Shifters (Feline english version)

Chapter 28

Even though I was hurt, exhausted and terrified, it was imperative that I learn more about what had happened, especially if Aria was safe and sound. I needed proof, confirmation, or I was going to go crazy. Moreover, it would cover up the sounds of the van, the radio that was buzzing a kind of unattractive slur and especially the three men who were talking among themselves about the best way to kill us. So what if they surprised us, it was better than listening to them talk about us as if we were already dead. Worth seemed to share my thoughts, because we started talking at the same time.

- 'Is Aria all right?'

- 'So you're metamorphs?'

We both smiled weakly, even if his looked more like a wince, but hey, the idea was there. Seeing that he was having a little trouble catching his breath, I decided to answer first.

- 'All those who were kidnapped, yes. Except for my roommate and me,' I whispered as low as I could.

-'What are you then?' he asked in a breath with a suspicious look.

- 'A unnatural mistake.'

My tone was as bitter as me, but after all, I had every right to be.

- 'I'm one of them, but I can't morph.'

He looked surprised but made no comment. Instead, he answered my first question.

- 'Yes, she was looking for Jude, but he was nowhere to be found. I entrusted her to one of the men who were with me. Was he the black panther? I thought I saw one in the bushes, I thought I had dreamed, but...?'

The anxiety overwhelmed me so quickly that my head was spinning.

- 'Do you trust this man?' I asked him in a somewhat panicked voice.

- 'Of course, why did you... How did they find the tracker?'

I saw by his expression that he had already guessed the answer and that he didn't like it at all.

- 'Someone told them where it was,' I replied in a weary and gloomy voice.

I saw surprise in his face, however, immediately followed by denial. He didn't believe it.

- 'No, it's not...'

- 'Someone told them over the phone. I heard it and they didn't even hesitate for a second,' I bluntly said. 'So do you really trust your man?'

- 'Yes. Clarke didn't leave me during the whole operation and never made a phone call. So it can't be him.'

I was relieved but only for a brief moment. What if that Clarke led her straight to the traitor... Stop! It wouldn't do any good to get all worked up. There was nothing I could do about it right away anyway. We might as well focus on our present situation, which was not a pleasant one.

- 'Okay, how did you find me, and who are these guys?'

I lowered my voice even more because the ponytail brute had just turned back towards us from the middle seat.

- 'We're chatty back there, I see. Go ahead, talk all you want! That's not going to save you anyway.'

I couldn't see him, but I could hear his smile in his voice. I waited until I was sure he had turned around to repeat my question.

- 'Thanks to Jude, of course,' he answered me despite a wheezing breath that didn't sound good. 'We didn't know how he did it, but he seemed to be following you. Now I understand a little better, but at the time we were more than sceptical. This led us to this old industrial building that was supposed to be empty. When we arrived and saw the high-tech, hyper-secure facility, we deduced that there was a good chance that he was right and that's where they were holding you. Even if Jude had been telling us all about it for at least an hour, I needed information. I couldn't run headlong and I was right! It so happens that this guy, Professor Clayton Shaw, in addition to being a brilliant geneticist, works for the government on top secret projects to which, of course, I did not have access.'