فصل 51

51

Reunited

Michael walked back out to the bowl. He could have just rematerialized himself back, but he figured that everyone was already having enough trouble believing he was real, so he did his best to be normal. As he walked out of the dark corridor into the light of the warehouse, everyone stopped talking and looked at him.

After a moment Michael said, “It’s just me.” Still no one moved. “You can touch me. I figured it out.” Suddenly Taylor ran to him and threw her arms around him. “It really was you coming to me. It really was.” Michael kissed her face, then held her tightly. “Yeah, it was. I’m sorry. It took me a while to figure out how to get back.” “You came to me first,” Taylor said.

“Of course I did.” They kissed.

When they parted, Taylor said, “That tingles.” “Sorry.”

Taylor smiled. “Don’t apologize. Every girl wants to feel electricity when she kisses.” Michael turned toward his father and mother, who had stepped forward. His mother was crying and trembling. Michael walked over to her, and they hugged.

“I thought I had lost you,” she said. “I never should have let you go.” “It’s a good thing you did,” Michael said. “Thank you.” Michael kissed her on the cheek, then stepped back and looked at his father.

Carl Vey’s eyes glistened as he looked at his son. “You’ve grown into a man,” he said. “More than that, you’ve grown into a good man.” Michael looked at him for a moment, then fell into his father’s arms. “I thought you were dead.” “I know. I did it for you and your mom.” Michael looked down for a moment and swallowed. Then he looked back up. “I know. If it wasn’t for you, this world would have been owned by Hatch.” “No, Son,” Carl said. “If it wasn’t for you.” Michael’s father pulled him in tighter. “I’m so proud of you.” At that moment, for the first time, Michael broke down and wept. Not just for the reunion, not just because the battle was over, but for everything—for all their suffering and fear, the death of his friends, being sent into the rat bowl, even for Cell 25. Sharon stepped in and put her arms around him as well. For the first time since Michael was eight, the Vey family was reunited.

Michael was still in his parents’ arms when there was a loud explosion and the doors of the warehouse flew apart. Cassy and Zeus were poised to stop them, when Enele, Jack, and Ostin came running inside the room, followed by a couple dozen of their soldiers. They stopped suddenly, surprised to find no one but their friends.

“Where’s Hatch?” Jack shouted.

“He’s gone,” Abigail said.

“Where?”

“I mean . . . he’s gone.” She pointed to Michael.

“Uira te Atua,” Enele said, and took a knee.

“Stand,” Michael said. “It’s just me.” “Make way,” Jack said, pushing past the others. “Coming in for the bromance.” The two of them hugged.

Then the rest of the Electroclan, one by one, came up to welcome back their friend. The last in line was Ostin. The two young men looked at each other, before Michael stepped forward and put his arms around Ostin. “Still glad you came to Pasadena with me, buddy?” “I’d follow you to hell.”

“You did,” Michael said. “More than once. Was it worth it?” Ostin looked around at all his friends. Then McKenna sidled up to him and took his hand. “Yeah,” he said. “Definitely. Life can’t be lived on a couch.” He suddenly lifted his shirt. “Besides, look. I have a six-pack.” Michael hit Ostin’s stomach. “Like a rock, man. And you have a hot girlfriend.” “He does,” McKenna said. “Literally.”

“I’m glad you came along,” Taylor said to Ostin.

Ostin smiled. “Bones?”

Taylor smiled and put out her fist. “Bones.” Ostin turned to Jack. “I’ve got another one. Why did the Elgen cross the road?” Jack smiled. “Easy. To get away from Michael Vey.”