The Edge of Honour

Chapter 35

Morgan's POV:

"We're almost there," Gorran whispered as he tossed by bags on top of my still asleep body. I groaned under their unexpected weight.

"Was that necessary Gor?" I murmured, stretching and rolling my head in an effort to wake my body up.

"We got a phone call from the man in charge while you were asleep. Once the boat docks a car is going to meet us and we will be taken to a facility where we will meet him," Gorran explained as April and Jet stepped away from us, allowing us a short amount of time to talk privately.

"Did he say anything else?" I questioned. I may not have known Gorran for a long time, but his mannerisms told a lot about how he was feeling. His hands twisted in tight circles and lines formed above his eyes- he was hiding something from me.

"He confirmed that he would have no hesitation in killing us without any questions if we did anything wrong. I'm afraid we are going to blow our covers Morgan, so much is resting on our ability to lie and hide the truth from people who are skilled at extracting it by whatever means necessary."

"Well then I guess we should use our remaining time to study our files," I said, tightening to reduce his worry. I knew that it wouldn't help him greatly, but it was the best I could do. In less than an hour we would have to know exactly who Jamie and Ray were or else face the consequences which Gorran had spoken of.

I focused on each typed word laid out in front of me, trying to memorise them precisely. My mind kept drifting off despite my best efforts to concentrate, I could not help but wonder what was in store for us.

As people began to rise and filter out through the ship's many doors and onto the harbour, Jet and April gave us their final words of advice. They had been sure that we would have a few days to prepare once we arrived in France, but unfortunately these were not granted  to us. We had no monitors, we would have no back-up. We were completely on our own- something which Jet had promised me would never happen.

They told us to exit first, so as to prevent any suspicions arising.

Jet grabbed my arm as I stepped towards the door. "It won't be long, we'll get back up there somehow, I promise." I nodded back to him, I could not bring myself to speak. Deep inside of me, I wondered if this was the last time I would see him. Jet was the closest thing I had to family, he had been there for me in every possible way since I had met him; but now I was alone.

Gorran and I exchanged a glance before walking away from our mentors onto the busy pier. We were greeted by a frosty, bone-chilling wind. I pulled my jumper tighter around me, silently wishing that I had brought a jacket with me.

"I guess this is it," Gorran announced, leading me to a large black car with tinted windows that had been flashing us. As we got closer, a tall muscular man who bared a striking resemblance to one of Alma's kidnappers exited the car.

"Jamie and Ray, I presume." Without waiting for a response from us, we were pushed roughly into the backseat of the car.

A darkened panel rose from the seat in front of us, blocking us off from the driver, separating us. I couldn't tell if I was worried by this or grateful not to have to look at his face any longer.

"Sir?" Gorran said, a note of tension audible in his speech. The barrier stopped rising and slowly lowered.

"What?" He was evidently angry that he hadn't laughed yet as he stared down at his thick golden watch.

"I just wanted to know if you could tell me where we were going?" Gorran asked. My eyes widened as he spoke. I could not foretell the driver's reaction, but I had decided it would be safer for both of us if we did not speak.

To my sheer surprise, the driver responded with laughter. "What would be the point of this if I told you?" he commented as he pointed to the broad screen in front of us. "The boss doesn't like newbies knowing his location."

"That makes sense, I guess!"

"You are still new to this, aren't you?" the driver questioned. Gorran turned quickly towards me, he was unsure whether he should answer positively or negatively.

"I suppose." After pausing to think that was the best he could come up with. At the moment, I seriously considered whether or not, I should reveal the truth of our identities and hope for the best- we were never going to pull this off.

"Well, I will give you two valuable pieces of advice then. Firstly, never speak unless you are spoken to and secondly think more carefully before you reply. The boss will not put up with any smart answers or questions. Do exactly as you're told and you'll be fine. If you step out of line, you could end up on the wrong end of my gun and between the three of us, I would rather if that didn't happen."

Once again, the screen rose and I wondered if I had misjudged the driver. Gorran sat quietly as he contemplated his words and I could tell that there was no point in me giving out to him.

The car speed along the streets and as I stared at the darkened interior, I wondered where we were headed. Neither Gorran or I spoke as the car roared over large bumps and through tight corners, we were each equally consumed in our own thoughts.

My stomach began to feel queasy from the quick driving and I could feel my insides swirling inside of me. Thankfully, the car soon screeched to a halt. We would both stayed rooted to our seats, not wanting to leave the car if we weren't supposed to.

The driver quickly opened the door and roughly pulled us back out. My eyes struggled to adjust to the bright lights of the parking area we stood in. The space was empty except for hundreds of startling bright lights which all pointed to us. A group of people dressed in green military like uniforms surrounded us. The lights prevented me from making out their features and I struggled to keep my rising stomach contents inside of me.

"Junior here, will take both of you to the search room and after that you will meet the boss." Immediately the man he had pointed to began walking and looked back at us impatiently. We quickly followed behind him to the search area.

This was it, we were here, we were on our own. Morgan and Gorran no longer existed. Jamie and Ray had to survive in a world of criminals alone. Jet had promised to send help shortly, but it would be impossible for us to know who to trust.

If we did not do this precisely as requested, we would not make it out alive. The prospect terrified me, but the reality of what lay ahead was much worse than I had feared.