Brianna Acero and the Second One's Return

30. Jayson follows orders

"Jay!" I exclaim, wanting to stop him, but Kalen just puts a hand on my arm to stop me.

"It's already hard enough for him as it is," he murmurs, and I find that Jayson looks physically sick, skin gaining a green hue to it.

He continues to crush the girl, using his Gift to increase the gravity surrounding her. I can feel the vortex from here, just like the one he used to trap Simon at the smoothie shack, only this time it's ten times stronger. I don't even want to imagine what Jade is feeling right now, her head must be ready to explode. Forget head, her entire body.

I've seen Jayson train, I've gotten to witness what his Gift can do to a person. The crushed practice dummies in the training room are proof of his strength. And yet I never imagined Jayson, our sweet innocent Jayson, would be able to do something like this. What's worse, Christian didn't even have to tell him what he wanted of him for Jayson to know what he had to do. How many times has he lived this exact situation? How many times has he been forced to torture someone this way?

"Okay!" Gargles Jade, face red from the strain. "Okay I'll tell you!"

Jayson stops instantly, heaving out a shuddering breath and walking back to his corner. He sinks down onto the floor, staring at Jade with guilt shining in his blue eyes. I watch as Mara goes over to crouches down next to him, and he hides his face in her shoulder as she murmurs words in his ear. He's shaking his head, and I'm pretty sure I catch his shoulders quivering, but I leave the pair alone. Mara will help him; she is probably the only person who can comfort him right now.

Jade is coughing where she sits, doubling over as she tries to catch her breath. Christian comes up to her and yanks her head up, and I wince at the sudden motion.

"Speak."

Jade takes a quivering breath and starts to talk.

"He said-- He said they would meet Simon at 'the abandoned factory near Brooks' and then the next step to his plan would be complete. That's all he said, I promise, I didn't hear anything else after that."

Christian studies her for a moment longer, but seems to believe her, because he motions to Jordan who drags her back into the cell. Her eyes widen in surprise, and she struggles against her bonds, but she can't escape. The door closes, muffling her cries, and I stare at Christian, horrified.

"We can't leave her here," I say. "She was being used!"

Christian acknowledges me for a fraction of a second before turning around and walking out of the room. I turn to Jordan, who flinches when we make eye contact.

"She's a traitor," he says apologetically. "She let a dangerous man go, she needs to pay for her actions."

With that, he follows Christian, leaving the five of us alone in a room full of criminals banging on their cell doors.

"That was--" starts Cassie.

"Horrible!" I finish, whirling on my teammates. "Did no one else think that what Christian was doing to that girl was way too cruel?"

I hear a stiff intake from Jay, and I realize that, yes, some of us do think it was too cruel.

"Jay," I say, walking over to him. "It's not your fault, Christian made you do it."

A humorless laugh escapes his lips, and he stares back at me with wet eyes.

"Yes, yet did I try to disobey?"

He shakes his head ruefully, his sad smile turning into a grimace.

"You knew what he would do if you didn't. It would have been ten times worse than whatever you did to her," says Kalen, patting his friend on the back.