The Door

Chapter 19

The chair creaked in the darkness. He leaned back, staring into nothingness. A knock floated through his mind. He grunted, and the door creaked open. The light shot through the room, showing the man sitting on his haunches, staring intently into the wall.

"Sir, we have a problem."

"The Keepers can handle it."

"But sir it's about your daughter. She's hurt."

"The medics can handle it."

"She's calling for you."

"Tell her I'm busy."

"She inherited your stubbornness." He chuckled softly, opening the door an inch more. "I already told her that three times."

"Then tell her again," He barked, his head jerked in disgust at the man.

He slunk back. "What are your plans, if I may ask?"

"About what?" His eyes wandered back to the wall, annoyance dancing along with his words.

"Everything... Thing's haven't exactly gone to plan with the boy I might remind you."

"It's none of your concern." He hissed. "That boy is stubborn and senseless. The people of Kamere are used to dark magic. We need to drop him off somewhere where he'll be experimented and killed for it."

"But why don't you just do what you did to Axle?"

"He's too old." Spit spat out with every word, anger seething through his body. "He has far too much spirit to leave him there... besides. People will eventually get suspicious. I had a reason with the other one."

"What about the girl? I don't think she will let you get away with that."

"I will rip him away from her dying claws if I have to." He glanced up at the man. Wildness lined his eyes. The type of wildness animals gets when they're in danger. And they will do anything to keep themselves safe. "We will have to do something about Kamere though. These people have much more spirit then I ever thought possible."

"Prisoners often do. They have nothing to lose."

Adron suddenly hissed, the wildness emanating from his eyes. The man at the door backed away slowly, fear encasing his entire existence.

"Neither do I."

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Everett jerked up, the piercing scream carried by the wind caused his veins to pump faster. He was suddenly hit with a memory like a punch. When he was in Ocidat's office the first time. Someone out there, really wants you alive, Everett. I don't know how, but they are appearing at every single moment in your life, fighting for you.

He heaved, fighting for oxygen. The walls seemed to close in on him.

Kaden pummeled the pillow onto her head staring emptily at the sleeping pad below her. She heard Everett knock on the wall, but she ignored him.

"Are you alright?" He whispered, out of breath. She sighed, her anger melting into a puddle on the ground.

"Yeah. You?"

"As well as I can be considering our circumstances."

She ignored his attempt to lighted the situation at hand. "Have you heard anyone?"

"No. Not yet. They're probably expecting we'll jump them."

She laughed. "And how is that gonna happen?"

"It sure would take a miracle."

Kaden stumbled to her feet, the blood rushing from lack of use. She grasped the prison bars locking the world from her. Her eyes swept across the open room. Due to the lack of a better prison, they were imprisoned in an abandoned shop. The putrid aroma of fish told her what kind. She stared out the glass window, the wall blocking most of her view. She sighed, her heart heavy and hopeless. And then she saw it. A miracle.

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Rowan crept among the foliage, thorns grasping at his skin desperately tearing for blood. The street was empty but he wasn't taking any chances. He had learned long ago it was so much better to be concealed. He took a sharp breath and peeked his head under the underbrush. Joan's fish festival rung clear on the building, the horrible smell emanating out of it. Which is probably the reason the street was empty.

He saw his chance and he took it. He sprang out from the bush, pouncing like a cat onto the street's shadows. His knees were bruised and bleeding. He looked on, closing his eyes on the tears. The silence hung in the air, as he peered into the building, desperately seeking for them. This was it. There was no more stalling. He had to make a decision.

He heard the mechanical sound of swiveling, just before he moved. A pit formed in his stomach. He told me he got rid of them! He glanced toward the sky to see a bird in the tree. It blinked, staring intently at him. The metallic shine on his feathers made his stomach even deeper. A camera. Every year, every minute, every second was spied on. Predicted. Controlled. A lump formed in his throat, pushing back years of pain and rebellion. A flood of memories. His mother. The light drained out of her eyes more and more every day of being alive. Rowan winced. He shook his head, desperately trying to clear his mind and focus on the task at hand. His morals lay skattered through his skull. But that didn't matter anymore. Then it clicked. A solution to everything. Everything Vermillion had ever struggled with. The perfect solution to a faulty equation. He knew what he had to do. He had to blow up Kamere.