Sighted

Chapter 32: Fake It, 'til I Make It

Gin

     I keep my attention focused on Rosemary as Bowden crosses the mat over to the her. The elegantly-tailored woman is standing as if she's about to start a press conference, instead of an attempted murder. I want to glance back at Alex again, but I need to keep my concentration. Currently, a plan escapes me.

     Alex, Owen and Dylan are positioned behind me, the twelve humans forced to serve a mutated, servant-like existence in formation just beyond them. Their captive presence assures Rosemary that I'm her little puppet right now. Speaking of puppets, Bowden's behavior surprises me as well.

     I didn't expect him to be on our side but acting as Rosemary's gofer doesn't really suit him either. Even when he worked for his mother's family, he ruled his section of the business. Plus, Bowden just burned down several of the gang's warehouses almost a week ago, while looking for Alex, so those serum distribution routes might be a little be delayed.

     Once Bowden is positioned alongside Rosemary, albeit slightly behind, the small woman claps her hands together, as if there was a much larger audience. Making a show of turning to the demon beside her, she says, "Bowden, you volunteered to make the first attempt, since you have a grudge against the chosen one that shackled you to her brother. Tell us what you intend to do."

     Bowden nods once, before stepping away, heading to the backpacks left behind at the door. Rifling through mine, he starts to explain, "Chosen ones are difficult to kill, you already know that. They are most likely to die from old age, then self-inflicted injuries and lastly extreme circumstances."

     Once the demon finds what he's looking for he pulls them out, dropping the bag. In his hand are the magically re-enforced wrist and ankle restraints that he knew we would carry. He steps onto the mat and tosses them to land at my feet.

"We're going to try and create the extreme circumstances," he continues. "Put those on Gin."

     Slowly, I bend down and heft the considerable metal bands. They're similar to handcuffs, but in a larger and rougher style. They open easy in my hands, but as I place the first pair around my ankles, they close and magically seal into a solid band of steel.

     They're incredibly strong and are meant to hold and detain up to mid-level supernaturals. I place the second pair around my wrists, letting them close and seal. Now, I'll only be able to move my hands and feet roughly sixteen inches apart.

"Now, there are probably some freak accidents, but the most important part of the extreme circumstances is that the chosen one is weakened. Since they don't have an energy pulse, we can't measure it, but we'll just keep trying until we manage it. I'll attack, in which Gin won't be able to react and properly defend herself. Once she's weak, there are several things to try such as a dismemberment, suffocation or hellfire. I'm going to attempt hellfire, as it is the easiest cleanup."

"Beautiful idea. How does it feel to be on this side of the wrist restraints, Bowden?" Rosemary is flaunting her excitement at this time. When I put on the restraints, her eyes took on a more hyper appearance and her mouth movements seemed to have become slightly more agitated.

"It's preferable," comes Bowden's curt reply.

"Well, then. I'll let you get to work," the crazy one gives one solid nod. "Proceed."

     With Rosemary's expressed consent, Bowden turns his back to her, shifting his focusing onto me. Striding over, he raises his fist back, letting it strike out furiously and catches me across the jaw. I knew it was coming and couldn't completely resist reacting, my body tensed before the impact.