Phases Eight

Phase 37 I'm not flying! I'm falling, with style!

Orion's left ear was deafened by ringing sounds as Daniel Clark's hand made an unpleasant contact with his cheek.

"All these years I've been protecting your ass and this is how you sell me down the river?" gritted Daniel.

Ethan, using his connections at the top brass, providing ransoms at different places, uncaged Daniel Clark from the clutches of the FBI. The first thing he came to know on being released was his son lying on his death bed at the D.R.E.A.M without any hope of revival all because of his old friend.

"Back off Clark" Orion moved away, for he loathed skin contact with people, "You think this is all my fault? The bastard built his own grave and how I can be held responsible for that?"

Without asking for a replay, he had another loud strike to his cheek. Orion's ghostly pale countenance glowed red with a vigorous pump of blood into his facial nerves.

Daniel Clark flared, his nostrils making the noise of a gale, "Why the hell did you even try to start an IHS if you were not so sure of your capabilities?"

Orion growled like a beast hunted down in its lair. Clark's words hurt his pride which was more grievous than the defeat itself when he lost Hayden in the session, "Bad mouth me, I don't give a shit, talk ill 'bout my skills, I'll be your worst nightmare."

"Bah! I'm sold" he gestured blankly, "Flattery works only with the Hamilton girl. Don't even try to threaten me. I don't mind spending my lifetime behind the bars if I could cancel your license as a doctor."

Clark smirked wickedly knowing that his warning sought it's desired result. Orion's jaw tightened visibly. Satisfied, Daniel strode to the translucent doors at the end of the empty hallway giving a nudge to his old friend on the way.

"He can't do that" Orion muttered to himself. Closing his eyes, his hand slipped into the pockets of his coat and enclosed around a cylindrical object. His metallic lips twitched reluctantly, giving the satanic look to his profile. "Clark! Wait up for me" he asked in a friendly tempting manner, which was not too arduous for a psychiatrist with his veteran's experience.

"Your son. What was his name again.. Err.." pretending professionally Orion scratched his forehead, "Hayden!" his fingers snapped, "Well when we ran tests on him, I was able to make a hypothesis. You know my judgements never go wrong."

Clark stood before the half opened door tilting his head back. He knew he shouldn't fall into Orion's trap, but he couldn't take a step beyond. He was wrong about Orion not being sure of his capabilities. The old man knew his tools more than anyone.

"If Hayden is almost dead because of me, I wouldn't have the guts to stand before you in one piece. Funny part of the story is, some barbarian who didn't know his subjects well tried to frame me. I lost control of Hayden when my daughter's murder scene was running in his mind, which means.. " he dragged for Clark knew what would be the remaining part of the story.

Clark's hold loosened on the door, "His mind was hijacked. Someone who knew hypnosis, programmed him so well that he wouldn't let out their secrets."

"Bravo" Orion patted Clark's shoulder in encouragement, "Doesn't that narrows down the search of our killer?"

For a moment Clark's eyes caught Orion's and they both finally agreed on one matter.

"The person who killed Luciana is a psychiatrist in D.R.E.A.M" Daniel concluded.

"Damn.. Found it way too back." Orion shrugged with a smug gaze, "I want you to be silent about this till I find the real culprit. Sorry mate, I had no other way." Taking out the shot of sedation he had for Hayden during the session, Orion injected it into Clark's arm.