"He made his choice," Miles sat up, pushing his hands through his hair.
"I need to know that he's okay." Brea wasn't sure she could live beneath the cloud of uncertainty, which came with not knowing what happened to Sylar. Was he even alive? Or did he died while she blissfully slept? Guilt pressed through her like a rusty blade and Brea cupped a hand to her mouth, suppressing a sob.
"Brea - "
"Can't you make a call or something?" she pleaded desperately. Good or bad, she had to know what happened to Sylar. She'd never rest unless she knew.
"It's too dangerous."
"Miles," Brea wilted, feeling all her happiness drain out of her. How was she supposed to be happy if her brother was dead? If she knew, concretely what happened to him, good or bad, she could at least carry on, could let go. "I need to know. Either way, I need to know."
Miles groaned and got out of bed. Her eyes flicked up his bare torso, savouring how she always did, at how amazing he looked.
"If I call then they will know where we are and they'll probably come after us," he warned gravely.
"But if the fight is over isn't everything resolved now?" Brea gazed at him with wide-eyed innocence.
"It doesn't work that way," he grumbled, heading for the small bathroom. Brea scrambled up and followed him. There had to be something he could do about learning of Sylar's fate.
"He's my brother," she announced, her heart almost breaking as she considered possibly having to speak about him in the past tense.
"Maybe everyone died last night," Miles shrugged, leaning into the tub to turn on the overhead shower. Hot water gushed out, filling the room with steam and almost drowning out his words. "Maybe some people survived," he continued, his voice level. "Either way, we risk being hunted down and blamed for whatever went down in Colridge. I can't stress to you enough how dangerous these people are, Brea."
"But my brother is one of these people and he'd never hurt us."
"Are you hurting now?" Miles gave her a long, hard look. "Did his decision last night hurt you?"
Brea lowered her head as a solitary tear slid down her cheek.
"Yes," she replied softly. "He did hurt me." Which meant that he had the capacity to do so again. But while Sylar might be quick to cast her off she wasn't about to do the same. They were family and that meant something to Brea.
"All I want to know is whether he's alive or dead," she straightened, wiping at her cheek. "Once I know that I'll let it all go, I promise. We'll get on your bike and go wherever you want and I'll never look back. Ever."
She could see Miles considering her offer, his expression stern with contemplation.
"If I do this," he sighed, "we leave immediately after. We leave the state and we never return. We go down a whole new road together, one which no one can follow us down."
Brea felt a thrill of excitement dance down her spine and she edged towards Miles, placing her hands on his bare chest. He shuddered with delight at her touch. The thought of the two of them going off on some grand adventure together was thrilling. It was as if they were about to ride off into the sunset together, to forget all about Sylar and Colridge and forge their own happily ever after.
"I'll make one call," Miles told her sternly. "That's it. After that, we're gone."
"Agreed." Brea was pushing Miles back, towards the tumbling heat of the shower. As he stepped into the tub, she hastily removed the t-shirt and panties she'd slept in. Miles broke out in a wide grin as she climbed beneath the spray of the shower with him. They melted together in a passionate kiss as the water soaked them both. Brea stopped worrying about Sylar and lived only in the moment. That was what she loved most about Miles – his power to make her forget about all the bad stuff she'd lived through and just savor the present. With Miles, she saw the beauty in the sunset, heard the sweet melody of bird song. He gave her an appreciation for life which she assumed had died along with her parents. In Miles' arms, she was truly alive. She just hoped that the same could be said for Sylar, that he wasn't lying in a ditch somewhere slowly bleeding out and questioning all the choices which had led him to his own dark end.
Chapter 101
Miles towel dried his hair and pulled on some jeans and a fresh t-shirt. Brea was busy packing up their things.
"Make sure you head over to the 7-11," he reached into his pocket for several ten dollar bills. "Fill our bags with as much as you can."
There was a gas station across the street Brea could visit to grab some essentials while he fulfilled his promise to her. There was a pay phone in the parking lot of the motel. Miles was willing to use it but only briefly. He didn't want to dwell on the line long enough for the call to be traced.
He watched Brea hurry across the street before entering the pay phone booth. It stank of stale urine and Miles instantly recoiled. But then he steeled himself, knowing that he had to do this to help truly set Brea free once and for all. He read the number from his cell phone and typed it into the pay phone and then dropped a quarter in the relevant slot. It landed within the depths of the pay phone with a dull thud.
Miles wasn't sure he was even expecting anyone to answer. Maybe they really were all dead. As sad as that was he'd be relieved. He wouldn't need to worry about someone stalking their movements across America. He and Brea could live their life without fear. But on the third ring someone picked up and Miles' heart sank. A male voice said hello, a voice Miles recognised.
"Colin?"
"Who's this?" the voice on the other end of the line demanded. Then it softened as it realised who was calling. "Miles, that you?"
Miles swallowed uneasily.
"Yeah, man. It's me."
"Shit," Colin exhaled. "I didn't expect to be hearing from you again."
"And I didn't expect you to be answering the main phone at the bar. Where's my Uncle?"
"He … he," something broke in Colin's voice. "He didn't make it."
Miles leaned against the glass in the phone booth and sighed. He knew this would happen. Going to war with the Reapers was never going to lead to a happy ending, only bloodshed.
"That's too bad," Miles stated sadly.
"And neither did you."
Miles stiffened.
"Because you're not coming back, are you?" Colin added, lowering his voice. Miles glanced across the street at the store and shook his head to himself.
"No," he confirmed. "I'm never coming back."
"So we'll just say you died along with the others. You're a good guy, Miles. You always have been. We'll do this for you."
"We?"
"Me and Hank," Colin gave a dry laugh. "We're running the Highway Reapers now, can you believe it?"
"Seriously?" Miles was momentarily stunned. The leadership of the pack had always been promised to him by his Uncle. But now Deacon was gone and so was Miles. The pack should be claimed by guys like Colin and Hank, guys who would always be loyal to the Reapers.
"Hey, man, that's awesome for you guys," Miles congratulated him.
"Thanks. We'll see how it pans out."
"So last night, things got ugly?"
"Yeah," Colin breathed softly, his voice sounding fragile as though it might break any second. "Things got real ugly. You're better off out of it."
Miles coughed and cleared his throat. For so long he'd been part of this gang; It had formed a large part of his identity. The pack had been his family and now he was finally being released from it all. He'd no longer be running, he'd just be living.
"I appreciate you doing this for me," he told Colin sincerely.
"It might not be best for the pack," Colin admitted, "but it's best for you and I can see that. I want to be the kind of guy who will always be able to see that."
"I'm sure you will be."
"I hope so."
"You need to stay level headed to balance Hank out."
This made Colin laugh heartily. "He definitely does need reigning in, doesn't he?"
Miles noticed Brea returning from the store, carrying two plastic bags of groceries.
"Look, before I go, there's one thing I need to know. Did my girl's brother make it? His name is Sylar, he runs with the Blood Pact"