The Shadow Man

Ten

"Do you feel him?"
Asks. Mason.
"No. I don't. Is that bad?"
I ask.
"No, no just take your time, Alice."
He says.
I open my eyes and sit up.
"This isn't working."
I say.
Finley hugs one of my couch pillows tightly, resting her chin on it above her crossed legs.
"Can we try something else?"
I ask.
"Like what? This is literally our only option." Says Xander.
Mason motions for him to shut up.
"Lets take five guys."
He says.
"What time is it?"
I ask.
"12:39." Answers Judger.
"Good lord."
I Gasp.
"What? Is it bedtime?"
Asks Xander.
"No. I didn't realize it had gotten this late. I can take tomorrow off."
I say.
"How's that work by the way?"
Asks Finley.
"What do you mean?"
I ask.
"Yeah, that deal you made with the government? They just let you work whenever you want?"
She asks.
"Well no, I definitely have to earn money. I got my apartment for free, also my car, and my job can't be taken away. Also note that both my car and my apartment don't have any bills. I can live here as long as I want with no pay. It's kind of awesome."
I say.
She smiles.
"Can I move here?"
She asks Mason.
Xander walks around, exploring my living room.
In the corner is the Vinyl player Donnie got me. Beneath it is a box of old records.
He practically designed this place for me.
I love every inch.
Xander flips through the records one by one, reading cover after cover, trying to recognize any bands.
"INXS! I know them!"
He says excitedly.
I smile.
"It's mainly a ton of bands no one but Donnie and I listen to."
I reply.
"Is he a hipster?" Asks Mason.
I smile, thinking about all his flannel jackets and his vintage camera that he carries.
"He doesn't like to put a label on himself. If you ask me, yes he's totally a hipster."
He smiles.
"It's good to know he's got a normal life going." He says, not before realizing that what he just said was in no way true.
"I'm sorry, Alice I didn't mean..."
he trails off.
"It's okay, I know what you meant."
I reply.
It gets quiet for a moment.
"You miss him a lot don't you?"
Asks Finley.
I nod.
"Do you want to talk about it?"
She asks.
I shake my head.
"Come on, were the only two girls in this club, if we can't eat comfort foods and cry together what Can we do?"
She asks.
I laugh.
"Come on."
She says.
"Yes. I miss him."
I chuckle.
"What do you miss about him?"
She asks.
Mason shifts uncomfortably in his spot on the couch.
"I'm gonna go get our gear from the car."
He says.
"Me too."
Replies Xander.
Judger follows them out without a second thought, not having an excuse to leave the awkward room.
Once the door is closed my mouth opens.
"I'm worried about him, Samantha."
"I know. I know. Mason is worried too."
She says.
"And where is Rone during all of this? We haven't heard from him in months."
Finley thinks for a moment.
"He joined the SCO."
She says.
"What? The organization that was trying to kill us in the first place?! Why would he do that?"
I ask, wanting to go on a full on rant.
"Look I know the original SCO left a bad taste in the mouth. Keepers gave us no reason to trust him and you have every right to be angry at Rone but listen."
She says.
I mockingly rest my head on my palms, showing her my interest.
"The SCO is under new management.
Remember Larson?"
She asks.
"Oh, you mean the Other guy who was trying to kill us?"
I ask.
"Man I am having a really tuff time backing this up."
She says.
"Yes. Him. The one who donated a lot of his resources to help us in the fight against the G'hunawae. Yes. That guy.
He's the one running it, and Rone is his, kind of advisor."
She says.
"Oh cool so he's not fighting monsters and bad guys anymore?"
I ask.
"No he's definitely still fighting them.
The left over G'hunawae population is a vary real threat, as well as the Catalyst infection that continues to evade efforts to cure it. So yeah he's got plenty to do."
She says.
I smile.
"Sounds like he's really busy still saving the world."
"Actually he's been looking for Keepers with most of his time."
I turn to her, confused.
"Why Keepers?"
I ask.
"Well, to face justice for his crimes. Also because he might be the key to finding a cure to the Cat virus."
I nod.
"Almost three years later and we're all still paying for his sins."
She nods, sipping from her mug.
"I keep forgetting there's nothing in here."
She says.
"What if I can't find him?"
I ask, looking at the floor.
"Hmm?"
"What if they kill him, and I'm too late to save him?"
My fear wells up in my eyes.
"You can't think like that, Alice. We're going to find him, and we're gonna bring him home to you."
"Do you really believe that?"
The voice belongs to neither of us.
Finley drops her mug and spins off the couch, producing a small handgun from God knows where.
"Who are you?!"
She asks, slowly getting in front of me.
A man stands there, just in the shadow of my kitchen.
His eyes glow in the low light.
They flicker as he blinks.
"Samantha Finley. Have you forgotten me so easily?"
Asks the voice.
It's strange, like a thousand voices all calling out at once, and still I can hear a man's voice standing out amongst the rest.
She pulls back the slide.
"Answer me!"
She shouts.
The figure moves through the kitchen, stepping into the light.
His form refuses to be illuminated.
Light seems to move around him.
His eyes give off a slight steamy white glow even in the light.
The door opens.
Mason drops his bags and pulls his gun. Xander and Judger do the same.
The man lifts his hand towards them. 
The guns fall from their hands and they're thrown against the wall.
He holds them there.
Finley shoots at him.
The bullets pass right through him.
He turns back to us.
"He's being held at the Rulz warehouse 10 miles out of the city. If you ever want to see him alive again, you will be there tomorrow night."
He turns to the men he has held against the wall.
"One of you is missing. Inform Jackson Rone that if he does not show, I will kill each and every one of you."
He turns to me.
"You will stay here."
He growls.
I step forwards towards him, mustering all the courage I can.
"If you hurt him..."
I can't think of a decent threat to make.
Anger and fear battle for control in my mind.
"This isn't your fight little girl. This is between me and them."
He says.
"What did we do to you?"
Chokes out Mason.
The man continues holding out his arm as he moves towards him.
"You left me for dead. You told no one of my sacrifice. I died so you could live."
He says.
"But I did not die. No my fate was much, much worse."
He looks at his shadowy claw-like hands.
"You have 24 hours."
"What happens in 24 hours?"
Asks Xander, barely able to choke out an answer.
"You face the same impossible odds I once did."
He says, vanishing into the air like a mist.
The three of them are dropped to the floor.
"What a jerk."
Groans Xander.
"Are you guys okay?"
Asks Mason.
"Yeah, were fine."
I say, still staring at the place the man was.
"He has Donnie."
I whisper.