The Protector

by Stormi Lewis

  “It’s not easy for a man to admit when he makes a mistake,” he started slowly.

  Sophie straightened immediately and was ready to flee the tub. She no longer wanted to hear what James had to say. She couldn’t take the rejection that she felt was coming.

  James noticed her reaction, of course, but kept calm and relaxed as he continued to wash her body. He picked up her hair to give him better access to her neck.

  “I always assumed that I would be able to find a relationship just like my parents had,” he continued.

  Sophie’s grip on the edge of the tub tightened and she was about to jump out when she felt his legs clamp around her tightly to hold her in place.

  “I was picked to join the CIA,” he continued somberly.

  Sophie could easily have escaped him; however, this was clearly something he needed to tell her. After everything, Sophie owed him to listen to whatever he needed to confess. James felt her resign and loosen her grip on the tub. He made no reaction to give her a hint as to where this was exactly going.

  “That just left a sour taste in my mouth,” he continued softly. She could hear the frustration in his voice. “Then I met Hellen,” James pushed on. Sophie’s body tensed for a split second as she remembered the woman she had met at the ball. “She was fake, but I was too blind to see it,” he said as he used his left arm to wrap around her waist and pull her close to him to wash her front. “I was emptied by my CIA stint, that I assumed finding someone to keep safe and care for was more my style.”

  Sophie suddenly realized that they had never had the chance to really talk about his past, or anything private for that matter. She listened with curiosity, trying to ignore the heat that pulsed from her core at his touch.

  “Everyone told me she wasn’t the one,” he sighed. “But I’m a little stubborn when I think I’m right, and I ignored all the signs,” James continued. Sophie heard the frustration with himself more than anyone else come through his statements.

  “When I found out that she was sleeping with Curtis, I was too numb to even care. My heart had already stopped at that point,” he said sadly. “However, she did me the biggest favor not showing up for our wedding.”

  Sophie’s chest tighten, but she blinked away the tears that suddenly filled her eyes. This was his story, and he wanted her to hear it. She would give him what he needed and remained quiet as he talked.

  “I had a lot of odd jobs,” he chuckled, seeing memories Sophie was blind to. “Although something was still missing,” James shrugged. He continued to wash Sophie as he talked. “Tina had dragged us to another stupid party, and I was about to lose it all together,” he stated. “So, I went for a walk.”

  Sophie’s lips curled into a smile as the night started to play out before her. “I heard a noise,” James said grinning. “Then something took off running before me. I honestly thought it was a drunk idiot at first, but there was something about the shadow figure I couldn’t resist. So, I started to run after it,” he stated with excitement coming through his voice.

  “You kept up pretty good,” Sophie said impressed.

  “You had a head start,” James retorted trying to sound defensive and failing miserably. “And you scared the crap out of me when you grabbed me and shoved me against the tree,” James chuckled lightly. “But God, you were the most beautiful woman I had ever seen,” he whispered.

  Sophie’s heart started to race again, as she listened to his version of the story.

  “It was more than just your looks,” James added quickly. “There was something about you that made all the emptiness leave my body,” he tried to explain. “My heart started to beat like never before. I didn’t realize just how dead I had become inside before you woke me,” he whispered as he lightly traced her arms with his fingers. Sophie felt him grow hard against her, but she didn’t dare move.

  “Being chased by bad guys will do that to you,” she whispered completely distracted.

  “I realize they were there, but it was you that had my focus,” James whispered in her ear. “For the first time in my life, I never wanted anything more than to know everything about you, and to keep you safe,” he added lovingly. “Even though I never will be able to,” he said solemnly as reality set in.

  Sophie stopped as her heart suddenly shattered. He wasn’t just protesting the tests to keep her safe. For the first time, she realized that James was also protesting because it hurt him to know how much more normal he was compared to her, and that was most likely making him feel like he was less of a man for her.

  Sophie began to hyperventilate as anxiety began to take over. He wasn’t going to leave her because he lost love for her. He was going to leave her because he felt like he had nothing to offer her.

  “Hey!” James said, pulling her from her thoughts. He pulled Sophie as close to him as humanly possible and squeezed her to calmness. “What’s wrong?” he asked.

  “I just realized why this is so hard on you,” Sophie whispered in a half sob. “I understand why you need distance.”

  “I don’t think you do,” James replied in shock. “Yes, it’s hard watching you put yourself in danger on purpose right now. And, YES, it’s even harder realizing that you will always be able to save yourself before I could ever be of any use,” he mumbled through his frustration.

  A sob escaped her mouth before she could stop it, and she threw her hand over her mouth to prevent more from seeping out. James immediately wrapped his arms and legs around her, cocooning her in his love.

  “I’m not looking to leave you,” James assured her quickly realizing where Sophie’s panic might be coming from. James waited patiently for his words to sink in. “It’s just hard trying to figure out what value I can provide you so that you can understand how much you give to me,” he finished kissing her on top of the head.

  Sophie digested his words. She always had a tendency to forget how hard being in her life was for other people. Finding out she had so many “gifts” didn’t help matters. She finally knew why her friends and the man she loved gave up everything to stay with her. It wasn’t fear of being killed or trying to keep her safe.

  It was because she had unknowingly provided something to each of them that made them want to return the favor. It wasn’t just protection. It was her love, empathy, protecting the weak, and standing up for what was right as James would inform her as he continued to sooth her in the tub.

  When the water grew cold, and their bodies started to prune, James wrapped her in a towel before going to grab some clothes. They spent most of the night whispering. Sharing their hopes and dreams, and the future they envisioned having together. Sophie was surprised that James had the same desires to grow old and rock in rocking chairs on a porch surrounded by mountains too.

  They spent the whole night sharing things they had never been able to share before. Sophie shared her fears of not being able to keep them safe, and what it felt like to lose Mario before her eyes. She confessed things she hadn’t even confessed to herself yet.

  Sophie remained silent on her suspicions of Tina. She knew better than to share what she couldn’t prove about his best friend, no matter how far he had gone out of his way to help her understand where he was at and where he wanted to get to.

  Ben snored loudly on the next bed, but Sophie would be too engrossed with talking to James to notice Tina was still awake. Listening to every word that was being whispered.

  Chapter 17

  A lgos sat at his desk, numbingly rubbing the picture etched into his gold ring. He didn’t spend a lot of time looking back, but today his mind decided to wonder while he waited for Clark to enter his office.

  Angie’s face flashed before his eyes. Not growing up as a child, but rather the moment he showed up at her door as a young adult having been released from the system. The look of shock mixed with horror had brought much pleasure to him when she answered the door and realized it was him.

  He remained innocent and told her he simply wanted to talk for a second.
Angie reluctantly let him in, watching him with great uncertainty as he wondered around her living room looking at old photos. Photos of her with his biological father, smiling a weak smile, but their eyes showing a grief and horror that he had put there long ago.

  However, before he could enjoy reliving Angie’s death, it was the memory of the day Jim took Algos and Peter to ride the subway and visit Jim’s mother that suddenly took over. His grandmother was on her death bed, and Jim needed to say his good-byes. Angie was sick with the flu, or so everyone thought, which meant Jim had to take the boys with him on the visit. Algos was five, and Peter was three, and Jim had his hands full more than even he had realized.

  Peter was just like any other annoying little brother, who looked up and idolized Algos the second he was brought home from the hospital. At first, Algos’ motivation was simply to take the pest out himself, but his mother was smarter than he gave her credit for. She had interrupted him as he tried to suffocate Peter as an infant with a pillow, and made sure Peter was never left alone with Algos again. So, he decided to change tactics.

  Clarice always thought she was the master at manipulation, but Algos was the true master. He had been practicing long ago, with Peter being his first attempt. Peter was a good first candidate, mostly because Peter had something that was referred to as a conscious and soul. Something Algos didn’t acquire from his parents. Despite his loyalty to his older brother and his childhood innocence, Peter protested often in the beginning of every mission Algos gave him.

  Peter wasn’t nearly as fascinated by death as Algos was as they grew up. Murdering animals, skinning them (dead and alive), and performing his own autopsies were frowned upon. So, Algos had to learn early on how to not get caught and leave evidence behind unless he wanted someone to actually find it.

  Algos proved early on to be too smart for his own good, always reading, and asking his teachers and parents questions no child should have been asking. Occasionally, he heard the phrase, “That boy’s just not right,” yet most people never could wrap their heads around his true potential. However, Algos knew exactly what he was capable of.

  Science held his fascination the most. Family members would say they had a “future doctor in the family” when they would attend family functions, but Algos had no desire in saving anyone. He was more fascinated by how much the body changed when life was taken from it.

  “Hold onto your brother,” Jim had warned, forcing Algos to keep Peter close to him. He placed his hands on Peter’s shoulders and stood behind Peter amongst the crowd as they waited for the subway to arrive.

  “Train is fast!” Peter had shouted in excitement.

  “Yes, train is fast,” Algos replied with annoyance.

  “Keep me safe?” Peter had asked Algos over his shoulder.

  Algos rolled his eyes impatiently. “Yeah,” he grunted in response.

  Peter turned to watch for the subway as he wiggled under Algos’ grip with excitement. How could someone be so excited to ride the subway? Algos thought to himself. Being stepped on and elbowed by strangers while the smell of urine and dirt stung your nose. Algos had glared at the random strangers pilling in close as they heard the subway train getting closer.

  He despised being this close to people. He despised people in general. There were plenty of more exciting things to be doing than this. Peter’s bouncing with excitement only made him angrier. Algos didn’t want to be here. He wanted to be home watching the effects of his man-made poison had on his mother’s body.

  The sound of the subway train grew louder as it approached, giving Algos a headache.

  “Train is fast!” Peter tried to scream over the nose.

  Algos’ resentment for his little brother grew quicker than ever before.

  “Train is fast,” Algos mumbled as he waited just before the train reached them to give his little brother the slightest push that no camera or witness would catch.

  A woman screamed as the train sped past before slowing down to a complete stop to allow passengers the ability to exit and enter. But it was too late. Peter was gone. The driver was said to have had an immediate heart attack when blood splattered the windshield blocking his view.

  Jim shook as he stared at his oldest son, who had become his only son within seconds. Although nothing would ever be proven otherwise, the look in Jim’s eyes told Algos that he had witnessed enough to know it was no accident. Algos didn’t care.

  “He slipped,” Algos had said shrugging innocently before bouncing up and down just like Peter had done just seconds ago. “Train is fast,” he giggled under his breath.

  It would be the first time he had taken a life in front of witnesses, and he would quickly learn that it was much more exciting to take a life when there was someone else to watch.

  “Train is fast,” Algos said chuckling as he stood staring out the window that watched the lab below. A timid knock came from the other side of the door. “Enter,” Algos belted.

  “You called for me?” Clark asked with a mixture of excitement and fear.

  “Yes, yes,” the old man said never taking his eyes off of Eddie while he worked. “How are you adjusting, my good boy?” he asked enthusiastically.

  “Quite well, Sir,” Clark answered, making the mistake of relaxing.

  “I hear you were in charge while young Edward was out,” the old man stated, already knowing the answer.

  “Yes, Sir,” Clark answered too confidently.

  “And yet you haven’t been able to find a trace of Sophie the entire week he was out,” the old man stated with a hint of warning to his voice.

  “I got further than Eddie would have!” Clark replied defensively. The old man’s lips curled at the silent competition Clark held himself in with Eddie.

  “That’s rather hard to determine,” the old man stated flatly.

  “I’m better than he’ll ever be,” Clark mumbled to himself.

  “Unfortunately,” the old man declared when he turned around.

  Clark stopped breathing immediately at the sight of his face up close and personal. He had heard rumors, but the old man purposely stayed in the shadows, and rarely showed his face to his employees.

  “A loss is still a loss, isn’t it Clark?” the old man finished with the left side of his mouth curling up in a half smile.

  “I supposed so,” Clark stuttered in shock.

  “I don’t like to lose,” the old man said bluntly.

  Clark began backing away towards the door. “It’s only a loss if I don’t get back to work,” he rattled off in panic as he began searching for the doorknob frantically with his hand behind his back. He knew better than to turn his back on the old man.

  “Oh, you’ll get back to work,” the old man assured with a look in his eyes that Clark had only heard about. The look of excitement, desire, need, and murder all wrapped into one. “Just with less body parts than you started with,” he laughed a deep throaty creepy laugh as he limped towards Clark.

  Clark screamed and pleaded for mercy before turning quickly to desperately find the door to escape, but it was too late. He felt a small prick in his right leg that caused him to fall over on his left side. He looked down in panic since he could no longer feel his leg.

  Suddenly an unbearable burning sensation spread from his hip quickly down to his toes. Clark screamed at the sudden agony that consumed him as he fought to undo his belt buckle and pull down his pants. His skin seemed to be dissolving before his very eyes, and all he saw was his thigh muscle staring back at him. In a panic, he began yanking his pants off over his shoes. The old man just curiously watched him.

  “Charles!” he called out.

  “Yes, Sir,” replied an elderly man who looked nearly on his death bed himself, standing next to Algos in an extremely worn butler’s tux.

  “Make note,” the old man declared. “This dose seems to be a little too potent.”

  “It appears so, Sir,” Charles stated dryly not even looking at Clark.

  “HELP ME!”
Clark begged, but Charles’ face never moved from its resting expressionless state.

  “It simply accelerates and takes all the fun out,” the old man whined like a child whose’ toy had been taken away.

  “You will do better next time, Sir,” Charles responded flatly as he held out his hand to retrieve the cane from the old man.

  “We need to figure out how to get more than one dose in there too,” the old man stated showing his frustration.

  “I will let the good doctor know,” Charles said before exiting the room.

  When the old man turned around, Clark was already dead.

  “Damn,” Algos muttered. “Send someone for the body!” Algos yelled over his shoulder.

  He really needed to get the dose perfected before he was able to use it the way he intended to. He sighed and clenched his jaw in annoyance before heading back to his chair.

  Algos watched Eddie carefully as he worked. Not because he was worried. He saw the same thing Clarice did. A broken man accepting his new role. Pride swelled inside Algos’ chest.

  Finally, he could have the son he was always meant to have. Not like the one he had made with Clarice’s mother, but the one he knew he could groom. Algos smiled as he idly rubbed the symbol etched in his golden ring once more.

  Sophie opened her eyes to the wooden door before her. She didn’t even realize that she had fallen asleep talking to James.

  “Open it,” her mother ordered.

  “Hello to you, too,” Sophie grumbled, but opened the door and waited for her eyes to adjust to the flooding light. She was in an abandoned warehouse somewhere. No one else was with her.

  “You’re in more danger than you know,” Jess said walking beside her with her arms crossed defensively and staring straight ahead.

  “I didn’t know!” Sophie began to protest. Her mother just held up her hand to silence her.

  They both heard the echo of the cane enter the room before they actually saw him. Jess left Sophie to stand before him. Sophie watched closely with both confusion and curiosity as to what was meant to play out before her.