Our Forgotten Souls

Chapter Sixteen

"Me."

Of course. Of course, it was freaking him. Of all the people who could deal with this problem, I'd stumbled upon the most insufferable of them all.

After agreeing to hear him out, he'd taken me through a back door and down a set of stairs. We'd ended up in a tunnel leading to seemingly nowhere. At that point, I'd been tempted to turn around once more.

Sensing my discomfort, he'd started talking. And hadn't shut up since.

It wasn't the sort of talkative I was used to. It was this more irritating mix of condescension and teasing that I couldn't wait to escape.

I'd finally asked him the same question I had in the billiards room. Who exactly were we going to see?

And, to my absolute despair, I realized we weren't going to see anyone at all.

"You? So, where the hell are we headed then? Couldn't you have told me that a solid half hour ago?" I replied angrily.

He smiled to himself and deigned not to respond. I was about to punch this absolute stranger in the face.

"Who even are you? You haven't bothered to give a name," I added, crossing my arms over my chest in frustration. I couldn't deal with this much longer.

"Ah, but isn't the mystery alluring?" He continued walking at a quick pace. I struggled to keep up with my shorter legs.

"It's far from that. I just want to know what you need in return. Then we can get this over with," I said, flatly. I was tired of his games. I was also a bit concerned he was taking me somewhere to murder me. Seemed like a good amount of work to walk me all this way, but hey, people had their hobbies.

"What I require in return depends on how taxing this task will be. I won't know that until I get to work," he replied. "And to get to work, I need my workspace. This isn't something that can be done in the middle of a bar."

I rolled my eyes. I knew that. I wasn't some new freak unused to this underground world.

"Can you at least tell me how much farther we're going?" I asked instead. Solving that would grant me at least a bit of comfort.

He, once again, deigned not to give me a time. He continued walking silently, shoulders back and head held high, as though he wore an invisible crown.

I let out a frustrated groan.

I just hoped I'd be back before sunrise.

__________________________

Ten minutes after he started, I realized I definitely would not be back before sunrise.

"What the hell...," he muttered, shoving away the metal contraption he'd used to inspect whatever had been done to my chip. My wound from the original time my arm had been cut open was a red slash in my skin.

"I don't know who you're messing with, but something was definitely done to that chip. For some reason there's a small piece that's not usually there..." He paused, staring inquisitively at my closed wound. "Are you sure you want me to try something? You realize I'm going to have to cut that open."

I tried not to shudder at the thought of a knife digging into my barely healed skin. Yeah, that's something I'd considered. But frankly, I was too desperate to care. Plus, I'd gotten worse injuries.

"Yes. I'm perfectly fine with that. What's your price?" I asked.

He leaned back in his metal chair. Everything in this small cave was made of metal. After walking through tunnels for what felt like hours, he'd finally stopped at a metal door in the wall. It'd led to this nook with equipment piled in one corner, a small sofa, and a computer. One fluorescent bulb lit the room. I wondered if he lived here.

"Hmm," he considered me for a moment. "I don't think I'm ready to give that yet."

"Excuse me? How on Earth can I agree to a deal without knowing what I'll be committing?" I replied angrily.

He remained unfazed by my frustration. "You'll be able to pay it."

I narrowed my eyes at him.

"I didn't see any other hackers willing to help. I don't know about you," he commented, nonchalantly.

If I'd still had my pen, I would've stabbed his eyes out. But alas, some things were not meant to be.

"You're quite an irritating person."

"I get that a lot." He turned to the table next to him.

"From who? I'm surprised people would speak with you," I muttered.

"Oh, trust me. They speak to me." He didn't elaborate and I didn't bother to ask. The way he said it was slightly ominous.

I watched as he began to ruffle through a pile of papers on his desk. Then, he started rummaging through the metal equipment in the corner, looking for something.

"Will this be finished before sunrise?" I tried not to get too antsy.

He looked at me, raising his eyebrows. "Why, do you have a rendez-vous?"

I made a face. "Why would you call it that?"

"That's simply another name for it. What is it? A date? A lovely stroll through the park at sunrise?" He fiddled with a syringe, filling it with some clear liquid.

"No...and I have no obligation to tell you..." I watched as he finished filling the syringe and walked purposefully towards me. "What are you doing with that?"

He plopped down in the chair, not bothering to respond. He began tapping my elbow, trying to find a vein. I yanked my arm away.

"I asked what you're doing with that." I glared at him.

He gave me a tired look. "My job. You asked for my help, if I recall correctly."

"Yes, but I want to know what you'll be doing with my body." I wasn't about to let him inject me with some unknown substance. It could be poison or some other drug that would get me addicted or something.

He paused, staring at me in irritation. Then, he began speaking. "Here's the deal. Whatever's been done in there isn't something I can just snap my fingers and fix. It's not going to take just a day. I have no idea what you've been through or who you let touch your chip, and yeah, it's not my business. But if you want my help, you're going to have to trust me. And pay me at the end of course."

I stared back at him for a second before he went on.

"And this is just a numbing agent, okay? It won't hurt you. It'll just make sure you can't feel what I'll be doing. It would hurt like hell if I didn't use this." He waved the syringe in the air.

I felt relief course through me at that.

I think I trusted him with that much.

"So...how many days do you need?" I asked.

"Possibly three. Maybe more, depending on how far I get. But we should start now." He eyed me, waiting for me to offer up my arm to him.

This was really happening. And I wouldn't just be here once. I'd have to come back multiple times this week, hoping June and Erin and the rest of them wouldn't notice I was leaving. This was much riskier than I'd originally planned...but...

I sucked in a deep breath and shoved my arm towards him. "I'm in."