by Pozel, Derek
“Let them have him,” Bloodhound said. “I told you to hand him over to them. You decided to you used him instead. Then you forgot about him and left him in that prison.”
Patriot stopped in his tracks. “We’ll catch him again. We don’t have a choice.”
Bloodhound groaned. “He’s too dangerous and we have too many green recruits. This hunter killed one of ours for God’s sake. He took out Sage and Shadow Guard. He held his own against Crimson and Obsidian. If he didn’t surrender, we’d have a lot more bodies from the night of the blizzard.” Bloodhound placed his hands in his pocket.
Patriot’s stern face flushed to red, a vein protruded from his forehead. “Walter gave away his powers because he was a drunk and couldn’t take the pressure anymore. Shadow Guard was the first to face him and he did not know what to expect. We did not understand the true extent of his powers, we do now.”
“You’re making excuses,” Bloodhound said.
Patriot lowered his head and clenched his jaw. “Things have changed. The members we have now will know every little detail about him.”
“We still need Walter and you’re too stubborn to admit it. He was the heart of the Assembly,” Bloodhound said.
“Walter turned his back on us,” Patriot said. “We’re fine without him and we’ll find the parasite. Next time, he won’t be getting out.”
“When we caught him, he was learning about his abilities,” Bloodhound said. “You decided to experiment on him. Now we have no idea how powerful you made him. How many people did you feed him in the hole you threw him into?”
“I don’t know,” Patriot said. “The scientists in the labs had all the information on him and the others. Like the child behind you.”
“Her name is Amanda,” Bloodhound shook his head. “I know you’re lying. I can hear your heart racing right now. She is going to be fine in case you were wondering. She deserved better than this. You had the one person who could have given her a normal life. But you didn’t. You let this little girl be drugged and hid her away down there. Why would you do that to her?”
Patriot looked away. “Her powers were too valuable and she was close to controlling them. We could’ve used her. The world is changing. This country and its people need us to lead them, to protect them.”
Bloodhound scooped up the girl in his thick arms. “You’ve changed. The man I knew would never use a little girl for her powers.”
“You think it’s easy to make these decisions,” Patriot thrust his index finger at Bloodhound. “Where are you when the AIA comes knocking on our door, or when the CIA and the NSA want to use our people. Where? I’ll tell you where you are. You are off on a cold case while I am stuck protecting the living. I keep the Assembly funded and functioning. You abandoned us a long time ago.”
Bloodhound bit his lip and glared at Patriot.
“Don’t you dare question my decisions,” Patriot said. “When I decide an Afflicted is too valuable to be stripped of their power, then they are. When you decide to help out again instead of questioning me, then you can decide the fate of the people in the Hotels.”
Patriot walked to the staircase into the Hotel. “Until then, keep your opinion to yourself.”
“I called the Afflicted Intelligence Agency,” Bloodhound said. “They are on their way. I’m not keeping this secret. It could destroy everything we built. I’m not going to clean up after you anymore.”
“You think they care about those people down there?” Patriot said. “They don’t, because they are under control and out of their hair.”
“She’s not getting the blame for this and neither is Garrett,” Bloodhound glanced down to the little young girl in his arms. “I will go to the press about what happened down there.”
“The Assembly will not protect you if you do,” Patriot said. “The choice is yours.”
Bloodhound let a hearty growl rumble in his throat.
“I thought so,” Patriot said and flew down the staircase to the secrets he had once kept buried in an old warehouse in Harvard Illinois.
Chapter Twenty-One
The curtain of night slithered across the city, driving away the pinks and orange colors painted onto the clouds. The stars danced with the fingernail shaped moon above the horizon. Couples walked hand in hand along Navy Pier, enjoying the breeze off Lake Michigan. It was the start of a perfect spring night in Chicago.
“You seem a little distracted tonight,” Denise flexed her fingers around Ethan’s hand.
Ethan stopped and wrapped his thick arms around her. His right hand brushed along the tight fabric of the green summer dress. He leaned forward and kissed her among the masses like they didn’t even exist.
“I’m sorry. After Walter called a few days ago, I can’t stop thinking about what he told me.” Ethan said.
“We know he’s alive,” Denise said. “It’s a good start.”
“But where is he?” Ethan said.
Denise smiled and kissed her husband on his cheek. “I don’t know, maybe he ran away. I hope he did, he deserves better.” Denise grabbed his hand and led him to the metal railing along the pier.
“He does deserve better, he just doesn’t think he does,” Ethan said.
Denise leaned her head back against Ethan’s shoulder and looked into his eyes.
“My God you are beautiful.” Ethan said.
“I’m always beautiful to you. You’re a lucky man,” Denise said.
“I am,” Ethan’s eyes ventured across the dark blue water of the lake. Denise tucked herself closer to Ethan. They stood in silence and watched the waves form and crash along the pier.
“It’s an awesome tonight. I love springtime sunsets,” Denise gripped the railing and leaned forward over the edge.
Denise and Ethan had their backs to the tall figure dressed in black when he approached them. The man’s eyes scanned the area before he made his move.
“Congratulations,” a sharp raspy voice said to them. Denise and Ethan glanced at each other then turned around in unison.
Ethan jumped from the railing and threw his arms around the man. He lifted him off his feet in a bear hug. Denise followed seconds later and hugged both Ethan and Garrett.
“I missed you guys too,” Garrett smiled and hugged both of them back with his weak arms. Warmth returned to his body in their embrace. Their love cradled him, it set his mind at ease.
“You could have invited me to the wedding,” Garrett said.
Ethan was the first to pull away. “I can’t believe it’s you.”
“Yep, it’s me. At least what’s left of me,” Garrett said.
Garrett’s shoulders slumped forward and sagged, his eyes skittered from place to place. His hair a long tangled mess, his face mostly covered with a coarse short beard. A broken man stood before them.
“What happened to you?” Denise said. “We tried to find you.”
Garrett looked past them, a tear streaked down his cheek. “I don’t know.”
“Where have you been?” Ethan said.
Garrett turned away from his friends. “Locked away.” He shuddered when he thought of the moment when Patriot injected the vile liquid into his arm. How it burned when it spread across his body.
“I woke up and found a girl pulling at my arm in a hospital bed,” Garrett said. “It’s kind of a blur, but there were ashes everywhere. I found some clothes, cash, took a car and followed you guys from the apartment. The weird thing is, I saw Bloodhound at the prison, he let me go.”
“Are you serious?” Ethan wrapped his arms around his best friend again.
“Yeah,” Garrett said.
“He probably felt bad they kept you locked away for two years,” Denise said.
Garrett’s knees grew weak at the news and he was glad Ethan was there to support him like he always had been.
“Two years,” Garrett said with a shiver.
“You’re home now, with us,” Ethan whispered and patted Garrett on the back. “Don’t worry, you’re hom
e now.”
“That bastard,” Garrett’s body went limp in the hug.
“Garrett, it’s ok. We’ll take you home,” Denise said.
Garrett shook his head. “I was there already. They are watching you guys because of me. I could feel them when I went to the apartment. I cannot go back home. I waited until I saw you guys leave and followed you here. They could be around right now.”
Denise covered her mouth and glanced to Ethan. The young couple glanced around to see if Garrett had brought along any unwelcome friends.
Garrett’s dark blue eyes darted around. “I can’t sense them. We might be in the clear for now.”
“Let’s go sit down,” Denise motioned to one of the nearby benches near the edge of the pier. The three of them kept vigil for any Assembly while they walked.
“You asked her to marry you. I’m surprised you said yes Denise. I’m happy for the both of you,” Garrett plopped his body down next to Ethan on the bench. “At least you were able to make an honest man out of him. I brought the poor guy nothing but trouble.”
Garrett caught Ethan rubbing his shoulder and the memory of Ethan bleeding on the couch exploded into his head. “Oh, my God. I remember Crimson stabbed you. I’m sorry for everything Ethan.”
“It’s ok. I’m not in pain or anything. It’s a nervous twitch thing I do now,” Ethan said.
Garrett lowered his eyes. “It’s not ok. I dragged you into this. Something worse could have happened to you, because of me. I am sorry about that night and I am sorry you got involved. It was for nothing.”
Garrett brought his scarred hands before his face. He stared at them and they appeared foreign to him now. “I’m sorry I killed Granite.” He buried his face into his hands.
Garrett looked to his friends through his hands and whimpered. “I didn’t mean to. I am sorry. Please, forgive me.”
Ethan and Denise wrapped their arms around Garrett and hugged him again. Garrett’s body heaved while he sobbed in their arms, he never wanted them to let go.
“I don’t deserve you guys after everything I’ve done,” Garrett whispered.
“Quit apologizing,” Ethan said. “I knew what would happen if we got caught. We know what happened to Granite was an accident. Someone caught it on their phone. Patriot couldn’t turn you into a killer, we know it was self defense.”
“I saw it what happened Garrett,” Denise said. “You did what you had to do.”
“It doesn’t make it right,” Garrett said. “The truth of the matter is, I killed someone.”
“It was either you or him,” Ethan said. “Even Crimson tried to stop him. He’s the reason Granite missed.”
“I reacted and it was over,” Garrett said, his eyes locked on the water. “It happened so fast. My power came out of me without a second thought.”
“It was instinct,” Denise said.
“My instinct is to kill,” Garrett said.
“No,” Ethan shook his head. “No, it is not. I don’t believe it.”
“You saw what I did,” Garrett said. “I almost killed another one right after. I’m not a good man.”
“Garrett, you are,” Ethan said. “You did what had to be done to protect me and Denise.”
“Ethan is right,” Denise said.
“I don’t know anymore, everything is still a blur,” Garrett said.
“What happened to you?” Ethan said.
Garrett exhaled through his nose. “They made me disappear and did God knows what to me. I can’t remember anything. Just fragments of voices, confused faces and the screams. I can still hear the screams around me. I don’t know what I did the entire time they had me.”
Denise covered her mouth. “Oh, my God. What did they do to you?”
“Everything I did. It was for nothing.” Garrett said.
“No, it is not true,” Ethan said.
Garrett rubbed his tear stained eyes. He placed his hand on Ethan’s shoulder. “She’s still alive.”
“Who is?” Denise said.
Garrett gripped Ethan’s shoulder tighter. “Emma.”
“What?” Ethan slid his body away from Garrett. “What are you talking about?”
“He told me she was still alive before he drugged me,” Garrett said. “He knows about the day she died. It has to be her. Everything I did, the people I’ve hurt, the life I took was for nothing.”
Ethan’s mouth fell open and he did not utter a single word.
“I’m sorry,” Garrett said.
“How is it even possible? I thought you saw her die Garrett,” Denise asked and moved closer to Garrett.
Garrett tilted his head back and stole a peek at the stars emerging above their heads. His mind drifted to the past, to the day Emma died. “I didn’t, I found her body or what I thought was her body. There was a hand with purple nail polish, like she had on. I am 100% sure it was the same hand I was holding and let go to see my hero. ”
Ethan shook his head. “No, it was her. They identified her body, it was her. She died.” Ethan sniffed his nose. “My mom and dad said it was her, it had to be.”
Garrett tried to recall the closed casket at the funeral. The image of the wooden box flooded his mind and his stomach churned.
“Are you guys sure?” Denise asked and the two friends gave her a sinister glance.
“How is it even possible?” Ethan said.
“It’s possible she had powers,” Garrett said. “I did not understand what the weird feeling meant back then. It only happens when they use their powers. She didn’t know what she was. I didn’t either at the time. What if Emma is still alive after all this time?”
“I’ll ask Walter what he knows. He could know if Patriot was telling the truth,” Ethan turned back to face the water.
Garrett said with a frown, “Wait, who’s Walter?”
“You know him as Sage,” Denise noticed the perplexed look on Garrett’s face.
“What?” Garrett turned to face Ethan, his eyes narrowed. “You’re talking to Sage?”
Ethan drew his lips tight and nodded.
Denise held up her hands. “Garrett, don’t get carried away, he’s been helping us try to find you.”
“A lot has happened since you left,” Ethan said. “Too much to talk about out here. But yeah, Sage has been helping us try to find you. He helped your mother understand too. He helped us a lot when you were away. You need to go see him.”
Garrett slapped his hand against his forehead. “What the hell happened when I was gone?”
Denise leaned closer and placed a hand on Garrett’s bouncing knee. “Nothing changed, we’re still here and we’ve been waiting for you to come home.”
Garrett took a slow deep breath. His lungs burned from the sudden rush of fresh air. He didn’t know what Patriot did to him. What mattered is the truth changed when he woke up.
“What are you going to do now?” Denise said, her hand rubbing her little belly bump.
Garrett shrugged his shoulders. “Everything in my life is a mess. I have no idea where to start. I need to find out what’s real and what’s not.”
“Yeah, we should,” Ethan said.
“There is no we in this,” Garrett said. “It’s on me now.”
“What are you talking about?” Ethan said.
“You have a wife now,” Garrett said. “It’s too dangerous and I won’t let you get involved any further. I can’t go back to my old life ever again.”
“I’m going to help you,” Ethan said.
Denise fidgeted while Ethan spoke.
“There is no way in hell I’m going to let you help me,” Garrett said. “Your fight is over and I need to find out the truth.”
Denise poked Ethan’s shoulder, pointing down at her stomach with her eyes.
Ethan let out a loud sigh. “As much as I hate to admit it, you’re right. But you need to go see Walter first.”
“You’re not going to argue with me about it? Things have changed,” Garrett leaned over to Denise. “Thank y
ou, Denise.”
The three sat in silence, the sound of the waves lapping against the pier soothed the rocky reunion.
“I guess, I have to go see Walter,” Garrett broke the silence. “Ethan, I’ll have him call you. I want the pictures of us with Emma when we were kids, the newspaper clippings from that day. If she’s still alive, I’ll find her and bring her home. I promise.”
Ethan cleared his throat. “Garrett, I know you don’t listen to me, but stop this. Run away, you have the chance. I want you to see your niece or nephew in six months.”
It took a moment for the news to register in Garrett’s mind. He sprang from the bench to stand in front of his friends. “You’re kidding right?”
“Nope, we’re not,” Denise pointed at her stomach. “There’s a bun in this oven.”
“I guess I have to find his or her aunt then,” Garrett said. “Congrats you two, you guys will be great parents. But I can’t be around both of you anymore. Even though I want to watch your kids grow up and be Uncle Garrett to them. I’m going to put your family in danger and I can’t do that to you anymore.”
“Hide, find someplace to hide, please,” Ethan rose from the bench and placed a hand on Garrett’s shoulder. He looked him in the eye. “Go to Walter and have him hide you.”
Garrett shook his head. “I’ll head there tonight. I will find her Ethan. I’m going to bring Emma home if she’s still alive.”
Ethan sighed and slumped back on the bench. “Be careful and don’t get your hopes up. It could be a lie.”
“There’s only one way to find out,” Garrett said.
“Don’t put yourself in danger if you don’t have to,” Denise said.
“She’s right,” Ethan said.
“I won’t,” Garrett shifted his eyes away from his friends.
“Promise me,” Ethan said.
“You know I can’t. Take care of each other. We’ll see each other again,” Garrett took a few steps and stopped. “Ethan, I am not letting him get away whether she is alive or not.”
“I know you won’t,” Ethan dropped his head into his hands.
Denise stood from the bench and waved. “Bye Garrett, come home when you can. We’ll be waiting for you.”
“Goodbye and congrats on the baby,” Garrett said.