The Librarian

I hit the answer button and help the phone up to my ear, a little afraid of what I would hear. I cautiously whispered a "Hello".

"Kimmi?" My brother asked. "That you?"

"Yeah." I layed back against the pillows. "Jacob, why are you calling me in the middle of the night?"

"Kimmi, I- I'm in trouble..." He sounded so anxious and I knew something was seriously bad.

I jerked up to sitting position. "What?!? Jacob, what's wrong?"

"I'm here, in New York." His voice was shaky, nothing like the confident boy I had said goodbye to at the Taiwan airport all those years ago.

"Jacob, what about- your school..." I was shocked, how could he have left behind his whole future? Why would he do that?

"Kimmi, I can't answer all those questions I know are about to burst through your lips, especially not over the phone." He said. "Can you come and pick me up? I need somewhere to stay."

"Ummm..." I couldn't keep the uncertainty out of my tone. "I can get you but I'm staying at my friends tonight so I can drop you at my flat?"

I could hear him gulp through the line. "Alright, if that's fine with you."

"Sure." I replied. "Where are you?"

"Uh..." There was a pause. "I'm honestly not sure, I'll text you the address."

"I'll see you soon then."

"See you soon, Kimmi." There was a beep as he disconnected and I took the phone away from my ear, breathing hard.

I wandered back downstairs to the living room, following the noise. When I entered the room, all faces turned with perplexed expressions.

"What's wrong, Kimmi?" Nico asked, standing. "You're as white as a sheet."

"Which of you is the least drunk?" I asked them. "I need to go and pick up my brother."

"You have a brother?" Piper asked.

I nodded. "Twin. Now, which one of you can drive me?"

Leo stood. "I think the odds are pretty against a son of Hepheastus crashing." He said.

I followed him out the door, but not before Nico grabbed my arm. "Kimmi, what's wrong?" He repeated.

I shook my head. "I don't know yet."

He let go and I rushed to follow Leo into a red sports car before we headed to the vague address Jacob had sent me.

Notes