Chapter 38: A Sister’s Hope
Catherine sat on a stone bench near a fountain. Her sketchbook was balanced on her knees as the late morning sun cast its glow over the campus.
The area was alive with the hum of conversation and the rustle of leaves in the breeze.
Tall oak trees lined the main walkway, their branches casting shadows across the concrete.
Catherine had always loved the serene vibe the place provided even if she couldn’t afford to enjoy it properly.
Students moved around her in every direction. Some hurried to lectures, clutching their books and bags.
Others sat in groups, talking, laughing or complaining about assignments and a few others, like her, kept to themselves.
They were all background noise as she focused her on the cracked screen of her phone.
She had just gotten a thank you reply from Sir Platinum, the mysterious Tiiktuk mogul that had made not just her, but many other small streamers smile a few days ago.
He hadn’t made another on-stream appearance since that night which made Catherine wonder if it was a one-time thing.
She counted herself extremely lucky, which many others didn’t see that way. Tabitha being one such example.
Due to him first appearing in her stream, she was under the impression that the reason Catherine got donations and caught Sir Platinum’s eye was her.
While Catherine admitted part of it was true and her page had grown due to Tabitha’s stream.
The main truth was most of the people who had followed and sent her messages were those he had gifted or someone he did.
In addition, most of them were curious about the accounts true idento and assumed she knew.
But Catherine had no idea. The ID he had sent had carefully blurred details that didn’t reveal any useful information aside from his age.
Although Catherine respected his need to stay anonymous, a part of her wanted to invite him for a casual outing.
But she didn’t want to give the wrong idea. Besides, if someone was that rich enough to give away millions, there’s nothing she could buy that could sway them.
She let out a sigh and stared at the chat for a moment. He had gone offline but the message he sent was still playing in her mind.
[This is really good. I’m anticipating the final piece.]
The compliment brought a smile to her face. She’d tried to imagine Sir Platinum’s face more than once.
A rich business man? Or a celebrity? She couldn’t decide as she closed the chat and raised her sketchbook to get a good view of the piece.
She pressed her pencil to the page, adding details to the metallic man’s hand. The lines were still rough but she’d finish it tonight.
She had been worried she was doing too much but Nathan had always encouraged her to draw what she liked.
The thought of what he would say lit up sparks in her eyes. Aside from their father, he was the only person whose words she took to heart
I have to show this to Nate when I go see him today.
A frown settled on her face at the thought. Since the attack on the prison that freed Frost-Spice, the entire facility had been in lockdown.
Catherine had gone multiple times but they didn’t allow visitors until repairs were done.
It also didn’t help that the media was milking the story coupled with the fact that a heroine appeared.
Catherine shook the thoughts away. For her, all that matters was seeing Nathan.
She had managed to narrow a small list of lawyers who would take his case but she wanted to tell him first, considering how hesitant he had been during the last time she visited.
The thought made her chest tighten. She’d been so hopeful lately. At the top of the things she wished for, was the chance to prove her brother was innocent.
For the first time in months, Catherine allowed herself to believe things might work out. She raised her head to the sky and whispered.
"Thank you so much Sir Platinum, whoever you are."
She glanced at her phone to check the time. Her father would be here soon. He’d insisted on coming with her, even though she’d told him she could manage the visit alone.
Like her, their father never believed Nathan committed the crime but unlike her, he felt guilty for how things turned out for his son, which is why he coped by overworking himself.
Though he’d never admit it to Catherine but she and her brother had grown old enough to understand the man.
She closed the sketchbook and slipped it into her bag. A few minutes later, she spotted her father’s beat-up sedan pulling into the campus parking lot.
Henry Ledger looked older than his years. Traces of grey strands were slowly finding their way into his dark hair, and deep set lines settled around his eyes.
He wore a jacket that had seen better days, but he’d shaved and combed his hair.
"You ready?" he asked as Catherine climbed into the passenger seat.
She nodded, putting on the seat belt. "Ready."
The drive was quiet. Henry focused on the road while Catherine stared out the window at the passing scenery.
A figure in black suit flew by, trails at the end of his legs. A hero Catherine didn’t recognize. A part of her envied how free they were, cruising in the sky.
The vast majority of heroes consisted of Metas, a small percentage of the world population that awakened super abilities.
Catherine had always wished she was one of them but like many things in life, her luck didn’t extend that far.
"Do you think any lawyer will take the case?" Henry asked, breaking the silence.
Catherine turned to look at him. "With the money we have now?" Catherine shook her head.
"They’d be crazy not to."
Henry nodded slowly. He had his doubts when Catherine had told him of Sir platinum and how much he had donated to her.
But after learning him it wasn’t isolated to her alone and confirmed his ID, he relaxed a bit.
He even encouraged her to make a tribute piece in response and soon after she used the money to pay for his bills, their rent and soon enough was looking for potential lawyers to handle Nathan’s case.
A smile settled on his face. "Your brother’s lucky to have you."
Henry’s grip on the steering wheel tightened as he remembered teaching Nathan to ride a bike, his determined expression as he wobbled forward.
He pushed the memory aside, wondering how things went so wrong
Catherine, on the other hand, was smiling. "We’re lucky to have each other."
The silence hung before she asked another question. "I’m surprised you’re coming along today."
Henry shrugged. "I’ve been working too much trying to make ends meet but I have to see how he is doing."
"I’m surprised they let you off."
Henry smiled. "I had to call in sick." He paused for a moment before speaking again. "Thanks Kiddo."
Catherine raised an eyebrow. "For?"
"For helping out. I know I haven’t done much for you and Nate," a frown settled on his face. "But I’m proud of both of you."
Catherine stared at him for a moment. "Daaddd, you’ll make me blush," she put a hand to her face, pretending to be embarrassed which made Henry chuckle.
After several minutes, the walls of Stone River slowly came into view. Catherine’s stomach tightened but she pushed the feeling away.
A small smile tugged at her lips at the thought of seeing Nathan again.
It’s alright big bro. This time I’ll be the one helping you