After that one question, I did not expect what felt like an interrogation to follow.
"Is everyone defeated?"
"Yes."
"What about the collapsed girl outside the room? She's still alive."
"You can see us?"
"Yes."
"You an you saw everything that happened here?"
There was a bit of hesitation from the voice at this question, and then it answered.
"Yes."
"Don't worry about her, she's with . I was sent here to rescue you."
"By who?"
"I don't know their na," I shrugged, and I wasn't lying.
Other than the na I gave her, the dark-haired woman I had t at McDonald's had no other identity. She had declined to give one, even for this assignnt. All I had was sothing that was supposed to be a secret phrase:
"The sky which bleeds at night will always smile in the morning."
I had no idea what those words ant, and after saying them, I waited for a reply.
It took up to a minute before I got feedback, and it wasn't in the form of words but rather footsteps coming up the ladder.
Taking three steps away from the hole, I let two n in suits climb out. My body relaxed even as they tightened their grip on the assault rifles in their hands, though they kept them pointed down.
With his grey hair and very tired face, Kyle Benedict was the last to climb up. Leaving the ladder behind, he walked past his n and stared at .
Not particularly in a hurry since the people outside the building still thought all was well inside, I quietly watched Kyle, not at all bothered by the long silence that ensued.
"This is not a trap," the man finally said.
"No."
Another period of silence followed, the middle-aged man trying to see through . Then he let out a heavy breath.
"In that case, I'll trust you."
"It's not like you have a choice," I pointed out.
"Hmm. What is your plan to get us out of here? The area around is still filled with hostiles."
I raised an eyebrow at Kyle being so inford about his surroundings. My praise for the bunker he had crawled out from increased. Then I moved on to reap my own benefits.
"We'll get to that. But first, I need to ask you so questions."
The sudden firmness in my tone had Kyle becoming cautious. He took a step back, seeking refuge behind his guards, but the sound of bodies hitting the ground made him look back in surprise.
The delivery of two heavy packages of fear into the minds of his guards had been very effective.
Turning on his heel, Kyle tried to run back to the bunker, but he had barely taken two steps when my hand fell on his shoulder.
"I said let's talk, and you're acting like I said I'll kill you."
My grip was so firm on his shoulder that he couldn't even budge. Kyle turned his head to , eyes narrowed.
"What do you want?"
"Well, for starters—why are you being pursued?"
Kyle's face tightened, and I didn't hesitate to use force.
Emotion wave!
Ninja Momma said I should save him, and while we didn't agree that I must bring him back in perfect health, I did not want to use Malevolent Shrine and break his spirit or possibly even evict his soul.
Just like with his guards, an arrow packed with fear was sent into his soul, and I was quite pleased when he fell to his knees, trembling all over and sweating.
"Man, civilians these days are just built differently," I thought, kneeling beside the terrified man and going through his pockets.
"Who are you?" Kyle asked, his teeth chattering.
"It depends on you. If you cooperate, I'm a friend. If you don't, I'm your worst nightmare."
Taking my hand back, I looked at the wallet and then at the trinket I held. Idly flipping through the wallet, I pulled out a photo and brought it to his face.
"Who is this?"
"It's pointless if you don't answer. I can just have soone look at it and find the woman."
"Don't you dare."
"Good. So we both agree on sothing."
I looked up at Kyle. The shivering in his body was reduced, and his eyes were fixed on , anger blazing in them.
"If anger was enough to bestow justice, all the wrongdoers in the world would be dead."
With those words, I stood to my feet and looked at the photo more closely.
"Is she your wife? She looks quite cute," I comnted, focusing on the woman's nose and lips.
"She looks familiar," I thought, holding the picture farther back from , wondering where I had seen the dark-haired female before.
"Hmm, nothing is coming to mind," I gave up and looked down at Kyle.
The man didn't look ready to budge, and I shrugged because an idea ca to mind.
Night Walker!!
[10 intelligence points = 20 minutes dream ti.]
Kyle Benedict was not dreaming, so I didn't go into his dream but rather, his nightmare.
There was a reason I had only ever used this technique on Ninja Momma and Denise. Going through soone's nightmare, feeling their every emotions, what better way was there to bond with soone than that?
This technique wasn't one to be used randomly. It required careful selection, and in my book, only female targets qualified.
Unfortunately, beggars couldn't be choosers. Unlike the six black elites, Kyle was under no restriction and could very well tell what I wanted to know. I had to swallow my displeasure.
For the next 20 minutes, I lived in Kyle's nightmare, staying side-by-side with the man and watching the things that kept him up at night.
Eventually, I was ejected from his mind. I needed a few seconds to calm my racing heart and decide on the feelings running through .
Unlike with Denise, I didn't need Kyle's loyalty or partnership. What I wanted was his fear and now, against the pity and understanding I felt for him, I doused the shaken-up man in the very emotions he had felt on that fateful day.
"You were quite brave to make sure that even if you lost your wife, you wouldn't lose your daughter.
Now what do you say I give you another chance to save Lisa?"
A smirk stretched across my face as Kyle's expression turned to one of horror and a heavy weight was lifted from my chest.
Reviews
All reviews (0)