Sentry of the Arcane

Chapter 36: Fitz

My eyes widen as the memories Sophie sent me play through my head. My mouth drops open when I identify Michelle and David before they were killed. I don't even know that I've stood up until Donovan places a hand on my shoulder, pushing me back down in my chair. Shaking my head, I refuse to say anything until I finally tell myself the truth.

Jacob Grahams murdered his sister-in-law and his brother.

He. The brother. The one who smiled genuinely at their wedding. Practically mutilated his only family. No, scratch that- he did mutilate his only family.

I only realize that I've spoken out loud when Donovan, Benen, and Mr. Wallace all shout together, "What?!"

Mr. Wallace then quickly rushes to my side. "What- when? How?"

My mind tries to come up with a proper explanation, but my mind gives up on me and goes through my mental conversation we had only moments before. "Sophie," I finally say, staring forward blankly. When I stare at Mr. Wallace, he steps back, his face showing his comprehension.

Eyes wide, the middle aged man looks down at me. "Did she..?"

I nod. "Yeah. She and Laurel are together with him. But she doesn't know if she's still at the warehouse," I explain. I clench my fists angrily as I say, "Laurel had to watch Jacob cut Sophie with a warmed blade." Taking a deep breath, I add for Benen, "But she wasn't touched by Jacob at all." Benen nods, silently thanking me for the assuring statement.

Donovan shakes his head. "Wait- if Sophie and Laurel are together..." he wheels around to look at Mr. Wallace. "Where's Audrey?"

"Right here," a female voice says. Audrey walks towards us with crossed arms. "They left early while I was still sleeping." She glares at Mr. Wallace before saying, "So they're at a warehouse? I'm coming with you."Her icy glare silences Mr. Wallace before he can protest.

I shake my head. "They're more concerning things here than trying to convince Audrey otherwise," I tell Mr. Wallace. I frown as I remember the rest of our conversation. "She said that I shouldn't come immediately since she wanted to get some answers. And after I told her I wouldn't go alone, she thanked me for 'making things easier'." I tap my chin in thought. "I tried to say something else, but it seemed like she disconnected her thoughts from me."

Donovan smirks. "I know this isn't the time to ask," he begins. "But-"

"So just don't ask it!" Audrey snaps at him.

Ignoring her, he continues, "But what were you going to say afterwards?"

"I-" I cut myself off, my cheeks involuntarily turning a faint pink. "No one cares about that right now!" I say instead. "What we need to do is find Sophie and Laurel."

Mr. Wallace nods. "I agree," he says. "And that's why I'm saying that you four have five minutes to be in the car."

...

Since Audrey and Donovan were to keep watch for anyone suspicious, Benen and I head into the actual warehouse.  Everything about the inside of it just screams "secret hideout". From the very dim lighting to the plethora of shelves, it seems like the first thing people would call as a hideout. I see a hallway and immediately begin to walk towards it.

That is- until Benen grabs my arm, stopping me. "Shouldn't we look through the shelves for anything that can help us?" Benen asks, gesturing towards the boxes and boxes lining the metal shelves.

I nod. "Yeah, that's true. Thanks- I would've gone in there completely unarmed," I tell him, earning a smile of pride in return. Running a hand through my hair, we walk over to the first box we see. I rummage through it to find a white gun with a circular body. I open the body to find three rows of tiny sea green crystals. I frown as I pick one up and fiddle with it between my forefinger and my thumb. I stare at it silently before placing the crystal back in the gun. Closing it, I step back to faintly make out a label on the box- prostrater. I then peer inside and grab a small box full of the teal crystals for extra ammunition.

"Hey, Fitz- look at this." I turn around to see Benen open his palm, exposing about eight to ten black crystals about the size of a quarter. "Apparently, they're called disclosers," Benen explains. "But if you smash them against someone's head, you'll knock them out. The instructions were on the box's label."

I pause to look over my shoulder at him. "But are you willing to throw something and knock someone out?" I ask patiently, gesturing to the black crystals. "Deep down, I know you're not fully onboard."

Benen's eyes widen as he stares down at the disclosers. He then narrows his eyes and mumbles something under his breath. I think he said, "...for Laurel..."

I sigh. "Alright- we should probably get going now." I begin walking towards the hallway that I'd spotted before, Benen close behind me. I tighten my grip on the prostrater as I mentally call for Sophie to no avail. I then try to transmit to Laurel.

Laurel?

Fitz? Fitz- is Benen there? Is he okay?

I cringe as the plethora of thoughts about Benen fill my mind. Pushing the excess thoughts away, I mentally say, He's here with me, and he's alright. How are you?

I'm alright- he didn't touch me. By the way, I think Jacob is the one who's holding us here. And how are you doing this?

Mr. Wallace did something. I'll explain later.

...Okay, but-

Her thoughts suddenly cut off, her voice no longer saying anything. I stop in my tracks as I repeat her name, glancing over at Benen, careful to not show any of my worry. Thinking that she just fell unconscious, I begin to quicken my pace slightly, hoping that we'll find them before Jacob comes to find us.

Suddenly, Benen runs up and grabs me by my arm, causing me to look at him in curiosity. "Wait for me," he says loudly. He then whispers in the quietest voice possible, "We're being followed. We'll throw them off guard and use our weapons."

I nod and walk normally. Benen steps away from me and does the same. We then enter the actual hallway and keep going straight. I then place a hand on Benen's shoulder to stop him. He looks at me in confusion as I bend down to tie my shoes. I then turn around quickly and shoot a teal crystal into the forehead of the two men in black. They then collapse before they can utter a mere whisper.

"What-" Benen begins.

"We don't have much time," I interrupt him. I think I saw some peeling wallpaper back there that seemed to resemble a doorway." I start to run back the way we came. "Come on..!"

Sure enough, when we peeled the wallpaper down, a doorway with bright light shined in our faces. Benen's eyes widen as he rushes inside. I want to grab him and tell him to not make that much noise, but I don't blame him. Instead, I run inside as well, looking both ways.

I then see Benen untying an unconscious Laurel as she slumps in her wooden chair.

But when I see Sophie, fury courses through my veins. Swollen lines of red cover her arms, neck, and face, some lines with dried blood lines as well. I begin to untie her, careful to not touch her cuts in any way. Before I carry her, I lean forward and let my forehead touch hers. "You should've waited," I whisper, my voice full of emotion.

I then carefully slip my arm around her back and around her legs, carrying her bridal style. I I turn around to see that Benen's cradling Laurel the same way. We're about to turn around when we see him.

Jacob.

But he's standing there with no guard and no weapons.

I'm so close to pulling the prostrater out on him before he holds his hands up. "Don't shoot," he says, shocking both of us. "I won't call any security guards or attack you. And you have ten minutes."

I frown. "What's the catch?"

He smirks evilly, "I didn't say that anyone else could call the security guards or attack you." And then behind him, I see at least five men in black staring at us.

Cursing mentally, I pull my prostrater out and shoot at Jacob. The teal crystal hits him squarely in the center of his forehead. As he screams, Benen and I quickly rush out. And I can hear multiple footsteps echoing after us.

So as Benen grabs the disclosers to throw behind him, I ready the prostrator.

And black and teal crystals fly through the air.