Ascension

Twenty-Seven

I was sitting at my desk writing in my journal for what seemed like the whole morning. I had to get my thoughts out, what memories I had there at the cabin, so I wouldn't forget. It had been a week since the incident there, I started to feel a bit better, but my memory was getting hazy. Everything started running together and I almost couldn't keep my facts straight.

This morning was the first time I had seen Gavin since the incident. He had come down to join us for breakfast. His looks were much better than I anticipated. He still walked in a hunch, clutching his abdomen with every move he made. Though covered in tattoos, his skin was completely bruised from his hands and up his arms. I'd hate to see the rest of his body.

He walked in disheveled, his hair from his neck up had been completely unkempt. His hair was falling all in his face, his clean stubble now becoming a thicker beard. He was quieter than he normally was. He only spoke when he was spoken to, not paying attention to me or anyone else. How could he be acting like this after that experience we had together?

Something was wrong.

Gavin was a mystery. He held secrets here that I couldn't unfold even if I tried. He was a secret himself. I didn't know anything about him. How was it that he knew everything about me, but most of his life is a complete secret. Is that not fair? Yes would have been the logical answer but I knew what answer I'd receive, if one at all. Perhaps another slammed door in my face. If he was going to play this game, so would I.

There was a loud knock at my door before it was pushed open. Lucas peeked his head in and was about to speak but I had started laughing. "There's a reason you knock. You wait for an answer." He stared at me for several seconds, blinking. His lips parted then sealed shut again.

"Sorry. I'll try again." He closed the door. I rolled my eyes when I heard a knock a few seconds later. I crossed the room and opened my door this time, an inquisitive eyebrow raised. An mistakable grin spread across his face. "Just the girl I've been looking for." He invited himself in once again and walked straight into my bathroom, back towards my closet.

"What are you doing?" I asked with confusion. I watched as he pulled at some black articles of clothing and slung them over his arm. When he got everything he needed out, he tossed everything on my bed. "Anything interesting in there? Do you want me to show you the other side of the bathroom?"

He shook his head and glanced at his watch, "perhaps another time. You and I have plans today."

"Oh, we're going on a date?"

"Sure, Princess. To a Slovakian warehouse."

"Sounds romantic."

"This is their big warehouse. We're going to take care of them once and for all. You and I are going to set up some things so that we can take them down. I want you there because your mind is built like your father's. I want you to come up with a plan."

I cross my arms over my chest. "Why do you need me to do that? Isn't Manny the one who usually handled that sort of thing?"

He looked over his shoulder. "Yes, that is correct. But it would be nice to have someone we can rely on in the background should we need Emmanuel on the front lines with us. I was going to take him with me but I decided that I wanted to give you a shot. This is an opportunity to show me what that brain of yours can do."

"I thought I wasn't allowed on the front lines?"

"Well you've proved that you're going to force yourself on them whether we like it or not, so I might as well make sure that you're with one of us and learn; should you ever do anything stupid like that again."

I hummed. "Makes sense. What are we doing exactly?"

"You're very similar to your father, I want to test you and see if you have deduction skills and can react on the spot. I want to get in there, devise a plan as we set up the cameras, and we can come back and easily take these men down in a few days."