Double Crossed: Marionette

Chapter 4

"I want everyone in the cells in the hull. Everyone but her," I pointed to Carter, "I'll deal with her." The Agent was still unconscious so I slipped her gauntlet on. "On second thought," I said, halting the team, "put her in the empty storage room. I need to run some tests." Before I headed out of the Phoenix plane, I went exploring for the onboard lab. Shag was being shouldered up by Gardner, having been stabbed in the knee. He could barely breathe too, probably cause the taser to his chest.

Towards the back of the plane was the lab. I had taken a DNA sample from the gauntlet before slipping it back to the agent. On one of the desks was a nameplate: Alice Carter. The other desk in the lab was labeled, Zayne Janson. Well, there's the first clue. I walked over and grabbed a pencil off of Janson's desk. It dawned on me I had no clue how to run a DNA test. I was, however, good at interrogation.

Back on my own plane, I zipped down the ladder and into the hostage chambers. The longish hallway was the bottom level of the plane. At the end stood an iron door which leads to storage. Alice would be in there if the team can follow orders. I had grabbed documents from the Phoenix Rise plane before I turned off autopilot and veered it downward. Right before the plane tipped left, I had jumped from the door and grabbed a handy rope ladder dangling from Barnes' arms.

I smirked at Janson as I walked past and whispered, "You're next."

The iron door swung open with a large groan. Stolen paperwork was tucked under my arm as I stepped into the storage room. Carter was still unconscious and laying on the floor. I stood in the shadows, waiting for her to wake up.

It didn't take long for my prisoner to come to her senses. She jolted awake and screamed in pain. Pfft. So easily hurt. I've been hurt once, and that was when I was thrown 60 mph into a concrete building in an explosion, and it barely cracked a rib. Carter started massaging her leg, attempting to ease the pain. She then did something that surprised even me, she ripped her precious gauntlet to make a splint after much deliberation. Interesting.

After the agent finished her self-examination, she looked up and locked eyes with me. Probably for the first time noticing I was there. I stepped forward, like a lioness inching toward her prey. In a way, that was true. She was my prisoner, so somewhat similar.

"Wha-what do you want with me?" Her weak mortal voice barely held.

"Oh, nothing. Just wanted to see how you're doing." My words were friendly, not my tone. Carter picked up on my intent, but only a little. A confused look crosses her face. Then anger.

"You kidnapped me! Put me on a plane and shot my knee! I hardly call that 'checking up on!'"

My voice is silk as I inch closer to the table next to the agent, "We come from different countries, Alice, is it?" She shifted uncomfortably under my stare. My hand gestures to the chair across the desk, beckoning her to take a seat, not on the floor, I mean. She does try, that's all I can give her. Alice manages to get on her knees before she falls over.

I sigh and put the papers on the desk before walking over to her place on the floor. I reach my hand out for her, offering to help the agent up. She refuses and tries again to get up. Another feeble attempt. Eventually, my powers picked her up and dropped her in the chair. The terrified look on Alice's face was priceless. I admit, I did let a laugh slip through my lips.

As Alice settled into her chair, I began going through the papers. Nothing was of extreme use that I found in the two seconds it took me to thoroughly read it. I dropped the files on the table with a loud thump and it startled Alice into a ball. I'll never understand how mortals get scared so easily.

"I'll cut to the chase. What was the mission you and your team were sent on? Failure to cooperate will result in you feeling some, uh, pain. Or...Janson?" Her face paled at the name. "That could be an option."

"We-we were uh, looking or searching the Wasteland. Nothing in particular."

"You are a terrible liar," I say as my wrist flicks. Metal peals out of boxes and re-shape as blades. They inched closer to the table and I turn on the interrogation light. Alice's eyes blink and adjust to the brightness as I lean closer to her.

"I will ask you one more time, why are you here?"

This time she doesn't stutter, suddenly confident in her hope she can trick me, "The Phoenix Rise found a possible cure to your cursed virus. We are going to save thousands, maybe millions, but I am not the only one searching for it. Wasteland was only a pitstop on our way to where we think it will be, where the cure may be."

"Is there a class to make agents better at lying? There should be," the knives inch closer and in a whisper, I continue, "I can tell the cure is true, but Wasteland isn't a pitstop. It's your destination. And I would like you to tell me the truth before I initiate plan B. And since you clearly have a preferece, Zayne Janson will take the pain for you. Last chance to oblige."

Silence.

I lean way from the table and the tears welling in Alice's eyes. If she can't betray her country, she'll have to betray someone she loves. "Bring him in," I call a little louder than necessary. Alice conveniatly found her voice as Agent Janson was dragged in by two team members. He kicked and tried to throw punches. It was all in vain because he was definitley not a fighter. Alice Carter tried to reach for him, but her broken knee was a problem. Her tears came down her face as signs of her physical and emotional pain. Her hand reached toward Janson as I bent down to put a firm hand on her shoulder. I pulled her back up and forced her to stare into my eyes. All of her barriers came down as her eyes squeazed shut and her breath began hitching.

"It doesn't have to come to this, Alice. Answer the rest of my questions and your precious won't be harmed. Deal?"

"Don't do it, Alice. Stay strong it doesn't matter-" His voice cuts off as my glare snaps in his direction. He tries again but his voice only comes out as a whisper, "Alice..."

My grip on Alice's shoulder becomes stronger as I turn around again. "So, will you tell me what I want? This overly dramatic Alice," the blades continue growing closer to Zayne, "Tell me and it will al be over."

Alice practically shouts the answer, eager to get this over with, "Apollo's scepter. It-it's in the east hills in the ruins of an old sun god's temple. The temple is no longer there, but stones litter the hill." Her voice breaks on the last words as Janson repeats her name.

"Better."

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Hey guys! So, I'm getting no feedback on my story. Do you like it, do you not like it? Vote, comment, I don't care just I'm going insane. Anyways, hope you enjoyed and the next chapter will be out soon. Sorry, it took so long, the other books are going through major changes so I had to make sure this would work.