I clenched my fingers around the knives and pointed them towards the trespassers.
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRZVwXU3j8E
Adrien stared me down. "You don't want to mess with me, Atlas. I've obliterated men that are three times your size and twice as strong. I could kill you in an instant if I wanted to, so I suggest you stand down."
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIP4tfolY6E
My resolve faltered, I disconnected my cerebral link with Chase, and I lowered the knives. I knew I couldn't survive a fight with Adrien Kumar.
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGtpUcoo8Ra
Chase shot me a look that said. Are you crazy?
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg5EQ2RvJ6t
Gabriel folded his arms and leaned against the wall. "Tuck those knives away, Curseword. You don't want to get on my bad side."
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGUgHnWGQwg
"I'm pretty sure he already got on your bad side when he pickpocketed the map from you," Chase said.
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjfAjrG1hLW
Gabriel waved his hand dismissively. "Oh, the map. I don't care about the map. You can keep it. That thing is way more trouble than it's worth."
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH63XakwiYJ
"Yeah right!" I snapped. "You sent someone after us!"
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFbRjNE61CP
"I have no clue what you're talking about, and I really don't care. I'm here to discuss something else," Gabriel said.
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQHLfTVrckX
What other reason could he have for being here? I'll admit it, he'd piqued my interest. I wanted to know why he was here. I clenched my teeth and shot him a dirty look, as I sheathed my knives.
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjHtP92k1C2
Gabriel shot me a satisfied smirk. "Attaboy. Let's talk things out, like gentlemen. By the way, I like your suit."
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5sGDHOJ4YJ
Now I'm tempted to burn the suit out of spite. "If you're not here for the map, then why are you here?"
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1WF0E8yYUH
Adrien pounded his fists on the nightstand. "I want to know what happened to my favorite fighter!"
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJho5Fl1bMa
"How should I know?" Chase asked.
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2IHZvp0ZXZ
"Ever since your little pathetic little skirmish at the Cybrawl, Vindicator has been MIA, and I'd like to know what the hell happened to him!" Adrien spat.
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUmylfO9Vja
"Oh, Vindicator is your favorite? You should pick someone better. We kicked his ass twice in less than twenty-four hours." Chase said.
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBZHnQ9G0Kp
"Hey, he's new at this!" Adrien defended. "With time, he'll grow up to be an absolute terror in the arena like me." Adrien shot me an icy stare, and said, "Gabriel has his favorite fighters and I have mine."
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi8XkVkNSAH
"Well, I've got some bad news about your golden boy, we kinda sorta threw him into the sea," Chase said sheepishly.
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtejazbNyaq
Gabriel quirked an eyebrow. "You two tossed him into the ocean?"
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡotnYywRpf9
Chase nodded. "We chucked his ass into the sea, just like Rose threw the necklace at the end of Titanic. I'm pretty sure he's gone for good now. What a shame."
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZmXwrsVOXE
Gabriel shot me a piercing stare. "You're being awfully quiet."
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQgaAI5xx1T
"I haven't made a sound in five years." I signed.
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTqis1DstUV
Gabriel rolled his eyes. "Do you want to tell me what really happened?"
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf6gFcrI4yI
I shrugged. "It's exactly like Chase said. He's probably lying dead on the ocean floor."
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyQ4jwUEHg6
Gabriel shot me a disbelieving look. Then why does our tracker say he's in this house."
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaOtTej9EUu
I froze. He's in this mansion right now? He can't be! The last thing we need is another obstacle in our heist.
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsteSRyLrMS
"You track your fighters?" Chase asked.
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlLfw3vuaiI
"Of course I do. It's important to keep tabs on my investments," Gabriel said. "Ever since footage of your Cybrawl went viral, he disappeared without a word. I doubt that's a coincidence."
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ2wp0XmbTE
"Are you implying we kidnapped him?" I asked.
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlpiQnD6BQl
Gabriel picked at his nails. "I'm not implying anything, I just want to get to the bottom of this."
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4pbK8fnZN8
"Wait! Our Cybrawl went viral?" Chase interrupted.
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIYNHZNRjfk
Gabriel nodded. "All the fans are talking about it."
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFTdvsTHagK
"What are they saying?" Chase twirled his thumbs anxiously."
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaN646Pd4Iv
"They hate it," Adrien remarked.
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiP1IE3l7mC
"It's one of the lowest-rated fights of the decade," Gabriel said.
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ62KdesTugp
"Some fans are calling it the worst Cybrawl of all time," Adrien added. "Quite frankly, there wasn't nearly enough carnage to satisfy the audience."
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsC7K86Kbj7
Chase scoffed. "Sorry, I wasn't brutalized enough for you."
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ScQEjstj7
Adrien scowled. "Apology not accepted."
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxyGt3WhADb
"Let's get back to the topic at hand. Vindicator. I know you sent him after us! He told us so himself."
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH9ELhkEnWB
"That's ridiculous. Do you think we'd ever waste one of our most promising fighters on someone as insignificant as you?" Adrien sneered.
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5FXKp80PfA
I glanced from Gabriel to Adrien, searching for any telltale signs of dishonesty, but I couldn't detect any. "Vindicator said you sent him after us."
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt9SWhYHPP9
"That'snot entirely true," Chase interjected. "What he actually said was," He lowered his voice into a poor impression of Vindicator. "You stole it from my employer, Gabriel St. Martin, and I've come to take it back." Chase quoted. "Technically, he never said Gabriel sent him. It was just implied."
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC2t2o3VlyZ
I whirled around to glower at Chase. "What side are you on?"
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQuh9z69Px4
Chase raised his hands in surrender. "I'm just relaying what happened so we can get to the bottom of this.
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfHLuY3OcUR
Gabriel shook his head. "You should know better than to jump to conclusions, Curseword."
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf2vA4v20BF
I clenched my teeth and waved my arms furiously as I signed. "Do you expect me to believe that you'd let me go after I stole from you? I've seen firsthand how you treat your enemies."
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoLWdTXl76r
Gabriel's expression softened. "Deep down, I've always had a soft spot for you, Atlas. I can never stay mad at you, no matter how badly, I might want to. You're not my enemy, you're my Godson."
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXxAIqSqD1I
I refused to make eye contact. "Give me one good reason why I should trust you."
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQPTCAYZOJc
Gabriel slid his hands into his pockets. "I don't have one. I suppose you'll have to take my word for it. "
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhqU9lDbwcc
I rolled my eyes. "We both know your word isn't worth a damn thing."
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqhiEFxAT37
Adrien laughed. "He's right, Gabriel. No one in their right mind would trust you as far as they could throw you."
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM8SlNj8pnr
We're supposed to be partners, Adrien. You're supposed to back me up!" Gabriel hissed.
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHnPRPiDR1s
Adrien picked at his nails with an unamused expression on his face. "I'm my own partner. You should know that by now."
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTwOBy51sO4
Gabriel muttered something foul-sounding under his breath.
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡULFUX5mWPW
"Why would Vindicator come after us if you didn't send him?" Chase asked.
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTeDJUC8qO5
"I don't know. That's a question you'll have to ask him yourself, but I'd guess it's because that map is worth a lot of money. He probably wanted to sell it," Gabriel said.
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnTxnLxDLtN
I stroked my chin, then shook my head. "No, that seems out of character for him. He doesn't come across as the type to be driven by money. His motives feel much more personal."
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFn9SUahd3W
Gabriel gave a half shrug. "You could be right. I don't know what the fighters are like outside the arena. It's better that way. It's best not to get too attached to any one fighter. Most of them don't last long."
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOXhRP8de3i
Adrien pushed his glasses up his nose and shot me a discerning stare. "You act as if you know him."
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDXR9gjPFOY
"Yeah, we've had a few run-ins with him." I crossed my arms across my chest.
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9lbg3jBinq
Adrien didn't waver. "No, you know him, don't you?"
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTrbKX8PNCJ
Chase shot me I puzzled look.
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8wMzNZdwoz
I shook my head furiously. "I don't know him, I swear! About a month ago, he attacked me in an alleyway, that was the first time we met! I don't know why he hates me!"
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡciRFCcvcgr
"Woah, it's okay. We believe you, man. There's no need to get so worked up." Chase shot me a questioning look. "Unless there's something you're not telling me."
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP3VUEXrryZ
My mind flashed back to the time and place where I was torn apart. The awful memory played in my head on repeat. I couldn't get his last words to me out of my head. "I'm sorry it had to be this way. I know you didn't ask for the Annihilation Code. I must protect our fellow cyborg brothers and sisters, and this is the only way. I'm sorry." My entire body trembled, and I gasped for air. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No! No! No! No! No!No! No! No! No! It can't be him! It can't be! But deep down, I knew it was. I'd suspected it for a while, but I hid my suspicions from Chase because I was in denial. I didn't want it to be true. I couldn't cope knowing the man who ripped me apart was back to finish the job. I'm not strong enough to face my past. "I said I don't know him!"I snapped.
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvpgGPaM7zO
Chase recoiled. "Okay, I believe you."
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF4KAKhkc9z
I wanted to lay down and cry, and possibly throw up. This was all too much. I couldn't handle it. I shot Gabriel and Adrien the most menacing look I could muster. I pointed to the door, then signed, "Get out."
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb4u08qwIs8
Adrien looked affronted. "Excuse me? Our conversation is far from over. We still don't know why Vindicator skipped town, and—"
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzAzH7Y7KK2
Gabriel interrupted him. "You heard the kid, he wants us to go."
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmsE8GOYNaE
"You're seriously going to leave without answers?" Adrien gave him a surprised look.
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZAfaElBoDP
Gabriel nodded. "I am, and you should too." He shot Atlas a pitying look. "Look at the poor thing; he's on the verge of a panic attack."
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSkzlTcbhTq
Adrien laughed.
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfoGFVsWkpP
Chase clenched his fists. "What's so funny, asshole."
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjlTSSL2XBA
"Nothing, I just didn't know Gabriel became such a sissy in his old age."
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBc5KIIAPLx
Gabriel rolled his eyes. "Oh please, I could beat your ass if I wanted to."
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMxmy3vzmdf
"Then let's do it right here, right now! Fight me!" Adrien demanded.
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZTisDNFNp6
Gabriel shook his head. "No way. Do you remember how we got permanently banned from the Wan's residence?"
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDBZMmAHbwA
"You won't fight me because you know you'll lose." Adrien quipped.
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpNhIvNCNlI
"Whatever you say, pal. Now let's give the kid some space. He's clearly done with this conversation." Gabriel waved at me. "I'll see you around, Curseword."
309Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTaGfCtHqZj
As the door slammed shut behind them, I let out a silent scream.
ns52.14.141.131da2
