WHAT'S HIS

Kira's expression darkened as she turned back to face the men in front of her. So much for fighting the world for her. The leader, Barry, approached her with a smirk etched on his lips, using a cane to support his left leg. Kira gripped her bag strap tightly, her skin pricking with goosebumps as her heart thudded loudly against her ribcage.

"What do you want, Barry?" Kira snapped.

Barry chuckled, his dirty blonde hair seeming to gleam with amusement. "Where's your little boyfriend? It's barely been a few months since he left, and you're already with...twerps."

"Shut up," Kira growled.

Barry raised his hand as if to slap her, and Kira flinched, noting her fear. He laughed, a self-satisfied grin spreading across his face. Pointing to his leg, he spat, "You see this? Asher did this."

"He wouldn't have done it if you hadn't tried to hurt me," Kira defended, shocked by her boldness. Why was she here? Shouldn't she have run like Paul did? Did she stand a chance against these eight gang members, including Barry?

The memory of Asher breaking Terry's leg resurfaced. They had worked late that weekend, and Asher couldn't come over to pick her up. On her way back, Terry had attacked her. Luckily, Asher had just gotten home in time.

The exchange was brutal, with many injured and one stray bruising Asher's back with a club. But Asher had broken Barry's leg, causing them to retreat while he gave them a warning to stay away from Kira. A warning they had adhered to for over a year until they got the news that he was gone.

"You're going to pay for what he did," Barry hissed, grabbing her arm and pulling her toward him. "I'll crush every bone in your body and make Asher Prescott regret why he ever came out that night." He leaned closer, his cheap alcohol-laced breath brushing against her neck. "Right after I have a taste of what's his."

Kira's eyes widened as she saw other strays pulling out condoms from their pockets. They were going to assault her. A fresh surge of determination coursed through her: if Asher wasn't here, then she had to stand up for herself.

She struggled against Barry's hold while he hugged her firmly and tried to cover her mouth. She bit his finger and stared angrily into his eyes, a blue glint of light spasming through her eyes as she screamed, "Let go of me!"

Barry froze, releasing his grip on her gently as he stumbled backward. While Kira gasped for air, holding her purse tightly as if it were an object for stress relief, she remained oblivious to what happened.

"Go," Terry told her, his voice firm as the others' eyes widened.

"W-what?" Kira stuttered.

"You told me to let you go; go," he repeated.

Kira turned on her heels and ran quickly, running in zigzag patterns just in case Barry had plans to shoot her from behind. She hid at the back of an apartment close by as she watched them argue and complain about what had transpired. She couldn't risk them getting to know her house and after they left, she ran back home, shutting the door behind her immediately and closing the curtains before turning on the light bulbs.

She went to the kitchen and grabbed a glass of water to calm her nerves and racing heart. She almost got beaten up and raped on her birthday; then they just let her go? Maybe it was a miracle... or Barry was never the type to let go of grudges easily.

Kira eventually settled on the belief that it was a miracle from heaven before taking a shower that helped calm her down. Afterwards, she whipped up a quick dinner and turned on the laptop to watch the disc Brett had given her.

Her fingers unconsciously tapped the smooth mahogany table as she waited for it to load, her heart racing in anticipation and nervousness.

True to his word, the files about her parents were mailed to her a day after his last visit; but she couldn't find them without him. She couldn't bring herself to leave him alone here.

Kira bit her lower lip tightly as the screen flickered to life, showcasing the disc's content: a short video compilation of moments with Asher – their moments at Rockefeller Center, random videos of herself in the kitchen – even a kiss after winning an intra-school basketball competition among others.

Her heart raced with each slide as she laughed at clips of him being goofy. Now she didn't know if this was supposed to make her happy or remind her how much she missed him and needed to get back to him immediately. Her tear-filled eyes drifted to the part of the table where his claws pierced.

"Why did it have to get so complicated, Asher?" she whispered with a deep sigh.

The laptop vibrated with a text notification, reclaiming her attention as she saw a notification icon on the video folder. A new video was added – but by whom? Hesitantly, she clicked on it and gasped when the video revealed Asher: clad in a white polo with the vortex badge on the breast pocket; he sat at the study desk in his room at the academy.

"Terry, start recording," he said.

[I'm already recording the video] Terry replied.

"How much time do I have?"

[Four minutes.]

"Okay," Asher sighed as he smiled at the camera. Tears trailed down her cheeks as she watched intently.

"Hey Babe... Sorry, Kira." If you can see this then Terry's plan of hacking our system worked; Terry is my AI assistant by the way – every student gets one here... Say hi Terry," Asher said with a smile.

[Greetings Kiranis,] Terry greeted.

"Happy birthday Kira." He grinned. "I'm sorry I'm not there; I couldn't send a gift because I sort of got into trouble but it's nothing serious... I hope you're okay; I hope you're happy and everything's going well... I hope you spent it well; you have lots of friends already throwing huge parties... I wish I was there though; I really miss your baking... I guess I'm not really lucky." His voice dropped low. "Not lucky enough to actually have things I want... Like you or cake."

He chuckled softly before continuing:

"I sometimes wish you were here; I know I'd be able to do this with you... holding you or just seeing you even... but this is for the best...I guess."

[One minute left] Terry informed before pausing again:

"That's my cue... Happy birthday madame... I love you; I always have and always will."

Kira watched the video repeatedly each time – it had the same effect on her: He still cared for her – that was all that mattered enough to keep her going– she wiped away tears with the back of her palm – She'd meet him soon; she was certain of it.