Where To Turn

Before we even reached the car, Kai made his way to the driver side door without any hesitation. He opened his hand, waiting for me to give him the keys.

"I'll drive."

It was against every fiber of my being to agree to do that. However, the more I looked at him, the more his image began to blur...even duplicate. I shook my head, regaining my consciousness and realizing I'd only put us in more danger if I got behind the wheel.

"Hey," I felt Kai's hand on my face, "it's ok to let someone else take the lead from time to time."

I was too surprised from his reaction, and how much his words soothed me, that I grunted away the keys. Huffing, I made my way to the passenger side door as Kai took his place behind the wheel. After I opened the door, hearing the car's engine roar to life, I noticed a shirt that lay on the center console. I laid the SR between my feet, grabbed the shirt and ripped it to use as a makeshift bandage. Lifting my shirt, I saw the blood ooze, wrapping the shirt and exhaling from the pain that soared through my body. I was losing too much blood to stay fully awake and I knew my senses were slowly draining. Yet, it made me feel uneasy...I hated more than anything feeling weak.

"Give me your phone." I commanded.

Kai fidgeted for a while, producing his phone. I took our mine as well, along with my work phone, and opened the door as I placed them neatly below the tire.

"What are you-"

"Do you want to live or die, Kai? Ask yourself that before you keep talking."

Kai didn't respond after that. All I could feel was his worrying glance, which only heightened my agitation. So, I took a burner phone out of my jacket pocket and threw it in his lap.

"Drive." I said impatiently.

"Where?" Kai asked, picking up the phone: not understanding.

"Look at the phone," I sighed, through grunts, "it'll direct you to my safehouse, just incase..."

"Don't be stupid!" Kai bellowed, clicking in his seatbelt.

"Just incase I pass out."

"We need to go to a hospital! What is a safehouse going to-"

"Just fucking drive!" I yelled, turning toward him.

I knew my eyes were bright, they were almost blinding and made me blink away from him to calm down. Kai didn't utter a word and instead put the car in drive as I felt the car move. I didn't meant to yell at him, but this wasn't the time nor the place to dilly dally. We were being hunted and I couldn't bring myself to apologize at this moment.

I heard yells from inside the building as Kai began to drive back down the alleyway.

"Shit." I hissed, constantly looking back to make sure we hadn't been spotted.

"Make a left."

Kai did as I directed, moving us away from the Vipers lair and back toward civilization.

"Next right."

The streets became lighter, as we entered a traffic jam. The Manor's wouldn't dare create such a disturbance with this many citizens around. Yet, that is what I was hoping.

"Stay to the far left. I don't want us being spotted."

As we sat in traffic, I looked ahead of us: seeing the ambulances the surrounded where my agents were posted...where the explosions occurred. I winced, trying to sit myself up in my seat. I slowed my breathing to regulate my heart. I couldn't black out on him now...not until I knew what had happened to Roy...not until I knew we were all safe.

"Max...are you sure you're ok?" Kai asked, his gaze burning into my cheek.

I felt his hand on my neck. It was cool to the touch, which bothered me. I'm usually a warm person, Roy used to tell me I was like a bear. My body heat was waning and feeling Kai's touch only made maters worse.

"You're cold...and pale. I'm worried about you...I don't think— "

"Just drive."

I stared out the window, not wanting to look into his eyes. He removed his hand, as we sat in silence. That was enough for me. He knew my mind was elsewhere. Any distractions would only make the waiting and worry worse.

As we inched along, the sirens became louder as I noticed a gurney being taken to an ambulance. The body was covered, but an arm slipped out from underneath. It was badly burned...almost inhuman, but my heart stopped. The cufflink was enough for me to make out...even thought it was attached to the skin. That glinting gold...Roy was the only one who wore gold cufflinks on his dress shirts. They were gold eagles, something I had bought him for his birthday two years ago.

Tears began to swell in my eyes. Roy...no...he couldn't....

There was another gurney...and I suspected it was my other agent. But in that moment, as Kai and I inched by, I saw Ian MacIntyre. He was the director of the Secret Service and he was standing next to Darian, wearing the mask of Charles. When they shook hands my anger heightened. My fist tightened as I suddenly pounded the door, startling Kai, but I couldn't keep the anger inside. I couldn't stop the tears from falling.

I had a thought, deep in my mind that Kai betrayed me. That he secretly had told Darian that my agents, that Roy, followed us to the Hanor. However, I was betrayed by my own. My agents back at the office knew where we were going, each vehicle that is owned by the Service can be tracked...the possibilities were endless, and it was too much for me to bear. How far did the Manor's pockets go? How wide was the spiderweb Kai were tied in climb...and where in gods name could we hide? My thoughts began to spiral the further we got away from harm...and the farther we got away from answers.

"Max?" Kai asked, the concern in his voice was clear.

I tried to make out the words to him. "Roy...Roy is dead."

"I...I am so sorry...I didn't...I really didn't—"

I laughed at that, coughing unexpectedly which only angered me more. "Don't bullshit me, Kai. You did know."

"But I didn't—" He plead.

"What did he send you? Why did you tell me to stop?" I spat, staring him straight in the eye.

Kai turned from me, keeping his eyes on the road. His silence manifested in my soul.

"Darian sent me a text. He said I told you to come alone, but I didn't know what would happen next. I just knew we had to stop."

He was telling the truth, but it didn't make me feel any less angry. My breathing intensified and with it my pain.

"I...I'm sorry, Max."

I laid my head back and closed my eyes. All I saw was Roy's smile. That warm smile that held onto me before we left for this assignment. None of this was supposed to happen...I was never meant to lose someone in this line of work. Not someone I loved. Not on my watch.

The tears dried up down my cheek.

"It's...it's all my fault."

No...it wasn't Kai's fault, but my heart felt like it was.