Chapter 30.

THE JACKAL.

The Jackal pressed his hand against the glass. His black ring clicking against the spotless crystal. He wiped away tears trying to escape, in turn removing his gray contact lenses. His green eyes bright with hurt and anger, with pain and fear.

"You know," Grace said behind him, "He'll be just fine."

"And you know that how?" he growled.

Grace smirked and stood next to him. "Because you Fallows are so damn persistent. You could drop a bomb on one of you and you'd still live."

"I've had bombs drop on me before," he said. He wanted to hurt Grace, wanted to maul her and rip her apart. But he had a plan, and it would take time. He had to be patient. He had to wait.

"Exactly my point." She slid a finger down the glass. "The Unit is doing a good job of keeping him alive. He somehow managed to upgrade it too! Oh, how I adore and hate your family."

"It's mutual."

She chuckled. "At least we aren't lying to each other, Hunter."

Hunter Fallow pressed a hand against the glass door of the hospital room and walked in. He gingerly touched his brother's hand. He'd nearly cried when he saw him in the forest, he had nearly hugged him and swung him around the same way he used to when he was just a baby. And now here he was, clinging to life with both of his arms cold and metal, his ear nicked and his eyes different colors.

He was beginning to look more and more like his nickname.

Hunter sat down next to him and whispered, "Your big brother found you." He paused. "And we're going to kill Grace."