What? Why wouldn’t I see my friends? What was he hinting at? Was he planing to keep me from them?

“I didn’t bring you here to simply talk to you. I also made sure you wouldn’t be brought back on time with your friends. If one of you rifters doesn’t return with the rifter corps, you’ll be considered dead, won’t you?”

“Yes, I will. But why the hell would you want me to be treated as dead?” 

“Isn’t that obvious?” He tilted his head slightly to the right. “No one will look for a dead person. If no one is watching or searching for you, we will be able to focus on my search easily.”

“But what about my friends? They will think I’m dead as well! They will suffer from losing me without knowing what’s going on. Have you thought about that?” 

“Sure. But why should I care? I can’t have them getting in my way, nor can I need any distractions for you. You can return to them once everything is over. Or would you prefer me killing them instead?” 

“Of course not!” Was he threatening me? Was he really planing on releasing me after he’d achieved his goal? I shouldn’t blindly believe in every word he said, but what choice did I have? 

As if he’d read my thoughts once again, he grinned at me. “Don’t look so scary. I’m kind enough to allow you to save them, didn’t I say as much? It will be real easier for me, if you cooperate. So, that’s as much as I’m willing to offer you. Take it or leave it. It’s your decision. I’ll reach my goal either way.” 

“I’ll take it,” I replied. If I had the choice to protect them or leave them to fend for themselves, there could be only one answer. But couldn’t I at least leave a hint for me to show them I was still alive?

“No, you can’t. I understand your sentiment, but as willing as you were to do anything for these people, I expect they must be feeling at least a bit partial to you. So if they find a single clue you’re still out there doing something, they will start looking for you. I can’t have any distractions.”

What was so important that he was so bend on achieving it, regardless of what it took? I wished he’d give me an answer to that question, but he simply stared at me, as if showing his resolve was answer enough. I guess I’d have to wait until I’d see the answer for myself. Moreover, the fastest way to rid myself of him would be to play along.

At least, for now. I hadn’t forgotten how he’d forced me to drink the lizard’s blood, or that he was able to force me to do his bidding whenever he pleases. Still, that way I had left a chance to influence the future. 

“It seems we have talked enough for now.” He smiled at me. For the first time, his grin didn’t seem as arrogant to me. What was he thinking about? His vision faded before my eyes, I could no longer here his voice as talking to another person. Instead, it resounded in my head as it had before.

You’ll return to Greenwich Park a few hours after everyone has left. You will walk right to your apartment, you will gather all remaining funds you have in your drawer. Don’t use your bank account as it will give you away. We will sleep a few hours in your apartment without flipping on a single light. Subsequently, we will set out on our first search point. I’ll tell you where to go once it’s time. 

Even though it wasn’t necessary, I nodded to show my agreement. At least this way, it felt for one more moment as if I’d talked to another human being. I still barely knew a thing about Tarask. He didn’t seem to be human, he knew things I’d never heard before, and he used abilities I couldn’t explain.

But as nervous as I felt with the upcoming tasks and without knowing what I’d gotten myself into, as relieved I felt by knowing my friends were still alive out there. I didn’t want them to suffer because they thought I’d died. Still, in comparison to losing them or never being able to return, I guess protecting them while helping this stranger wasn’t the worst deal I could have made.

At least as long as he kept the promises he’d made. I would be cautious nonetheless. If there was anything happening to them, I sure as hell wouldn’t play along anymore. Nor would I trust every word he uttered to me. There surely was a reason why he refused to tell me what we were searching.