Hiraeth {Book 3 in The Emerald of Annihilation trilogy}

(22). All the King's Horses

3rd Person's POV.

If Jackson Rodgers tapped his foot on the floor any longer in the same rhythm, there would be a new grand canyon in the floor of his sister's living room. Which would add more to her stress. Alex was already worrying about her daughter but now this?

"And you say you have heard nothing from him?" She asked again. The four trembling figures on the opposite sofa glanced at each other for a moment before the one to the far right answered, 

"W-we saw him a couple of days ago with these other kids who don't go to our school...Since then, nothing."

Jack leaned forward, his toe-tapping relaxing. "Can  you describe these kids?" He asked calmly. Brayden and his group once again exchanged hesitant glances. "They were....normal looking. A tall guy who had a small cut on his right cheek, a girl with a scorpion tattoo on the back of her neck, another guy who was short but looked like he could take a bear...."

Alex and Jack exchanged glimpses. "And did Buck seem to be a victim in any way? Was he being forced or-" "No, he looked right at home with them. Laughing and chatting ya'know..." Jack nodded. "Alright, thank you, kids. You can go."

The four teens shuffled awkwardly out of the interrogation room. Jack sat back in his chair, pinching the bridge of his nose, wondering how in the world could the Rodgers family be that messed up.

"You believe them?" Alex asked, leaning forward, resting her arms on her knees. "Four high school rascals who added my son to their band of bastards? No. But I can believe the posture and trembling lips of four frightened kids."

She let out a deep sigh and sat up straight. "If what they are saying is correct then we need to find visual scans of those kids they described." Jack nodded standing and arching his back. The satisfying snap oddly calming to his ears.

"I'll get on it." He exited the room, shutting the door behind him. Once the burdening yoke of loneliness set in, Alex collapsed her head into her hands. First her daughter, not her son? What was next? Her husband was back in HQ where he would be safe. For now...

Now it was Alex's turn to debut for toe-tapping. Her head felt heavy and her motivation was already fallen deep into the deepest part of the ocean.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

"Are you sure those are them?" Mark squinted at the HD photo in his hand. He glanced up at the two figures in front of him doubtfully. "I'm afraid so." Jack ran a hand through his short, crew cut hair. "They match the kids' descriptions perfectly." 

Mark tossed the photo onto the coffee table and blew out a heaving sigh. The thumping hammer in his skull got worse as the pieces if the puzzle came together to form the clear, completed, undeniable picture. The harsh, harsh truth.

"Buck is working with Viper." Jack spat out the dreaded words no one wanted to hear. No one spoke for what seemed like forever. "It's my fault," Alex said, finally breaking the silence. "I was not home enough. He hung out with the wrong crowd and now look where he is." 

She let her gaze fall to the floor. "I've failed as a mother and a parent." Jack rested his hand in her shoulder. "It's not your fault, Alex..." He started sympathetically. "Yes, it was. We both know it is." She sighed and shrugged off her older brother's hand. "So, what is it you two have found?" 

The sudden knock on the door brought everyone back to reality. "I'll get it, Mark mumbled, getting up a little too enthusiastically. The tension between the two siblings was thick and he felt stuck in the middle. He could kiss whoever had saved them by knocking.

"Hey, Matt." Nevermind that. Mark glared slightly at the emotionless looking male in front of him. "It's Mark, Spot." "Whatever." Scott stepped into the house, shoving his way past Mark into the building. 

"I didn't welcome you, double agent." Mark muttered to himself before closing the door. Just what he needed. More stress. He made his way back o the living room grumbling to himself. Ready to strangle Scott as he saw the said man in the spot he had originally been seated.

It took all his strength not to attack Scott with his fists. It was then that he noticed something off about the usually distant, mysterious, and emotionless male. He seemed to be sulking. More than usual that is. His hair was a mess. And there were bruises all over his face. Dried blood decorated just below his right eyebrow and his bottom lip.

Mark silently sat next to Scott making sure to press himself to the edge of the opposite side of the sofa. "Glad you could make it, Scott." Jack spoke grimly, eyeing the young man's beat up condition. "Where is Amber?" Alex asked hesitantly, her eyes studying him carefully. 

Her question made Scott flinch. His fists clenched tightly, his nails digging into his palm. His body muscles tensed and his jaw clenched. "She-um..." He twisted his thumbs in his lap helplessly. "They took her." Scott avoided all eye contact with the three other peoples in the room. 

"You mean you turned her in." Mark snapped. Scott turned his head sharply, shooting daggers at him. "Shut up." Mark turned to him glaring back with just as much distaste. "You honestly think anyone would believe you randomly left Viper and befriended Amber just because her brother is killed?" Jack and Alex glimpsed at each other, then to the two arguing boys, sensing the growing tension in the air.

"Guys,"  Alex leaned forward. "Calm down." Mark's glare into the opposite man's eyes didn't lessen or relax in the slightest. He stood. "You don't fool me, Scott. You may seem like a poor social victim on the outside but on the inside, you are a demented bastard who deserves to be behind bars." Scott stood up. 

Even standing straight and tall he was a good couple inches shorter than Mark. The top of his head reaching Mark's nose. But his fierce glare was enough to send a wolf running back with its tail between its legs. 

But Mark was no wolf. He was more of a tiger. Unfazed. Unshakable. He held Scott's glare stable. "I swear Livingston," Scott warned, his voice growling and hissing through his teeth. "If you speak one more time about Amber I will do something I might regret." Mark didn't back down. "What? Will you kill me like you killed her?"

That did it. That hit the nerve. Snapped the last cord holding Scott from falling form calm, relaxation to complete insanity. "I'm gonna rip your teeth from that pretty little mouth of yours!" Scott winded back his fist and punched Mark square in the jaw. 

The surprise and force knocked Mark backwards, tripping over his own feet, causing him to fall back. Blood flowed from his mouth. Scott would have straddled him and beat the living daylights out of him if Jack hadn't grabbed his arm, holding him back.

The red that clouded Scott's vision subsided. Tears blurred his vision. The last memories of Amber he had were good ones. He honestly didn't know if he'd see her again alive. "I've never taken a life." He uttered, his voice uneven.

He felt Jack's hands on his biceps slowly release. Scott dropped to his knees. His chest hurt. His eyes fluttered shut as tears flowed down his cheeks. His fists clenched. The three others looked at him in helpless disbelief. His soft, choked sobs echoing throughout the small apartment. 

The sight of the man well known for his coldness and emotionless acts of anger and violence was broken down in front of them. And they didn't know what to do. 

The chapter is complete!!!! I have to edit all the way from book 1......but I am enjoying this story! I hope you all are too! Love you guys! don't forget to vote, comment and share! 

~Keziah