The Door

Chapter 16

Everett was pulled out of the rickety carriage. He squinted, having gone too the piercing sunlight from the gloomy interior. Kaden and Josha were being shoved besides him, into a sketchy looking building. Everett turned his head to look at his surroundings, but the person leading him turned it violently ahead. He walked closer to Kaden, and nudged her hand with his. She looked at him, her eyes filled with pain.

"I'm so sorry. I would have told you earlier, but..."

Everett cocked his head, puzzled. She looked ahead, ignoring him. They were pushed through a tight doorway. His eyes adjusted once more to dim surroundings. He glanced around. Their feet clanged on the metal floor. The room was empty except for a table, in the far-left corner.

"Go get 'im." A man behind Everett barked. Paco bolted forwards, the door slamming behind him. Everett's breath caught in his throat. Adron walked through, Paco walking cowardly behind him.

His eyes shimmered in delight. "I see you have brought me a rare catch." He shook the man's hand. "You can expect only the best price. I was beginning to worry about them! After that whole TCOWA thing and all." He grinned. He grabbed Kaden roughly, leaning down to look her directly in the eye. "A father usually does worry about his daughter, right?"

Everett paced around his cell. The lifeless moaning filled his ears, but he blocked them out. He jerked to the cell bars. He sighed heavily, all of the tension built of inside him dissipated.

"Axle, oh my goodness, Axle," He ran up, grasping the bars. Axle looked up at Everett, regret filled his eyes.

"I'm so sorry, Everett, it's all my fault for running away, and now you're in prison and you know about Kaden, and- "

"Hey, hey," He reached out to Axle's hand, soothing him. "Don't blame yourself...." He paused. "How did you get in here, anyway?"

Axle looked down, embarrassed. "The prison guard had some... somewhat obvious mental struggles. We talked them over, and now I'm here," He shifted his weight from one foot to the other.

Everett laughed. "Seriously?" His eyes emanated with humor.

Axle laughed, and looked down. "We had a real heart to heart..." He slowly lifted a set of keys into Everett's view.

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The crept down the empty hallway, and peered around the corner. Josha rubbed his wrists were the rope had rubbed completely raw.

"Where's Kaden?"

"Not sure," Everett said, distracted. "He probably has her in solitary confinement, but I'm not sure where."

"Solitary confinement?" Axle stared at Everett, but he hardly took notice.

"Yeah, seeing as she's his daughter...." His voice trailed off. A door creaked open in the distance. His head jerked. He pulled Axle and Josha back.

"He's followed our plans perfectly, sir. The driver had a fatal accident, but he was just a resorce to put the plan into action."

"Hmmm. That's unfortunate. I was hoping to use him more when they escape, but it'll be no problem to find another, willing soul." Adron gestured to the building. "We have plenty of more than willing people here." He cackled. "He sure is an asset to their team, which is exactly what I wanted. It'd be quite unfair to fight unprepared children, right?"

The woman nodded. "Indeed."

"It's not everyday you have someone with a version of mind magic."

Everett's eyes widened. There's another one? He leaned against the wall. Axle and Josha both looked to Everett.

"What do we do?" Josha mouthed. Everett fingered his neckless.

"We're not leaving without Kaden, that's for sure... I wonder if there's some sort of tunnel system..."

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Kaden jerked awake. Everett pulled back his hand and she stared at him. A memory finally rung and she blinked. She pulled him into a hug. When they finally pulled away, she grasped his arm.

"I wish I had told you," She looked down.

"No! Don't blame yourself-"

Her face suddenly drained in horror. He spun around. Adron grabbed the bars. "Hello Everett," He hissed. He looked up. "Josha Myers. Nice to see you too."

Josha pulled away from the open ceiling in panic.

"It's a shame we don't see more of you. You'll find out you have quite an amazing power too." He giggled.

Everett ran to the bars and stared directly into his burning eyes. "If you dare speak one more word you will regret it."

Adron stopped, and his eyes softened. "You seriously think me as a monster." He looked thoughtful. "You think too little of me Everett."

"What is there to think more of? You kill for fun. You rip children away from their parents. You treat your own daughter like dirt." Everett recoiled.

"Kill for fun? Everything I do is for the good of Kamere. And my daughter is in my highest respect," He spat. "Why do you think I gave her a companion?"

Everett stepped back in shock. "You were the man in the desert." He mumbled.

"Of course not! Ha. It was merely one of my associates. I'm pretty sure you've met her yourself."

A loud bang clanged in the distance. Adron spun around.

"Axle! Glad to see you made it!" He walked slowly to Axle. Axle stiffened up as Adron circled around him.

"Let them go."

"Let them go? But its only just begun."