The Red Doves

Chapter XXV

- Sit down, I'll make us some tea.

- Not for me, I'll pass, said Suziky.

- Coffee then? I also have juice if you prefer. Or wine, insisted Parker.

- She said she wants nothing, cut Alan.

Parker glared at him slightly then walked in the kitchen, where water was already boiling. Suziky kept looking at the 18 years old guy. Just like on the picture, she could clearly see his blond spiky hair spreading all over his head. He was wearing some smooth clothes – long black pants and a white shirt. When he was face to her, she could also see his strange blue and red eyes.

- Sugar? Milk? asked the young scientist.

- Natural, responded Alan.

- Just like me. What a coincidence! then said Parker, a smirk on his lips.

While Alan was focused on Parker, who was slowly pouring the water in the teacup, Suziky heard a quiet noise next to her. Moving her head to the noise, what she saw was only the entrance of another room, strangely dark. She brought back her look to what Parker was doing until another sound coming from the room caught her attention.
His head tilting just enough to see what was going on in the kitchen, another teen was staring at her. His blue deep eyes were into her brown ones and his face was totally straight. He was wearing a black jacket and jeans who were matching with his short brown hair. She opened her mouth to say something to him but he turned around and ran away, in the black room, as silent as a mouse.

- Suzy! she heard.

Suziky turned back her head to the boys. The two of them were looking at her, confused, a question mark on their faces.

- I called your name three times, continued Alan. Are you ok?

- Yea, hum... I just think I saw something next to us, in the other room, only said Suziky.

- Maybe it was a mouse, or a rat. We are in a mountain after all, said Parker, sitting on a chair in front of the two criminals.

- Makes sense, said Suziky so quietly that it was almost a whisper.

- So, continued Parker, putting his hand on the table, what brought you here? I mean, there must be a reason. Am I right?

- A guy sent us here to get a kid back with us, Alan mentioned before taking a sip of his burning tea.

- Ah, I see... You are talking about Nick Afton, am I correct?

- Yes, it's him, continued Alan.

- Of course, said Parker, now looking at his hands.

He was nodding with his head, staring at his hand, and Suziky was looking at him. Parker looked back at them.

- Well, it will be his choice, restarted Parker.

- What do you mean, finally spoke Suziky.

- I found the kid at some meters down my door. He was freezing, poor guy... I brough him inside.

- Do you know why he went all his way here? asked Alan, trying to take a neutral voice.

- He never told me, continued the scientist. He only said he escaped.

Suziky was now the one looking at her hands. Alan took another quick sip of his tea and Parker sighed.

- He was alone and he had no chance to get back down the mountain without dying.

- Why did you put all these traps at the first place? asked Suziky.

- To cut myself of the others, answered Parker. I needed calm to do my creations so I moved in here. Nobody has the courage to climb here because of the cold and the traps, of course.

- So you're like... condemning yourself here for the rest of your life? then asked Alan.

- We could say that.

- And how do you get food? Water? All these furniture?

- I have a big reserve higher in the mountain, some kind of bunker. The cold keeps the food fresh and I only need to go to the village once in four months, explained the scientist.

Suziky looked at Parker. When he was speaking of all of this, a smile was brightening his face, like it was a big dream coming true to him. It warmed up the heart of the young woman to see he was happy.

- And how do you get down without getting into any traps? kept going Alan.

- I have a secured road on the other side of the mountain. I pass there. It's near the stores and it is not full of traps.

- Well thought... Really well thought, commented Suziky. I'm impressed.

- Thank you, said Parker.

- Ok, but, if we come back to the Afton..., said Alan. You said he had the choice to leave or not.

- Exactly.

- So why didn't he leave sooner?

- I think he might feel good in here, said Suziky for Parker. A warm and safe place to live with a great scientist.

- I mean, yes. But he has a family, doesn't he?

- Why don't you ask me?

All of them turned their head to the dark room where Suziky looked before. The same teen as before was standing there, staring at them one by one.

- Nick Afton? asked Alan.

- The one and only, answered the boy.