Ark (#Wattys2016)

Negotiations And Realizations

"To not do what you can to protect someone, that's cowardly."

-Jodi Lynn Anderson

I liked to think that I could handle just about anything. Nearly killed by a vampire? Survived that. Taken hostage by said vampire? No problem. Shot at by goons in suits? Barely even flinched. But seeing my best friend, my brother, being held hostage with a gun pressed to his side? I couldn't handle that. I couldn't handle that at all.

Zane's jaw was clenched in anger as he tried to keep a brave face. His bottom lip was busted and his left cheek was red and swollen. He had a fresh cut over his left eyebrow that trailed a small stream of blood down the left side of his face. His hands were zip tied together in front of him and his wrists were raw from where he had tried to break free. He winced as his captor jabbed him once more in the ribs with the barrel of his handgun. I noticed a silver Bluetooth earpiece on Zane's ear, flashing a small blue light.

"Who the hell are you and what do you want?" I asked again, my voice a menacing growl. My hands were clenched into tight fists and my glare was fixed on the man with the scar. The man leaned back in the chair and crossed his left leg over his knee with a lazy shrug, like this was his apartment and we were his guests.

"People call me Perch and that's my associate, you can call him Cobb. I just want back what you stole from me." he replied simply with a carefree tone. I swallowed and shook my head.

"I don't know what you're talking about. I've never stolen anything in my life. You've got the wrong guy." I played dumb, trying to buy time. My eyes darted across the room, looking for anything that I could use as a weapon. I found nothing. Perch rolled his eyes and gave me a disappointed look.

"Really, Paxton? You seemed like such a good liar back at Rebirth Genetics. That whole intern bit you fed the secretary to get in? That was good. That was smart. Kudos for that, son." he gave me a dramatic clap and a thumbs up before clicking his tongue. "Letting her make a copy of your driver's license, however? That was not smart."

My head began to ache at my temples like they did when Zane was trying to talk to me telepathically. I looked to Zane to see his eyebrows furrowed in frustration. He winced in pain as a small trickle of blood dripped from his nose. I remembered that Jasmine had told me that Zane got nosebleeds when he used his powers too much.

A yell of pain escaped his lips and he stumbled forward, his bound hands going to his head like he had a migraine. Cobb grabbed him by the arm and violently yanked him back to his feet. I stepped forward, ready to throw a punch, only to be stopped when Perch rose from the chair and stepped in front of me. I froze when Cobb, held the gun to Zane's head, cocking it. Speaking for the first time in a thick Russian accent, he threatened, "One more step, and you'll be scraping your friend's brains off the walls."

Zane's eyes were clenched shut and he was breathing heavily. I raised my hands in the air and took a step back. Cobb nodded in satisfaction and lowered the gun so that it was once again pressed into Zane's side. Perch looked back and forth at all of us before nodding.

"I would suggest that you do not attempt to speak telepathically again." he warned us. He turned to my friend and tapped the earpiece he was wearing. Zane jerked his head away quickly, earning him a disapproved look and another jab of the gun. Perch looked back to me and said, "The earpiece projects a frequency that interferes with the ones telepaths use to communicate; acting like a radio jammer of sorts. We wanted to make sure that the pretty boy over here didn't try to warn you."

"How did you-" I began, my eyebrows furrowing in confusion.

"Know he was a telepath? Lets just say we got an helpful tip from a mutual acquaintance." he chuckled darkly. I felt sick to my stomach, hoping he wasn't saying what I thought he was saying; a mole in Ark. Perch sighed and sat down on the arm of the couch, rubbing his hands together. "Well then, back to business. If you return what you stole from Rebirth Genetics, I'll return you're little telepath. A simple trade is all I'm asking for. Nobody needs to get hurt and no one else needs to be involved. How does that sound?"