Revelations of a Grey Coat Hunter

4

     After the two Hunters (which they'd assured the twins was a title with a capital H) had somehow neutralized both of their powers, the twins had been too stunned to do anything besides grab their suitcases and meekly follow them back to their waiting car. As they walked, they'd been told that Arthur and Conrad worked for some Foundation that specialized in supernatural powers and creatures they called Artifacts, also capitalized. The twins obviously fell within their jurisdiction. They wouldn't be harmed as long as they cooperated, but since they'd already killed three people, had had just tried to kill Arthur and Conrad? Well, something needed to be done. It was best that they simply came along, and their questions would be answered. If they tried to run, they'd be killed instantly. All of this, with the two Hunters walking ahead, their backs to the twins, not seeming to care at all that the two could run off.

     Granted, there seemed little point, considering the two Hunters had neutralized their powers with no visible effort and carried enough firepower to kill them several times over. Neither twin had even considered it. They held tight to each other's hand, offering what support they could. The wheeled suitcases they dragged behind them created clouds of dust on the dirt road that nearly buried the twins, following them and the two strange men back to a perfectly ordinary four-door sedan. Arthur and Conrad hadn't lifted a finger to help. They'd unlocked the vehicle, popped the back, informed the twins to toss their belongings in, and climbed in the front. That's where they waited while Monty and Maddy followed orders and climbed into the seat behind them, never questioning their obedience. Since then, they'd been driving. Other than the engine and the traffic noise, it was silent in the car. Arthur was behind the wheel. Conrad was brooding in the passenger seat. Monty and Maddy were hunched in the back, waiting. But nothing happened. They'd traveled in complete silence for half an hour until they'd reached a convenience store. Conrad had pumped gas there while Arthur headed in to get snacks and use the facilities.

     The fact that the twins hadn't gotten out of the car irritated Arthur when he returned. "Pee while the peeing is good," he announced. "No idea when we'll stop next. And do get something to eat. Don't worry about paying for it. Conrad's got it covered."

     "You're not worried we're going to run?" Maddy had asked nervously, getting out to follow Conrad.

     "You have nowhere to run," was all the Hunter had said.

     That was it. The two Hunters hadn't even remarked on the fact that the store clerk commented about Conrad "forgetting something." Obviously, the clerk was seeing Arthur and Conrad as the same person. Monty had been sure the grouchy Hunter would say something about that, but Conrad had simply paid for their purchases and fuel in cash and gone out. It made Monty wonder what would happen if the clerk looked at the outside security camera and saw both men at the same time. Then again, he'd probably think they were twins.

     The actual appearance of the two Hunters hadn't changed. Since the moment he'd thrown his fire and Maddy had tried to use her powers, both twins had no trouble seeing the Hunters exactly as they apparently were, even though the odd effect obviously still worked on others. Now, after another hour in the car with absolutely no one talking to anyone else, Monty was about to ask exactly what caused others to see the Hunters differently when Maddy exploded.

     "What is wrong with you people?!" she practically shrieked. "You told us if we came with you, we'd get some answers, but no one is saying a word. We're here, ready to talk. So talk to us?"

     "Oh, now you want to talk?" Conrad marveled. "Funny. We came out all this way to talk, but you decided instead to throw fireballs at us and try to turn us inside out."

     "That does rather lend itself against friendly conversation," Arthur agreed.

     "Yeah, but after that, you said we'd get answers," Maddy pointed out.