Ye old Willow

Part 20 Order

 The doors of the subway shut before Zachariah could get on. Fray was right behind him panting heavily.

If Zachariah hadn't been trying to shake him off the entire way here, they might have been able to make it. If it weren't for the lack of people in the station, they wouldn't even have managed to get to the doors. Although the result was the same either way.

Fray spoke slowly taking the time to catch his breath, “Does the subway usually stay this empty?”

Zachariah smiled, this time the action was clearly faked, “Of course. It would be impossible to do what you pleased with the entire subway system. That would take a massive amount of resources, and political power. Who would do that just for lil ol' Kazuki and Ayla? This empty subway must be completely natural.”

Ayla's brother glared at him, “Is that supposed to be sarcastic?”

Zachariah shrugged his shoulders, “I wouldn’t think so. Because although taking control of the subway might be possible with that type of power. Getting no one to go on it when it's still running is almost impossible.”

“Then what happened, “ Fray asked. His tone not exactly calm.

Zachariah looked around the station, his eyes sweeping even the darkest recesses that people naturally avoided, “It's just a prank.”

“No one would go this far for a prank. No one could go this far for just a prank” Fray replied in an annoyed manner.

Zachariah ignored Fray, and instead started to walk towards the ticket counter. The machine was automated, so one only needed to pay to get in, or slide their card through. To prevent people from cheating the system and jumping over the booths to get on the subway, surveillance cameras faced the machine. The people who monitored these cameras would be in a small room nearby

The businessman faced the camera his face emotionless, no smile present. He mumbled off to the side, not moving his gaze from the camera, “Kid, what's your name.”

Ayla's brother clicked his tongue, “Fray. You are?”

“Zachariah.” The man paused for a second his lopsided smile returned, “I am your and Kazuki's ally. Do you trust me?”

Fray lightly chuckled, “Of course not.”

Zachariah sighed, “It seems unlike Kazuki, your not stupid.” He pointed to the camera, “Do you understand why that is important?”

Fray thought about it for a second, “Because it records people who get on the subway?”

Zachariah clapped his hands together, “5 points. Your half right. It records those who have entered this area. Including those who may have not entered the actual train. It provides information. For those of us who are left in the dark, it allows us to be informed about the things in the light.” He looked towards the surveillance room's door.

“Will it show us who did this?” Fray asked.

“Possibly,” Zachariah agreed.

“Then are we going?” Fray started in the direction of the door, but was stopped by Zachariah.

The businessman looked at him, like one would look at a child, “No.”

“What do you mean no?”

The man shrugged his shoulders in reply, “I want to go first.”

Both he and fray walked towards the surveillance room, that was only a few meters away from the booth they currently stood at. The video camera followed them silently. Turning on its axis in order to keep them within it's view. This made Zachariah laugh, though to fray who did not notice the camera move did not get the joke. Even if he did notice the camera, he probably would have still remained in the dark why the man laughed.

Zachariah turned the doorknob, and for the second time that month walked in uninvited.

This time however he was greeted by a round house kick. Unlike Ayla, the person in waiting was prepared to swing at him in advance. Zachariah expecting this situation from the start, made sure to take a step back the instant he walked through the door. Still only narrowly avoiding the kick by several millimeters.

Kazuki's sister was standing in front of him.

He replied to her kick with a quick bow, taking care to keep himself between Fray and her.

The girl held a shocked expression, her red hair tied back in a braid. People had rarely dodged her kicks, and from the blind spot beyond the door, he would not have had much time to react.

Her emotions on her face were quite clear, unlike the others in that organization he had met so far. She was confused, dumbstruck and a hint insulted, a a man had escaped from her attack. However Zachariah wasn't the type of person to take her kick in order for her to feel happy.

Instead of speaking, he just silently pointed towards the surveillance screen on the wall behind her. Where Fray still stood on one of the many cameras at the doors entrance.

Her expression stiffened. Though she quickly recovered and pulled herself back into a fighting stance. Reconfirming her mistake “How did you know?”

Zachariah took a step forward, giving room for Fray to walk in. “When we moved towards the door, the camera followed us. I spent a good amount of time staring at it. While I was doing so It did not move. Yet when we moved, it did. That would have to mean there was someone inside this room controlling it. Quite obvious really.”

“Are you Zachariah?” She said.

He nodded as Fray walked in behind him.

“I have been ordered to kill you.” She said.

He nodded again, as Fray got ready to walk back out.

“Why are you so calm?” She asked.

He smiled, “You seem the type to get distracted mid way through a mission.”

She glared at him, clenching her fist, “That has never happened, nor ever will.”

“Really now?” Zachariah asked, “Then let me ask you this before you kill me. Do you believe your brother, Kazuki is dead?”

Fray looked at both of the two individuals, a question rushing through his mind. “Why would she think her brother is dead?”

He could hear Kazuki's reply although he was no where in sight, “Oftentimes it is the journey not the end that is by far more important.”