Jay's POV
The folder sat open on the table.
Nobody touched it.
The words "Jay has to be there" were still sitting heavily in everyone's minds.
Alex was the first to speak.
"We're not walking into this blindly."
Jay nodded.
"I know."
Keifer immediately looked at her.
"And you're not going alone."
Jay glanced at him.
"I wasn't planning to."
"Good."
Denial leaned back in his chair.
"Wow."
Everyone looked at him.
He pointed between Jay and Keifer.
"That was surprisingly easy."
Percy nodded.
"No argument. No dramatic speech. No throwing anything."
Denial looked impressed.
"Character development."
Jay gave them both a look.
"Keep talking."
Percy immediately looked away.
"Noted."
Cora laughed.
Alex shook his head.
"Enough. We're going together."
He pointed toward the map.
"Jay, Keifer, Cora and Denial enter first. I'll stay close with the others."
Luna added,
"I'll monitor everything from here and keep communication open."
Keifer nodded.
"My team will be around the area."
Angelo looked toward him.
"So will ours."
Percy smiled.
"Apparently we're bringing half of New York."
Denial shrugged.
"Better than bringing Percy alone."
"Hey!"
Jay laughed softly.
For a moment, the room felt almost normal.
Then she looked at the clock.
"We should get ready."
Everyone started moving.
A few minutes later, the base became busy.
Doors opened and closed.
People checked vehicles.
Luna went over the communication system one final time.
Alex spoke quietly with Angelo and Aries.
Percy was still bothering Denial.
Cora checked Jay's equipment twice.
Jay stood near the hallway, adjusting the strap of her bag.
She was calm.
At least on the outside.
Inside…
Her thoughts were running everywhere.
What was Kyle expecting?
Why did he specifically ask for her?
What did he know?
She took a slow breath.
"Jay."
She turned.
Keifer was standing a few steps away.
"Hey."
"Hey."
For a moment neither spoke.
Everyone else was downstairs.
For the first time since he'd arrived, they were completely alone.
Keifer looked at her carefully.
"You okay?"
Jay nodded.
"Yeah."
He gave her a look.
She sighed.
"…Mostly."
"Better answer."
She smiled faintly.
Then she looked down.
"Keif…"
The nickname came out quietly.
He immediately softened.
"Yeah?"
Jay didn't answer.
She simply stepped forward.
And hugged him.
Keifer froze for the briefest moment.
Then his arms wrapped around her.
Carefully.
Naturally.
He rested his hand gently against her back.
This hug wasn't like their first one.
That one had been desperation.
Relief.
Months of missing each other finally breaking apart.
This one was different.
It was quieter.
Like Jay was simply saying without words:
I need you beside me.
Keifer understood.
He held her a little closer.
"You don't have to be scared alone."
Jay closed her eyes.
"I'm not scared."
He smiled.
"Of course you're not."
She lightly pushed against his shoulder.
"Keif."
"I'm listening."
"You know what I mean."
"I do."
A small silence followed.
Then he asked softly,
"Still a little scared?"
Jay hesitated.
"…A little."
Keifer nodded.
"Then stay close to me."
She looked up at him.
"Bossy."
"You missed it."
Jay rolled her eyes.
But she smiled.
For a few more seconds, neither moved.
Then—
"ARE YOU TWO COMING?"
Alex's voice echoed through the hallway.
Jay immediately stepped back.
Keifer laughed.
She looked toward the stairs.
"He's annoying."
Keifer smiled.
"You like him."
"Unfortunately."
They started walking.
Behind them, Denial's voice suddenly appeared.
"Did we just interrupt something?"
Jay stopped.
"No."
Percy appeared beside him.
"That sounded like a yes."
Jay pointed at both of them.
"Move."
They immediately moved.
Cora laughed as she followed.
The Drive
The vehicles left the base one after another.
Jay sat beside Cora.
Keifer was in the vehicle ahead with Alex.
She could see the taillights through the windshield.
For some reason…
Knowing he was there made the tension inside her slightly easier to handle.
Cora noticed her looking forward.
"You okay?"
Jay nodded.
"Yeah."
Cora smiled.
"You look happier."
Jay glanced at her.
"Do I?"
"A little."
Jay looked out the window.
"…Maybe."
Cora didn't say anything else.
She didn't need to.
The Warehouse
The vehicles stopped several streets away.
Everyone got out.
The warehouse stood ahead, dark and silent.
Jay looked at it.
Nothing seemed unusual.
No movement.
No lights.
No people.
Keifer came up beside her.
"Ready?"
Jay looked at him.
"…As ready as I'll ever be."
He nodded.
They moved forward together.
Alex raised his hand.
Everyone stopped.
He looked toward the building.
"Too quiet."
Denial whispered,
"Maybe Kyle finally learned manners."
Percy whispered back,
"Don't jinx it."
Jay almost smiled.
Alex motioned forward.
The doors opened.
Nothing.
The team entered carefully.
The warehouse was completely empty.
No footsteps.
No voices.
No Kyle.
Jay looked around.
"Nobody's here."
Cora checked another room.
"Nothing."
Keifer walked toward the center.
"Search everything."
They split up.
A few minutes later, Alex called out.
"Over here."
Everyone gathered.
A small table stood in the middle of the room.
And on it…
Was a single white envelope.
Jay's name was written across the front.
JAY.
Her expression changed.
Keifer immediately stepped closer.
"Don't touch it yet."
Jay looked at him.
"I know."
Alex examined the table.
Nothing else.
No one nearby.
Finally, Jay carefully picked up the envelope.
She opened it.
Inside was a single photograph.
Jay stared at it.
Her face slowly became unreadable.
Keifer looked over her shoulder.
"What is it?"
Jay turned the photograph around.
It was an old picture.
A picture of Jay and Kyle.
Taken years ago.
Everyone went silent.
Jay's fingers tightened around the photograph.
Kyle hadn't brought them here for Keifer.
He had brought them here for her.
And somehow…
He had just opened a door to a part of Jay's past that she had never told them about.
End of Chapter.