The Shadow Man

Twenty

"Kree? Can you hear me?"
He asks.
I can hear the panic in her voice.
"Mason? Are you out there?"
I feel the blood drain from my face.
"Rone, if you can hear me give me a sign. Anything."
She calls.
Nothing.
I feel cold inside, knowing that I might have just lost my only hope of seeing Donnie again.
Desperation wells up inside me as I stand.
"Alice. Stay calm."
She says, having a shake in her own voice.
"What are you saying Finley? Donnie was missing, and now it's all of them!"
I say frantically.
"Then what do you suggest we do, Ally, because frankly I think we're out of options."
She says, almost crossing her arms in defiance.
"We do have one more option."
She looks me in the eye, and instantly knows that we have the same crazy idea.
"No."
She says.
"It's our only option, Finley."
I growl.
"We are not getting them involved in this! Besides, that threat the Entity made was pretty strait forward."
She counters.
"How is the Entity going to know?! He's got what he wants, his attention should be fully focused over there."
Her next words come out harsh, and rational. They're selfless and noble, a few qualities I am lacking right now.
"We have to assume they're dead, Alice. They went in, and didn't come back. What's important now is that we preserve the lives of everyone on this planet by not messing with that portal or the Entity. That's what we always agreed upon. I'm sorry, but it's a truth we all knew we'd have to face someday. The truth that, one day, someone might not come back. And still another day, no one, comes back."
I shake my head.
"I can't accept that, Finley. The world still needs them. I need Him."
I say.
She sighs.
"I hope you're right about this."
She says.
We stare at each other for a while.
"So...are you going to call him?"
She asks.
"Um...No. you're the ones who handle all of that superhero stuff, I'm just a girl who gets wrapped up in all of your crazy adventures. Also, I don't have his number."
She sighs again.
"You really need to get to know everyone."
I scoff.
"I do know people, Mack Larson is the guy we're gonna call right?"
I ask, trying to further my point.
"Zachary, Alice. His name is Zachary."

"Who may I ask is on the other end of this cellular device?"
I search for an answer.
Something witty and cool.
"My name is not important, what I stand for is what's at stake here."
I reply in the deepest most serious voice I can muster.
"Alison Abigale Davies. Aged 24, Graduated with 3 medical degrees. Wow vary impressive stuff in your file Miss Davies."
He says.
I remain speechless.
"Voice recognition software, My dear Alison. I knew who you were before you even finished dialing this number. Now how may I be of service? I suppose this is important because you are using Samantha Finley's phone."
Before I can say another word he continues speaking.
"It says here she is 26, attended several different training facilities, as well as having extensive military training as a pilot, and in ground forces."
I turn to her.
"He does this every time."
She whispers, raising her brows in annoyance.
"Shut up and listen."
I snap.
"The Shift, as well as Jackson Rone, Sinder Kree, Xander Vex, And Judger Are all in danger. You are the only one who can-"
He interrupts me yet again.
"Let me just say that I admire your grit young lady, that is truly hard to find these days. Second, I am on top of the situation and am well aware of their dire circumstances. I have been instructed by Captain Jackson Rone himself to not engage in the matter, because it will endanger the lives of all of my men, as well as the possible risk of starting yet another civil war."
I growl silently.
"Wow you have a really short fuse, do you know that?"
He asks.
"I am becoming increasingly aware, Larson."
I turn to Finley.
"I'm starting to think this was a mistake."
I whisper as Larson rambles on the other end.
"Give me the phone."
She says.
I hand her the device.
"Larson Dammit, shut up!"
He shuts up instantly.
"Can you help us or not?!"
She asks.
"Well, I might be able to be...persuaded to help you..."
He says.
"Are you asking me to hire you?"
She asks.
Her face resembles that emoji with the three lines.
"Okay I know that tone, that's your 'I'm not in the mood' Tone, and I will stop while I am ahead. Do you guys have a plan?"
He asks.
"Nope, but we're open to suggestions."
He sighs.
"Why don't you guys come over to the base, and we'll strategize from there, sound good?"
He asks.
I shrug.
"Let's do it."