A Hero in the Dark: 2nd Edition

Chapter 90: Return of the Psychopath

~ Number Four's POV ~

Em's asleep, spent and sated, though I have this awful ache in the pit of my stomach that I just committed some grave sin. But before I can consider it for long, a buzz emits followed by a clanking noise, and we jump to find two men outside the cell: a guard and... Karlsson, that fucker. I freeze when I meet his eyes.

"Greger," I spit. "The hell are you doing here."

"Stupid question, Smith," he bites back. "I'm the liaison, and this is Earth Garde HQ."

I say nothing, staring at him; he's as smug as can be. I don't realize my Lumen light up in my palms until Em tugs on my shirt. John, she thinks. Don't.

I take a breath, a silent breath so Greger can't overhear and swallow my rage down 'till my Lumen fades out. Karlsson steps in; the guard does not.

Instinctively, I put Em behind me and make sure she stays that way. "Why're you here?" she asks, peering around me from my right.

Karlsson's only response is an odd chuckle, shining white teeth in our direction. "I'm here for you, Emily," he says, and my heart drops.

"You're not getting her, Greger. I don't care who you are; I won't let you touch her."

"I will have her, Smith," he persists. "I don't care what alien powers you have or what I need to do. I'll have her."

"For what?" Em asks before I can.

Karlsson smiles. "You'll see soon enough." Em takes a small step back as Karlsson steps forward. I step up to meet him, a fire raging in my belly.

"I'm warning you; stay away from her. You might not care what you do, but I'll tell you one thing: I don't care about the Garde Accord. I won't let you touch her."

But what about you? I hear Em ask in my head. I don't want anything to happen to you because I refused to do what he says. Nothing can happen to him.

"So be it," Karlsson says and lunges forward. I sidestep him and ignite my Lumen. I ready a fireball, but before I throw it, Karlsson swings a right hook to my temple. He's quick, much quicker than I remember him being, almost nimble, spry, and he twirls his leg like a break-dancer might before reaching out for me.

I pull on him with telekinesis, as if there's a rope tied to his waist, and yank him back. I clutch the rim of his vest and drag him a foot or two away to the gate of my cell.

He's stronger than I remember too, somehow. He fights better than he did, thrashes out violently, and no matter how hard I hold him—in a death grip—he elbows me in the stomach and is free in seconds. I stutter to my knees, reeling, feeling as though I might throw up but trying not to. He has me in a headlock before I can orient myself, and out of the corner of my eye, I spot the light burn of Em's ergokinesis.

From the old man's waist, he yanks out a blade. "No!" Em shouts, but when he puts it up to my throat, she freezes.

I stare at her, a look of what I hope is resolve, not fear. She needs to bring this man to heel. I know she can do it; she did it before. I don't want to resort Em to her old ways, but... I need her to do this. I want to be back in her arms, safe; I want her to be mine.

There are tears in the corners of her eyes, and I know instantly that she won't do it, not if it means putting me in harm's way. "I wouldn't do that if I were you!" Karlsson shouts behind me. "Don't even dare use your powers with me! If I see you use any of them, I'll run him through." I hold my breath, too afraid to let it go. "Both of you."

Em says nothing, just stares. I set my jaw in a hard line. Do it, Em, I tell her. Do it. You can stop him. You can win. You can't let him do this again.

I can't, she says. He'll know.

Be quick, I beg her. You can do it; I know you can.

Her mouth pops open, but nothing comes out, and Greger pulls the blade into my throat; I wince as the slit of fresh blood draws out and drag in a tight gulp, eyeing only Em. Her fist lays open at her side, frozen, but blue.

Like it was when we were alone, I feel her around me—her energy, her aura, her vibe—twisting and pulling my consciousness, but hopefully the old man's aura more.

Greger pulls on my hair. I cry out and grit my teeth. "Don't do it," he warns, his voice somewhat strained. "Don't fuck with me. Stand down and get on your knees."

"No," I screech. "Keep—Keep going..."

"Shut up, Smith! Why don't ya let her decide?! So? Emily? You or him?"

"John... I can't."

"You can." She needs to. There's no way I can teleport without seeing where I want to land. I can't do this without her.

"Please, let him go. I'll do whatever you want," she says. "Just let him go."

"I'm running out of patience," Greger spits, oddly in a tone of half malice and half appreciation. "Either you surrender, or I kill him. I will do it, ya know!"

Do it, Emily! I beg. Please! Take a deep breath, and it—it'll be over.

I want it to be.

Then do it. Do it—Do it for me... for Lorien...

I see she's thinking, weighing the odds, evaluating the possibilities, measuring out the outcome. I know that look. I've seen it in myself. I want to tell her something, anything more to convince her, but the blade's so sharp, so close... it's hard to focus on anything other than it. I close my eyes, hoping with everything that Em will pull through.

It isn't until later that she's screaming, her hands up over her ears. "Stop!" she yells, her jaw as tense as an ox. "Leave me alone!" What is this? What's wrong with her?!

Everything stills 'till Greger yanks me back. I fall to my back at the feet of the other guard, who grabs my arms without missing a beat. "KARLSSON! STOP!!"

He's in her face, pinning her up to the wall, forearm jammed into her throat. Em's feet skim the ground. I hear him snarl at her and I hear her choke. I howl in the struggle to free myself from the guard's grip, but it's no use. He drags me into the hall, a death grip on my collar, and vaguely, I hear Greger garble, "...time we ended the Garde charade."

"Lucas..." Em chokes. "Stop. This... This isn't..."

Lucas... No. I kick myself free and whirl the guard into the cell bars opposite to mine, but when I look back into my silver cage, Greger's body has already fallen, and Em's feet are on the floor. It's as if something happened between them, some sort of transformation, and as soon as I meet her eyes, I know I'm too late. Nine, where the hell are you?