The Black Envelope

Chapter 25: Trapped

Chapter 25: Trapped

Jack had never been as frightened as he was when he watched Gage and Fay get escorted into the police station. Not even the time he had faced down five Unnoticed by himself had he felt so afraid, it didn’t compare in the slightest. His heart was beating like a bass drum in his chest, deep thuds that almost physically shook his body.

He slid into the shadows next to the staircase. There were no windows that he could look through to watch the couple. No way to check on them. His history lesson with Z was running through his head as was the previous warning. Nothing could happen to this boy. The fate of the country rested on his shoulders and he didn’t even know it. He didn’t know how careful he needed to be. Gage thought the only thing that could happen to him right now was being killed. But the Slayer knew the Unnoticed were capable of much worse.

The laughter of the above policemen on the stairs shook Jack out of his thoughts. He needed to stay focused, keep calm. Walking straight into the building wasn’t an option. And he couldn’t just pull rank on the officers with his Slayer status. The Slayers were trying to stay hidden. Doing something like that would surely have consequences. Not to mention a brutal reprimand from Z.

Jack ground his teeth together, trying to stay calm. He paced down the street, running his fingers over the stubble on his chin. For now he just had to hope that Gage was smart, that he was keeping his cool and using what he had. He knew that Ulysses was great with I.Ds and the disguises Maria gave them were decent. Jack sighed. All he could do was hope.

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After a half hour of pacing the street the doors opened and Gage and Fay walked out, led by an officer. Jack’s heart plummeted for a moment before he noticed that Gage looked extremely relieved and the two of them weren’t in hand cuffs. He watched as the two got into the officer’s car and his worry peaked again before he realized that the officer must be giving them a ride somewhere.

Confusion replaced his worry as he started jogging easily alongside the patrol car in the shadow of the buildings. They left the city and drove into the suburban area, weaving in and out of streets. The Slayer avoided street lamps and kept his pace by the car, never running out of breath or stumbling. After a couple of minutes the car slowed and stopped outside a house that the Slayer vaguely recognized but couldn’t place.

Gage and Fay exited the car and walked up the sidewalk to the front door. Fay looked nervous and Gage looked ill at ease, shifting awkwardly on the porch. They spoke for a moment and then Gage leaned forward and placed his lips on Fay’s. The Slayer turned in respect and staked out the area. He walked around to the side of the house and saw a man sitting in the living room area. The man looked familiar and Jack suddenly realized where he knew the house from. It was Gage’s.

Jack wondered why in the world would he turn up here. He didn’t question it though, just walked around back to the front of the house and watched as the door opened and Gage’s mother stepped forward. Her face displayed extreme shock and she leaned forward and embraced her son, tears dripping down her face.

Gage winced and hugged her back. They stepped inside the house and Fay closed the door behind them. The Slayer relocated to a window and watched the scene inside. Gage’s father stood up and walked into the room. Instead of embracing Gage as his mother did he spoke quietly. Jack couldn’t hear his words but he could tell by his and Gage’s face what was being said.

Words were exchanged and Gage turned to leave, fuming. Suddenly his father stepped forward, a new expression on his face. Jack sighed as Gage and his father apologized and walked into the living room. The Slayer followed around to the back by a new window. He couldn’t hear again but by the amount of time Gage and Fay spoke the Slayer assumed they were explaining what was going on. Jack hoped they hadn’t mentioned him but somehow knew that Gage wasn’t going to.