"Are you okay sweetie?" She asked
" Yeah." I replied, taking a bite of my food.She patted me on my shoulder and let me eat in peace. I started at the plaque with my name on it. I remember helping the old owner to stay in business when I first moved to town. This place holds many memories for me. It was almost midnight when I left the dinner. I have about eight more clients to get through. As I walk to the car a chill runs down my spine. A pair of arms grab me from behind. Without thinking I pull up power and manage to put him to sleep. Before I could turn around another set of arms grabbed me. A third set reached and pulled my hands behind me. Something was placed in my mouth so I could not scream.
"We have something to discuss." Jayden said in my ear as something covered my eyes.
I was thrown roughly into the back of a vehicle. Someone climbed in with me. I struggled against the restraints.
" I am not going to hurt you." Jayden said calmly. " All you have to do is answer a few questions."
My thoughts raced as we moved. Is he working with the government? There is no way that they knew it was me that took the necklace. It has only been one day. Dread filled me as I realized that he could be working with my parents. From the things that I have been hearing they are still looking for me. Tears streamed down my face as I struggled to keep calm. My thoughts are racing from one thing to another.
Soon the car stopped moving. I was pulled from the car and walked to a seat. My hands are cuffed to the back of the chair. The bag is removed from my head, We are in a large empty warehouse. This feels like a scene from a movie. After the gag was removed Jayden asked " What did you do to me?"
" What do you mean? I did my job." I said
" You did more than that." He said " For the longest time I felt like I was stuck in a fog,but after the other day I am not."
I looked at him and asked, " Are you talking about your altered memories?"
He nodded then pulled out a knife. He pointed at me and said " You are going to tell me everything."
I sighed as I said " Someone used magic to alter your memories. Only a few people know how to do it."
He put the knife away. He started to pace and mutter to himself. This is my opportunity. I need to gain his trust. If I am slightly honest with him then I can get in.
" If I had to guess it is your girlfriend doing it." I said
Pausing his pacing he said " What?"
" Lexie is a talented dreamweaver. She has the power to do it."
"Why" He asked
" To get information on the resistance." I said
"How do you know about that?"
I rolled my eyes and said " I saw into your mind. I know everything about you."
" Then you know about the neaklace." He said
" I know about it." I said nervously.
" THen you know what happened to it."
" What do you mean?" I asked
" It went missing the same night I met you."
" I was with clients all night." I said
From a distance a voice said " Nice try. Your last client was an hour before it went missing,"
Lexie strolled in. I could see her weave coming out from her hands and wrapping around all the people in the room. It snaked its way up my leg. I can feel her trying to get into my mind. I used my weave to push against her. My weave looked almost black compared to hers. The blue weave surrounding the others dissipates as Lexie focuses on me.
" What are you doing here? Jayden asked, rubbing his forehead.
" I am getting the answers that you want, Sweetie." She said as blood started to drip from her nose.
I have a chance against her. She is at her limit. In one final desperate attempt I shoved her magic away from me. As she was sent flying fragments of her memories were sent to me.She was talking to someone that looked a lot like my mother. The woman was telling Lexie that the newest experiment was a failure. The other memory is her telling someone that the new dreamweaver is not ready.
She stood up with a crazy look in her eyes. Blood splattered on the ground as she tried to use her magic again.
"Stop Alexie." Jayden said, stepping in between us. " I know that you used your power on me."
Wiping blood from her mouth she said " This is not over."
Through ragged breath I said " why are you trying to create a dreamweaver."
She smirked and said " That is not something you need to know."
As her and Jayden started to argue my powers spiraled out of control. Blood dripped from my nose. Pain flooded out from my chest. I watched in horror as my magic spread out against the floor. It wrapped around people's legs. The pain I felt was transferred to them. Most of them dropped to the ground. Lexie was able to fight my weave off. Jayden dropped to the ground but he stayed conscious. The world disappeared. When it came back the only one left in the room was Jayden.
" What was that?" He asked
" I lost control of my powers." I replied
He bent down to wipe the blood from my place. I then did something that I am not proud of. I used my powers to force him to untie me. I then had him go lay down and take a nap. The car still has the keys in them. I hightailed it to Katie's shop. She was about to flip the open sign when I bursted in.
" I need your help." I pant barely standing.
She helps me to the back room and asks " What did you do?"
I told her about the necklace and how I was trying to help her. I then told her about Lexie working with my parents.
" There was someone looking for you yesterday." She said
After describing him it sounded like Jayden was looking for me. I knew what I had to do. I have caused Katie enough problems. It is time to figure things out myself. After resting in the backroom for about an hour I headed home. The door to my house was slightly open. There is someone here. I slowly crept in. From my office I heard voices.
" This setup has taken some time." One voice said
There was a thump sound and someone said " There is no time to admire. We have to find that file."
I don't know what file they are looking for but if they get the wrong one I will have a lot more problems then just Jayden. If they find out that I let national secrets escape I will be dead. I silently leave the house. With a few clicks on my phone the fail safe activates. The house and everyone in it is gone. The explosion leaves a ringing in my ears. I should have gotten further away from it.
The safe house sits quietly on the outside of town. The plan is to lay low and figure out the next steps.I have a few backup identities that I can use. The first thing that I need to do is change my appearance. The first thing to go is the blonde. It was just so hard to maintain. The only good thing about it is the fact it is the perfect base for color. The blue made my eyes pop.
A thudding woke me up. There are sounds of boots under me. All of this is Lexie's fault. She should have just taken her client and not been busy.
A voice that I recognised said " Come out peacefully and you won't get hurt."
I peaked down the stairs and yelled " What is going on Austin."
Wood splinters sprayed everywhere as a shot rang out.
"SleepCore wants your head. I don't know what you did." Austin replied
" I am sorry but I can't go to them." I said diving for the window
Another shot rang out. This time it is accompanied by pain. I grabbed my arm as it started to burn. I have to push past the pain. I have to get out. At some point I will become an auto pilot. I don't know how but I end up in Katie's backroom again. She is putting a towel over my head.
" I am sorry." I whisper " I keep causing you trouble."
She wiped a strand of hair from my forehead and said " don't worry about it. Besides, you should be thanking the other guy."
" What other guy?" I ask
Jayden walks in from the front and says " I found you on the side of the road. You kept saying "the flower shop."
" How did you know where to go?" I asked
"I have a whole file on you." He said
" That is great." I said, trying to get up.
Katies puts her hand on my shoulder and says " you need rest. You used too much power and you have been shot,"
"SleepCore is after me. I can't bring you into this." I said I'm still struggling.
" What do they want with you?" Jayden asks
"No idea. They came in hot. I don't even know how they found me. And that is not the worst thing." I look up at Jayden and continue " Since your file came across my desk my life has been turned upside down."
" What are you going to do now?" Katie asked
" I am going to leave and not look back." I said grabbing her hand " I am causing a huge mess and I am not going to put you and Max in any more danger."
" I can't let you do that." Jayden says putting a bracelet on my wrist. " You have too much valuable information,"
As the bracelet clicks into place I ask " what is this?"
" A procossion." He replied
This is my chance. But I can't seem to agree. I will try to get away to see if he will follow. If he follows then I have a way in. I am too weak to struggle. I spent the rest of the day sleeping. When I finally opened my eyes I was alone in the dark room. Jayden was talking to Katie up in the front so I used the back exit. I sent a quick text to my handler telling them I have a way in.
As I was leaving I tugged at the bracket. It had some type of locking mechanism that required a finger print. I will just have to cut it off later. If I go one way down the alleyway behind the shop it will take me back to the main street. If I go the other way then I can take a series of backways to avoid the public eye. After turning down one alleyway the bracelet started to vibrate. I glanced down at it. The fingerprint which was green a moment ago is now red. I am going to have to take it off soon. I bet it has some type of tracking device in it.
The further I get away from the shop the harder it vibrates. Then after one turn the vibrating turns into a shock. It is so mild that I almost missed it. It feels more like static electricity. Great, it is one of those I thought to myself.
My handler threatened to put one of these on me on time. How in the world did Jayden get one of these? There is no way that some random civilian can get ahold of one of these.Unless since his dad is a corrupt detective he has ties with the organization. My head starts to spin as the shocks get stronger. This is turning out to be one of the worst days of my life. And I have had a few. I am almost to where I need to go when the pain becomes almost unbearable. I grab my injured arm as I drop to my knees. Gasping for air I struggle to sit. I want to scream in pain with each breath. I used to be used to the pain but after seven years my tolerance for pain has gone down.
The bracelet starts to die down as foot steps start to approach.
" You are stronger than I gave you credit for. Jayden says walking towards me.
" What did you do to me?" I gasped
"I need to make sure you stay close to me. We have work to do." He said pulling me up.
At the edge of the alleyway a black car pulled up. Jayden opened the back door and pushed me in. I sat quietly as we drove.
"What do you mean we have work?" I finally asked
" I want to stop Sleepcore." He said simply. " And you are going to help with that."
With a bitter laugh I said " good luck with that. If they are willing to try and kill me over god knows what. What will they do to you?"
" You don't have a choice in the matter." He says pointing to the bracelet.
I smiled to myself. While it is not the way I wanted to get in, I am nonetheless.