The Immaculate

Chapter 9

(Nick)

After hearing Flavius and Zealion speak, Carleya and I have a quiet afternoon and evening at home. We eat our dinner and talk about random things. Suddenly, there is a banging on the door. I stand up to open it but before I can, the door crashes open, and guards flood in. They surround us and put their guns in our backs.

I have no clue what's happening, and I catch Carleya's eyes. She just shrugs and I start to feel nervous. I've always been skittish. I've been afraid of something for most of my life. By now, I should be used to being hurt and betrayed. It's hard for me to let people in or to trust people. It never came naturally to me. I'm always on my guard and I am careful never to give away anything that could be used against me. I'm no stranger to being blackmailed.

They lead us out the door and to a small dark building behind their sector base. It is dark outside now and it has to be at least nine or ten. The guards split into two groups. One takes Carleya into a room and the others lead me into another room.

On my way, I catch a glimpse of Greyson and Kateros being led into different rooms. I catch Kateros's eyes and she looks terrified. Inside the room, the guards sit me down in a cold metal chair behind a table. The guards spread out around the edges of the room. I am nervous and a little scared I'm not sure what's going on. Something I've gotten used to ever since I got here. The guards don't say a word so I don't either, I sit in the chair and they watch me for several minutes.

Eventually, I hear footsteps outside the door. I see the shadow of a figure outside and I wait nervously. My palms start to sweat and I know that I haven't done anything wrong. So, why am I here? The door creaks open and a tall figure steps in. There is barely any light in here so I can't make out his face.

"Don't mention this to anyone." The man says in a deep commanding voice.

"Mention what?" I say wryly.

"Thatta boy." He says laughing dryly and almost menacingly.

I'm starting to get scared. I don't know what to say so I don't say anything. I've found that it is usually the best response. If you don't want to die keep your mouth shut, that's what Zane, my adoptive father, always said to me before he beat me.

I have always been a survivor and I learned to hold my tongue and hide my emotions at a young age. No one wants an emotional talky kid. So, I keep my mouth shut and I show the emotions people want from me. I am rarely myself around anyone. Only a select few people have ever had a glimpse of the real me.

I watch as he turns and flips a switch. Suddenly, a bunch of lights flickers on and I see that his face is covered with a scarf and I still cannot make out who he is. He slowly unwraps the scarf from around his face. When I see his face in the light I have to look twice.

I hardly recognize him and I don't want to recognize him either. I see him smile but not in a nice way. More like a threatening, mean way. I never thought I'd see him again and I never really wanted to. He was one of the reasons why I was glad to come here.

I look at him waiting for his next words. I hear his throaty deep laugh I always hated. It always makes me feel like he is mocking me when he laughs like that. Then he starts to speak again with a fake smile and a wicked gleam in his eyes. I stare back at him blankly with my jaw set.

"Good to see you too, brother, did you miss me?"

No, it can't be him. He can't be here. This has to be a nightmare. I am in complete denial but I know that this is no dream. I can feel the cold metal chair underneath me and the chillier night air in the room. It's weird everywhere we go here is around the same temperature no matter what time of day. Every day is sunny here. It's a little freaky honestly.