The House in the Woods

Volto Revealed?

Alexander POV

I know that I should not be watching my iPad while I am driving, but the law in Georgia only says no texting while driving. I have never been one to follow the rules anyway, and the law enforcement in this tiny town is probably all asleep anyway. Come on Sean, move a little closer to the phone on the table. Five of the Academy members have walked past the phone that was left in the computer room and not one oVoltf them has questioned that it is there. At some point, I need to develop an exercise for them that will improve their observation skills; it could save their lives someday. They just don't train kids the same way anymore. Granted, there were not cell phones when I was coming up, but if there was a pager on a table, and I did not check it, I would have had the crap beaten out of me. In Owen and Sean's group, if you do something wrong you "get grounded". I laughed out loud for the first time in years when I hear them saying that they were going to "triple ground" Sang.

I can only hope that they will provide her with a little more training after this. It is frustrating to see that they are wasting her potential. If she were mine, she would be much further along in self-defense, as well as firearms and knives. Putting her in a freaking bubble, like North keeps suggesting, will only wind up getting her hurt in the long run.

It is kind of cute that the Academy wound up breaking into small "teams" and calling themselves families. I wonder if the Academy recruits of today realize that it was founded generations ago by the do-gooder kids of three of the most notorious crime families.

They have been a minor inconvenience for me over the years, but unlike some of my associates, I find the Academy can have its uses. I am the heir to the DeMarco family. My father runs the family now, and I will take it over upon his death. I have numerous legitimate businesses as well as my medical practice, but make no mistake, I am as ruthless as my forefathers and step in when duty calls.

I put my burner phones number with the contact name 'I am Volto- Sean please answer me' so it would appear on caller id. I rarely find humor in my work, but I thought it was a nice touch. It took him six rings to actually answer the call.

"Don't hang up, Sean, and do not put me on speaker phone. We have many things to discuss, and I don't want to have to deal with your brothers all chiming in instead of listening. First question, are you feeling okay. You should not be experiencing any ill effects from the gas, but I want to make sure. It was not part of the plan for you to be harmed," I say.

There is anger and hated in his voice when he says, "Where is she, Sara?"

"First answer my question before we go any further," I ask again, stronger.

"I am fine, where is she, Sara? I am growing tired of this game quickly," Sean says.

I laugh, "Oh you Academy boys, do you always believe everything that you hear or do you actually stop to think about it before you act. This is why I have to stay so close to Sang, because if her protection was actually left in your hands, she might not make it to join your precious Academy. We are wasting time. What do you know about the FACTS, Sean?"

Sean says, "Don't waste my time, Sara. Where is she, I saw you with the mask on."

"Sean, Sean, Sean, props can be found anywhere. When you were 11 years old and went to the hospital Halloween party, you wore a white coat that your mother borrowed from one of the interns. Did that make you a real doctor? My mask, without the voice unit, can be purchased at the dollar store. That does not mean that everyone that buys one and puts it on is me. Did Gabriel putting on the mask to scare you on Halloween make him me? Even if it were Sara wearing the mask, that would not make her ME," I say with my voice rising slightly.

I calm back down before I say, "Who is the enemy, Sean?"

"You are, you have taken them, and you are playing some sick twisted game now," Sean says.

This is getting a little tiring, but I knew it would be, so I say, "YOU need to focus, Sean. Who is the biggest threat to Sara? Who is the biggest threat to Owen? Who is your biggest threat?"

I gave him the time to think about it, and watched as his expression changes, looking like he was physically punched. I wanted to look away from the screen because I don't like seeing him in pain, but there is too much on the line to think about that now.

Sean finally speaks and says, "Joshua Blackbourne. Does that mean that he is alive? Does he have them?"

"Not only alive, but with a focus. Get back what he deemed was his, and to bring down the people that stole her away," I say quietly.

"Where are they, we have to get to them," Sean says with a pained expression.

"You can't. It is up to Sara. She is the only one that can bring him down. She tried to keep Sang out of it, but there was no way to stop what was put into motion. You need more antidote, there is not enough to save them both. I have sent you an email of everything you will need to make more. You and your team need to concentrate on this. You don't have enough to save them both. Whether you believe me or not, the next part is going to cause you some personal turmoil, but I am counting on the doctor in you to make the right decision."

I pause before I go on, "Sara does not have a tumor. Your phone and email have been blocked from receiving all evening. Check them, and go back to the original films from the MRI. It was all set up by Joshua. The symptoms that she has been experiencing are because of the medication, not a tumor. What is real is the poison that she is will try to feed Joshua. It is in a lotion and hair spray that she is putting on her body. The poison spreads from air and physical contact. Unfortunately, Sang might come into contact with some, but Sara is putting it on her body so it will transfer to Joshua when he touches her. If Sara does not receive the one dose that you have, she will die before you can get back with the other doses. You will have to make a choice. Give her the dose that you know will save Sang, or give it to Sara and let them both have a fighting chance."

"Just tell me where they are. I need to get them away from him," Sean says.

"No Sean, you need to stay away from Joshua Blackbourne. Concentrate on the task I have given you, there are reasons for this," I say.

"What in the hell are you talking about? I am not going to sit by while he has Sang. Where is he, I will take him down myself if I have to," Sean says with anger in his voice.

"Sean, you don't know what arena you are playing in. You may be the youngest graduate of the Academy, but even you are not bullet proof. Joshua Blackbourne has wanted vengeance against you for taking Sara, and he took out an insurance policy to make sure that the vengeance would be extracted in the event that he was captured, or died of anything but natural causes. If either event happens, hits go out on you and your family. Your brothers are only worth $50,000 a piece, but you and Owen are worth $10 million each.