Axel Light Trilogy: Wands and Shield

Chapter 06

'He is not at home,' said Finlay.

Linden glared at Stanley and Finlay menacingly. He pinched the bridge of his nose.

'I had one job for you. To make sure that Axel Light was transferred safely to the Greens. And where is he now?!' seethed Linden angrily, 'One boy... one boy who does not have a wand, does not know magic, not a hundred percent fit... could escape through the grasps of highly skilled MaxPols?!'

'Everyone is on the case right now,' said Finlay edgily, 'We have pivoted to this case from the...'

Linden slammed his hands on the desk.

'Everyone should be on this case right at the beginning,' said Linden bitterly, 'Stanley!'

'I take full responsibility,' said Stanley briskly.

He did not dare to look at Linden. He fixed his eyes on the wall behind Linden. He glanced at the clock. It had been four hours since Axel Light had gone missing. How could he had escaped through their fingers, right under their noses?

They thought that he was unwell, so they had let their guards down on him. They were more worried about people getting close to him. Stanley had never thought that Axel had wanted to escape. Axel had never hinted that he wanted to. No clues, no warnings. They had genuinely thought he had needed help medically.

They thought that he had been looking forward to being at the Greens, having finally been allowed to leave the hospital.

Where could he hide for so many hours all on his own and on the run? His most likely accomplice would be Elliot, but Elliot was distraught and had no idea why Axel had run away as well.

According to the information that MaxPol had, Axel had no one else to help him.

'I think he will either go home or try to get a wand,' suggested Stanley warily, 'He had been asking for a wand many times.'

'But he can't get a wand here, in Stirling...' started Finlay but his voice trailed.

Linden was pensive, tapping his fingers on the desk. He knew that Stanley might be right, but he refused to believe him. What if Axel was now in Xeliq and not in Stirling. They would be in a wild goose chase if they just focused on Stirling.

'I'll ask Rowen to dispatch a team in Xeliq, at least to the Old Quarters,' said Linden curtly, 'No one is resting until Axel Light is found. Move.'

'Yes, Commissioner Linden!' barked Stanley and Finlay.

*

'We are all running away or hiding from somethin'...'

Axel woke up and shot right up. He knocked his forehead on someone else's forehead.

'Ouch!' grimaced a girl's voice.

Axel had no voice, and his head was spinning. He tried to speak but nothing came out from his mouth. A soft hand was on his forehead.

'You are burning,' muttered the same voice that had grimaced earlier, 'Here, take this.'

A pill was pushed into his mouth and then a bottle of water. Axel gulped the pill down – round and large like a chewing gum, and then he splashed himself with the rest of the water in the bottle, some on his face and eyes.

'Why didn't you bandage his arms?! I think they are dirty now! That's why he has a fever!' said the girl angrily at some other figures hovered over him.

Some shadows shrugged at him.

'I donno...' muttered a course voice, still shrugging, 'That's why I called you, Nelly.'