Mind Games

Chapter 28

"Hands up. Don't move." A voice said behind me. I could feel a gun pressed up against my back. I put my hands up slowly, amazed. What else could go wrong? "I'm not here to cause trouble." I started to say before getting cut off. "Not another word until we get to headquarters. You can explain who you are there." The man said jabbing the gun deeper into my back. "Okay is the gun really necessary?" I said, getting annoyed by this guy. "Move it." He motioned me towards the village. I wanted to turn around and get a glimpse of who was jamming the gun in my back, but he wouldn't let me. "Listen, I'm not here to cause trouble. I need you guys help. Would you just hear me out?" I asked, trying to reason with him. He didn't say anything. "What's your name? My names Cole, it's nice to meet you." I said trying to make conversation; still nothing. I gave up. I looked around at all the people whose eyes were now fixed on me. "Good talk." I said, smiling at the people nearby. We got up to a building. It was two stories high, made out of brick. Completely out of place from the rest of the village. The man lowered the gun and stepped aside to talk one of the guards at the door. The guard looked over at me for a second, and nodded to the other guy. The guy turned back to me and motioned me to go inside. "This way, follow me." The man said, pointing down the hallway. We walked down the hallway in silence, our shoes echoing as they hit the floor. We stopped in front of a door and the man knocked. We waited in silence. I finally was able to get a glimpse of the man; he was tall, pale white skin, buzz cut, and tattoos down his arms. He was built, and it was clear that he could overpower me in a second.

The door opened slowly, and the man pushed me, signaling me to enter the room. I looked up to see Katrina standing in the corner leaning up against the wall. Did she know these people, was she part of the set up? Was this a set up? "Katrina." I said, but before I could get anything else out a woman began talking. "Welcome, Cole. We've been waiting for your arrival." A woman began speaking. Her chair was turned so I couldn't see her. "Sit down. Get comfortable. It's been a long journey for you I hear." The woman said. I looked at Katrina in confusion. "I'll stand thank you." I said. "I wasn't asking you. I was telling you." The woman's voice got colder. "Cole just do what she says. Trust me." Katrina said. She looked at me, almost like she was trying to communicate with her mind. I looked at her and back at the ladies chair. I sighed and took a seat. The ladies chair spun around. She had red hair, glasses, and played the part of someone with higher authority well. "I believe we've met before. My name is Isabella Sharper." She said. I looked up when she said that. She stared me in the eyes, no expression on her face. "Mom?" I said, my voice cracking. "Yes, Cole. I am your mother." She said, breaking the tension in the room. I looked over at Katrina, who was smiling. "I've been waiting for the day when you found me. I knew it was only a matter of time before they started hunting you." Isabella said. "Wait so you knew they were after me?" I said, still in shock. "That's why I had to leave. I couldn't afford to put you and Luke at risk." She said. "Yeah well, that didn't work." I said, leaning back in the chair. "But I knew you were different, like me. I knew you would survive and find me." Isabella said. "That's all you're worried about? That I found you? Do you have any idea how many people risked their lives protecting me?" I could hear my voice getting louder. "Cole, that's enough." Katrina said, pushing herself off of the wall, getting ready to intervene. "Stay out of this Katrina." I said to her before she could do anything else. "Do you have any idea how many people died making sure that I got here? You left; you left me to figure out all this shit on my own. I'm 16 years old; I don't know how to do this. I can't do this." I said, I couldn't control my anger any longer. I was losing control. "Are you done yet?" Isabella said, in a calm voice. She leaned into the desk that divided us and crossed her arms. "I'm sorry you had to go through all of that, Cole. But it was all part of the test." Isabella explained. "What test?" I said. I was curious. "To see if you're strong enough. Our mission is to take down the hunters headquarters. Wipe them out of all existence. Damien, Katrina, all of them are part of the test." Isabella said. "Bullshit." I slammed my fist on the desk. "Damien died saving me. For a stupid test?" I asked. "He died protecting his own." Isabella said. "Bullshit." I said standing up. "What kind of deranged person puts people's lives in danger for some test?" My voice got louder. "Cole, calm down." Katrina said, placing her hand on my arm. I pushed it away in frustration. "Don't touch me. Don't even talk to me." I snapped at Katrina. "Cole, I get that you're angry." Isabella began to say. "I'm not angry. I'm pissed off. I'm confused; I don't get how my own mother could do all this to her own son, just to destroy something." I said. "Why don't we just talk it over in the morning?" Isabella tried to reason with me. "I want to go home. I want to just forget about all of this. I want my life back." I said, trying so hard not to show my frustration. "Kaleb show Cole to his room please." Isabella said. "We'll talk in the morning, Cole." She turned her chair back around facing the wall. She didn't say another word. "That's all you have to say?" I said, wanting an answer. She didn't respond. "Answer me, god dammit. What kind of a mother leaves her kid hanging." I voice was rising again. Still no response. "God dammit answer me." I said pounding my fists into the table. But she still didn't acknowledge me, meaning the conversation was done for the night. I gave up, turning around and walking towards the door. The guy that escorted me to the room earlier, followed me out. I assumed his name was Kaleb. I stopped in the doorway, "You were never my mother you know, you never were and you never will be." I said coldly before disappearing down the hall, Kaleb following close behind.