An exhausted Cole returns from his meeting to see Damian pacing back and forth. Tony, who usually sticks to the Brit, was nowhere to be seen and the rest of the familiars were bustling about around Damian as he barked orders from left to right. Reaching the man, he notices that Damian has a phone in his hand as he’s talking frantically.
“Are you sure you have the right car? Don’t let this be a repeat of the Detroit case where we had to tail that corrupt fae! We got chewed out for days because you followed the wrong car.” Finally noticing his boss, he cut off whatever the other person was saying,”hold on, Boss is here. Let me tell him what’s going on, he could probably just track the kid using his armband. Keep following that truck and don’t lose them!” He hung up and stood up straight in front of his boss.
“Alcost, what the hell is going on? Where is Spyro and why is Tony chasing another truck?” thinking the reason is not that serious, he adds,” did the boy accidentally leave his stuff in an Uber car or something?” At Damian’s crestfallen face, he stopped chuckling and turned to rush inside. Now that he thought about it, he can’t sense Spyro’s tracking talisman that he put in his armband. He focused on his connection to the armband and felt for any residual energy that the boy could have left. As he closed his eyes, he felt a thin trail of what seemed to be fear leak out of the boy’s armband and panicked.
“Tony has an idea of where the boy is?” he asked.
“Yes, sir.” The Brit straightened up and faced his boss with a determined look. The kid wasn’t even properly trained and is already thrown into some sort of ordeal. His phone buzzed-no doubt it was Tony- and he answered while looking at his Boss’s darkening glare. “Tony please tell me you haven’t lost the truck.” The last thing either of them needed was for Cole to get furious.
“Y’see little birdie, you’re worrying too much.”Groaning, he pressed his fingers to his temple. This guy really needs to grow up and get serious for a moment. He cleared his throat and then put him on speakerphone for Cole to hear. “The truck stopped at the old lighthouse. You know, the one where that group of Harpies decided they’d try and hit on you? I see the culprit, but no Ripples yet.” Glancing at Cole, he nodded and directed a couple of familiars to their masters, telling them to standby for orders. Cole looked at the sky and focused on Spyro’s armband. The kid was alive, but something felt off. He was getting a strange buzz from the boy and realized the situation was more dire than they thought. That scum of a spirit had even warned Cole that there was more to the boy than he let on and that he would need to learn how to effectively. Before his death, Spyro’s father often told him stories of how well Spyro was adjusting to his powers, but also that there were times the kid would struggle with other Undine not appreciating his attributes. It would take time, definitely, but he vowed he would make up for not being able to help his father and save him from anything that would dare harm him.
‘That’s a fact,’ Cole concluded. Eyes ablaze, he summoned Damian and ordered that they go to where Tony is. They had to get there in time, or Spyro could get seriously hurt. “The rest of you,” he boomed,”stay here and defend the manor. There’s a chance that this was a diversion and the manor could be attacked at any moment. Do me proud and protect this place!” Concluding his speech, he looked to Damian and motioned for him to transport him to his young charge. With a nod, the Brit engulfed his body in flames and unfolded his wings to full wingspan while taking to the air. His talons manifested as he swooped down to grab his Boss’s outstretched arms. They took off at sonic speed while leaving the rest of the manor behind to watch over the headquarters. They prayed they didn’t arrive too late for the boy.
~~~~
I’m laying on a weird pad in the truck. While this alone is alarming, I’m more confused at the fact that I’m still conscious. I can’t move and my body feels heavy, but that is about the full effect the injection had on me. I can hear my captor’s voice, but I still can’t make out whose it is. Slowly opening heavy lids, I look at my surroundings to get a better idea of my situation.
I wish I had kept my eyes shut.
Not even two feet from me are cages filled with different creatures, their crestfallen expressions void of any emotion or life. On the ground right next to me is a tray filled with scissors, needles, syringes, and all sorts of creepy tools.
“Oh! He’s finally awake! Hello, kiddo, nice to see you up and kicking,” the figure states with a sly smile on its face. I can’t tell if, this is my captor or an accomplice, but it cuts me off from replying with a smack. Hissing in pain from their hand, the figure cackles with euphoria. It picks up a flashlight and shines it in my face, causing me to flinch and shut my eyes.
“Oh come on now,” it shrieks with disappointment,” you can do better than that! That was hardly an amusing reaction. Why the others at least screamed a little from my hits.” It got down from its seat and crouched in front of my face, its hidden features becoming easier to see. He looked about 20 or 21 years old and had a crooked smile with jagged teeth and long red hair. The more surprising feature was his bandage-wrapped mouth and blood-stained torso…a sign of a kill.
“Why don’t you and I play a little game? Okay?” It grabbed me by my neck and threw me into the cages behind me. “Despite being merchandise, I won’t hesitate to enlist some sort of reaction out of you. Now,” reaching down to pull up a scalpel from the tray,” let’s hear that scream.” He cackled once more before bringing the scalpel close to my neck, applying slight pressure. He’s about to add more when his accomplice bangs on the back door.
“Noah, cut it out. We need this guy alive so we can get the bounty. You have your other ‘toys’, why not play with them.” The burly driver stepped into the back of the truck and flinched when he saw my gaze. “Anyway, you need to cut it out with the mutilations. We keep getting complaints from our clients that there are too many scratches on the items. Tone down the freaky habit a smidge, okay.” At these words, Noah whined loudly. Looking back to the motionless figures in the cage, the figure held his nose in disgust,”I mean, these guys are goners! How are we going to get the bounty for them? You can’t just torture and kill off everything we get in!” With that, he popped Noah on the back of his head and, in doing so, made him drop me back on the floor in a heap. Staring at the two is all I can do at the moment as they banter back and forth about Noah’s behavior. I search around for anything to help free me when I feel my fingers twitch, the feeling coming back as the drug wears off. Feeling light-headed with happiness, I keep my face stoic so I can find a way out of this situation. I slowly liquefy my arms to pull them out of the restraints while watching the two continue arguing. When they’re free I wait for their backs to turn and slip from the truck unnoticed.
“But Jacko,” he said with a pout,” that’s killing my fun. Besides, the others were annoying as-Where’d the little imp go?!?! See what happens when you don’t let me have my fun!” He burst out of the door with a playful fire in his eyes and spotted me down the path of what looked to be an old lighthouse. I made it to the door when I heard a loud thwack, followed by growing pain. I heard the maniac scream, “Bulls-eye!” as I gripped the door for support. Turning around I glared at the psycho as he slowly approached my injured form.
“At least you made my job slightly easier. This way, Jacko,” he declared as he grabbed me and dragged me by the hem of my shirt up the stairs,” you don’t have to get your hands dirtied and can have enough energy to deal with the client when he shows up. As for you,” he shook me slightly as we made our ascent,” you better be thankful I avoided any vital areas. If it wasn’t for Jacko’s whining about money, I would’ve pierced your pathetic little heart. Enjoy the little bits of free will you have. Once the client gets here you’ll never see this place, or Meister, ever again and live the rest of your days as a slave to this guy’s mafia.” Shaking his head, he approached the top of the stairs and whistled. “Man! It’s a beautiful moon out tonight. Too bad,” he threw me across the platform and smiled as I attempted to stand and form a weapon,” it’s going to be the last moon you ever see, Wretch!” With that, he waved his hands and parts of my vision fade into oblivion.
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