Conniveo

Chapter 25: Irreverence

"Arye."

My heartbeat had gone erratic from the moment I heard the first door slam. I thought the Security had caught up with us. I had wanted us to go back to our dimension earlier, but Koli told me that the plan was to remain hidden here in the slums until Diella could send the men for the final part of the escape plan. That final part was actually supposed to be for Kana's safety, just to make sure she got out of this situation okay. I was free to go, but I decided not to because she said I could go with her to Diella's manor to get one of the stabilizer things for Greg. There was a good chance that even if we tripped back, Greg would develop the same problems as last time. Now, seeing the person standing at the door, I wasn't sure whether to be relieved or scared. Because Kana's brother looked seriously pissed. He was staring at his sister like he wanted to rip her head off, but he didn't move. Nobody moved. It looked like nobody even dared to breathe.

Tobi, who was still crouched behind the couch with the gun, looked across at Kana. He seemed unsure of what to do. It couldn't be an easy thing to consider, shooting someone you thought was dangerous in front of his sister. Arye looked from Kana to me. He tipped his head downwards, causing his facial features to darken. He spoke with a calm low voice.

"Within the hour, the Security would raid this building in search of those two. But before that happens, I am going to kill all of you."

I raised my eyebrows in surprise and before I could do anything, Koli pushed me back and darted forward. Arye moved from the door quickly as Tobi fired a shot. I stumbled backwards and could barely make out his movements. Within the blink of an eye, he had Koli by the neck and held her body between himself and Tobi. Tobi looked defeated for a moment, but then he stood up straight and raised his gun to his line of sight, pointed at Arye. I didn't think he was going to shoot Koli, but the look on his face made me reconsider. Arye glared at him as Koli choked and fought to free herself from his grip. But I could see that Arye's grip was firm, and her attempt at putting up a fight was fading fast.

"Go ahead. Fire your weapon," Arye growled. "I'll be gone from here before your shot leaves your gun"

"You're fast, but not that fast," Tobi replied.

"You criminals have misled my sister, tarnished my family's reputation and led to my mother's hospitalization. I don't care if I get grazed by a few bullets."

He was dead serious. I looked at Koli, whose struggle had watered down to flimsy flails at Arye's arm. Arye maintained his grip but then Kana stepped forward to face him.

"Arye, stop! How...how did you find me?"

"There has been a search for you spanning practically the entire Lower West Quadrant. Someone who had seen my broadcast for information related to your whereabouts reported sighting you entering this building. I got to you first because the contact details provided were for me, though I made it seem like they were for the Security. But right now, Security is also looking for you, as well as those two," he said, nodding towards me and Greg.

"I'll go with you, Arye. Just let her go."

"Of course you will come with me. But before you do, I must rid you of this pack of liars and criminals. I cannot risk leaving them to mislead or come after you in future."

"Nobody misled me, Arye. I did what I did of my own free will."

"You did not. They have neurologically reprogrammed you, Kana. They made you think you did this of your own free will, because your mind has been invaded, and ideas have been placed within it. The Kana I know would never associate with strangers, not to speak of otherworld intruders."

"Then it is obvious you do not know me well enough, for those are highly outrageous - Let Koli go right now!"

Arye looked from Kana to Koli, who had stopped struggling and begun to turn blue. As he released her, he moved so quickly from his location that all I saw was a blur. The next thing I saw was Tobi being knocked across the room and his gun flying in the air. Arye punched Tobi with such speed that the man had no time to react. Within seconds, Tobi was unconscious and Arye was back to his original position. He kicked Koli across the stomach and she coughed out and rolled across the room until her body was stopped by the couch. Kana stared in shock at Koli and Tobi, and then brought her gaze back to her brother.