A War Against Volto - Sequel to While You Sleep (Complete)

The Morgans

Feeling as though my heart was going to explode in my chest, I just sat there, straddling my bike as the implications slammed into me with the force of a freight train. The gate which always closed automatically when a person left the grounds was propped open and as the minutes ticked by I realised that not one guard had walked past my line of sight.

It was like sitting in the cinema screaming at the stupid woman – don't go in there! But I had to. And I also needed to let him know. God, how was I ever going to tell him?

I reached out a shaking hand and pushed the wrought iron further inward so that I could slowly ease my way down the Morgan's immaculate driveway. It seemed to take an eternity but as I flicked down the stand and pulled my helmet down, I knew that I would need someone to hold my hand.

Even knowing that I was bringing another kind of storm to my door, I still pulled Axel's name up on my phone and hit the Call button, hoping that Kayli's increasing problem with me wouldn't come between the friendship that I had formed with the rest of his team.

"Sang," He greeted in that smooth way only he had seemed to have perfected. "I know that we need to..."

Rolling my eyes, I grunted, "Not you too. Look let's sort our shit out later, alright? I've left Mrs Becker's and am now sitting on Victor's front doorstep in lower Charleston. Volto's decided to leave me clues, Axel, and I think that the Morgans were next on his hit list."

There was silence for a short moment before he asked carefully, "You think that they might be dead?"

Nodding shakily even though he couldn't see me, I glanced at the ominous front door before letting out a choked sigh, "Yeah. I told Mr Blackbourne to stay with the others at Kota's mother's house but I think that Victor should be here. Not so that he has to see them but just in case..." I felt a weight settle heavily in my chest. "And their families..."

"You're right, little bit. I'll send the twins over to collect him and the others if they insist on it but I want you stay outside and wait for us, ok? We'll also contact another team and Dr Roberts to organise protective custody. We're leaving now."

"But Kayli..."

"No matter what she says, you're family too. Stay right there and we'll be along as soon as we can. Don't move, Sang."

"Ok," I assured him, lowering the phone to my lap when I heard the dial tone start up. I was thankful that I had him, that I had so many people who were willing to help me because I knew that before it was all over, Volto might just succeed at shaking the Academy world apart.

...

I wasn't sure how long I sat there drifting away in my own mind but the next time reality bit me was hearing car doors slamming shut behind me.

"Sang!" Marc called, his tone as serious as I'd ever heard it as I finally hopped off my bike, straightening fully to try relieve some of the tension.

Marc, Raven and Axel all drew around me before we all turned to face the door.

"Should we call Detective Sager? He was over at Mrs Becker's and I'd think he'd be pissed if we walk into a crime scene."

Raven shrugged and nonchalantly slid his Sig from a shoulder holster, "We already spoke to him and I explained that it wouldn't make any difference. If the Morgans are dead, we're about to end up in a shit storm. The cops and media are going to be all over the case."

"Right," I murmured, already feeling my stomach tip unsteadily. "Let's go in, shall we? He might have left me another note."

"What the fuck does this prick want with you?" Axel growled, his dark eyes flashing. "When you were at school it seemed like he wanted to save you, he hated the Academy because he thought we were hurting you but now..." He shook his head. "He's either gone right over the edge or we're not even dealing with the same person anymore."

I paused at that, tilting my head just as Raven slowly pushed the large wooden door open, "I never even..." I slapped my forehead. "What if it is more than one person?"

"Then there's more chances of a mistake at some point," Marc replied, slipping a gun into my own hand as we all stepped lightly into the immaculate entrance. It had always reminded me of a museum with its antique furnishings but now it was as silent as a tomb.

"Raven," Axel whispered, "Take point. We're gonna go for the main office, Victor's rooms and the main bedroom."

Gulping I followed in their footsteps, trying to breath slowly through my nose.

And when we did reach the main office, it didn't take me more than a second to pick up the sickly metallic scent of blood. A lot of blood.

I tapped Raven on the shoulder like he'd trained me to do, waiting for a nod before I slipped down onto one knee, weapon pointed at what would be knee level of anyone waiting in the room. If anyone started firing when the door was pushed open, I would be the only one they'd see before the boys swung in from either side.

Axel took his place, ignoring the way his phone lit up with an incoming call on his hip.

1,2,3...

Everything seemed to explode for a short second as we entered smoothly, our movements reminiscent of what you'd see from a SWAT team as we cleared the area for threats.

There weren't any and as soon as I lowered the gun, I finally allowed myself to take it in. It was worse than anything I'd ever seen, anything I could have imagined.

I tried to stop from gagging but the sight of Mr and Mrs Morgan displayed around the beautiful mahogany desk was the stuff of horror stories. I stayed on watch at the doorway while the boys cleared the room, my stomach already heaving at the prominent smell of death. I wasn't sure how long they'd been gone, whether Volto had been here before or after Mrs Becker but the blood had dried in trails down their necks.

I couldn't even tell what had actually been done to them because a set of white masks had been placed over their faces and there didn't seem to be any damage to their mostly unclothed bodies.

"This man is a psychic," Raven announced, moving closer to the desk where a slightly stained towel was laid out.

"Psycho," Axel corrected distractedly, as he started flipping through a file beside the towel.

"The twins have secured the Lees and are nearly here with the Blackbourne team," Marc announced, his eyes never stilling.

"Where are the staff?" I wondered out loud, trying to think of something other than having to tell my sweet Victor that his parents had been murdered. They may not have been close, but this was still going to have an effect.

"We'll do a complete sweep." Raven and Marc headed out of the room, closing the door so that no one could sneak up on us both as we remained looking at the bodies.

"I don't want to touch that towel," I whispered, glancing up to see Axel's face turning slightly white.

"Neither do I but if there is another message..." He left his sentence hanging, both of us realising that there really was no other choice.

I certainly had more fodder for my nightmares and I had the feeling that there was only more to come.