Subject 15

CHAPTER 35 - Seth

I took my time flying, careful to keep out of view of anyone below me. I didn't like what I was about to do, since it could very well get me killed or captured, but it was my best option. I flew past the college, then the garden, and finally arrived at the Jones' manor.

"What if Greyson doesn't have her?" the AI in my Mask asked me. "What if this is just a trick to catch you?"

I grit my teeth as I dove, replying mentally, "To hell with it then. If they won't help me, then I'll kill Greyson myself."

I landed at their front door, my wings dissolving, and I knocked three times before ringing the doorbell. After a few seconds, Mrs. Jones opened the door and with an exclamation asked, "Seth! What are you doing here?"

I looked somberly at her and said in a low tone, "Samantha has been taken. I need to see Mr. Jones."

Mrs. Jones looked at me for a stunned second before opening the door and asked, "What happened? What do you mean?"

I shook my head absentmindedly, stepping onto the lush rugs, searching for any sign of danger. I remembered every dark corner of this house as if I had lived in it for years, and there were way too many for my liking...

I turned around to face Mrs. Jones, and I saw genuine concern etched across her face. I realized that I had my Mask still on, and after a moments hesitation, I slowly reached up and took it off, my tired eyes and beaten face looking back at hers. Mrs. Jones gasped, and said in genuine fear, "What happened to her?"

I closed my eyes, about to explain what happened when an electronic sound cut through the air. A piece of metal pressed into the back of my head as Mr. Jones coldly said, "You move, you die – I don't care how bad Greyson wants you. What the fuck did you do with my daughter?"

I slowly held up my hands, and with equally slow speed turned to face him. He held a pistol in his right hand, aimed toward the spot in between my eyes. It wasn't a fake one either; this pistol ran on a plasma battery, and it condensed said plasma into lethal bolts.. Every plasma battery could hold, if you were lucky, 200 rounds, and this one looked brand new, the back of the pistol glowing a deadly green.

I looked into his eyes and asked coldly, "So you work for him too?"

Mr. Jones didn't move as he said, "I work for the government, and you haven't answered my question." He armed the pistol, the machine humming expectantly. "Where is my daughter?"

I stared into the Marine's eyes and replied, "Ask Greyson. He was the one who sent the soldiers that took your daughter."

Fear entered his eyes for the first time, and he slowly backed toward his study, eventually turning to run, shouting, "Alison, get me in contact with Greyson NOW!"

Mrs. Jones rushed into the study with him, I quickly following her, and as soon as I entered, the call started and I heard a voice like thunder ask, "What the hell Barton? What do you need?"

"Where the hell is my daughter Farran!?" roared Mr. Jones.

The line was quiet, and then the man, identified as Farran Greyson said, "She's with me Barton, away from that monster. What's wrong with you?"

"That was not our deal, Farran!" shouted Barton, rage boiling in his blood.

"Yeah, it's not!" shouted back Greyson. "Our deal was that you would bring me the boy, and yet you're letting him sleep in your basement!"

Barton turned towards me, shock and rage distorting his face. I didn't care about that – I wanted to find where Greyson was, and more importantly where Samantha was. I waved him on to keep talking to Greyson. Barton quickly stated, "We went over this! It was all in good time! I couldn't just turn him in as soon as my daughter brought him to me! It would have looked suspicious! You knew that! Now where is my daughter?"

"Consider this a booster! You get me the boy, and you can get your daughter! Understand?!"

I spoke softly, but with resounding power, "No, you should understand this: your fight is with me and me alone."

The line was quiet for a time, then the voice said, "Hello Seth."

I continued, "You will bring Sam to the school tomorrow at 9:00 A.M. in the cafeteria."

"And if I don't?" spat back the voice.

I leaned toward the monitor and said slowly, calmly, and with power in my words, "You don't need me to tell you what I can do. You made me. You know. Sam will be there. If she isn't... I will do one of two things. I will find you, and tear you apart until there is nothing left of you, not even a drop of blood, nothing but a lost memory of who you were... or I will disappear, and you will never find me. Either way, you lose, my hunter."

I leaned closer to the monitor and whispered lowly, my voice dripping with anger, hate, and determination, "So you listen to me, and listen very closely: don't you dare lay a finger on her – if a single hair on her head is harmed, and trust me, I will know, I will make you beg for death, beg for release... and then I will kill you.

"Bring Samantha," I finished. "For your own sake."

I disconnected the line, letting Greyson take in my words. There was silence for a while as the two Jones and I stood there, until I heard Barton say, "I'm sorry."

I crossed my arms, not looking at Barton as I said, "You said it yourself – you work for the government. I can't hold it against you," but deep inside, I was wounded.

The Marine set down his pistol on the desk and said quietly, "I just wanted my daughter to be safe."

I nodded, and understood what it was like to want to keep those you love safe. I was feeling it right now.

"What do we do now?" asked Barton, awaiting orders.

I shrugged, and without looking at him said, "Do the only thing we can; wait."

I heard Barton scoff and say, "Wait? Every second we wait is another my daughter is in danger!"

I spun around to him, grabbing his shirt and hoisting him off of his feet as easily one would a child. Mrs. Jones gave a frightened gasp as I shouted, "And you think I don't know that?"

I dropped Barton, who landed on his feet, and turned away from him, passing a hand over my face to control myself.

"You love her..." I heard Barton whisper. "Don't you, son?"

I didn't do anything for a few seconds, my Demon whispering doubts and faults of mine into my head. After a long pause, I slowly nodded, not trusting words to communicate what I felt. I felt a large, but somewhat gentle hand on my shoulder, and heard Barton say, "Alright... you're right..."

I turned around to him, looking him in the eyes and saying, "I swear on my life, no harm will come to your daughter... I swear it."

Barton nodded, then let go of my shoulder, saying, "I believe you," as he exited the study with is frightened wife. I was left alone, doing exactly what had to be done: wait.