Sentry of the Arcane: Befall

Chapter Twenty-Eight: Fitz

Where are you..?

I bite my lip quite painfully to keep myself from transmitting back to her. From above, I watch as sleep overtakes her and she finally falls again, asleep before she even hits the ground.

After waiting a couple of minutes, I silently bring the three of us down to the ground again, my heart overflowing my body with guilt. Her peacefulness just adds to my guilt. I bend down and gently cup Sophie's sleeping face. Smiling weakly, I slowly pick the female Percipient up bridal style and bring her back to her bed. I internally worry that Sophie's listening to my increasing heartbeat as she lays her head against my chest.

Taking a deep breath, I gently place Sophie down in her bed and place the covers over her. My eyes widen when I see a bruise beginning to form on the left side of her forehead. Fingering the slightly colored area of her head gingerly, I force myself to step away.

I can't back away now. I already promised that I'd go.

Pursing my lips together tightly, I transmit to Mr. Wallace, Are you sure this is where I'm supposed to go?

You and Donovan, Mr. Wallace corrects, making me raise an eyebrow and roll my eyes. And yes, I've gotten word that this is where you two are supposed to go.

Yeah... and where exactly is that? I ask.

I'll... tell you when you come down here, he transmits back after a few moments of silence. No more questions until then. After that, it's like he disconnected himself from me. I try to reach him again, but somehow, he learned to block people out.

I glance over at Benen. "What are you going to do when we're gone?" I ask him.

Benen shrugs. "Mr. Wallace said that he'll 'take care of it'," Benen says, making me raise an eyebrow in suspicion. "I don't know what he means by that, but I trust him."

I refrain myself from remarking rather bitterly at the last part. Instead, I nod and glance over at Donovan, "You sure you want to come? I don't think it's a good idea."

The male Sovereign cracks his knuckles confidently. "I can handle it," he assures me. "Besides, you have you mind powers while I have my techno-powers." He smirks at the shocked Benen before looking at me again. "And Wallace said that you're not going alone."

I raise an eyebrow. "Then why isn't Sophie coming with me?" I ask. "Not to be offensive, but the two of us have telepathic abilities that can rival against Fitton's. You saw how I turned out after the first fight."

Donovan tenses slightly, but shakes his head. "I know," he admits. "But still- I'm coming." Raising an eyebrow at me, the male Sovereign also adds, "I also know that you wouldn't put Sophie in danger even if you die because of it."

I can feel my cheeks burning softly and I glance over at the sleeping Percipient. Sighing, I know that I silently confirmed his remark. Wearily looking at the two boys, I say, "Well, we should be going now. We're wasting time."

Benen nods, silently watching as Donovan and I leave the room. Donovan and I exchange a wary

glance at each other before entering the elevator. I can feel my muscles tensing up every second that we're in the elevator. When we exit the elevator, though, I can't help but think back to Donovan's comment. I know I wouldn't put her- or anyone else, for that matter- in danger on my behalf. So Donovan coming along is basically endangering another person, in my opinion.

In front of us, I see Mr. Wallace holding something in his right arm. I then recognize it as a prostrator, but force myself to not show my shock. Instead, I ask, "Where's the hideout at?"

Mr. Wallace tenses at the question. "I was afraid you'd ask that," he says vaguely, making me raise an eyebrow. "I... actually can't tell you."

"Why not?!" Donovan bursts out. "Are you seriously going to make us go in blind?!" I nod in agreement, quite not believing it either.

"It's just that the location is unknown," Mr. Wallace explains briefly. "So I can't tell you."

I don't buy it- at all. Scowling, I ponder out loud, "If the location is supposedly 'unknown', then why do you know about it?"

Mr. Wallace pales at his slip-up. He then pulls the prostrator out and shoot the two of us with similar tzanion that Donovan accidentally shot me with as a security mechanism. As pain floods my head, I glance over to see the male Sovereign fall to the ground before he can scream from the agony. I, on the other hand, stagger forward in an attempt. Cursing under my breath when I realize that I forgot my own prostrator, I hold a shaking hand to my head as the pain begins to shift into another massive headache.

Taking a few breaths, I straighten up and glare daggers at the grey haired man. "What is wrong with you..?" I seethe. I step forward and use all of my mental power to lift Mr. Wallace into the air. "Where is the hideout, and why can't you tell us?!"

Instead of answering all of my questions, Mr. Wallace swallows nervously. Paling to the color of paper, the middle aged man asks, "You can stay conscious after the tzanion..?"

I nod, forcing myself to lift him higher into the air. "Where are you taking us..?!"

At my question, Mr. Wallace shakes his head to clear his mind. Aiming the prostrator at me, Mr. Wallace pulls the trigger two more times, hitting me with two more agonizing pieces of tzanion.

I drop Mr. Wallace and fall to my knees. Clutching my head, I shudder uncontrollably and scream from the pain. Screaming more, I collapse onto the ground, writhing in pain. My vision flashes black before I close my eyes, only staring at more black. I try to reach up and grab the tzanion, but another wave of throe just numbs my connects to the rest of my body.

So eyes closed and nerves numb, I let my consciousness leave me like Donovan was forced to.