The Spectre

Chapter Twelve

Jez awoke with a start when freezing cold water was poured onto him, and he scrambled to be on his knees, seeing the General and Kernel standing before him, several Zodiac soldiers also behind them. "What happened?" growled the General, and Jez made sure to wipe his wet hair from before his eyes before hurriedly saying, "I had him! He was so close to becoming mine! But someone hit my over the head from behind and I got knocked out!" the General sighed, outstretched his hand, and helped Jez to his feet. "Now we cannot blame you for that," he said, and the Kernel stepped forwards. "The Spectre, I am afraid, has escaped yet again. But we have successfully captured this town and the Duke." The General nodded, looking satisfied with the information, and then he turned to the Kernel and said, "Gather them into the centre of town."

He then indicated to Jez, and he followed his father from the Weapons Room and towards a silver car, where Jez got into the passenger's side whilst his father climbed into the driver's side. "Why are you gathering them into the centre?" Jez asked, and the General chuckled as he started the engine. "Because we can't have any witnesses," he answered simply, and Jez immediately looked around in horror, screams loudly filling his ears as smoke began spiralling from the centre of the town. "You're burning them!" he shouted out, surprising the General, who looked at him as he drove the car out the main gate. "I told you, no witnesses," the General confirmed, but Jez was still speechless. "We can't just burn all these people! Some of them might not even know what happened!" Jez protested, and now worry was all he could see in his father's eyes.

"Jez, are you feeling alright?" he asked as he drove down the dirt road and pressing his foot on the accelerator, the car shooting off. "I – yes, I am fine," Jez said, keeping a lid on his fury at his father, and his father nodded, looking satisfied as he returned his attention to the dirt road. They drove for only an hour, and they arrived back at the school. "I need to go for a walk," was the first thing Jez said and, ignoring his father's protests, he stepped out the vehicle and headed straight towards his house. When he was sure his father had gone inside the school, he made a quick diversion and plunged himself into the Black Forest. He sprinted hard, rushing through the trees and leaves, barely able to think until he came to a skidding halt right besides Zara, who was waiting beside the silver fence.

"Where have you been?" she hissed, and Jez shook his head, letting his breath return before saying, "I was sent to kill the Spectre." Zara gasped, staring at Jez with wide eyes before firmly taking his hand, "Did you?" she asked, and Jez shook his head. "Trust me, this Spectre is evil. I almost put an end to it all, but then someone knocked me out from behind," Zara looked like she wanted to protest, but she did not. Instead, she turned to the sound of running footsteps, seeing Rose running towards the hole in the fence. Tears were running down her face, Jez noticed, and then, through a cracked voice, she mumbled, "I have been chosen for the Spectre Games!" Together, he and Zara gasped in shock. "I can't believe the Spectre Games are so close already!" Zara moaned while Jez waited a moment before asking, "Can you get all the Spectres at the main entrance tomorrow night?"

Rose looked confused, but then she nodded quickly. "What are you thinking, Jez?" Zara asked, and Jez sighed, looking around behind them and then saying, "I am breaking the Spectres out tomorrow night." Zara scoffed and Jez turned to her, seeing that she looked unimpressed. "Don't think for a second you are doing this alone," she said, crossing her arms, and Jez immediately protested. "No! Zara, I love you, you cannot possibly help! If the General or Kernel were to find out then they would have you and your father executed!" Zara rolled her eyes and, when Jez sensed she would not change her mind, he exasperatedly said, "Fine! You can come!" Zara thanked Jez, turned to Rose, and the two began discussing something that Jez could not hear. All he wanted to think about was the mission he had just set himself.