Fox Life

Tears came of their own volition, drowning Iris' vision. She couldn't tell if there was more to her aunt's confession or that was the end. She simply kept on rereading the last couple passages, the scene they portrayed replaying itself in her mind again and again.     

Her father had taken his own life? He had apologized to her?     

Hurt rose within her, but it didn't last. If she had learned about it as a child, she might have blamed him, but now… After learning what his whole life had been, she understood why he would make such a choice.     

Not that she wanted to understand. If he hadn't done it, would she have grown up with at least one parent?     

But no, that was only wishful thinking. He would have been dragged to the labs again and experimented on until he went mad. And she would have been with him most likely too.     

In a flash of realization, she knew that her aunt wouldn't have saved her from the lab if her father hadn't done something like that in front of her. He might have been only thinking about his own escape, but he had ensured with it that Iris wouldn't have to go through the same.     

And maybe others too? It seemed like previously all subjects were living inside the lab, but she had been allowed to live with her aunt and Tyler and his family were free as well. They were all on a leash, but at least able to breathe in some fresh air.     

'Or stage a coop,' Iris thought. They were strong, but so was she.     

Once she let it all out, though. The knowledge she gained about her father hurt her more than it helped. It was like trudging through an abandoned house full of rotten fish and eggs. No matter where she turned, the smell only got worse.     

"I'm sorry," Kyro whispered, and Iris looked up at him.     

What was he apologizing for? It was something that had happened almost two decades ago. Iris had been so young she couldn't even remember her parents' faces.     

"I'm sorry you had to live through that. I wish I could go back in time and make it all better."     

Iris leaned against him, a tired smile making its way onto her lips. "You would've been, what, ten years old then? Less? I don't know how much you could've helped."     

"Do you not believe me?" His voice held a trace of mock affront. "I was a very smart and capable young man then."     

"Right." Iris patted his head as if he was a child of back then speaking of grandeur, then sighed and closed her eyes for a moment. "I just wonder now how many other things aunt had hidden from me throughout the years. I always believed she had my back, but…"     

Kyro pulled her closer to himself and rested his head on her shoulder. "Maybe she had. She did help you grow up into a wonderful young woman."     

"Is now really the time for compliments?" Iris turned her head to meet his eyes, and clear dark brown orbs stared back at her. There was a seriousness within them that bellied his light tone. "What are you thinking?"     

There was silence for a moment, then when Kyro was about to speak, something stepped on Iris' leg. She looked away to see Lucy marching over to her. He planted himself in her lap and purred while watching her with his one good eye.     

His actions were so precious, Iris didn't have words to describe him. She lowered her head and kissed him on the head. "You're the best," she murmured while stroking his soft fur. Her heavy heart relaxed a fraction.     

"Should I be jealous?" Kyro asked from behind her in a teasing voice. "You seem to like my cat more than me."     

"Can you blame me?" Iris raised an eyebrow at him.     

Kyro looked down at Lucy lying on her knees, scratched the cat's ear, then shook his head. "I concede defeat."     

Iris turned and kissed him on the cheek. "At least you know when you're outmatched."     

The three of them stayed together like that for a while, just enjoying each other's company. It was a marvel for Iris to have someone to stay with her through her worst, and she wondered how she could have survived without them for so long.     

Their reverie was cut short though when Kyro's phone vibrated. The sound had been turned off, but in the silence of the room, the vibration was also audible.     

At first Iris didn't pay much attention to it, but Kyro's expression darkened when he read the message. Fearing another horrible revelation, she asked, "What is it?"     

"Sophie's team has managed to track down your aunt."     

"What? Didn't they say she lost their people and just disappeared?"     

Fear coursed through Iris. She didn't know what terrified her, but it filled her with anxiety. Could they really find her that fast?     

"I asked them to trace back the email she sent you," Kyro explained.     

"And it worked?"     

It sounded preposterous. Hadn't her aunt and everyone else there hidden from authorities and so on for years? Were able to avoid the public eye? So how could they just be traced back so easily…     

Kyro nodded. "Maybe your aunt wants to be found. That letter, I think it's an admission of guilt on her part, and now she wants to make it right."     

'Make it right…'     

It was so stupid Iris almost laughed. What good would her aunt going to the lion's den do to her? Sure they'll find out who the real enemy is, but wouldn't Iris lose her aunt in the process? She didn't think the reward was worth the risk…