Assessment of Abilities

Chapter 18 | Quid Pro Quo

Warning; Violence, mild blood mention

Logan hung from the straining chains that wrapped around his wrists; the metal, tools, and damp gave of a potent smell, a smell of copper and rust mixed with mildew and mould. His head hung having tried again and again to escape his shackles, but it was in vain. He torturer had cut him, beat him, and cut out one of his eyes, his left eye that was currently being immortalised in resin.

Blood still dripped from his chin, he was able to stay conscious throughout his torture, which he wished he hadn't, he was close to giving up.

'Where are you...?' a small voice in the distance called out to Logan, he could hear a thought. 'Was that Virgil?' he thought to himself. Remus had currently left the basement or underground stronghold he was in. Panic ran through him 'What if he finds Virgil?' Logan thought to himself.

With all the energy he could muster he took a deep breath and focused his telepathic message to Virgil, to be sure that Remus couldn't listen in. 'Virgil? Virgil? Is that you? Can you hear me?' Logan called out, in hopes that his thoughts weren't messing with him.

"Logan?! Where are you?! I can't see you!"

"Logan! Where are you! I'm so sorry!"

These thoughts were louder; telling Logan that he was either closer or calling out verbally, he guessed the latter and had to warn Virgil now!

'Virgil, I can hear you, please don't make yourself known, the man that shot you has me chained up in a basement of sorts and he is looking for you, he wants your wings, please keep your voice down' Logan called out telepathically, it took a lot of energy but he had to do this, for himself but more importantly, for his friend.

He waited a moment and tried to hear Virgil's thoughts, but they were jumbled and fast... he couldn't make it out, it was in that moment that Logan realised Virgil was on the verge of a mental breakdown...

'Virge... please stop... listen to me, this is what you need to do, just take a breath and listen to my instructions, with some luck we can pull this off... I don't know where Pat and Ro are... I can only hear you so I assume you're alone, but that's all we need' he called out, luckily it seemed to work, Virgil's thoughts were becoming clear once more.

Logan then began to give following instructions on a plan he'd only just whipped up, he was halfway through explaining when he heard the door of the basement squeak open and then slam shut.

This sound made Logan's stomach turn; he was running out of time!

'Quick Virgil! There's not much time left! You know what to do!' and that was the last thought Virgil received.

Virgil was left in the woods, his mind empty, no more messages, no more of Logan's voice 'The shooter must have returned...' Virgil thought to himself with a gut-wrenching feeling of dread. Nevertheless, he had his instructions; a plan and it had to go well...

He had been following Logan's voice while he'd been receiving the plan; his voice was a lot clearer and closer by the time he cut off, so Virgil knew he was close. He walked quietly but with a quick enough pace. Looking around, the trees all looked the same, the ground was unchanging, and the sun was lowering in the sky.

He found himself going in circles for a while before finally spotting a difference in the scenery, a large rock that had a spiralling carving on it, the closer he got and the more he circumnavigated the perimeter the more was unveiled; a hatch, a box of sharp tools, hints of blood, and a clear trail in the leaves from someone being dragged...