Behind us, things get restless. The hall fills with people in the local police uniforms.
"That was magnificent work," praises a tall man with almond-shaped eyes. Highly pleased and in high spirits, he holds out his hand to me. "Henry Marten. Instructor from the European branch. I have been called to offer you my assistance." He looks over my shoulder, directly at the lifeless body. "Sadly, it seems that I have been late to the party."
Stunned, I stare at the outstretched hand. Magnificent work? Bullshit! I just shot a human being! A human being ...
Henry looks at me for a moment before lowering his hand, still beaming with joy.
Two men lift Jonathan's body onto a stretcher.
Live or die. In the end, it all leads back to this.
Henry clears his throat, "We'll take it from here."
"I assume his followers are still around," Isaac helpfully reveals. "If you wish, we can give you -"
"No need," Henry declines extremely politely. "We can manage on our own."
Indecisive, I holster the pistol and stand with Mason. The man's manner aside, it's unusual to be pulled off in the middle of an ongoing operation.
Henry turns his back on us and makes a wrist motion to follow him. Several police patrols have gathered in front of the hall. Curious people are standing behind the police line. Among them are reporters from various TV stations. Camera lenses are pointed right at the entrance, just lurking to capture something interesting. I have a hunch what they will report on. This, after all, is a good reminder of how cruel Subjects can act and that it's necessary to eliminate them.
Henry gives me a little push and we keep walking. I can't stop thinking that something is wrong. Even though I can't put my finger on it, it stinks to high heaven.
"Why are you here?", I voice my concerns.
"I already told you: I was called to support you," Henry replies objectively. "I sincerely apologize for the inconvenience. The AUTHORITY wishes you to return back to America immediately."
At our car, Isaac shakes his hand gratefully. Mason and Liam get in without a word. I want to follow them, however, I feel an uncomfortable sensation on the back of my neck. As I turn around, I notice Henry looking at me.
"Can I help you?", I ask uncertainly.
"No, no," Henry returns. "I'm just happy to finally meet you. See you soon, Tobias."
With that, he says goodbye and jogs over to the hall. I could be wrong, but there was something sadistic about that expression just now, and I'm relieved not to have to look him in the eye any longer.
The engine starts up.
"Get in," Isaac orders, and I obey.
The ride to our accommodation is eerily quiet. Some pop songs are playing on the radio, but it can't smooth out the hypothermic mood. Each of us seems lost in thoughts.
We turn onto the main highway when something occurs to me and I wonder why I didn't notice it much sooner.
I turn to Mason. "Didn't you say you saw seven people, minus Jonathan, the boy, and the giant?"
"Uh-huh," he confirms.
"Then who shot Jonathan?"
Mason rubs his chin thoughtfully. " Unfortunately, I couldn't make out much. But it seemed like they were arguing about something. One of them unexpectedly took out a gun and pulled the trigger."
"Did you fight him?"
"Yes - I mean ..." He sighs wearily. "I don't know. It was such a mess that I didn't pay any attention to it."
I lean forward. "What about you, Liam?"
With a shake of his head, he says, "I counted seven people when we arrived."
"Yeah," I nod. That matches the number I saw, but -.
"One person is missing," I add.
Mason snaps his finger. "The giant! He wasn't in the group before."
"That's enough," Isaac warns.
I remain stubborn. "It doesn't make sense."
"I don't care. We're not responsible for this anymore."
"Should we -"
Isaac slams on the brakes.
"Don't you get it?" he hisses at me. "Are you going to disobey the orders of your institution? You could have died!"
"But I'm still alive."
I am alive. Jonathan isn't.
Grumbling, Isaac continues to drive. No one says a word. Only vaguely do I notice Mason's hand resting over my own. Grateful for his silent support, I smile at him, but apparently it misses its mark. Concern remains on his face.
I turn away and look down at my hands, which still feel shaky. I shot someone today. It doesn't matter if I was given a choice, it was me who pulled the trigger.
I'd rather die than live like a pet in chains.
Tell me, boy. Is this a life worth living?
Frustrated, I clench my teeth. No matter how hard I try, I can't ignore Jonathan's words. I don't think of him as someone who would hide facts or deliberately lie to cause confusion. Unfortunately, it does just that. I don't know what else to believe.
Abruptly, the song on the radio stops.
"We interrupt this program for breaking news. There has been heavy unrest in a residential area in Kensington for a few minutes. Eyewitnesses report a Subject running wild. The police have already been informed and ask the population to remain calm and seek shelter. At the same time, we received news that Jonathan Redfield, who has been missing for five years, was just murdered in a warehouse outside the city. It is still unclear if the unrest is related to his death. NOS has already been notified. We'll keep you updated."
I stare at the dashboard in disbelief. My throat tightens.
"A Subject running wild?" Mason wrinkles his nose. "I guess that's the best they could come up with." Then he looks at me. "What's the matter? You look pale all of a sudden."
I swallow the sour taste in my mouth. In my head, the newscaster's words repeat. "The news just now. Where did they say the unrest was?"
Liam seems surprised at my question, but he types the address into the tablet and shows it to me. The place in question is nearby. Only fifteen minutes away by car.
"Forget about it," Isaac says sternly.
Again. That son of a bitch was reading my mind based on my feelings again!
"Let's go help them."
"Out of the question."
Just because we weren't ordered to? It's illogical. We're close by. The situation could escalate before headquarters gets there and ... and he ... he could possibly ...
Our car comes to a jerky halt. Annoyed, Isaac looks at the back seat.
"What the fuck is wrong with you?" he yells at me.
It gets quiet.
Completely quiet.
The other two prefer to stay silent, eager to hear what I have to say. I lower my head.
"I feel like I have to go there," I explain.
"Why?"
A righteous question. I have no idea if he even still lives in the single-family house. Four years is a hell of a long time. And yet ...
"I have to go there."
Unfazed by my words, Isaac continues the ride. My protest falls on deaf ears.
"Isaac. Please," I plead helplessly. My eyes grow moist and I nearly choke on my powerlessness.
"Forget him."
God.
God-fucking-damn it.
I want to grab him and shake him, smack his face and scream at him. Does he even realize what he's asking me to do? I can't -
"Ty!"
Suddenly, I hear someone calling me from a distance. It's a familiar, deep-sounding voice that makes my heart scream with longing. But it is impossible. He is not here.
My hand rests over my chest, under my fingertips I can feel the strong throbbing. It seems like an illusion, a figment of my imagination, brought on by the news on the radio and my inner anxiety. But the second call is clearer and I think I can hear desperation in it.
The third I hear quite clearly.
"Tobias!"
When I hear the voice, there is no longer any doubt and instantly images flood into my skull. I see him, his back turned to me, a person crouching on the floor in front of him, and a man pointing the muzzle of his gun at him. The room is familiar to me. Despite the darkness, I dimly recognize the yellow curtains in front of the window, the faint candlelight casting long shadows against the white walls, and the arrangement of the kitchen furniture. Nothing has changed at all. Everything is just the same as it used to be.
My fingers clench into fists after the images disappear, leaving nothing but confusion and a dull wave of headache.
I have no idea what just happened, but one thing is certain: Sam needs me. He needs me now!
Isaac slows the car down at an intersection. This is my chance! Immediately, I take a deep breath, unbuckle the seat belt, and open the door. The interior lights pop on and ice-cold air fills my lungs.
"Ty!" Isaac shouts after me. "What are you doing?"
My feet refuse to stop. They ignore the angry tone and drive me farther away. However, after a few steps, I am pulled back by a powerful hold. My eyes fall on dark green.
"Shit, what are you doing, Tobias?!" Isaac roars, his voice wavering as he grabs my collar and drags me toward him.
"Let me go."
"So you can run to your doom?"
Damn it, I know. I know how stupid and naïve it is and I probably wouldn't even stand a chance on my own, but I have to try it at least. I can't leave it up to NOS. Not when it comes to him. When his life is on a knife's edge.
"I don't care!" Gruffly, I wriggle out of his grip.
"Are you really going to turn on us? For a long-forgotten friend?"
"I can't leave him behind."
"If you leave now, no one will be able to save you. You'll become a renegade."
I look over at the car. Liam and Mason exchange worried glances with each other. A renegade. A Subject on the run. A tool that is useless. None of them can understand it. It is only because of him that I made the decision to follow NOS back then. He alone is the reason I chose to live.
"I'm sorry."
"Is he really worth it?" Isaac cries. "Do you believe that he will welcome you with open arms? Wake up, Tobias! You're a goddamn Subject. A -"
Monster.
Fed up with his words, I lunge, but Isaac catches my punching arm without batting an eye. What he didn't expect was the second punch, which hits his nose.
"He's not like the others!", I defend him.
I barely bring it over my lips, I use my ability and disappear in front of their eyes. It's true. My unit has become something like my family in the last two years. But he ...
I can't suppress the feeling any longer. No matter how hard I try.
He means so much more to me.
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