A. H. Wong

Negotiations in the Night

 

June 21st, 2012

 

Late Evening

 

"You...I....No...." Sarah staggered back, her eyes flooded with tears. She collapsed back into David's embrace, and together they watched in silence as Kevin waved at them.

 

David swallowed, unable to do more than clutch her as all their hopes were destroyed—Kevin was alive.

 

And, by the lack of a working soul in Lily's eyes, he was stronger.

 

Kevin approached them from where he stood, only a few meters away from the door they had just left from. His smile was wide. Glowing, in fact. Glinting like fangs in the moonlight.

 

He walked towards them, slowly and calmly.

 

David was the first to react.

 

Now was not the time to stand there frozen. They had a war to win.

 

Clenching his teeth, David raises his gun, and aims it right at Kevin's heart.

 

<3 <3 <3 </3

 

Meanwhile

 

"Holy crap....Look at those fences....That's some quality workmanship. You've gotta give them props for all the work they put into this," Maverick hisses aloud, peeking from her vantage point in a tree.

 

From beneath her, leaned up against the side of the trunk of the very same tree, Janelle lets out a low whistle. "I haven't seen work like that in a long time...."

 

"And we....We have to get past it."

 

"Yes. Preferably quickly. You got any ideas, sweet cheeks?"

 

"I wish...."

 

A few moments of silence, then....

 

"I've got a plan, Maverick baby. Follow me, and stay low."

 

<3 <3 <3 <3 </3

 

Meanwhile

 

"We aren't going to get there. We aren't going to get there. We aren't—"

 

"I am driving as fast as I can, Beatrix. Do you want to take the wheel? Because you can. I mean, if—"

 

"I'm sorry! Veto....Veto, I just—"

 

"It's fine. Look. I'm going as fast as I dare, but this is a...'borrowed' car, and I kind of don't have my license. In fact, I never had my license."

 

"Wait....You...."

 

"Yup. I can't drive, and this is a stolen car. Are you SURE you want me to start speeding?"

 

"Well....You've got a point there."

 

"Good girl. Now, shut up and let me drive. We'll be there in a few more hours....Well, as long as your directions are right."

 

"We can only hope they are."

 

<3 <3 <3 </3

 

Two Minutes Later

 

Kevin laughed. His shoulders shaking, his smile vivid and hellish, he laughed. Howling, rocking back on his heels—Kevin laughed. "Oh, you sillies! You really think I'm here to kill you? Well, no—I'm here for the opposite. I'm here to do exactly what needs to be done...

 

"I'm here to help you take down the Agency."

 

Utter silence.

 

David's gun lowers, wavering in his surprise. He didn't know how to respond, and Sarah...She had no idea, either. The pair of them unconsciously clutch hands, looking for something in each other they couldn't find in themselves.

 

Kevin waited patiently. It was clear that this was exactly what he wanted—he wanted them thrown off their game, freaked out, minds hurting. He wanted them to keep questioning everything, because the longer they stayed lost, the longer they stayed confused....

 

The longer it was that he had them completely in his control, just the way he wanted them to be.

 

A smirk strong upon his lips, Kevin approaches them, extending a hand in peace. "I'm not here to cause you any harm...."

 

"Don't listen to him! Don't you remember what this guy did?" someone howls from the crowd formed behind Sarah and David. Several others pick up his call, shrieking their outrage that their so-called leaders would even give this guy the privilege of speaking instead of being shot. From somewhere in the crowd, the sounds of guns being readied also came.

 

Sarah raised her hand, and the noises stopped instantly. Her people listened to her well. "Everyone, please. Listen. If Kevin and Lily got in, then they can help us get out. They know a way past the defenses that is probably a lot more reliable than our plan of storming every single potential exit at once. So, I vote we let them talk."

 

Dissenters still spoke up, still hollered their discontent, but it was less this time. In fact, after a few moments, even those discontented voices quieted--they knew the situation they were in. If they refused help, and killed Kevin and Lily on the spot, then they wouldn't be able to escape as easily.

 

Realizing he had won, Kevin's smirk only grew wider. "Good to see you guys do indeed have brains in those skulls of yours....I'm almost glad I'm not going to get the chance to see them splattered across the walls...."

 

Wincing as a memory of Taylor's final moments alive flash to her mind, Sarah can't help but step forward at that, a whimpering growl springing from her throat. Her weapon raises on instinct, primed to destroy the target of her grieving anger.

 

Kevin simply snickered at her, waving her emotions off. Forcing herself to calm down, Sarah steps back to take her former position by David's side. "What....How do you intend to do that? The Agency's destroyed. Master John's dead. No food trucks are coming in. Unless you plan on blowing it up...."

 

Kevin laughed again. "No, of course not....I plan on going after the donors...."

 

"How...How do you know about the donors?"

 

"You're not the only one that saw that file folder."

 

<3 <3 <3 </3

 

Meanwhile

 

"No."

 

"No...No no no no NO! That is--"

 

"Sssshhhh.....Shh, we can't let them know we're here. We don't know if we can trust them yet."

 

"But--"

 

"Janelle, sweets....I know that it's Sarah and David, but that's Kevin they're talking to. There's no telling what he's poisoned their minds with."

 

"Y-You're saying that he corrupted them?"

 

A hand, reaching for hers in the calm of the night. A comforting squeeze; a failed attempt to push away the shadows inside the soul. Maverick whimpers softly, leaning closer to her lover, tears falling slowly from her eyes.

 

In silence and shock, she watches as Sarah steps forward....

 

And shakes Kevin's hand.

 

<3 <3 <3 </3

 

June 22nd, 2012

 

Very Early Morning

 

"There it is....What remains of the Agency for Unwanted Children. Veto....A-Are you sure you want to do this? I understand if you....If you choose not to come with me."

 

Veto shakes his head. Swallowing his fear, and hiding it by caressing the stones he carries in his pockets, he climbs from the car. Beatrix climbs out with him, and together they stand upon the road, staring at the gate in the distance.

 

It was high time they found a way inside.

 

But, things proved to be easier than expected....

 

"B-Beatrix?"

 

"BEATRIX!!!!"

 

"Y-You're alive!"

 

"I was so scared!"

 

In seconds, Beatrix was buried in a dog pile embrace. Sarah, David, Janelle, and Maverick couldn't contain themselves--sobs and crying escaped the eyes and mouths of all involved, and it didn't take long at all before Beatrix began crying as well.

 

Watching in silent awkwardness, Veto can do naught but smile, even as he twinges inside with a jealousy he had not expected. He forced the feeling away, knowing that it was the absolute best thing that Beatrix could hope for right now.

 

She was back home with her friends again.