When His Eyes Opened By Simple Silence

Mike buried his face in his hands and burst into tears.

“I regret it! Why did I say those cruel words to her last night?!”

Elliot’s eyes welled up in tears at the thought of what happened the night before.

“She was helpless and scared. Even if we couldn’t go save her right away, I shouldn’t have said that! She must have felt so hopeless after hearing what I said…” Mike was racked with guilt and could not control his emotions.

Elliot’s Adam’s apple bobbed in his throat and he said hoarsely, “Stop crying! Are you done cracking the system?”

Mike wiped his tears away, then glanced at the progress bar on his computer screen.

“Almost … It’ll be done before noon. My head hurts. What would I do if Avery’s really dead?”

Elliot did not have the courage to think of that possibility.

“How about you go home and take a shower?” Mike saw the stubble growing on Elliot’s chin and figured that he was probably hurting more than himself.

It was because Avery was still carrying his child.

still in a daze as if he did not hear

and check on Shea and the kids,” Mike said

finally reacted

said, “Are you thinking of bringing that gun back with you? Avery’s definitely alive! She’s strong, and she won’t die until

placed the gun down on the table, then walked

located in the

not to show

entrance. He called Mike,

later, Hayden and Layla arrived at the entrance hand in

dead… Then, what

himself, but

really sad, Hayden!” Layla said softly as

to thump wildly in his chest. Did Elliot look like this because something had happened

and Layla had not seen Wesley’s horrible condition at the hospital yesterday, but

that Avery died last

the siblings ended