“Where is Audrey?” Durwood stared impatiently at Belle.

Belle couldn't respond.

“Find her or our little deal is over.” Durwood took a deep breath as he returned to his vehicle. 

The driver continued down the road and Belle stood motionless, lost in thought. Suddenly she ran back to the compound and inside of the manor. She remembered that Audrey was planning on stealing a control band before escaping and headed straight to Durwoods’ office. Too late, the safe was already open and the spare control band was gone. But the thief left the window open. Belle ran to the window and saw Audrey climbing into the back of a truck. Belle leaped in after the escapee. 

“Lets go”, she ordered with arms crossed.

Audrey was foiled and immediately began pleading. “Please Belle, just come with me. I can deactivate your collar now. And I know someone who can take the collar completely off once we reach Harristown.”

Belle refused to listen and took hold of Audrey by the hand. As she turned to leave, Audrey ripped away from the hold and held up her arm to her chin. Belle’s reflexes were faster as she took a hold of Audrey once more, this time the other hand and pulled her off the truck. Audrey broke free again.

 “Stop! If you don't want to be free then fine. But you can't keep me here!”

The commotion was sure to draw attention. Just what Belle wanted. Witnesses would help her remove the defiant child without risking her deal with Durwood. Audrey could hear people coming with more cargo to load. She turned and jumped back into the truck but Belle grabbed her leg. While stumbling; Audrey tried to resist, but had no hope of matching Belle’s strength. The defiant child threw a tantrum as the grip remained unchanged. The workers were close. Audrey reached for her control band.

“Get off”. She made eye contact as she raised her arm to her chin. “CC:...”.

Belle loosened her grip. Audrey got back into the truck with a feeling of shame and guilt for having to resort to such measures. 

“Freedom by any means.” Audrey whispered to herself mimicking her mothers’ comforting voice. 

Before she could turn back to apologize, Belle had already boarded the truck. 

“Sorry.” 

Belle beat her to the apology as she lifted Audrey into the air. This time Audrey became more desperate as the workers neared. 

“Shock”. Audrey whispered the command into her wrist. 

Belle stiffened as dull buzzing emitted from the collar. Her body dropped onto the cargo boxes. Audrey tried to shove her out of the truck but it was too late. She hid from the workers as they sealed the door and locked the latch from the outside. 

“Looks like you're coming with me after all.” Audrey smiled with a bittersweet grin. She knew Belle would be upset when she awoke, but Audrey promised that she would protect her no matter what. The truck started for the main road to Harristown.

The population of Harristown had doubled in one day. Under any other circumstance, the trading post settlement would be bustling with commerce. But on this day, the tiny town had made its final transaction. The lives of many for the life of one; and Holder would broker this trade.

With the scar on his neck revealed, most of the townsfolk had already retreated to their homes for safety. Their fear saved them from the initial attack that flattened the surrounding crowd. Holder thrashed about like a wild animal. He knew that losing control would completely drain him but he didn’t care. People and vehicles alike were pushed, smashed and thrown into the ash. The surrounding area was upheaved, leaving only the old slave and himself untouched. Holder could not face her. The voice still echoed in his mind. Zion. 

Holder rolled her gently into a hole deep enough for a grave. Ash rained from above the hole like sand escaping a fist until it was filled. The collar served as her gravestone. In the moment of silence, Holder felt a shape forming in his mind. Something similar happened when he fought the raiders in the desert. It was like his own hands were protecting him. But they were massive, big enough for him to hold two trucks. Holder looked back at the vehicles marked Durwood Estate, floating in the air behind him. The doors on the truck to the left burst open to release 6 mercenaries. When their boots hit the ground, they broke into pairs and took cover behind buildings and vehicle debris. The mercenaries opened fire on Holder.

Bullets ripped past Holders’ defenses. Just like that psycho with the grenade. Special bullets like these could not be blocked with his power alone but there was always another way. Holder knew that catching each bullet was impossible. He moved the left truck between himself and the gun fire. The mercenaries were already on the move. Holder spotted 2 of them on top of a roof. The truck crashed into the roof and inside the building. But the remaining 4 had surrounded Holder. Before they could shoot, Holder moved the truck on the right into a defensive position. 

Wait!

A cry for help jumped into his mind. The voice was not familiar, but he could tell it was coming from inside the truck. Holder dropped the truck and reached for the raiders motorbike. Bullets tore into the bike as Holder desperately held on. His power was almost completely exhausted. He noticed his pack lying on the ground and flung it at the mercenaries. The fuel cells were hit. An electromagnetic wave of force knocked Holder flat on the ground. The mercenaries were pushed back several feet and knocked unconscious. Holder got up to finish off the hired guns but was too drained. He resolved to end the last 4 with his bare hands. The driver watched from the other truck lying on its side. The passenger of the truck began scrambling to exit. Holder ran towards the truck before the men could finish crawling out. He leapt into the air landing on the door, crushing one man with the door and the other with the weight of the vehicle. The back door of the truck flew open. Before any more attackers could emerge, Holder jumped over to the back of the truck. Inside were boxes of electronic equipment; various wires and parts had spilled into a pile and buried two young girls underneath. One girl was moving and dug her way out of the pile to meet Holder’s eyes. 

Audrey reached out for Holder. He lifted her from the back of the truck. They held the embrace a few moments after her feet reached the ground. The second girl surfaced. 

Thanks.

Holder recognized her as the voice from earlier and began to question what circumstances led her and Audrey to Harristown. Audrey watched as Holder and Belle conversed in private without a sound. She knew that they were talking with their minds. Beauty called it the ‘Connection’ and explained that everyone could use it. The only problem was  that the slavers couldn't hear it. Feeling left out, she began to explain her daring escape to Holder. Belle finished her side of the story and waited patiently for Audrey to run out of breath. The thrilling escape concluded with, “So can you remove her collar just like you did yours?” Audrey waited eagerly for a response.

Before Holder could speak, Belle answered for him. “No. You can’t remove it until…”

“Your father is keeping her child hostage.” Holder interjected.

Audrey wasn't surprised, but the truth still shook her. Belle went on to explain and apologize to Audrey. Master Durwood had selected her as a replacement for Beauty and also purchased her child. Belle was taken to Durwood estate and the child was shipped to Windhelm estate.

“Windhelm”, Audrey spat out the name in disgust. 

Belle continued, “He promised that if I could stop you from leaving he would bring my child to me.”

Audrey sunk low into herself. Holder placed a hand onto her shoulder. She was lost in regret until she realized  a simple solution. “We just have to get your kid ourselves”. Belle looked on in disbelief.

“If Holder helps, I’m sure we can, “ Audrey searched for Holders; eyes. He did not falter, but turned away as he spoke.

“I have to keep going south.” Holder faced the direction of the metal mountains.

Audrey stepped around to block his view. “Please, the Windhelm estate is just southeast of here; we can save the child then you can head south and I’ll head north.”

Holder agreed in silence. Belle thanked him from the bottom of her heart. Before Audrey could lead the way to Windhelm estate, more Durwood trucks had arrived. It was the same as before. 2 trucks, one with supplies and the other with 6 hired guns. Holder crushed the van full of mercenaries like a tin can before boots could even touch the ground. Audrey shuts her eyes and ears to block out the screams. Holder drops to one knee in exhaustion. Belle notices the driver and passenger of the other truck trying to escape and decides to use her own powers. With the collar deactivated, she is able to sing a siren's song that leaves her target sleeping in the ash. The slave, the runner and the heiress to an estate board the vehicle and head towards Windhelm estate.

Back at the Durwood Estate, the master of the grounds was calculating the financial loss he had incurred so far. Durwood was a genius at predictive mathematics and had even determined the net gain from stopping the Harristown runner. He factored in every possible figure, from gas in the trucks to the number of mercenaries killed in action. He even factored in Audrey’s escape. The agreement with the Windhelm plantation was based solely on the marriage of the heirs of the respective estates. Without that, the contract is null. A timid little man in a lab coat emerges into the Durwood office, “Master Durwood…I have the updates for you”.

Master Durwood stared out the window with his back to the scientist ,“Go on”. 

The timid man stumbled over his report. “Brain activity has been confirmed...but there is a problem.”

“Yes?” Durwood was growing more agitated by the second.

Sensing the frustration, the little man spat out the rest of his message. “Due to the micro EMP, his body is in a complete vegetative state.” 

The man sunk into his lab coat expecting an explosive reaction, but Durwood only responded with a calm sighing question. “Have you restored the relics I recently purchased during my business trip?”

Stunned by the composure, The timid man answered after a brief moment of hesitation. “Yessir”.

“Then it sounds to me like that won’t be a problem.” Calm was replaced with condescending as Durwood spoke.

While timid, the mad was still a brilliant scientist and was able to connect the dots quickly. “I understand sir.”

However Durwood was growing weary of the tiresome conversation. “Good, how long?”

The man shoved his hands into the lab coat as he calculated…”At least 4 days  sir, maybe more…”

Durwood finally turned to face the man. “You have 1 day.” 

The scientist shuddered as he turned to leave the office. Durwood watched as the man squirmed out of the door, then returned to his view outside the window. He lifted his arm and activated the screen on his control band. A GPS revealed a single red dot heading southeast of Harristown. The master smirked, “Good work Belle”.