Chapter 103: Fueled by rage

Kellen had to harden his heart. Not to keep out compassion, empathy or kindness, but because he had a feeling that he was walking into a battlefield.

That was made clear when they arrived at the Tower and were not directed towards the Medical Bay. They were instead directed towards one of the conference rooms in the Guiding Division. A large open space that Taylor had quickly had to set up as a medical area.

Kellen wasn’t sure of the reason for that right away, but when he got to that floor, it began to make sense. Why? Well, it was the fact that he could see several Espers lining the hallway. All of them were grim-faced, arms at their sides, their gazes catching Kellen and Hill’s gaze before nodding and turning back.

Kellen, who was unable to feel the power levels in the air, wondered if their grim attitude was because of that. Or they had seen the condition that the Guides were in and it had upset them greatly.

Kellen felt his own face harden.

They didn’t need directions to get to the right room. A row of Espers led the way, and then the screams and shouts helped them find their direction further. It ripped at Kellen’s heart, tearing him up inside to hear such raw fear and panic.

“What in the world is going on?” Kellen whispered and Hill let out a harsh breath beside him.

“I don’t know, but it’s very hard to breathe.” Hill commented and Kellen took that information to mean that the powers did not feel good.

Medical Espers and other members of the medical team were coming in and out of the doors that were kept open. Other Guides, official ones, were nearby as well. Everyone looked grim, and didn’t brighten when they caught sight of Kellen and Hill.

“Your Dad’s already inside.” One of the Guides said, speaking up. It wasn’t one of his students, but that was alright. Kellen didn’t doubt that most of them were inside if they didn’t have work to do.

When Kellen and Hill turned to enter the room, Kellen felt like he was stepping into a warzone.

Beds lined the walls of the room in an attempt to keep everything in order. It was clear that someone had attempted to make this large space feel homey, but the hastily pulled over curtains that were meant to give the patients just a smidgen of privacy didn’t help anything. Most of them were open and several of the Guild’s Guides were trying to help the injured and scared Guides who had been brought in.

Kellen’s breath paused as he scanned the area with his good eye. His gaze slid over the Guild Guides that he knew, Taylor, his Dad, and even Charlie. Instead, he was trying to focus on those that he was seeing. The injured, dirty Guides who looked mere moments from death. Children.

Most of the Guides in this room were children. Any that weren’t were only a year or so older than Charlie. Kellen wanted to throw up. This was revolting, disturbing, and made Kellen’s blood boil.

He could tell that every other person here felt the same way.

There were two people that stood out. Two Espers who remained in the middle of the chaos, not being chased out by the Guides or the medical team. One was wearing the plain uniform of the D.E.C., something that was rather surprising to Kellen. What was even more surprising was the fact that his eyes were glowing pink, like Pamela’s. Even Hill seemed a little surprised by that as well.

The second Esper was in a Nemesis Guild uniform, also a man, with deep blue eyes that told Kellen that whether that was his natural eye colour or not, he was actively using his powers.

It became obvious when Kellen and Hill got closer and found that he was aiding in bathing and washing the Guides who had arrived. The second Esper was keeping the Guides calm, or at least, that was what appeared to be happening.

Taylor was taking that moment to also check out the Guides and send them to the right people, to the right bed so that they could be tended to properly. It seemed that as soon as they left a certain range around the pink-eyed Esper that they became emotional and uncontrollable.

Kellen didn’t need to be a genius to figure out why the Espers were outside. It was because having them in here was making it worse. Kellen looked at Hill, taking in how her eyes were going orange and let out a sigh.

“Go to the hallway.” Kellen told her. They were only halfway into the room but he was sure that Hill could feel how the mood was shifting with her entry, and not for the better. Hill swallowed thickly, glancing around, before she swallowed again.

“I’ll…go make sure that the room next door is set up for the second van and that the cafeteria isn’t pissed at us. Maybe get some shakes or something.” She muttered and Kellen nodded.

“That would be very helpful. There’s even a chance that I’ll come join you.” Kellen told her. It was a comfort thing honestly, and Hill nodded. She breathed out heavily, nodded again and turned.

“Text me, or have Taylor text me if you need something!” She called and Kellen nodded.

“I will.” He called after her before he turned and searched for his Father.

He found his Dad at the bedside of a cleaned up Guide. They were about halfway into the room, the curtains open like most of the other beds. They didn’t have another Guide tending to them, just Kellen’s father. Not even Charlie was at his Dad’s side, which only told Kellen that things were really not going well.

The Guide was a little on the older side, just skin and bones, with their arm in a sling just like Kellen’s. That made Kellen’s chest ache. His Dad didn’t flinch as he felt Kellen approach, but the Guide in the bed did.

“W-Who are you?” The Guide’s voice was rough, hoarse, and Kellen didn’t flinch. He wanted to, but he knew that if he showed any negative emotions, they would take it the wrong way.

“Me? I’m this guy’s son.” Kellen said casually, watching as the Guide blinked. Several times, before his mouth opened.

“What?” He said, glancing towards Kellen’s Dad. Kellen could feel how the few words that he had spoken, and the few words of the Guide on the bed, had drawn the attention of everyone around them. The injured Guides were watching Kellen and his Dad intently. Kellen’s Dad let out a soft chuckle. He squeezed the hand that he had in his own before turning a warm gaze towards Kellen.

“How did the press conference go?” His Dad asked. Casual, calm, but Kellen could feel how many eyes were on them now. Kellen shrugged.

“Well, I think. The press loved it, the city was horrified when they saw me, Sergei was just the right amount of protective. He also pretty much warned Brent that he was coming for him on national television.” Kellen also added, and Kellen’s Dad shook his head slowly, a smile on his face.

“That…you know what? I’m actually proud of Sergei holding himself back as much as he had. It’s very impressive. Did you tell him that?” He asked and Kellen shook his head.

“No, I didn’t. I have Rhys, remember? He’s also an anomaly when it comes to S Class Espers. I don’t see Sergei’s actions the same way that you do.” Kellen said, his eye watching those around him. The beds around him were silent. No screaming, the sobbing was subdued. It was clear that they were listening to them talk.

“You two don’t look related.” The Guide on the bed whispered. “You also don’t look like a Guide either. Why are you wearing that coat?” It was a very valid question. Kellen was still wearing the Esper uniform at the moment because they had snuck him out of the Nemesis Guild building as an Esper again. Plus, Guides normally didn’t wander around this beat up.

“Ah. I was hiding that I was a Guide for security reasons, plus I look a lot like my Mom. My sister looks a lot like my Dad, but she’s an Esper.” Kellen clarified. He had no reason not to answer his questions. “How are you doing? Have you eaten yet?” Kellen asked, his own body aching to shove food down their throats. The same way that Kellen had done with Charlie.

“Kellen.” His Dad warned softly, but Kellen just shook his head. No. There were some things he could be slow about, but seeing them all skin and bones like this? They weren’t regular civilians. They didn’t need to be careful because of starvation, because everyone in this room knew that they weren’t in this condition due to starvation. They were in this condition because of abuse. Guide abuse, physical abuse, mental abuse. Kellen’s eye began to glow and the Guide on the bed flinched.

Kellen sighed, covering his eye for a moment as he tried to control his emotions.

“Sorry. I’m just angry. Not at you, but at the fact that I wasn’t able to be there when we retrieved you because of my damn injuries.” Kellen muttered.

“You were going to be there?” It was a different voice. Softer, more child-like. Kellen uncovered his face and turned, peering around the left side of the bed to make eye contact with another Guide in a bed. They had a Guild Guide at their side, one of Kellen’s students who gave a small nod in acknowledgement.

Kellen’s heart nearly broke.

They were not just a child, they were practically a baby. Maybe ten, eleven years of age? Kellen’s gut churned as he wondered what a child of that age would have to go through to awaken their powers to protect themselves? Kellen had to take a shaky breath as he took in her terrible conditions. Fuck.

“I was. I was the one who started the process to save you.” Kellen couldn’t tell them the full truth, but it wasn’t a lie to say that. The small child blinked, staring at Kellen’s wounds, before she swallowed.

“Did an Esper also hurt you?” She asked and Kellen wanted to use the gun tucked against his back to shoot someone. Anyone who was at fault for making her ask that question.

“No, sweetheart. I got hurt in a gate. You’ve heard of those before, right?” Kellen asked and watched as she nodded, but a light also went on behind her eyes. Excitement, before she pushed it down quickly.

“Oh. You can go into gates?” She asked and Kellen nodded.

“I can, and if you eat enough, get better and age about…hmm, another 10 years? You’ll be able to go into gates too.” Kellen told her, meaning his words. She, however, didn’t seem to like that response.

“Why not now? I’m powerful enough. They told me so.” She said it with the disgruntled confidence of a child. Kellen’s lips twitched.

“Yeah, that might be true, but you’re safe now, and I would never make you go into a dangerous situation like that unprepared.” Kellen told her seriously. “I didn’t go into a gate until I was in my 20’s. I would never ask you to do it younger than me. In fact, I would be very upset if that did happen.” Kellen told her. Maybe she couldn’t fully understand the words that Kellen was speaking, but she got the intent.

“Are we safe?” She asked and Kellen’s throat closed. Ah shit. He hoped Rhys saved some for him.

“Yes. You are safe. Those Espers aren’t going to hurt you anymore.” Kellen swallowed, pretty sure that this wasn’t something he should say to a child, but given that they had gone through something terrible… “I actually doubt if those Espers are even alive still.” Kellen told her. His Dad gasped.

“Kellen!” He scolded. “Do not say that to a child!” He hissed but the child before him lit up.

“Are you sure?” She asked and that shut any complaint that his Dad had. Kellen’s fingers twitched and even he could feel how those within earshot grew even more angry.

“I will make it sure.”

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