The Partner

Chapter 7: Seperation

We rode with Roland and Clarvont to Roland's house, a large wooden building just outside the city near the forest. It's a two-story building, made of brick, with a wooden roof. It has a few windows on the bottom floor and a few more on the top. The inside is decorated simply, a small kitchen and a large living room, stairs at the back wall leading to the second floor.

I sat quietly on the couch in the living room, facing a sliding glass door and gazing outside.

It's already late... the sun went down a couple hours ago...

Clarvont and Alexander are asleep in the rooms upstairs, while Roland is back at the police station to explain what happened... except he's leaving out everything about me and Alexander-filing a false report.

I hope he doesn't get caught.

There is a harsh penalty for creating false evidence and harboring fugitives...

I need some air to clear my head...

I stood up from the couch and walked towards the sliding door, pushed it open and walked outside.

Cool air blew around me, giving me goosebumps.

It's kind of cold...

I looked around the back yard.

There isn't anything back here except a lawn chair...

I walked out into the middle of the yard.

I can hear the sound of crickets and other bugs out in the distance...

"Psst!"

Huh?

Who was that...?

I turned around...

Nothing...

It's probably just my nerves getting the better of me.

I felt someone hold a wet rag over my mouth as I gagged, the person quickly holding my arms behind my back.

"Shhhh...we can't have you letting anyone else know you're in danger..."

My heart beat began to race.

I can hardly breathe, and the smell from the rag is awful...

The person quietly chuckled.

"Hehehe... you and I are going to be here for a couple minutes... all alone. The medicine doesn't exactly take hold the minute I hold the rag to their mouth, no... it takes a while. So tell me? Are you scared?"

I stayed silent as I tried to prevent myself from breathing in the fumes, trying to wiggle free of the persons grip.

The person laughed.

"Oh, right, you can't talk. How sad..."

I slowly started to close my eyes.

I have to stay awake...

The man leaned in close to me.

"I'm so sorry, Valarian... even you are susceptible to things-like us humans."

H-He's from the organization.... No... it can't be... but if not them, who else...?

The person started to hum a lullaby.

My eyes slowly closed by themselves as I blacked out...

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I slowly opened my eyes...

Where am I?

What am I wearing? A gasmask...?