noticed Keifer hadn't moved.
Still holding his phone.
Still waiting.
She looked at the screen.
"No message?"
Keifer shook his head.
"Nothing."
Jay nodded.
She didn't push.
Instead, she rested her head against his shoulder.
Keifer looked down at her.
"Sleep if you're tired."
"I'm not."
He smiled faintly.
"That's what you said yesterday."
Jay smiled.
"Maybe I'm just loyal to the lie."
A quiet laugh escaped him.
It was small.
But it was there.
For a moment, the tension eased.
Then—
Keifer's phone vibrated.
His entire expression changed.
He immediately looked at the screen.
A message.
From home.
He opened it.
His eyes moved across the words.
Then stopped.
Jay immediately noticed.
"What?"
Keifer didn't answer.
He read it again.
Then finally turned the phone toward her.
Sir, he still hasn't opened the door.
We tried speaking to him.
No response.
Keifer's jaw tightened.
He immediately called.
Everyone nearby went quiet.
The call rang.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
No answer.
Keifer ended it.
Called again.
Nothing.
Again.
Nothing.
He finally stopped.
Jay quietly touched his arm.
"Keif."
He looked at her.
"I'm going to talk to him when we get there."
"I know."
"I'm not leaving him alone."
"I know."
His voice remained controlled.
But his eyes betrayed him.
He was scared.
Not of Keegan.
For him.
Percy leaned forward.
"Keifer."
Keifer looked over.
"We'll be there."
Aries nodded.
"All of us."
Angelo added quietly,
"You're not handling this alone."
Keifer looked at them.
For a moment, he didn't say anything.
Then nodded.
"Thank you."
Later
The cabin eventually became quiet again.
Jay remained beside Keifer.
She didn't ask more questions.
She didn't need to.
Sometimes support wasn't about saying the perfect thing.
Sometimes it was simply staying.
Keifer looked down at their hands.
Jay's fingers were still resting over his.
He gently turned his hand and held hers.
Neither spoke.
Outside the window, the sky had turned dark.
The city lights below occasionally appeared through gaps in the clouds.
And somewhere far ahead—
home was waiting.
So was Keegan.
And somewhere inside that locked room, Keegan was dealing with something none of them could see yet.
Keifer looked toward the window.
His voice was barely audible.
"Just hold on a little longer."
Jay heard him.
She squeezed his hand.
"He will."
Keifer looked at her.
Jay gave him a small, reassuring smile.
"And when we get there…"
She paused.
"You'll be the first person he sees."
Keifer nodded.
He looked down at their joined hands once more.
Then finally—
he allowed himself to breathe.
The jet continued through the night.
And with every passing minute—
they were getting closer to home.