When His Eyes Opened

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

check on Shea and the

reacted and said,

he walked to the door, Mike sighed and said, “Are you thinking of bringing that gun back with you? Avery’s definitely alive! She’s strong, and she won’t die until she watches

on the table, then

located in the city

was not to show off

the neighborhood entrance. He called Mike, and

and Layla arrived at the entrance hand in

If Avery was dead…

to raise them himself, but they might

sad, Hayden!” Layla said softly as she

Elliot look like this because something had happened

horrible condition at the hospital yesterday, but Shea described it to them

had a nightmare that Avery died

the same dream, and the siblings ended up crying in each