Initiation

Chapter 26: Home at Last

Chloe's P.O.V

     Over the past couple of months, I have learned all sorts of new facts about Argon. Two of them being, his sense of strategy, and his ability to hide in plain sight; due to the clever location of the warehouse that started my training. The abandoned facility is located alongside the Los Angeles River nearly six miles from downtown. Not only that, but it is surrounded by a maze of abandoned buildings; in all shapes and sizes. 

     By the time I reach the outskirts of the warehouse complex, the sun is hanging low in the sky- a tangerine-orange glow casts a bright shadow amongst the dreary urban landscape. Soon the area will only be lit by thinly spread, dull-yellow street lights. If I had a League tail they would fail miserably to find me.

     Surprisingly, I do not detect anyone following me; which makes me curious. I find it odd that Xavier would simply allow me to leave and rejoin the forces of Argon. Especially when he is dead set about me being his only surviving relative. At a time like this I have to push these thoughts to the back of my mind.

     The task ahead is very important. Argon will already be suspicious of such an easy return. After all, I have no evidence showing that I wasn't actually a traitor. If Argon even senses a single ounce of disloyalty, or hesitance from me, I'd be ruined. I would be treated like an outsider, and outsiders were not accepted- they were punished... severely.

     On the outside I look absolutely calm, on the inside was a different story. Coming back without anything to show, made me nervous. I approach the secret side entrance facing the river wearing a poker face. Before entering, my steady gaze rises to meet a security camera. Argon is aware of my arrival now. Without even blinking, I focus my attention onto the metal door ahead. 

     This entrance immediately connects to narrow hallways that lead to the basement. The warehouse is eerily silent as I step inside, except for the hissing pipes emitting fog above me. Condensation falls from the pipeline in the form of water droplets, causing a rhythmic tapping to echo down the concrete passage. A tingle manages to run up my spine the lower I descend- something doesn't feel right.

     Soon after I enter the main chamber, a slow methodical clapping ensues.

"Ahh Chloe" Argon greets from inside the shadows. His deep baritone, and slightly gravelly voice sounds chilled- just like the temperature of this basement, "welcome back, we've been waiting for you."

I hold my ground as Argon emerges from the shadows, followed by Drake, and one other guard. A sinister grin spreads across his face. My heart sinks instantly. What have I done?

Sam's P.O.V.

     Kyle and I end up arrive only minutes after Chloe had to Argon's location. I turn the headlights off as we pull into an alley alongside a larger warehouse. The device pinpointing Chloe's location has led us to a small warehouse that seemed more like a glorified storage shed than anything else. If Chloe truly was with Argon, that meant she was officially in the lion's den.

"I hope this wild goose chase doesn't turn into a waste of our time." I grumble under my breath.

     The drive here only made me more bitter. I resented this girl, for the awful things she said to Cassidy, and for showing no remorse for her actions. Whatever light Xavier saw in her- I could not see. All I knew was, that at some point during the next year, we'd end up finding Chloe's body in a river somewhere. Only if Argon accepted her back as his prodigy that is.

     Her overall future with him was bleak. Especially with all the damage her body has taken during the past seven years she's been with that monster. My inner thoughts are disrupted as Kyle clears his throat beside me.

"Xavier personally assigned us- the people he trusts- to this mission. We are not on a wild goose chase. We are here to bring his niece back to the safety of the League." Kyle says forwardly.

     I raise my eyebrows at him in surprise. He had a lot of balls to speak so openly to an agent superior to him. By the way he holds my authoritative gaze with a solid stare of his own, I know he is not backing down from his prior statement. Oddly enough, this makes me respect him more as an agent. Most agents his age, are smartasses and far too cocky for their own good. They always thought they were right. Kyle as I am learning, is not that way.

"You are correct, excuse me for previous complaint." I respond professionally, breaking the tension from building any further. "Although, I will have to be honest. You don't know Chloe the way I do- she'll return under Argon's command without even blinking. She only cares about pleasing him." 

     Kyle ponders my comment for a minute or so before shrugging. 

"You might be right... but I feel we both need to keep our emotions neutral. She is Xavier's only surviving blood relative. We both owe him the chance to rekindle a relationship with someone he thought he lost forever." 

     I try very hard to keep my jaw from dropping in awe. Instead I open my mouth to speak. "You do not sound like a normal person your age." I simply state in amazement. 

Kyle simply shrugs as a response. He looks away from me to focus his attention on the listening device. He turns up the volume just in time for us to hear Argon's threatening voice boom through the speakers, "Ahh- Chloe, welcome back. We've been waiting for you." 

Kyle and I exchange knowing glances. Let the show begin. 

Here is the update! Thank you guys for being so patient with me! I hope you enjoy reading this chapter. Don't forget to comment or vote. I love to hear back from my readers. Hope all of you enjoy the upcoming week! Next update will be next Sunday! Till next time! :)