Fracted (Book #2)

Chapter 51: Royals

"Hello, Robert? It's Jackson," he spoke inside the phone booth
He babbled continuously, but I'm sure this was for our own cause, "We need you right away", "Yes, I know you guys are in the middle of something, but there's a lot more Seekers not just you guys", and "Yeah, I got the address". It went on for several minutes, which was long enough to make me feel more paranoid.
"So what was that long conversation about?" I ask, pretending I wasn't listening.
"Got any more quarters?" he asked.
"I got fifty cents."
"Here, gimme." He snatched off the coins and went back inside quickly.
I sighed in worry, but not because he's gonna take longer, but because the four wouldn't talk to me. I'm afraid they'll be the ones who will turn me in. They gave up on me. I cup my left hand over the sparks on my hands and avoided eye contact between the four, who are sitting on the bus bench. I leaned against the phone booth's glass.
Soon, he came out of the phone booth.
"Let's go, shall we?" He lead our way toward east.
"Where're we headin'?" Patrick asked.
"Upper East Side. It's supposed to lead us to a mansion owned by Sarra's relatives.
"Then she must be filthy rich," said Jason.
"She's worth a million bucks, didn't you know that?" Jackson astutely pointed out.
"I didn't even know what she looked like until we all met in Hawaii."
"Really? That's when you knew it was her? But don't most students know each other?" I said, trying to make conversations with the four. Though Jason scoffed and looked away, shaking his head.
"So we're just gonna walk?" Clare asked.
"Yeah. Don't worry, we'll get into a cab soon."
It smelled like pine trees inside, with a bit of citrus lemon. Jackson sat on my left while Hunter was on my right, we have never been this close...ever. But it does not feel quite right if he's just forced to sit with me.
A moment of silence for all of us. But it was deafening, my insides felt poisoned. It's incredulously painful that they gave up on me just like that. The silent treatment is the deadliest one of all.
I gathered up the few pieces of confidence and asserted it, "Why won't you guys talk to me?" I ask desperately. Nothing. "Guys?"
They did not even look at the rear-view mirror. It was embarrassing, not just to the driver, but to everybody else as well.
The LA spirit is coming back--all the haters. If only a new batch of kids would come up to my bedroom window in the middle of the night and rescue me from this nightmare and take me somewhere that is André-free.

Finally, we got off the claustrophobic cab. My hips and rear hurt from sitting too long. My bones crackle as I stretch them out. I ran my fingers through the strands on my hair and yawned, wishing I could've slept.
After walking on a long path on a vast landscape, Jackson knocks on the mahogany door. I looked back at the 20-yard grassland surrounded by swirls of topiaries. These people are rich. Imagine what the inside looks like. Crystal chandeliers? No. An entire room used as a walk-in closet? No. An undergroud sanctum used for Innate refugees? Yeah, I wish.
A lady, sounding like she's in her mid-thirties answered, "Who is it?"
"It's, uh...Sarra's friends," Jackson responded.
"State your names." I raise an eyebrow. Like she knows us well.
Jason pushed his lips against the peephole and asked, "What kind of information do you know about us that makes you say such thing?"
"Just making sure," she said.
A couple locks click continously and the door swung open moderately, the cool breeze enters through the palace.
"Please come in."
She stepped aside next to the gigantic marble plant vase and made space for us to walk in. Her black silky dress hovered above her knees and she wore multiple rings on her left hand. Her eyeliner was far more than just dark, they hid something that she didn't want anyone to see beyond her stern blue eyes.
"How are you related to our friend?" I asked.
She shut door and flipped the locks again. "I'm her cousin, Iris. Dad's side."
"You a Burner too?" Patrick asked.
"Yep. All the Pattersons are Burners even from the beginning."
Sarra Patterson; like music to my ears.
"I received a message from cuz and thought I would be a great help to you guys--Please sit, don't want you guys to feel tired." Oh quite contrary. We've been sitting for a long time and my rear is in need of reinflating.
"No thanks. We just really want to see if you're trustworthy," said Jackson.
"Okay so this leads us to the refuge home then--Follow me."
She lead the way down to the lower section of the mansion. Walking around a house that big made LA look like a rotting potato. This is a castle compared to all the hotels I've been to, which are only three including Hawaii's.
"This place is so majestic even if we're in the basement," said Patrick.
Hunter's been silent for the past eight hours. My stomach churned and grumbled in anxiety.
"What's wrong, buddy?" I tap his shoulder. "You're awfully quiet."
"It's nothing," he whispered lowly.
"Wanna talk about it? I'm always here, I won't leave."
"No."
"You know, I can't bear seeing the pain that's not mine. It's not your job to be the target." I hope he gets the metaphor I shared with Jackson.
"I'm not the target, would you stop?" His voice increases in volume. "You don't have to rub it in my face, you know."
Fine. I'll just get right to the point then. "If you didn't know the answers, what would you have done then?"
"I could take care of myself. It's none of your business." He walks away.
The stainless bulletproof steel crafted on the walls shimmered in the brightly lit room as we walked through the automatic sliding doors. It was a labyrinth of ordinary objects but with lethal weapons built inside them. I walk over alone to a shelf on the right corner, further into the small tunnel of the labyrinth. Vibrant varieties of jewelries stood out as I scan the whole shelf. They're rings. Exactly like the one Eiffel has. I slipped the emerald one on my index finger, the cold metal wrapped around my skin.
"So you found the poison rings, kid," Iris said. "Wanna see how they work?" she asked.
"No, uh--I've seen of these things before. Got stung in the neck once." Something inside me snapped after remembering Eiffel. Oh, Eiffel. Why have you left me?
"Yes, but this one's unique, see--?" She twists off the jewel, revealing a bright green needle. "The spike's coated in one of the world's most lethal neurotoxin."
"What is it?"
"Cyanide mixed with Arsenic."
Oh gosh, I'm gonna die if I stare any longer.
"Put it back before anyone else gets hurt." I hear a voice on my left, deep in the tunnel. Actually, two voices in a unison.
I see young twins, standing side by side, staring at me. The two young men were about nine or ten-year olds, but their suit and ties made them look even more mature. Their hairs were combed back like a tidal wave, their hands linked to each other's, and their eye colors were far more than just ash-colored. They were...ghostly.
"Who are these two?" I ask Iris.
"Those are two of the refugees we rescued, Eham and Jai."
The names sounded distinctly familiar, very worth remembering.
I reached out my right hand for a handshake. "Hi I'm Je--"
"We know who you are," the right twin responded. "We warned you about Mr. André and his incoming attack." His accent is too light and slurred; I'm guessing he's Indian, he and his brother.
"I guess you two weren't saying things clearly that time, huh? But it's okay, none of these are your guys' faults, right?" I smile.
"Of course it's no one's fault," Iris said.
"Right."
Jackson's running footsteps came close, filled with exhilaration.
"Hey, Jess! You gotta see this, c'mon!"
"What is it?"
"It's okay, kid, you can go. I'll arrange the meeting of the refugees later at 6:30. Go help yourself with anything here, my parents'll be back any minute if you need anything else."
"Okay."
Jackson dragged me all the way around the dimly lit tunnels, the light bulbs crackling and weakening in power. I wonder how there's still oxygen under this mansion, which is good though. I also feel safe and sound around these tunnels. No claustrophobic panic attacks. Ahhh...space.
It feels unlikely how the things I only wanted in life are gone, and I'm only experiencing comfort right now. Can I stay with my brothers for at least a couple while before they wander off unexpectedly? What are you saying, Jess?! Don't be such a spaz. They will not leave you. They just haven't felt the need to completely stay by your side unfailingly. They'll come around.
We walked inside a room full of glinting screens. The walls weren't bulletproof-crafted or had countless numbers of shelves, but computer wires spread around in every corner of the square footage. Blinking LED lights were spread all over. There were incredibly larege tables where all the computers stood and functioned in multiple different ways.
"You guys should check this out," Clare said, tapping on a screen mounted against the walls.
Patrick and Jason eventually stopped exploring the other computers and quickly turned to Clare's medium screen. It was the size of a regular laptop screen.
"What is it?" Jackson said.
"Footages of André." This is it.
Through this screen, we might actually have a chance on stopping André's tyranny. I focused on the screen as my eyes grow wide in shock.