Dhakari awoke with a silent groan, his hands immediately going to explore his abdomen. Thankfully, the gaping hole was gone. His mind flashed to that woman, Zoe was her name. How did he remember that? He didn't even know if she was real before, but this confirms it. He scanned the bright vehicle he was in, beeping lights on a panel to his left, and an assortment of medical supplies on his right. Just at the foot of his stretcher was doctor Aniha and a few of those men in green uniforms, each of them toting a clip-board or some type of tablet. They suddenly stopped talking, turning over to Dhakari, Aniha's face immediately lighting up.
"You're awake!" She stepped into the vehicle, her eyes studying him entirely.
"You feel ok?"
"Yeah, I think so."
"I'm glad." She brushed her hand through his hair, that same smile still spread across her face, "I informed the officers of your predicament and they're allowing us to postpone making a report until tomorrow morning, that way you can still make it to see your family tonight."
He only nodded in response, his eyes stuck on the now setting sun. It was beautiful, casting a dim pinkish-orange over the area.
"Our car was destroyed so we moved all your luggage into this patient transport, they'll be taking us to where we need to go." She turned to face the officers, giving them a gentle nod and watching as they disappeared from view entirely, the doors closing behind them. A gentle rumble vibrated throughout, then they began to move.
"I do need you to tell me what happened."
"I thought you said there'd be no need for a report tonight."
"Not to the officers, but I do need to report to my higher-ups as soon as I can. So if you can recall anything, you should tell me." She placed a hand over his.
"Ok. I remember the man that attacked us knocked you out, then I tried to fight him off, but he stabbed me. I remember saying the name, 'Zoe' then a woman I saw at the school appeared and beat him."
"Zoe? When did you see this girl?"
"My last night at the academy, she came into my room and told me that she'd always protect me, and that if I ever felt afraid or alone to say her name." He gripped the blanket covering him tightly.
"A girl managed to get into the boys dorms without being caught? Moreover it seems she must have been following us if she managed to save you…" Her voice trailed, "what did this girl look like?"
"Hm." Dhakari grumbled to himself, racking his brain in an attempt to remember her appearance, "she had kinda white blonde hair, it flowed down to her shoulders I think, her eyes were dark blue and sparkly, she was wearing this all white gown, she was around your height I think, and that's all I can remember."
"Ok, that's good. Thank you." She pulled a phone from her lab coat, quickly dialing a number and holding the phone to her ear.
"I've already received the news. You two were attacked?" A deep voice quickly answered, wasting no time.
"Correct, it was a gearhead."
"Interesting, is the boy alright?"
"He was stabbed but seems to be recovering quickly."
"Good, do you have a report on the situation?"
"Yeah, I think I do. Apparently after I was knocked unconscious by our attacker, Dhakari tried to fight back and that's when he was stabbed, after that he called out a girl's name, 'Zoe.' After that a strange girl appeared and saved him."
"Strange girl?" He sounded intrigued.
"Yeah, and apparently this same girl broke into his dorm just a day prior, she told him she'd protect him no matter what. I have a description if you want to run her information through the database."
"That'd be great."
"Shoulder length white-blonde hair, dark blue eyes, average height, and apparently she was wearing an all white gown."
"Interesting." The man on the other line sighed, "I'll run her name and appearance through our database and see what we could find, I'll call you tomorrow to report whatever it is Idiscover." The line went cold, Aniha's eyes falling down to Dhakari, watching as his eyes continued to flutter, opening and closing.
"You can sleep now, you did good today, we're still a little ways away so rest yourself ok?" She spoke as softly as possible, her hand gently squeezing his.
"Right… Ok." She could feel his hand almost quivering around hers as he fell into a deep sleep, his eyes tightly shut closed, his body shivering. She wondered what he may be seeing behind those eyes
Back at Lightbringer academy, the board met once more, in that same dark and cold room.
"A gearhead attacked in broad daylight, coincidentally on the same day Dhakari departed from our academy. What's even more coincidental is the fact that no civilians were harmed, as if the attacker was solely going after those two." One of the men spoke. Through the darkness, Jonah could feel every eye in the room on him.
"Such accusatory verbiage and tone." He simply remarked, "I see how none of that ties directly to any of us."
"Don't play dumb Jonah, you sent an assassin after a member of our prestigious academy. You have motive." One of the women spoke.
"Screw this."
"No, Elza has a point, of everyone who knew Dhakari's whereabouts, you are the only one with motive, the only one I can see acting this rashly." Another spoke.
"This is nonsense! I wouldn't dare!"
"And if that weren't enough, you sent a damn gearhead." The room fell silent.
"You have no proof."
"Sure, but If we were to hold a vote regarding whether or not you should take some paid leave, then that wouldn't really matter, would it?" Elza spoke, "all in favor of having Jonah take some much deserved vacation time, say 'I."
"I." All but Jonah spoke in unison.
"Then it's settled, Jonah, take a good month long break. In that time I want you to refrain from doing anything reckless, because another infraction may not garner such a merciful reaction from us again."
Jonah's expression darkened, "So I take it this meeting is adjourned?"
"Yes."
"Well then, thank you for what you've done here." Jonah stood and was the first to leave, stepping into the bright hall. He pinched his wrinkled forehead, then adjusted the glasses on his large nose.
His pocket suddenly began to buzz.
"Hello?"
A cold voice returned his call, "hello, I was just wondering, did you still need help with that job? If so, I've got just the solution."
A devilish smile plastered itself on Jonah's face, he was almost unable to contain his excited heart.
"It's still up alright, and you know what, the rewards been increased three fold."