One Tortured Soul

Chapter Thirteen

"Wait, you're telling me that they actually have a job for us? We've been waiting for like, what, three weeks? Why now?" Axel said.

"Yes. And I can't tell you that. I'm not authorized to tell you really anything, for that matter," The FFA man said. "Only that you are needed at headquarters right away."

Axel scratched his head and purses his lips in a half frown.

"Are you going to come?" the FFA man asked impatiently.

Instead of answering the man, Axel looked over at Celestia. "What do you think?"

"Hey, what about me?" Kyle grumbled, butting in. I smothered a smile that threatened to come forth.

Both Axel and Celestia ignored him. They stared at one another for almost a minute, and I could have sworn they were talking telepathically for how tense their looks were.

But eventually the looks were broken and Celestia answered. "I say we go with him. I mean, if he's lying and this is a trap, we can just use him for leverage or kill him." The man's eyes widened slightly at her words. "But," she continued, "if it isn't then we have what we've been waiting for."

"Okay then," Axel nodded, "Let's do this. Pack up guys."

At his word, Kyle and Celestia began collecting what I assumed to be their belongings. I noticed Celest shove a large amount of knives into her pack, while Kyle stuffed his pack full of energy bars and canned foods.

While Axel packed up his own stuff, I walked over to him. I don't know what he expected me to do, but if I could, I would be going with. I had heard about this underground place and knew that my kids might be there. that small hope was enough for me to risk it. Otherwise, I had nothing else to go on.

"What's up?" Axel acknowledged me once I was closer.

"What's... going to happen?" I asked slowly.

"Huh?" He sent me a weird look as if he didn't understand. "What do you mean?"

"I mean, what's going on?"

He seemed to realized then what I was talking about. His eyes grew larger and he stopped what he was doing to stand and face me. "Oh, man, sorry. I totally forgot that you have no clue what's going on. Well, we're going to go help these guys take down the people who did all that horrible stuff to you. So... well, you can come with if you want, but you don't have to. I mean, we could probably use a guy like you."

I pretended to consider it, even though I had already decided. "I'll come."

"Cool. Have all your stuff packed?"

"I don't have anything."

Axel's cheeks turned red and he awkwardly laughed. "Oh yeah, hehe. Okay, well... good." Then he turned back to what he was doing. I left him be, going to stand by the wall while I waited.

[]

"How far is this place, anyway?" Kyle asked with an annoyed tone.

I smirked ever so slightly, hoping that in the fading light no one would be able to see it. That kid just cracked me up.

"Shut it, Kyle. We'll get there when we get there," Axel grumbled, hoisting his pack further up his back.

"It shouldn't be too much further," the FFA man said from the front of the group. He was leading while Celest, Kyle and Axel went after him. I stayed towards the back of the group to just observe and watch.