The Sensorians: Trust

by Brigitte Morse-Starkenburg

  “After this is all over, you'll wish you'd never been born. You'll never fit in anywhere. You will never be completely trusted by anyone. You'll be all alone for the rest of your life. You have ruined your only chance of a successful life here, where you would have been respected and loved. I almost feel sorry for you,” she sneered.

  I decided to tune out from that moment. I simply blocked her out. I did not want to think about what she'd said, scared that I would agree with her. Instead I honed in on the sea. The calming, rolling waves. I was only vaguely aware of being tied up and blind folded. A sack was put over my head. I welcomed it.

  CHAPTER 52

  Zack

  When we finally untied Zaphire, she cried with relief. Apart from a few bruises she was physically fine. Mentally she was a mess. But Zaphire was still in there. She'd get over it. I knew. I hugged her tightly and I never wanted to let go of her again. All I wanted to do is take her home and take care of her, but we were still in the middle of the mission. We'd informed Markus who immediately arrested Rick. He hadn't even started his speech yet. However, we knew we might not be in the strong position we imagined we would be in. Having to leave Michael and Sonia behind was a nightmare. We didn't know if they got away or what. They hadn't contacted us so that didn't bode too well. But it could be explained. They might not be in a position to contact us if they were hiding out somewhere.

  Our hopes were dashed fairly soon though. When we got back to our compound an ashen faced Markus welcomed us back. His face momentarily lit up when he saw Zaphire and held her in his arms, but it was soon replaced by darkness again. He informed us Jean-Pierre had been in contact with the message they had captured Michael, Sonia and Eliza. Fuck. And I'd been right about Eliza needing help too. She'd been found out.

  I glanced over at my sister, who looked exhausted. I wanted to take her to her room and put her in bed, make sure she was okay. But thankfully Laura took over, lovingly taking her in her arms. Just as well, because Markus had no intention of releasing me. We were all summoned to the meeting room.

  Markus silently showed us the video that was sent. I understood Markus' dark mood instantly. We were all shocked to the core. We just witnessed one of our own being shot in cold blood. Sonia was dead.

  We stood in silence. No one knew what to say. We all worked hard to cloak as our own feelings were already hard enough to deal with, without having to take on each others pain. Phaedra cracked in the end. Sonia had been her friend and work colleague for years. She let out her pain which hit us hard. Frank took her aside and escorted her outside the room to calm down. His shield must be as hard as steel.

  “As you can see, the situation has escalated rapidly. Their demands are to be met immediately as I don't want any more casualties. We have got to cut our losses and start anew. We have to release Rick, but the mission has not been futile. We will hunt his followers down and break up the syndicate. We know who are involved. We will have seriously slowed down their progress which will give us time to attack again when we can. Don't give up. Don't feel it was all for nothing. We had to take the risk and it didn't pay off this time. We know what a ruthless man and organisation we're dealing with now, so no more mistakes. No more actions initiated off your own back.”

  With that he poignantly stared in my direction.

  “We have to work together on this. But at least we have given ourselves some time to re-group. We may not succeed in breaking up his organisation for good, but we have made a huge dent in it, and will continue to do so.”

  He paused to let it all sink in.

  “What's the arrangement?” Frank asked, who'd rejoined us after having dealt with Phaedra's emotional breakdown.

  “They will release Michael and Eliza as soon as we have returned Rick and Jessica to their head quarters,” Markus replied matter of factly. My heart rate spiked.

  “You can't just hand over that fucking bitch too,” I interjected, letting my vengeful feelings rule my mouth.

  “We will do exactly what they demand, Zack. Mind your language,” Markus bit back. “We need to keep calm now and wait for further instructions,” he warned and dismissed us to reconvene when needed.

  I slipped away to see how Phaedra was coping. I found her in our Room of Tranquillity. I worked with her before, when I was still training. She was about five years my senior and I hadn't paid much attention to her before. But she stirred something in me. She intrigued me. She was sitting on one of the benches, and as I approached she moved up a bit to make some space for me. I sat down next to her silently for a moment. She didn't need to speak for me to know what she felt. I put my arm around her and she leant into my embrace, resting her head on my shoulder. We must have sat there for about half an hour, before my phone pinged. It was Zaphire. She needed me.

  “I'll come and find you later Phaedra. Look after yourself, okay?” I whispered gently in her ear. She looked up and nodded.

  “Thanks for being there for me Zack. It means a lot to me,” she said quietly with so much vulnerability it made my heart melt a little.

  “Hey, Zaph. You look somewhat better,” I tried cheering my forlorn looking sister up a bit.

  “Yeah, who are you kidding?” she replied sarcastically. Good. That meant she was getting on top of things. “Laura wouldn't tell me anything. Fill me in brother. What's happening,” she demanded.

  I thought for a second, but no one had given me any orders not to say anything so I gave her the full update. She was shocked with Sonia's fate but her fury spiked when I mentioned Eliza's name. I hadn't quite expected the level of hatred Zaph was carrying for her.

  “Why do we even want her back here? She cannot be trusted!” she hissed venomously.

  “She has always been on our side, Zaphire. We just couldn't let anyone know,” I tried to calm her down.

  “What do you mean 'we', Zack? Did you know all along?” she asked scathingly. “You need to tell me everything. It doesn't make sense!”

  She sounded furious and lost at the same time. So, I told her everything, from the moment Eliza told me she'd decided to go undercover to try and infiltrate her father's organisation and win his trust. How she decided no one was to know, including Zaphire, to keep all reactions natural and not raise any suspicions.

  “Why didn't she trust me?” Zaphire couldn't help letting out a sob, born out of frustration, anger and sadness.

  “It wasn't about trust Zaphy. It was about making the mission work. Giving it the best chance to succeed. If it helps, not to include you in the plan was the hardest decision she ever had to make. She did it partly to protect you, though she would never admit to that. However, it was essential that no one knew,” I tried to explain.

  “Apart from you,” she said bitterly.

  “Apart from me,” I whispered.

  CHAPTER 53

  Eliza

  I couldn't breathe. Not just because of the gag, but my body had gone into some kind of spasm. They forced us to watch Sonia's execution. I closed my eyes, but it didn't help. Michael and I both felt Sonia's anguish and desperation. I wanted to scream. They didn't need to do this to get what they needed. Right up to the moment they pulled the trigger I believed they wouldn't go through with it. That it was just an elaborate show to scare us. How wrong was I. I opened my eyes just at the wrong time. Blood sprayed from Sonia's head. Irena was stony faced and Jean-Pierre had no expression at all. The guards seem to enjoy their role. It was sickening.

  Finally, I was able to get some air. It must have been an automatic response of my body, forcing oxygen into my system. I wished it hadn't. I wished I'd passed out. Michael and I were taken back to our separate cells again. I sat down, numb. No idea what was going to happen next.

  Bile rose to my mouth, the gag making it impossible to be sick. One of the guards released it. Swore and threw me a cloth. I couldn't do much with it as my hands were still bound. It was gross.

  Michael didn't seem to be faring much better. I could feel his pain through the wall. He was w
ounded and I doubted anyone had checked it out, or cleaned it up. It would get infected soon and then they wouldn't have to shoot him.

  I had no idea how long I was in that cell. Time seemed to have no meaning. It could only have been hours, but it felt like days. Every time I closed my eyes, the haunting picture of Sonia's face just before the bullet hit appeared. Then the blood. The brain. I tried to shake my head to rid myself of it, but it was stuck there. Her desperate eyes staring me in the face. I still couldn't quite believe it actually happened and I suddenly panicked when I thought about Ned. What if he met the same fate! No. They wouldn't have gone ahead with the mission if Ned had been shot in cold blood. I needed to stay calm. No point winding myself up even further. I was driving myself mad. The room smelled disgusting. I felt disgusting. When was this ordeal going to end? If it was going to be much longer I wasn't even sure if I'd care anymore.

  Hurried footsteps approached. I could make out at least ten people. Something serious was about to happen. I wasn't sure if I could take anymore, but obviously I had no choice. Irena opened the door and visibly recoiled, unable to cloak and clearly surprised by the state me and my room were in. She recovered quickly and ordered the guards to escort me out. I heard Michael being hauled out of his cell, unable to walk for himself. I was gagged again. We were marched out of the basement. Michael was dragged up the stairs, then pushed along. He collapsed. There was a lot of swearing at him, but I knew if Michael could walk, he would. He was in a bad way. I wanted to tell them. Shout at them. But all I could do was mumble and squeak. That damned gag.

  I sensed Jean-Pierre and Angelique were near. I was knocked on the back of my legs, which made me buckle and kneel. A heap of human mess was thrown next to me. Michael. Were they going to shoot us? Right here? Was this how my life would end? Not even reaching adulthood? I thought about mum. The thought of her grief broke me and I collapsed into a heap too.

  “Look at you. All pathetic on the floor. How different could this have been if only you had chosen our side. What a waste.”

  Angelique spoke with disdain, but I detected a smidgen of pity or regret. Jean-Pierre took charge, but to what end I still wasn't sure. I was close to not giving a shit. He untied me.

  “Help him up. Listen to our instructions. We have a gun trained on the both of you. If you try anything, we will shoot to kill,” he warned us. With Sonia's fate still fresh in my memory I was absolutely sure they would.

  CHAPTER 54

  Zack

  The call had come. We were to deliver Rick and Jessica to their Headquarters. For some perverse fucking reason Markus had put me in charge of Jessica. Once again pushing me to face up to my emotions and deal with things professionally. Even in this situation, he was still training me.

  “Oh, this must be killing you Zack,” she goaded. She just couldn't help herself. Her fucking smug face almost sent me over the edge, but I kept my cool. I did manage to inflict a little pain tightening her restraints just that bit too much. Probably not what Markus wanted, but it made feel better.

  “Shut the fuck up. You are not to talk,” I growled at her.

  “Or what Zack?” she sneered dismissively, still as arrogant as ever. I gave into my urges and backhanded her in the face.

  “Anything else, Miss?”

  My turn to sneer, but earning me a warning glare from Markus. I didn't care at that moment. He wasn't one to talk anyway.

  Blood trickled slowly from her nose. She looked pathetic and I decided to try and rise above her taunts, feeling less smug about giving into my anger.

  Rick looked groggy. He must have been administered some kind of sedative. Both captives were buckled in and then injected with Thiopental. That should make for a quiet flight. It would give me time to gain control over my emotions again too.

  We arrived bang on time. Our van parked at the end of their drive.

  The sun beamed down on us. It was like a scene from a film. Jean-Pierre and a woman stood at the other end of the drive. Six guards with guns stood along side the two interim leaders and behind I could just make out the sorry looking figures of Eliza and Michael.

  My heart dropped and skipped a beat at the same time. She looked a mess, but I still couldn't help my instant desires surfacing. I needed her. In my arms. Safe. Fucking Focus.

  Frank, Saleem and Tristan drew their weapons when we poured out of the van. I didn't trust myself so I left mine in its holster. I had to make sure Jessica was behaving herself anyway, so I had my hands full when I roughly manhandled her to where I wanted her to stand. Rob guided Rick out, who had fully come out of his state of sedation now. Rob took no chances and had his gun pointed at Rick's head. Rick must have realised at that moment his daughter had betrayed him. Up until then he hadn't known for sure, but seeing her there made it all too clear. His pain was immeasurable. It dug deep into everyone's core. It fucking hurt like hell, even with trying to shield it. I felt Eliza's reaction too. It crushed her.

  “Walk up ten meters and then turn back, leaving Jessica and Rick. Michael and Eliza will do the same.” Jean-Pierre shouted.

  We obeyed, making sure Michael and Eliza walked up too. They did, if you could call it walking. A guard either side. Michael leant heavily on Eliza, who nearly buckled under his weight. Rick looked old, broken, his eyes cast down, clearly avoiding Eliza's desperate efforts to catch his eye. Hers were full of apology and hurt.

  We stood facing each other. Three meters apart. We had to turn around and move back to our original position. Michael and Eliza's guards did the same. The tension was excruciating.

  “Now, the four of you, walk past each other. No contact, eyes down. A step a second. I will be counting. One...two... three....” Jean-Pierre barked.

  They all moved at the pace Jean-Pierre indicated whilst he kept counting. It took nineteen steps to cover the distance.

  “Now, go! I'll give you five minutes before we open fire.” Jean Pierre shouted, uncompromisingly.

  We quickly bundled them in the car and sped off.

  Fucking hell. They stank. Vomit, puss, sweat, urine, excrement, you name it. It was all there, hanging pungent in the air. But the relief was palpable too. We wrapped them in blankets as both were shivering, despite the warmth outside. Michael was in a bad way. We rushed him to the private hospital we used for the rare occasions one of us got hurt on a mission. They didn't ask questions. They took the money and treated whoever needed treatment.

  Ned had been transferred to the same hospital. He was still in a coma. He had come out of it, but they induced it again to give his body and brain more time to recover. Whilst they looked over Eliza I nipped over to see him. Ned's mum was sat by his bedside. I put a hand on her shoulder and she grabbed it with both hands. He was a sorry sight. Every part of his body that was visible was covered in bruises and cuts. Fuck. They really had done him over badly. Anger bubbled up inside me, and before it spilled over, I hurried out of the room.

  CHAPTER 55

  Zaphire

  Despite Zack's heartfelt explanation of Eliza's actions I couldn't forgive her. I blamed everything on her. Ned's suffering, Sonia's death, Rick's release, Zack's involvement, it all led back to her decision to go to her father, without the proper back up. However much she was right about gaining his trust and not raising any suspicions, she had made the wrong decision. But most of all, I hated that she hadn't trusted me to be involved. I just couldn't get over it.

  I was so happy to see Sam when she arrived back at our compound. We fell into each other's arms, Sam's tears stained my shirt. She nodded full of understanding over my feelings regarding Eliza.

  “I tell you, at one point I was ready to kill her if I had to,” I told her, remembering my vengeful feelings towards her from the moment she captured me. “I still don't know how she deceived Rick. Maybe somewhere inside herself she agreed with him,” I said a little spitefully.

  “Remember she did help us find you and she did betray her father for us, even though we aren't her family. It must have
been hard,” Sam called me out. I sighed.

  “My brain knows, Sam. I just can't help feeling this way at the moment.”

  They were back from the trade we were forced to make. Well, everyone apart from Michael. He needed to stay in hospital to make sure his body coped with fighting the infection. The doctors seemed confident though. The wounds weren't that bad, they just had suffered from lack of cleanliness.

  I spotted Eliza. She wore an odd combination of clothes they probably had cobbled together and her hair was all bedraggled, but she was clean. Her face told a thousand stories and none of them particularly pleasant. The little seed of hate in the pit of my stomach started to grow again. I couldn't handle it. I couldn't handle her. She had betrayed and hurt me too much. I turned around and walked off. I caught Zack's face out of the corner of my eye and to say he wasn't happy with me would be an understatement. His eyebrows practically rose above his head with indignation. His eyes threw daggers. What did he expect anyway? That I was going to fall into her arms and forgive and forget instantly? Well. That just wasn't going to happen and the sooner he got used to that, the better. I did not want to have another argument with my brother about Eliza.

  CHAPTER 56

  Eliza

  I was physically and emotionally exhausted. Zaphire's reaction hurt. I should have expected it but in my muddled state of mind I had created an alternate universe where Zaphire understood and had forgiven me. I imagined falling into her arms and carrying on as before. It didn't happen. Not surprisingly.

  Zack took me to my room to get changed and make myself look decent. I'd had a shower in the hospital, but still felt dirty. Zack hadn't left my side since the moment we got to the van. He made me feel safe.