“Only those who are stealthy and can live off the fat of the land,” Reule said firmly. “DJ, CJ, and Kerry have to stay. As for you, Jess-“
“You can’t make me stay,” Jess stated stubbornly. “He’s my friend.”
“I guess that means you have to go.” Reule thought for a moment more. “David, you and Vanar Pytheria accompany Jess. You too, Milton Marke.”
Those designated to go stood up and went to Jess.
“When will you be able to go?” Milton asked.
“Very soon. I just need to get a few essentials first.” Jess brushed some hair out of her face. “And you?”
“Us too. Meet us back in here in ten minutes, okay?” Vanar Pytheria said.
“Will do,” Jess said, and with that, they separated.
Kerry looked at Reule. “I won’t know how to live off the fat of the land if I don’t have experience.”
“Those who don’t know how to do that already are taught in a seven day course,” Reule said, “something we don’t have time for right now. So you’ll have to wait.”
Soon, all those going out were in a tight group at the entrance to the cave.
Reule talked to them briefly before they left. When they had gone, Reule turned to everyone else and said, “Lunch needs to be finished.”
Several people hurried off to obey, and the others stayed in the main room, going to their cots and belongings alongside the wall.
Reule stood watching them as Jordan hurried up to him.
“Kiril’s back,” she said, “and she has news.”
Reule turned. “What?”
“One of the bad guys was killed.”
“Which one?”
“The Arab.”
Reule raised an eyebrow. “I can’t exactly say he was important.”
“It’s one less,” Jordan said, glancing curiously at him.
“What are you staring at?” Reule asked.
“Nothing,” Jordan said, turning away and hurrying to her cot to sit and think.
“How on earth is she tracking me?” I asked Jesse.
“Have you ever considered that she might have planted a tracking device on you?” Jesse asked.
“Why would she do that? I’m her brother!”
Jesse shrugged. “She would have her reasons.”
“Jesse, seriously! It’s almost like she wants to get rid of me or something!” I exclaimed.
“Damien, siblings almost always have feelings like that at some point in their lives.”
“Why can’t you take me seriously?” I asked. “I have this really bad feeling that something is going to happen that won’t improve my life at all!”
“OK, that’s different,” Jesse said as he slowed down the car and turned onto a quiet dirt road. “Something that we can actually go off of.”
I rolled my eyes but said nothing.
“Why, on a bad day at work, would your sister rat on you?”
“Maybe she had a bad day at work…or maybe she wants to kill me…or she wants to hurt my feelings…or-“
“Those are some good reasons,” Jesse interrupted. “Now, why would she choose to do any of them?”
“Because she all of a sudden hates me,” I said, probably a little too overconfidently but still sure of myself.
“Why would she hate you?” Jesse sounded confused.
“I don’t know, but-“ I began.
“But what? She’s never acted like this before, has she?”
“No, but there’s always a first time,” I stated, settling back into my seat.
Jesse followed suit, keeping his eyes on the road ahead. “That’s true-but what if it’s something else-like, she might have had a bad day and heard about your ‘bad behavior’ and decided to overdo it?”
“My boss has never acted like this, and neither has she!” I burst out. “And how does she even know my boss?!”
“Is there a grudge she’s been holding against you?”
“How should I know? We don’t see each other much, anyway!”
“How many kids does she have?”
“Three girls.”
“What’s her husband’s name?”
“Her husband disappeared several years ago and is thought to be dead; evidence found by police suggested this.”
“I asked for his name.”
“Tony…” I thought hard…”Tony Ramirez.”
“Hispanic, huh?”
“Partly.”
“He wouldn’t happen to be a policeman, would he?”
“I don’t know what-a policeman?!”
“Yes-I met a policeman once who had three girls and a wife who acted strangely.”
“There’s probably a million guys named Tony Ramirez! And there are families with three girls out there, you know!”
“What did he look like?”
“Brown eyes and hair-what else would you expect from his lineage?”
“Any outstanding facial features?”
“He had a scar on his chin.”
“Nothing else?”
“No.”
“Might be him.”
“What, are chin scars uncommon among policemen?”
“No…but I’m pretty sure it’s him.”
“How did we get into this conversation again?” I asked.
“I was asking you your sister’s background.”
“Oh, right.”
“Does she have a criminal record?”
“What?!”
“No, seriously.”
“No, not that I know of.”
Jesse turned his face to mine. “Maybe that’s it.”
It took me a little while to digest this possible truth, and meanwhile, Jesse got to his house and helped me settle in. I slept late the next morning, and when I woke up, he was gone. A note on the kitchen counter told me briefly that he had gone and did not know when he would return. He left a few instructions, told me where the spare key was hidden, and said I was free to use what was in his house. He knew he could trust me.
A couple days passed. I went to work as usual, and my boss had nothing to do with me except to check on my work once or twice a day. No unusual incidents.
On the night of the third day, I stretched out on the couch, more relaxed than I had been since my bad day at work and my older sister’s unnerving words. I had heard nothing from her since the phone call she had given during my escape.
I watched the evening news, ate a small dinner, and texted on my phone. all was quiet and peaceful.
Until the knock came and shattered my rest and relaxation.
I switched off the TV, threw my blanket off, and stood, then stretching and yawning before going to the door and cautiously opening it.
Before I could blink, I had been grabbed by two rough looking guys dressed completely in black. It almost seemed like the beginning to a thriller or suspense novel except-it was happening to me.
What?
“What’s going on?” I demanded as they hurried me to a blue pickup truck parked nearby.
“Where are you taking me?”
“Shut up!” hissed the one on my right. “Be silent if you value your life.”
I did value my life-I still wasn’t sure if he really had a weapon-but I decided not to find out.
They tied my hands and feet, gagged me, and tossed me on the floor in the back of the cab, which hurt a lot, because if you get thrown anywhere by someone of their size, it hurts-a lot.
Anyway, they drove off to the outer parts of the city-I could tell because they were staying at the speed limit somewhat, and when they sped up, I knew we were on the highway.
`I eventually got so tired that, even in that uncomfortable position, I fell asleep. It was only a knock on the head that woke me up several hours later.
“Yup, he’s awake,” came a voice.
“That’s because you woke him up, you idiot!” snapped a woman’s voice.
A calm male voice intervened. “You hired them for the Aoran’s service for their muscles, not their brains. They said they were at your disposal-and they still are.”
“That’s right.” The woman’s voice was evilly enthusiastic. “They are…”
It was then that I discovered that my kidnappers were horrible at tying knots, and I wiggled my hands free from their bonds. I was so stiff that I couldn’t move, and I couldn’t see anyone from my bad position. Then I tried to get my gag out. However, since I got a slap across the face, I figured that I wasn’t supposed to do that.
“Put your hands down,” ordered a cool voice, “or you’ll get a bullet in your head.”
I had loosened the gag enough to spit it out. “Let me go!”
“I’m afraid we can’t. You’ve seen too much. “There was a low click and I felt cold metal against my neck.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about!” I snapped. “Let me go! I’m innocent.”
“Take him out and untie him.” The male voice came again.
I was pulled roughly out of the truck and laid none too gently on a concrete pad. I still couldn’t see anyone around me as I adjusted my eyes to the bright light in the room I was in. My feet were untied and I lay there, trying to figure out what was going on.”
“I see he’s arrived,” came a new voice.”
Wait a minute. New voice?
I pushed myself to a sitting position and turned my head.
“Madylyn?!”
Jess was the first to report back to where they had separated.
Reule came over to her. “You’re sure this will work?”
“No.” Jess shook her head. “We can never be sure what will happen.”
“That’s true,” Reule agreed. “Well, I can’t say anything more than good luck.”
“There is no such thing as luck.” Jess adjusted her fanny pack around her waist.
“Then…we can hope and wish that you’ll come back.”
“If wishes were horses, then beggars would ride.” Jess smiled at him. “It’ll be fine, Reule. We’ll be back. Whether we get back alive and in one piece is another matter entirely.”
Reule patted her back. “We’ll be waiting.”
Jess flinched slightly, although he didn’t notice. “We’ll be back.”
Milton appeared, and Vanar was on his heels. “We ready to go?” he asked.
“David hasn’t made an appearance yet,” Reule observed.” Oh well. You can leave without him, I suppose.”
“No, don’t suggest that, Cousin,” David said as he arrived at the meeting place. “I’ll use my tracking device to hunt them down.”
“It’s not that well developed, David,” Reule said, rolling his eyes. “Well, go on. Get a move on, find Jesse, and call if you need help.” He winked at Jess.
“Bye, guys!” Jess called as they four headed out the door. “See ya later!”
Everyone else waved a quiet goodbye.
And then they were off.
“Transfer him to the main station,” Jack ordered, sheathing his dagger as he looked at Heath and Patrick. Turning to Jesse, who was still smiling that annoying grin of his, which he had worn as he bore the painful interrogation and even more so afterwards, he said, “I see you took my brotherly advice about leaving home. That’s the only piece of advice you’ve ever taken from me.”
Jesse winced as the two men holding him twisted his arms, but his grin remained. “I’m almost glad I did. I got to see my big brother again.”
“When our Master is finished with you, you probably will never see me again,” Jack said nastily as he hurried off.
Heath and Patrick heaved Jesse into a large tube. His head cracked as his head hit the far side of the tube and was knocked out.
Then he vanished.
Kharan could hear the footsteps approaching his chambers. He grabbed his hooded robe and slipped it on as the door cracked open. Who would barge in without knocking? he thought angrily, and narrowed his blood red eyes.
Jesse’s eyes widened as he beheld the fearsome figure of General Praetor Kharan. But he soon felt his own self returning.
“ ‘Scuse me, you wouldn’t happen to know where there’s an exit around here, would you?” he inquired cheerfully.
Not known for being chatty, Kharan said nothing as he strode toward Jesse.
Jesse cautiously backed out. “Could I talk to the person who’s boss around here?”
Kharan continued forward.
“Or are you the boss? Anyway, I was sent here to meet the boss or whoever it was who was in charge…and I’m kind of lost, so could I have directions?” Jesse continued.
Without warning, Kharan leapt forward and grabbed Jesse’s arms with his claw like fingers, then throwing his head back and shrieking out an unearthly yell.
In a split second, his soldiers had gathered. Kharan snapped out a quick order in a language that was completely foreign to Jesse. Two soldiers stepped forward and took hold of Jesse.
“Take him to the main room,” Kharan told them. “I will be there briefly.”
The soldiers dragged Jesse roughly away. Every part of his body was aching by the time they entered a room of large proportions, and threw him on the floor.
One soldier spoke to someone else in a foreign language and there was a neutral reply in the same language.
Then the other soldier took a spear from his robe and gave each of his legs a painful whack! Jess gritted his teeth as he was grabbed by the legs and dragged across the room.
Over his face, a head appeared. Completely shadowed by a hood, it gave Jesse a dark sense of foreboding.
“And what have we here?” the person said in a voice that did not sound like that of a male or female.
“A spy sent by your faithful follower in North Carolina,” said a voice from across the room that Jesse could hear was plainly human and male at that.
I did not ask you,” the person standing over Jesse hissed. It turned to the guard standing by Jesse. “Well?”
“It is as he says, Master,” the guard replied in his harsh, inhuman voice.
“A spy? Well, it’s been a little while since we’ve had trouble with a spy.”
Jesse wanted to protest, but he kept quiet, knowing that it would not help.
“What would you want here?” the person asked.
Jesse closed his eyes and said nothing. A moment later, as the person drew a dagger and slashed him across the face, missing his eye by half an inch, he almost wished he had.
“Do you want to die that badly?” the person asked.
Jesse grinned, despite the pain that almost literally tore his face in half. “No.”
“Then why don’t you answer?”
Jesse knew that he was pushing his life limits, but he said, “‘Cause I don’t want to.”
“By the way,” the figure said as it punched him in the face, “that’s the wrong answer.”
Jesse’s breath drew in sharply.
“Why are you here?”
“I was sent here,” Jesse replied, “because my brother didn’t want to kill me; he wanted his great leader to. But at this point, his great leader appears to want to half-kill me.”
“You are insolent, I see. I might keep you a little while longer to see how long you survive giving cheek to the General.” The figure turned away as it ordered the guard, “Go lock him up.”
The last thing Jesse said before being knocked out with a solid whack to the head was, “I’ve survived giving cheek to worse people.”
“We’ll see about that,” the Aoran said, watching the limp form being dragged from the room.
Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115\%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} "Who’s going to look for him?” Jess asked.
“Only those who are stealthy and can live off the fat of the land,” Reule said firmly. “DJ, CJ, and Kerry have to stay. As for you, Jess-“
“You can’t make me stay,” Jess stated stubbornly. “He’s my friend.”
“I guess that means you have to go.” Reule thought for a moment more. “David, you and Vanar Pytheria accompany Jess. You too, Milton Marke.”
Those designated to go stood up and went to Jess.
“When will you be able to go?” Milton asked.
“Very soon. I just need to get a few essentials first.” Jess brushed some hair out of her face. “And you?”
“Us too. Meet us back in here in ten minutes, okay?” Vanar Pytheria said.
“Will do,” Jess said, and with that, they separated.
Kerry looked at Reule. “I won’t know how to live off the fat of the land if I don’t have experience.”
“Those who don’t know how to do that already are taught in a seven day course,” Reule said, “something we don’t have time for right now. So you’ll have to wait.”
Soon, all those going out were in a tight group at the entrance to the cave.
Reule talked to them briefly before they left. When they had gone, Reule turned to everyone else and said, “Lunch needs to be finished.”
Several people hurried off to obey, and the others stayed in the main room, going to their cots and belongings alongside the wall.
Reule stood watching them as Jordan hurried up to him.
“Kiril’s back,” she said, “and she has news.”
Reule turned. “What?”
“One of the bad guys was killed.”
“Which one?”
“The Arab.”
Reule raised an eyebrow. “I can’t exactly say he was important.”
“It’s one less,” Jordan said, glancing curiously at him.
“What are you staring at?” Reule asked.
“Nothing,” Jordan said, turning away and hurrying to her cot to sit and think.
“How on earth is she tracking me?” I asked Jesse.
“Have you ever considered that she might have planted a tracking device on you?” Jesse asked.
“Why would she do that? I’m her brother!”
Jesse shrugged. “She would have her reasons.”
“Jesse, seriously! It’s almost like she wants to get rid of me or something!” I exclaimed.
“Damien, siblings almost always have feelings like that at some point in their lives.”
“Why can’t you take me seriously?” I asked. “I have this really bad feeling that something is going to happen that won’t improve my life at all!”
“OK, that’s different,” Jesse said as he slowed down the car and turned onto a quiet dirt road. “Something that we can actually go off of.”
I rolled my eyes but said nothing.
“Why, on a bad day at work, would your sister rat on you?”
“Maybe she had a bad day at work…or maybe she wants to kill me…or she wants to hurt my feelings…or-“
“Those are some good reasons,” Jesse interrupted. “Now, why would she choose to do any of them?”
“Because she all of a sudden hates me,” I said, probably a little too overconfidently but still sure of myself.
“Why would she hate you?” Jesse sounded confused.
“I don’t know, but-“ I began.
“But what? She’s never acted like this before, has she?”
“No, but there’s always a first time,” I stated, settling back into my seat.
Jesse followed suit, keeping his eyes on the road ahead. “That’s true-but what if it’s something else-like, she might have had a bad day and heard about your ‘bad behavior’ and decided to overdo it?”
“My boss has never acted like this, and neither has she!” I burst out. “And how does she even know my boss?!”
“Is there a grudge she’s been holding against you?”
“How should I know? We don’t see each other much, anyway!”
“How many kids does she have?”
“Three girls.”
“What’s her husband’s name?”
“Her husband disappeared several years ago and is thought to be dead; evidence found by police suggested this.”
“I asked for his name.”
“Tony…” I thought hard…”Tony Ramirez.”
“Hispanic, huh?”
“Partly.”
“He wouldn’t happen to be a policeman, would he?”
“I don’t know what-a policeman?!”
“Yes-I met a policeman once who had three girls and a wife who acted strangely.”
“There’s probably a million guys named Tony Ramirez! And there are families with three girls out there, you know!”
“What did he look like?”
“Brown eyes and hair-what else would you expect from his lineage?”
“Any outstanding facial features?”
“He had a scar on his chin.”
“Nothing else?”
“No.”
“Might be him.”
“What, are chin scars uncommon among policemen?”
“No…but I’m pretty sure it’s him.”
“How did we get into this conversation again?” I asked.
“I was asking you your sister’s background.”
“Oh, right.”
“Does she have a criminal record?”
“What?!”
“No, seriously.”
“No, not that I know of.”
Jesse turned his face to mine. “Maybe that’s it.”
It took me a little while to digest this possible truth, and meanwhile, Jesse got to his house and helped me settle in. I slept late the next morning, and when I woke up, he was gone. A note on the kitchen counter told me briefly that he had gone and did not know when he would return. He left a few instructions, told me where the spare key was hidden, and said I was free to use what was in his house. He knew he could trust me.
A couple days passed. I went to work as usual, and my boss had nothing to do with me except to check on my work once or twice a day. No unusual incidents.
On the night of the third day, I stretched out on the couch, more relaxed than I had been since my bad day at work and my older sister’s unnerving words. I had heard nothing from her since the phone call she had given during my escape.
I watched the evening news, ate a small dinner, and texted on my phone. all was quiet and peaceful.
Until the knock came and shattered my rest and relaxation.
I switched off the TV, threw my blanket off, and stood, then stretching and yawning before going to the door and cautiously opening it.
Before I could blink, I had been grabbed by two rough looking guys dressed completely in black. It almost seemed like the beginning to a thriller or suspense novel except-it was happening to me.
What?
“What’s going on?” I demanded as they hurried me to a blue pickup truck parked nearby.
“Where are you taking me?”
“Shut up!” hissed the one on my right. “Be silent if you value your life.”
I did value my life-I still wasn’t sure if he really had a weapon-but I decided not to find out.
They tied my hands and feet, gagged me, and tossed me on the floor in the back of the cab, which hurt a lot, because if you get thrown anywhere by someone of their size, it hurts-a lot.
Anyway, they drove off to the outer parts of the city-I could tell because they were staying at the speed limit somewhat, and when they sped up, I knew we were on the highway.
`I eventually got so tired that, even in that uncomfortable position, I fell asleep. It was only a knock on the head that woke me up several hours later.
“Yup, he’s awake,” came a voice.
“That’s because you woke him up, you idiot!” snapped a woman’s voice.
A calm male voice intervened. “You hired them for the Aoran’s service for their muscles, not their brains. They said they were at your disposal-and they still are.”
“That’s right.” The woman’s voice was evilly enthusiastic. “They are…”
It was then that I discovered that my kidnappers were horrible at tying knots, and I wiggled my hands free from their bonds. I was so stiff that I couldn’t move, and I couldn’t see anyone from my bad position. Then I tried to get my gag out. However, since I got a slap across the face, I figured that I wasn’t supposed to do that.
“Put your hands down,” ordered a cool voice, “or you’ll get a bullet in your head.”
I had loosened the gag enough to spit it out. “Let me go!”
“I’m afraid we can’t. You’ve seen too much. “There was a low click and I felt cold metal against my neck.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about!” I snapped. “Let me go! I’m innocent.”
“Take him out and untie him.” The male voice came again.
I was pulled roughly out of the truck and laid none too gently on a concrete pad. I still couldn’t see anyone around me as I adjusted my eyes to the bright light in the room I was in. My feet were untied and I lay there, trying to figure out what was going on.”
“I see he’s arrived,” came a new voice.”
Wait a minute. New voice?
I pushed myself to a sitting position and turned my head.
“Madylyn?!”
Jess was the first to report back to where they had separated.
Reule came over to her. “You’re sure this will work?”
“No.” Jess shook her head. “We can never be sure what will happen.”
“That’s true,” Reule agreed. “Well, I can’t say anything more than good luck.”
“There is no such thing as luck.” Jess adjusted her fanny pack around her waist.
“Then…we can hope and wish that you’ll come back.”
“If wishes were horses, then beggars would ride.” Jess smiled at him. “It’ll be fine, Reule. We’ll be back. Whether we get back alive and in one piece is another matter entirely.”
Reule patted her back. “We’ll be waiting.”
Jess flinched slightly, although he didn’t notice. “We’ll be back.”
Milton appeared, and Vanar was on his heels. “We ready to go?” he asked.
“David hasn’t made an appearance yet,” Reule observed.” Oh well. You can leave without him, I suppose.”
“No, don’t suggest that, Cousin,” David said as he arrived at the meeting place. “I’ll use my tracking device to hunt them down.”
“It’s not that well developed, David,” Reule said, rolling his eyes. “Well, go on. Get a move on, find Jesse, and call if you need help.” He winked at Jess.
“Bye, guys!” Jess called as they four headed out the door. “See ya later!”
Everyone else waved a quiet goodbye.
And then they were off.
“Transfer him to the main station,” Jack ordered, sheathing his dagger as he looked at Heath and Patrick. Turning to Jesse, who was still smiling that annoying grin of his, which he had worn as he bore the painful interrogation and even more so afterwards, he said, “I see you took my brotherly advice about leaving home. That’s the only piece of advice you’ve ever taken from me.”
Jesse winced as the two men holding him twisted his arms, but his grin remained. “I’m almost glad I did. I got to see my big brother again.”
“When our Master is finished with you, you probably will never see me again,” Jack said nastily as he hurried off.
Heath and Patrick heaved Jesse into a large tube. His head cracked as his head hit the far side of the tube and was knocked out.
Then he vanished.
Kharan could hear the footsteps approaching his chambers. He grabbed his hooded robe and slipped it on as the door cracked open. Who would barge in without knocking? he thought angrily, and narrowed his blood red eyes.
Jesse’s eyes widened as he beheld the fearsome figure of General Praetor Kharan. But he soon felt his own self returning.
“ ‘Scuse me, you wouldn’t happen to know where there’s an exit around here, would you?” he inquired cheerfully.
Not known for being chatty, Kharan said nothing as he strode toward Jesse.
Jesse cautiously backed out. “Could I talk to the person who’s boss around here?”
Kharan continued forward.
“Or are you the boss? Anyway, I was sent here to meet the boss or whoever it was who was in charge…and I’m kind of lost, so could I have directions?” Jesse continued.
Without warning, Kharan leapt forward and grabbed Jesse’s arms with his claw like fingers, then throwing his head back and shrieking out an unearthly yell.
In a split second, his soldiers had gathered. Kharan snapped out a quick order in a language that was completely foreign to Jesse. Two soldiers stepped forward and took hold of Jesse.
“Take him to the main room,” Kharan told them. “I will be there briefly.”
The soldiers dragged Jesse roughly away. Every part of his body was aching by the time they entered a room of large proportions, and threw him on the floor.
One soldier spoke to someone else in a foreign language and there was a neutral reply in the same language.
Then the other soldier took a spear from his robe and gave each of his legs a painful whack! Jess gritted his teeth as he was grabbed by the legs and dragged across the room.
Over his face, a head appeared. Completely shadowed by a hood, it gave Jesse a dark sense of foreboding.
“And what have we here?” the person said in a voice that did not sound like that of a male or female.
“A spy sent by your faithful follower in North Carolina,” said a voice from across the room that Jesse could hear was plainly human and male at that.
I did not ask you,” the person standing over Jesse hissed. It turned to the guard standing by Jesse. “Well?”
“It is as he says, Master,” the guard replied in his harsh, inhuman voice.
“A spy? Well, it’s been a little while since we’ve had trouble with a spy.”
Jesse wanted to protest, but he kept quiet, knowing that it would not help.
“What would you want here?” the person asked.
Jesse closed his eyes and said nothing. A moment later, as the person drew a dagger and slashed him across the face, missing his eye by half an inch, he almost wished he had.
“Do you want to die that badly?” the person asked.
Jesse grinned, despite the pain that almost literally tore his face in half. “No.”
“Then why don’t you answer?”
Jesse knew that he was pushing his life limits, but he said, “‘Cause I don’t want to.”
“By the way,” the figure said as it punched him in the face, “that’s the wrong answer.”
Jesse’s breath drew in sharply.
“Why are you here?”
“I was sent here,” Jesse replied, “because my brother didn’t want to kill me; he wanted his great leader to. But at this point, his great leader appears to want to half-kill me.”
“You are insolent, I see. I might keep you a little while longer to see how long you survive giving cheek to the General.” The figure turned away as it ordered the guard, “Go lock him up.”
The last thing Jesse said before being knocked out with a solid whack to the head was, “I’ve survived giving cheek to worse people.”
“We’ll see about that,” the Aoran said, watching the limp form being dragged from the room.
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