I clenched my fingers around the knives and pointed them towards the trespassers.
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFyaW84Fz8N
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."
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAU6B8ytNoe
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.
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnNZKtjedQa
Chase shot me a look that said. Are you crazy?
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuXECDJlEVY
Gabriel folded his arms and leaned against the wall. "Tuck those knives away, Curseword. You don't want to get on my bad side."
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlnMvpGEQDe
"I'm pretty sure he already got on your bad side when he pickpocketed the map from you," Chase said.
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYlDeJAYw8z
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."
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWsb8BJBo0h
"Yeah right!" I snapped. "You sent someone after us!"
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkb0Yr38ZxT
"I have no clue what you're talking about, and I really don't care. I'm here to discuss something else," Gabriel said.
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhsSJJneoOU
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.
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVlRwnVYoIx
Gabriel shot me a satisfied smirk. "Attaboy. Let's talk things out, like gentlemen. By the way, I like your suit."
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh5aZDSoJoS
Now I'm tempted to burn the suit out of spite. "If you're not here for the map, then why are you here?"
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdvjFeO2HeB
Adrien pounded his fists on the nightstand. "I want to know what happened to my favorite fighter!"
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ39xBfSCp8h
"How should I know?" Chase asked.
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuO0VHIlLlp
"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.
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnNjV2SATj0
"Oh, Vindicator is your favorite? You should pick someone better. We kicked his ass twice in less than twenty-four hours." Chase said.
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8vW4CcT0OD
"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."
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfuKe8QqAOy
"Well, I've got some bad news about your golden boy, we kinda sorta threw him into the sea," Chase said sheepishly.
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxOYgDuKYzk
Gabriel quirked an eyebrow. "You two tossed him into the ocean?"
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR49e7jeGBY
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."
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVBVlCCQ7cS
Gabriel shot me a piercing stare. "You're being awfully quiet."
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaS3uvpnKJy
"I haven't made a sound in five years." I signed.
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Yor2hm9t9
Gabriel rolled his eyes. "Do you want to tell me what really happened?"
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0uIzy9T9oT
I shrugged. "It's exactly like Chase said. He's probably lying dead on the ocean floor."
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIUYbcWDUdX
Gabriel shot me a disbelieving look. Then why does our tracker say he's in this house."
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZlNmbWzwZy
I froze. He's in this mansion right now? He can't be! The last thing we need is another obstacle in our heist.
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZLL83pLap6
"You track your fighters?" Chase asked.
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLzOQGsyBV0
"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."
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7R46gwYUQR
"Are you implying we kidnapped him?" I asked.
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeQuvzJihTK
Gabriel picked at his nails. "I'm not implying anything, I just want to get to the bottom of this."
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoidbLjAl4c
"Wait! Our Cybrawl went viral?" Chase interrupted.
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSn6MkQXsSq
Gabriel nodded. "All the fans are talking about it."
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe4nTzkV4Vt
"What are they saying?" Chase twirled his thumbs anxiously."
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSryNREtduA
"They hate it," Adrien remarked.
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1KGe9VtJ9w
"It's one of the lowest-rated fights of the decade," Gabriel said.
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7UzJACsCwW
"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."
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPJANsZBAon
Chase scoffed. "Sorry, I wasn't brutalized enough for you."
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTCgzuePkgm
Adrien scowled. "Apology not accepted."
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5CibOyVdpc
"Let's get back to the topic at hand. Vindicator. I know you sent him after us! He told us so himself."
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3aUIwUea5J
"That's ridiculous. Do you think we'd ever waste one of our most promising fighters on someone as insignificant as you?" Adrien sneered.
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzZ3RLOELNd
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."
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbCSIMTaVnx
"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."
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyxLtfVanPx
I whirled around to glower at Chase. "What side are you on?"
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHri7e5K7Hm
Chase raised his hands in surrender. "I'm just relaying what happened so we can get to the bottom of this.
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLwOR3LK80j
Gabriel shook his head. "You should know better than to jump to conclusions, Curseword."
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKjxgnoIr1w
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."
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNMeMoEZJ7X
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."
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtqJJuTNIvs
I refused to make eye contact. "Give me one good reason why I should trust you."
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH3HJ3mgpKo
Gabriel slid his hands into his pockets. "I don't have one. I suppose you'll have to take my word for it. "
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgZ8UffONNv
I rolled my eyes. "We both know your word isn't worth a damn thing."
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjnwtT0Bmn3
Adrien laughed. "He's right, Gabriel. No one in their right mind would trust you as far as they could throw you."
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6olf4IsfRh
We're supposed to be partners, Adrien. You're supposed to back me up!" Gabriel hissed.
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxWwtBEor2A
Adrien picked at his nails with an unamused expression on his face. "I'm my own partner. You should know that by now."
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpuaBAkPXfi
Gabriel muttered something foul-sounding under his breath.
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdfmbUvE4s7
"Why would Vindicator come after us if you didn't send him?" Chase asked.
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv7qPXH1Z6Z
"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.
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjN5ZDMYbhm
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."
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM3RviccK61
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."
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZVU0aqKcbP
Adrien pushed his glasses up his nose and shot me a discerning stare. "You act as if you know him."
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjkFjWfGhnp
"Yeah, we've had a few run-ins with him." I crossed my arms across my chest.
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv9EMSA4hH9
Adrien didn't waver. "No, you know him, don't you?"
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHfrClk895P
Chase shot me I puzzled look.
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfS3KDJSn0H
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!"
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLxJn0j8tPL
"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."
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYFhfLzhSnV
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.
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡErEEl93eJC
Chase recoiled. "Okay, I believe you."
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPrRISa04aC
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."
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhmuuLzJ9Dq
Adrien looked affronted. "Excuse me? Our conversation is far from over. We still don't know why Vindicator skipped town, and—"
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9nqVDx5ZVs
Gabriel interrupted him. "You heard the kid, he wants us to go."
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs0TrGoSKX1
"You're seriously going to leave without answers?" Adrien gave him a surprised look.
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7mrHySwhgH
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."
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMmcZnHf4yE
Adrien laughed.
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVblojV1Io3
Chase clenched his fists. "What's so funny, asshole."
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUZW4y4C9aJ
"Nothing, I just didn't know Gabriel became such a sissy in his old age."
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPnJGm6YylC
Gabriel rolled his eyes. "Oh please, I could beat your ass if I wanted to."
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnA3MXDkX3G
"Then let's do it right here, right now! Fight me!" Adrien demanded.
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡut447TqTvQ
Gabriel shook his head. "No way. Do you remember how we got permanently banned from the Wan's residence?"
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Cf1VzKK1m
"You won't fight me because you know you'll lose." Adrien quipped.
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJaZXai9ulA
"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."
410Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8MeYaL0xVO
As the door slammed shut behind them, I let out a silent scream.
ns216.73.216.45da2
