Part 36 (1/2)
”Try it, s.h.i.+t-for-brains,” Tiff said in her droll way and Bry groaned in the background.
I knew Tiff would finally have a consequence for her actions. None of us guys could help her.
Gary narrowed his eyes on her. ”Men, get her and string her up with the other females.”
John began to move toward Tiff and I shook my head.
I had an idea and Terran frowned. I gave him a subtle look to let him know I had something up my sleeve and he nodded.
Bry railed at them, fighting Alex. ”Don't you f.u.c.kin' touch her!” he bellowed, spit flying from his mouth. The males came forward, Tiff crouched in readiness. The first one that got close got a foot right in the b.a.l.l.s for his trouble.
Can anyone say Do Over?
I would've given my left nut to see that again.
Gramps gave a grunt of satisfaction as the guy went down like the sack of s.h.i.+t he was. Then the other three moved in. Tiff was wily, twisting her wrist viciously as one grabbed her, snapping the flat of her palm into his nose with her free hand.
”Argh!” he cried, staggering back as blood sprayed like a fire hydrant, coating the two that had grabbed the back of her hoodie in a strangle hold.
Tiff let herself drop, the sudden dead weight of her caused the two of the fragment to momentarily loosen their hold and she snapped her leg up and out, into the gut of the nearest one and the breath whooshed out of his belly as he stumbled back.
Huh, she was totally workin' it.
”Kick their a.s.s, Tiff!” Jonesy screamed as he moved toward her for back up.
”No Jones!” I screamed and looked in horror as Howie came from behind her and the Zondorae brother closest to him said in a low and controlled voice, ”Subdue her.”
”With pleasure,” Howie said and Tiff's eyes grew big in her face as she began to lose her breath, the fourth fragment strangling her with her hood. Even I felt something s.h.i.+ft when he commanded, ”Sleep,” sliding a finger down her cheek as he did.
Her eyes grew hazy and her mouth slackened, the gum falling out to the ground before she did, only to be caught in his waiting arms as she fell.
Howie Frazier shrugged. ”That was too easy boys, next time, give me a challenge,” he said, looking once at Jade. Brett gave me an uneasy stare back.
Joe strode over to where I stood, two fragment holding each one of my arms. Rearing back, he sank a sucker-punch into my gut. I was ready and clenched my abs but it still stole most of my breath.
He hadn't held back a thing, giving me all that he had.
The p.r.i.c.k.
”Ah man! That was a cheap shot ya doofus!” Jonesy said.
He gave Jonesy a look and smiled. ”I've been wanting to do that for a year,” Joe Zondorae said.
”A year?” John said as I stood, bent and gasping, Gramps fuming but unable to help beside me.
Joe looked at John. ”I said, my good Null, that time moves faster here than in our world.” Then he looked at me as I stood, holding onto my stomach. ”That's right, it's been a year since you dumped us here to live off the fat of the land. But we didn't waste time, we've been extremely ambitious. Right, Gary?”
Gary Zondorae nodded. ”Oh yes. We have all the paranormals we need. And none with a bit of integrity to get in the way of our wants.”
Howie interrupted, ”Where do ya want her?”
”Tie her against the stand,” he answered and that's when I noticed five posts sunk into the wood of the platform.
One for each girl.
The girls ran to our guys, screaming as they did and the brothers just smiled.
I was seething, looking at Joe and Gary. ”I'll kill you,” I said in a low voice that shook with resolution, promise.
And I knew I would. Somehow, they would die, had to die.
Gary smirked at my threat, dismissing it. ”No you won't. You're going to be too busy watching your little female get sold to the highest bidder. The dead aren't at your command anymore.”
”You're just a regular guy here, Hart.” His stare stayed on me, smiling.
”Candy a.s.s,” Gramps said and Gary frowned at him.
Joe added, ”This is better than we could have hoped for. Sophia Morris has been a problem ever since it came to our attention that she witnessed Parker's little raising of the French Prime minister. And Jade LeClerc... well, she's another matter entirely. If we could get rid of her, and we almost did,” his eyes met mine, ”then we could have destabilized you completely.”
”Wait a second,” I said, regaining my breath as Howie began tying Tiff against a two meter tall wood post, her unconscious head lolling from side to side as he wrapped her against it. I swung my gaze from the disturbing image of Tiff being contained, hearing the soft crying of Mia, Sophie and Randi behind me.
”How in the blue h.e.l.l did you do anything... from here?” I asked, trying to make sense of the madness.
They smiled, but it was Joe that responded, ”We always had a plan B if there was anything that was happening to us. It always included you, Caleb Hart.”
”Why?” I bellowed. Why was I so effing important?
”Without you, we will continue, our agency will move forward with our collective vision.”
I looked at them, then I swung my face to Parker. ”I didn't sign on for this. I wouldn't have ever endangered Jade,” I looked at the others, ”my friends.”
”It's all part of it, Caleb,” Parker said, his eyes telling me something. But I wasn't psychic.
”What?”
Joe smiled. ”A race of people that we control. Through their paranormal abilities. People like Howie will make that possible.” Howie heard his name and tipped an imaginary hat.
”Wait a second?” I looked at Howie then the Zondorae brothers.
”Howie's yours? What... your experiment?”
”I told you he was Kyle's son,” Gary said with reproach that was directed at Joe. He tapped his head, ”Smart.”
Joe frowned, not answering. ”Yes. We've made the Manipulatives. They follow our directives only.”
”Well, doesn't that put all your eggs in one basket, fellas?” Gramps said, out of a mouth that was missing a tooth.
And suddenly I knew what the answer was. Kill the brothers, save the world. We couldn't have their Manipulative puppets loosed on our world. They'd force the paranormals to do their bidding. And with those two, it wouldn't be anything good.
It would be for gain.