The Protectors

Chapter 12 - The Hunt

Since Miguel's passing and Victor taking away Izumi's powers, a few days had elapsed at HQ. The entire team had been pushing themselves to the limit, training harder than ever before. They all believed that they needed to become stronger. This dedication was evident in their combat skills and endurance training. Izumi had kept her power loss a secret from everyone, and no one suspected a thing. She remained one of the most formidable fighters at the camp, second only to Jacob and Marvin, thanks to her sheer strength and honed abilities.

It was now midday, and Emile was walking alongside Lola on their way to Mrs. Hemley's place. Lola turned her head towards Emile and asked, "Have you spoken to him?" Emile replied, "Yeah, it's strange. It's more like a thought, but when I tried to communicate, he told me he's still not ready to come out yet. He gets angry and blames me for his current state, saying that if I weren't so weak, he wouldn't be in this situation." Emile was annoyed by Rage's words, but Lola found it amusing. "He certainly has a way with words," she remarked, causing Emile to chuckle. "Honestly, Lo, he could be a poet," Emile added.

Changing the subject, Emile asked Lola, "How have you been? I feel like I haven't seen much of you in the past couple of days." Lola frowned and replied, "Yeah, I know. A lot is happening right now. The smaller protector camps, the ones with only 5-10 non-powered individuals, have been under attack all across the country. There's talk of relocating everyone here since this is the main headquarters in the UK." Lola knew she shouldn't be sharing this information with Emile, considering their ranks, but she trusted him not to disclose it to anyone else. Emile absorbed the information and drifted off into his thoughts. "What's on your mind?" Lola asked. Emile responded, "They're trying to eliminate us, aren't they? Ever since the emergence of awares, the only thing preventing them from wreaking havoc and devouring people is us." He almost laughed as he spoke. "It's insane, they're mad."

Every time Emile spoke, Lola was captivated by his words. "You're right. I mean, I think you're right. We need to adapt soon. We can't continue like this," she expressed. Emile inquired about Lance and Luna, "Any sign of Luna?" Lola hesitated to respond, feeling unsure about sharing the information. Emile noticed her hesitation and reassured her, "Don't tell me if you think you shouldn't, Lola. I'll be fine." Although he meant it, Lola couldn't help but feel guilty. She finally revealed, "Luna is with them." Emile stopped walking, shocked by the revelation. "She's with the man who killed her Captain?" he exclaimed. Lola nodded, expressing her belief that Luna might be manipulated. She understood how much Luna meant to Emile. Curious about their whereabouts, Emile asked, "Where are they?" Lola informed him, "Klay has been tailing them for days. He currently has eyes on them in Manchester." Emile resumed walking, now only 50 meters away from Mrs. Hemley's house. Determined, he declared, "I want to go and bring her back." Lola smirked mischievously and replied, "Funny you should mention that. There might just be a mission today." She whispered, "You'll have to help me get on it, Lo." Emile's seriousness was evident, and Lola understood. She promised, "I'll do my best, but I can't make any guarantees, okay?" Emile smiled gratefully at her and said, "Thank you, I appreciate you." He turned to face her and planted a kiss on her lips. They arrived at Mrs. Hemley's door, and Emile knocked. "Come in," Mrs. Hemley called out. Emile opened the door and entered, finding a hallway filled with boxes as they made their way to the front room.

Lola glanced around the room, noticing Mrs. Hemley's frantic cleaning. "What's happening?" she asked curiously. Mrs. Hemley paused for a moment, still bustling about. "What do you mean, dear?" she replied, her voice filled with a sense of urgency. Lola's confusion grew as she observed the boxes scattered around the room. "Are you moving out?" she questioned, unsure of what was going on. Mrs. Hemley had always been there since Lola arrived, so the idea of her leaving seemed strange. Emile, who had been silently observing, spoke up. "What did you see, Mrs. Hemley?" he inquired, his eyes studying her closely. Mrs. Hemley stopped in her tracks, turning to face him before settling into her armchair. "Sit down, both of you," she instructed, gesturing to the opposite sofa. They complied, taking a seat as Mrs. Hemley began to speak. "I'll be leaving soon," she revealed, surprising them both. "So make sure to visit me every day before I go, alright?" The shock on their faces was evident as they exchanged a glance. Lola couldn't help but ask, "Where are you going?" Mrs. Hemley smiled, her answer cryptic. "I don't know yet. We'll see, won't we?" Suddenly, she snapped back into cleaning mode, ushering them towards the front door. As they stepped outside, Lola couldn't help but comment, "That was strange." Emile nodded in agreement. "Very strange. Do you think Victor sent her away?" he wondered aloud, hoping Lola might have some insight. She shook her head. "I have no idea, but I'll try to find out," she assured him. "Anyway, let's race back. The last one to arrive has to do 100 press-ups." With that, Lola took off, leaving Emile behind. But he wasn't going to let her win so easily. As he chased after her, he couldn't deny the growing feelings he had for her.