To Freyaa, Orion ended up being the kind of person who up and disappeared for days at a time doing God knows what and reappear as abruptly as if nothing had happened. Working with Spectra no doubt, but the least he could've done was say he was going. He never did, leaving Freyaa to wonder what the hell her brother had been up to.

For Freyaa this was the most frustrating thing about him. After his more recent disappearance and the rumors going around; Freyaa was concerned enough to try and figure out what he’d been up to.

She knocked on his door a few times before letting herself into an almost comically messy apartment. There was no food or garbage anywhere, only blankets, several fleece blankets lined the parts of the floor that weren’t carpeted.

“Well, this is new.” She sighed.

The blankets weren’t placed in any particular manner that would make you think they were put there on purpose.

Some looked like they were dragged between rooms and forgotten, others seemed like they were wrapped around someone and dropped to the floor in a haste. There were blankets hanging on coat hangers, doorknobs, and picture frames.

“What the hell. There's so many fucking blankets.” Freyaa approached a large human shaped pile on top of the bed in the far room, “Orion are you in here?” She started shifting the blankets around, but the pile was a ruse. She sighed looking through other piles that may contain him. “Orion where are you?”

She checked every room in the apartment until eventually opening the bathroom door.

Orion was curled up in the tub with a giant comforter wrapped around him. He had a somewhat terrified expression on his pale almost sickly face. Freyaa quickly went to his side and checked his vitals. He was zoned out but that was about it, he wasn’t dead at least.

Strangely he had dark almost blueish colored strands littered about in the dried-out birds’ nest that was his hair. Freyaa plucked a few with the roots and stored it in a small bag she had in her purse.

“Orion?” She shook him lightly. “Hey Orion, wake up.” It didn’t seem like he was going to respond. “For fucks sake.” She groaned. She started biting at her thumb nail while thinking of what to do. She pulled out her phone and goes to dial emergency.

Orion grabs it. “No.”

“No? You’re in no position to refuse.” She pulls her phone out of his weakened grip.

“That’s not-” Orion shifts inside the tub trying to be more upright. “That’s not going to help.”

“What do you mean?” Freyaa glared at him.

“It’s like, it’s…” Orion paused trying to find the words. “It's something similar to radiation sickness, I guess? I’ll be fine, it’s just a lot to deal with.”

“Then why can’t you get help?” Freyaa snapped at him.

“Well, that’s… complicated…” he smiled meekly. “Wouldn't be able to do much more than I’m already doing anyway.”

“What the fuck have you been doing Orion?” She took him a bit by the collar and shook him again. The way his head bopped around with the motion which was entertaining but equally concerning.

“Oh, well that’s also-” He began to say.

“Complicated. I get it. Why do you keep putting yourself through shit like this? Do you have any idea how much I worry about you?” She grimaced.

“Probably a lot.” Orion looked away biting at his lip.

“Then why!?” She was trying her best not to cry.

“It’s not like I have a choice.”

“You do have a choice; you can very well keep yourself much safer than you are, but you keep being reckless instead. How many times to I have to tell you this before you either get it or end up dead.”

“It’s not like I’ll die from-” He continued to dismiss before getting cut off by Freyaa grabbing him by the shoulders.

“You don’t know that! Any minor misstep can lead to your demise, you’re not invulnerable you know. Besides, there are worse things than death Orion." She started raising her voice.

"I know." He said grimly.

She stood in silence for a moment before recollecting herself. "Just because you can't die the way a human does, doesn't mean you can't get hurt. How many times do I have to tell you this?"

"I am already dealing with the consequences of that. You don't have to remind me." He said, staring her down. "This isn't your problem. The less you know the better. You might get roped into this too. Please, keep your distance."

“Fine.” She breathed.

"Since I already know you're going to ask, being cold is a symptom so I well, you know." Orion said making himself comfortable again.

"The blankets I get, but why are you in the bathtub?" She asked.

"I was hoping no one would find me here." Orion said, "But clearly that didn't work."

"I'm just trying to help." She explained.

"I don't need your help." Orion retorted.

"You're going to get yourself killed." She said.

"I won't die from this." He reiterated.

"Stop saying that!" She yelled.

"Freyaa." He tried to reason with her.

"No. That's enough. You know what fuck this. Fuck you. If you're so adamant that you can't die. I'll make sure you never do." She got up and started to leave.

"What does that even mean? Freyaa?" He called out to her, but she kept going. He heard the front door slam. "Freyaa?"

***

An hour later Freyaa returned with Richard. But Orion was nowhere to be found. She dug through the pile of blankets, but there wasn’t even a hint of him.

"He was right here when I left." Freyaa explained.

"Did he leave on his own?" Richard asked.

"He couldn't have, he was in no state to move even if I helped him. That's why I called you."  She said biting her thumb nail. "Besides I would've saw him. I was out front the whole time."

"I don't see him anywhere." Richard said pushing around some discarded blankets.

"What the hell happened?" Freyaa shook her head. "Someone must have taken him. I shouldn't have left his side. Fuck."

"Just breathe. I'm he'll come back, he always does right?" Richard tried to console her.

"No. I don't think he will this time. Not with the things he's mixed up with now." Freyaa sighed.