‘Stop reading me.’
‘You have a soft spot for her yourself, don’t you?’
‘It’s not like that. She’s my best friend,’ I replied, looking over at Hope. Out of the corner of my eye I could see Noland nodding.
‘What will they do with Jason?’ I asked.
‘Not what I hoped,’ he said, scowling as Deep escorted Jason past the group of women. Hope ignored him as Layla whispered to her. They started laughing again and Noland left my side to go over to them.
‘Purple!’ Deep shouted.
I turned to see my brother waving me over. He was standing beside Jason. The Perfect had his hands tied behind his back with rope.
‘We have a mission.’ His face was grim as he took hold of Jason’s arm and led him towards the entrance to the camp.
‘What are we doing?’ I followed as the rebels around us stared at Jason. He had his head held high and looked each one in the eye.
‘Proving myself,’ Jason laughed, but when I looked at him, he wasn’t happy.
‘What did you expect would come of this?’ I said getting up close and making him stop.
‘I didn’t think…’ the words trailed off as Leon approached us.
‘Are you ready, Perfect?’ The leader was carrying a gun. He indicated to Deep to untie Jason’s hands and then handed the gun to him.
‘What the hell…?’ I started.
‘You’ll see,’ Deep said. I looked at my brother, but his face was blank. He’d learnt to keep his emotions hidden well.
‘Deep and Purple will take you back to work. Make sure you do as I ask and if you do, we’ll leave you there,’ Leon nodded at the gun. ‘If not, Deep has his own gun…’
Nothing more was said as Leon turned and walked away.
‘Let’s go,’ Deep said, unfurling his wings.
‘Are you not going to fill me in?’ I thought that they trusted us now, but maybe not.
‘On the way, brother, on the way,’ he said, grabbing Jason and jumping into the air.
Chapter Ten
‘This is crazy,’ I said.
We were walking through the government compound. Leon wanted us to meet with William and negotiate the trial jury. Jason had told him that he worked closely with William and could get us in to talk to him. I wondered at Leon’s trust in not only me, but Jason to. I knew Deep was a tough warrior, but still, the test seemed a strange one.
Jason had been stopped at the compound gates. He’d asked to speak to an elderly man who had come out to us. When he saw that we were with him, he’d told them to let us in straight away. Maybe they would take us hostage when we got inside?
‘Jason, it’s good to see you,’ called a voice.
We were walking through the garden towards the main building of the compound. There were many gardens around five buildings with the main building in the centre and the others dotted around it. We stopped walking and faced William. He was sitting on a bench, hidden behind a small tree. Deep scowled when he saw him and I guarded my thoughts well. I hoped Jason and William did the same.
‘Come, introduce me to your friends,’ William said, gesturing for us to join him.
I held my back rigid as we followed Jason onto the grass and stood in front of the Perfect.
‘I’m William,’ he said, looking at my brother. His back was straight on the concrete bench, but his muscles were soft. I glanced up when I heard the cock of a gun. In the hedges around us, I spotted the glint of metal. The guards had a lot of guns trained on us.
‘They won’t harm you, if you don’t do anything stupid,’ William said, noticing that we were both looking around. Deep’s shoulders were soft, but I could sense his power. I glanced at him and saw that he was concentrating on the Perfect. That’s why Leon had sent him in. He was listening for their thoughts.
‘It’s good to see you well, Jason, although I have no idea why you went away in the first place.’ The tilt of William’s nose made my brother step forward. I reached out a hand and pulled him back.
William played the part of Perfect well.
‘I wanted to scope them out,’ Jason said. William nodded and gestured for him to sit down. I wondered at the easy way Jason was able to adopt the role of Perfect too. He sat next to William and they both looked at us through narrowed eyes.
At least they don’t know about the angels.
The thought floated over to me from Jason and I froze. Deep glanced at me and I knew he’d heard it too. Jason was such an idiot! I shook my head once and Deep looked back at them. Jason’s face was clear. He wasn’t aware that he’d just messed up big time.
‘What do you want in exchange for Jason’s freedom?’ William went still as a woman rounded the corner of the building and headed towards us across the grass.
‘Negotiations without us again, William?’ she said. Her gaze swept over us before she folded her arms across her chest. She was tall, skinny and had short blonde hair. The cut was masculine and she stood with her feet apart as she studied us closely. This was no angel.
‘It’s a shame that you have so many…defects,’ she grimaced as she inspected the ridges on our tanned skin. ‘You’re very handsome.’
‘Catherine, we were just negotiating Jason’s freedom,’ William said, pushing Jason off the bench and patting the concrete. Her lips curled up, but she took a seat when William glared at her.
‘I don’t see why we have to. He should never have gone to the rebel camp anyway.’
Jason looked at her and scowled.
‘Thanks, Mum,’ he muttered.
Both Deep and I jolted.
I watched as she turned to William and rolled her eyes. On closer inspection, I guess she did look like Jason. They had the same features. But I couldn’t imagine her and John, Jason’s father, together. Although, she had eyed up our muscles and John was one of the head guards with plenty of those.
‘William, let me take the men into custody,’ she purred, stroking the angel’s arm. I felt the hairs on the back of my skin rise as I heard her thoughts. The Perfects were bored of perfection. They’d used us for many years to act out their sexual perversions. They were so normal most of the time, that they never explored their sexuality. This made for suppressed emotions when it came to sex.
‘I say you listen to what they have to say,’ Jason said, crossing his arms like his mother had done.
William gestured for us to speak.
‘We want details on the trial and I want to see Sandor,’ Deep said. His arms were by his side, but the tightness in his back was visible to me.
‘Yes, okay, shall I give you a back massage while you’re here?’ Catherine laughed. I caught the glimpse in her eye and had to stop myself from responding.
‘Will you reign in your…’
‘What Deep means to say is when is the trial starting?’ I interrupted.
‘Next week. We want you and Hope to fly in every day for seven days.’ William looked at Jason at the sound of his teeth grinding. ‘Do you have a problem with that? Purple is capable of…’
‘Why would he have a problem with that?’ Catherine was looking at her son and William glanced between the pair of them. When he looked at me, I shook my head ever so slightly.
‘I don’t have a problem with that. I just think that they should be kept over here with Sandor.’ Jason said.
I bit my lip just in time. It was a good job there were secrets to be kept, otherwise I’d be tempted to launch at the angel.
‘Yes, isn’t there a warrant for their arrest?’ Catherine jumped up.
William looked me in the eye and I froze.
‘Why did you come here? Jason told you that…we’d...issued a warrant I assume?’
Everyone was looking at me, including Deep. He crossed his arms and raised his eyebrows.
‘Jason is our bargaining tool. You drop the warrant and let us see Sandor and we give Jason back.’
‘I’m not sure he’s worth all that,’ Catherine said.
When I l
ooked at her there was no maliciousness in her statement, she was just passing comment.
‘This is getting boring. Please can we just get on with it?’ Jason said.
‘Jason…’ William was watching the young man.
‘He’s right. I say allow the other one to go and keep both Jason and Purple here. Stop pussy footing around them, Will,’ Catherine looked over at a hovering guard. She gestured and he started towards us.
‘Cathy, can’t we…’
‘No, William, the Avoidables are getting away with far too much. You’ve always been a soft touch, but it’s time for me to take control.’
‘How will Hope get here without Purple?’ Jason asked.
‘Why should I care? The fact that this trial is even happening is beyond me.’
The guard reached us and stood to attention. I looked at Will and saw him scowling at Deep. My brother knew something was up and William was trying to put him off.
‘Tell whoever you need to tell that the trial will begin Monday. I will get a message to Artie with any more details.’ William stood.
‘I don’t work for Artie,’ Deep said. I glanced at my brother and held my breath.
‘Okay, I’ll get the message to your people. Jason is free to stay here and Purple…’
‘Is being arrested for suspicion of aiding and abetting Sandor,’ Catherine finished, clicking her fingers at the guard. He stepped forward and growled.
‘It’s okay, brother,’ Deep said. I glanced at him.
Go with it, this may work out well. I promise to come back and get you.
His thought had me relaxing. I shrugged and held out my arms. The guard put the metal handcuffs over my wrists, being careful not to touch me directly.
‘Thank you,’ William said, nodding at Deep and then turning to walk away.
‘It’s a shame you’re not being arrested,’ Catherine said, smiling up at Deep before gesturing for another guard to escort him off the compound.
‘You’re lucky I’m not,’ he muttered, clapping me on the back and leaving me to the Perfects.
Episode Four
Chapter Eleven
‘Purple, is that you?’ Sandor said as I was escorted into the cell next to hers.
I saw her briefly through the bars of her cell but once inside, I could no longer see her.
‘You’re not allowed to communicate with each other. There are cameras everywhere and they will detect you talking,’ Catherine said, running a hand over my arm. I jerked back and she smiled at my scowl.
‘Be a good boy and maybe I’ll reward you,’ she whispered.
I turned away and went over to the small bed. I was surprised when I sat down and found myself sinking into a plush mattress.
‘What can I say? We don’t live like you roughians,’ Catherine laughed. The guard locked the cell behind him as they both left.
I looked around me. Everything was bright white. There was a tiny barred window that allowed the sunlight to come in, making the cell even lighter. There was a walled off section at the back which classed as a bathing area. I had a look and was pleased to see a shower and toilet. This was the best prison cell I could ever imagine.
‘Purple?’ Sandor hissed.
I walked over to the front of the cell. I couldn’t see her. The cell opposite me was empty.
‘Is there anyone else in here?’ I asked.
‘No, it’s just us. Until they come in of course.’ I heard the wobble in her voice and wanted to comfort her.
‘They’ve not hurt you again have they?’
‘No, they’ve left me alone. They probably know that I’d be capable of hurting them now.’
‘How…?’ My flatmate was a small delicate woman with six fingers on each hand.
‘The rebels taught me how to fight,’ she said.
‘Yes, that doesn’t surprise me.’
‘So what’s going on out there? They told me that you and Hope will be on the jury.’ I heard her moving around so I sat on the floor and leant against the wall.
‘We captured Leon, but he escaped, taking Hope with him. I found the camp and we both decided to stay so that we could be on the jury. Sandor…’ I sighed.
‘They told me that you didn’t want to let me go free, but I knew what you were doing. I’m glad, Purple. It would’ve all been for nothing otherwise. What I don’t understand is why they would want this trial?’
I heard the camera above me move. I stuck my middle finger up at it.
‘Don’t worry about the cameras. They want us to talk so that they can find out more,’ she said.
‘How do you know?’
‘Because a Perfect came in and told me before you got here. He’s gone now though.’
I stood and started to pace the cell. I didn’t do closed in spaces well. I liked room to move.
‘Where has he gone? Who was he?’
‘A Perfect named Jason.’
I stopped pacing. Why had Jason come into the cells? Was he a spy for the government or had they found out that he’d been in a relationship with an Avoidable?
‘Anyway, that’s not important, what’s important is that the trial is going ahead next week. What are you doing in here though?’ she said.
‘They arrested me. They thought I kidnapped…a Perfect…’ I wasn’t going to mention Jason to her. She would want me to explain and that would drag up too much stuff that Sandor would not understand. Sandor had long wavy red hair and bright green eyes. Her powers were subtle and she hardly used them. She was a quiet woman with a sensitive nature.
‘Having a bit of fun were you?’ she laughed.
‘No, nothing like that. I’m surprised Leon let you into the rebels, Sandor. Your taste for Perfects doesn’t seem like something he’d support.’
‘You know him that well, do you? Well, he doesn’t know about my past. He changed me, Purple, I’m no longer like that.’
I could tell she wasn’t lying as her thoughts were echoing her words. I settled on the comfortable bed and closed my eyes.
‘At least it’s only a few days until the trial,’ she sighed.
‘I bet you’ve been going mad in here,’ I said, not wanting to let her know that Deep was going to try and get me out before.
‘Yeah, it’s hard work. Good for self-reflection but not so good for worrying about why the hell they’re doing this.’
I laughed and heard her giggle with me. We were so used to the ruthless behaviour of the Perfects that this trial seemed absurd. I got up and walked over to the corner of the cell closest to hers. I stuck my hand through the bars and offered it to her. I had no idea if she could see or reach me, but then I felt the soft touch of six fingers and closed my hand around them.
‘Maybe…just maybe, they’re getting a bit softer,’ I said, squeezing.
‘No touching!’ came the shout of the speaker overhead.
I let go and sat back against the wall.
‘Yeah right, I can’t ever see that happening, Purple. You’ve always had a soft heart like Leon, but the reality is, these people don’t give a monkeys about us. We’re going to have to fight our way to justice.’
‘I’m not so sure, Sandor,’ I said, ‘things are changing. Like you said, why would they want Hope and me to be free from the rebels? Just believe that life is going to get better and it will.’ I knew I sounded too optimistic, but I hated to hear her so down. I also didn’t want to encourage her to fight with violence anymore.
‘It is a bit weird, but they’re probably playing some kind of game. I don’t for any minute believe that I’m going to survive.’
‘Well, I promise you right this minute, Sandor, you will survive. Even if I die saving you.’
Chapter Twelve
When the lights came on the following morning, I felt different. The air around me was thick and I began to choke when I tried to breathe in. Opening my eyes, I saw the heavy smoke that lay over me.
‘Sandor,’ I tried to call but the smoke escaped into my lungs.
&n
bsp; ‘Purple…?’ she called back to me.
I rolled off the bed and onto the floor. I gulped in the fresher air as I crawled over to the bars of my cell. They clicked and started to roll open, which was strange. I went through them on my hands and knees. I couldn’t see the fire through the smoke.
‘Purple, it won’t open,’ Sandor cried as I came into view. She was also on the floor, gripping onto the bars of her cell.
‘Why did yours open but not mine?’
Her voice was shrill. I put my hand through the bars and took hold of her shoulder. ‘Calm down, we’re going to be fine.’
‘You can say that, you can get out!’
‘I’m not going anywhere without you!’ I grabbed hold of the bars and pulled. The metal didn’t budge.
‘They’re Avoidable proof,’ she said, trying to pull them herself.
This was not good. The smoke was getting thicker, even though I still couldn’t see the fire. I tried to see if the camera was still visible but it wasn’t.
‘I think Deep may have come back for me,’ I said, turning back to Sandor. ‘Cover your mouth with your top.’
She took off her top and wrapped it around the lower part of her face. I took hold of the bars again and pushed as hard as I could. I tried to pull fresh air into my lungs, but there wasn’t much left around us.
‘We’re going to die. We’re going to suffocate and it would’ve all been for nothing. It better not be Deep. I’ll kill him if it is.’ Sandor’s tone got higher and quicker.
I struggled to keep control of my own temper. ‘Sandor!’ I shouted, angry that she was getting so hysterical. I then froze and so did she. A tiny puff of fire had come out of my mouth.
‘Purple…?’
I shook my head and felt a surge of heat rush through my body.
‘Move back!’ I warned just before another small flame shot out of my mouth.
Sandor shuffled to the back of the cell, coughing. I closed my eyes and pulled up the heat that now sat in my belly. I opened my mouth and forced out the rising feeling. A flame big enough to engulf the bars came out of me and heated them until I was out of breath. I needed to bend those bars now before they cooled down. I pushed myself up and took hold of them. They bent easily until there was a small gap big enough for Sandor to squeeze through. I took my hands away and looked to see the burns. There was none. I suddenly realised that my breathing had become easier. Sandor squeezed through the gap as I looked up. The smoke disappeared and an alarm started to sound.
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