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There’s an urgent knock at the door, causing me to pause and glance at Mike where he’s seated next to me on the couch.
“Were you expecting someone?” I ask casually, before taking another sip of my tea. He frowns as his gaze rests on the door.
“No.” He says firmly, he looks as if he’s going to ignore it but then there’s another urgent series of knocks.
“You should probably answer that.” I laugh.
Letting out a sigh he stands and heads for the door.
“Can I help you?” He sighs in greeting as the door swings open to reveal Jon standing on the other side, looking disheveled and frantic. Tape recorder in hand. I stiffen in my seat, cup still hovering just below my lips.
“Jon.” I say in a strained voice. Quickly Jon’s gaze snaps from Mike to me, his eyes widening.
“Do you know this guy?” Mike turns to me lazily cocking an eyebrow.
“Why are you here?” Jon suddenly blurts out, his voice tight and anxious. I sigh, placing my cup down on the coffee table.
“Well we were having tea.” I glare at him, it now clear that isn’t a good enough answer for him.
“B-but this is- but he’s-“ Jon stammers out but then quickly shakes his head.
“He’s Michael Crew. He’s-“
I turn to Mike who is now looking at me expectantly, arms folded.
“He’s my boss, at the institute.” I sigh, “but I don’t know why he’s here.”
“Ah yes, the frustrating archivist I’ve heard so much about.” Mike laughs half heartedly, but then steps away inviting Jon in. “Do you want a cup of tea?”
Jon cautiously enters through the door, his eyes darting between Mike and I. Letting out a sigh Mike quickly sits back down on the couch, clearly irritated.
“All those statements I got you to follow up on- you knew? You knew it was Michael all along.” Jon asks in disbelief. “And you what?”
I shrug nonchalantly.
“Yeah I knew.” I say before reaching for my tea and taking another sip. “Why are you here?” I ask firmly.
Jon slowly walks over to the chair opposite the couch, clutching one of his hands that’s wrapped in a bandage protectively. His eyes dart around the room.
“You sure I can’t get you a cup of tea?” Mike asks again.
“Uuh, I-it’s fine. Really.” Jon stammers out.
“Okay. You just seem a bit jumpy is all.” Mike points out, while I let out a small chuckle.
“It’s just ah, coming in I thought that- it’s fine.” Jon sighs. His eyes trained on the way I’m casually sitting so close to Mike.
“Hm, grand. Uh okay, what can I do for you?” Mike asks, trying his best to remain cordial.
“Yes I would also quite like to know why you are here?” I say, voice tight.
“Uhh, you’re Michael Crew, right?” Jon starts.
“It’s Mike. Please.” He responds almost humoured as he stirs his tea.
“As you already know, I’m from the Magnus Institute.” Jon says, his voice on edge.
“Ah yeah, I’ve heard the stories.” Mike laughs, nudging me slightly in the side, wearing a wry smile.
“I’ve read… you feature in some of our statements.” Jon continues.
“Oh? Statements of what?” Mike asks feigning ignorance.
“Uh- there was a book. Two of them at least uh Ex Altiora, The Bone Turners Tale. You uh, I think your threw a guy off a skyscraper in Paris?” Jon trails off, his gaze flicking to me for confirmation.
“Mmm. Last chance for that cup of tea.” Mike says quickly, his tone starting to take a noticeable change. Placing my cup down I move one of my hands and rest it on his knee in silent reassurance. Already knowing how this conversation is likely to turn out.
“I uuh.” Jon thinks for a moment before getting a serious look on his face. “Where did you get that scar?” Jon asks firmly. Quietly a shake my head at Jons lack of tact and stupidity in deciding to try to compel Mike. Letting out a deep sigh, Mike sits ridged for a moment.
“And I was trying so hard to be polite.” He says irritated as he glares at Jon.
Suddenly a look of terror passes across Jon’s face and he gasps for air as Mike quickly throws his body into terminal velocity.
“Hard isn’t it? Trying to ask prying questions at terminal velocity. The air doesn’t leave your lungs like you expect it to.” Mike says almost thoughtfully, one hand on his chin and the other now resting over top mine. He chuckles. “I mean I know you’re still sat down, you know you’re still sat down. But whether your body knows it when I decide you hit the ground, that’s, that’s something I haven’t made my mind up about yet. A little bit of privacy? Is that really so much to ask? Hmph, spose it is from you and yours at least.”
I quietly kick Mikes foot while I hum in acknowledgment and reach for my tea once again. This earns me a small laugh.
“You just couldn’t leave it alone Jon.” I sigh, frustrated at my bosses attitude, “and today had been going so well.”
“See the difference between you and Rose, Jon. Is she knows when to not ask invasive questions. How to actually behave, sure she has a few little unsavoury habits.” Mike laughs, while I scoff at him. “But she’s not as dumb as you seem to be when it comes to other avatars.” Mike says while glancing at Jon’s hand.
“You and me Jon, we have a lot in common, really. After all what goods the height, that terrifying draw of gravity unless you, you really know the scale of what you’re facing. Hey maybe I’ll let you live. Only to drag yourself back down to your den but, you need to learn some respect.” Mike says, voice tinged with annoyance. Placing my cup down once more I lean back into the couch so I’m comfortably pressed into Mikes side as he continues talking. Breathing out a sigh of frustration that our peaceful afternoon has been rudely interrupted.
-time skip-
“Hm. You know that was, that was nice. I’m not- I’m not usually the sort for speeches, that was. Pleasant change.” Mike says in thought glancing at me, his face almost serene. “So.” Suddenly Jon raggedly gasps for breath again as Mike takes his body safely out of terminally velocity. Causing me to give a small chuckle. “Off you go then.”
Coughing Jon begins to talk, “I uh, I uh- you-“ he gasps out as his eyes dart around the room and between the two of us.
“Archivist, take my mercy and leave. You have touched something few ever walk away-“ Mike says but is then abruptly cut off by rapid knocking on the door.
Suddenly I sit ridged it my seat.
“I thought you said that you came alone.” Mike asks, his voice prickling with anger as he gets up and begins walking to the door.
“I- I-“ Jon begins to stammer, his voice still hoarse.
“Can I help you-“ Mike asks as he slowly opens the door only for the unexpected visitor to quickly punch him in the face, causing him to crumble to the floor.
“Mike!” I yell out, quickly standing and rushing over to him, kneeling down beside him. Only to have the person at the door walk in towering over us both. It’s Daisy.
“Detective?” Jon stammers, his eyes wide as he stares at all three of us.
“Shut up. He human?” She quickly asks.
“Wh- what?” Jon asks.
“Is this man human?” She asks again.
“Yes he’s human!” I yell at her, voice shaking with anger as I glare at her, my body hunched over him protectively as I pull him closer to me so his heads no longer on the floor. Daisy blatantly ignores me.
“I- uh- no.” Jon breathes, “I- I don’t think so, not anymore.” Quickly I turn to Jon, staring daggers at him.
“What is wrong with you?! Of course he is!” I seethe.
“Right, what does it do?” She asks.
“Uh- he- uh it, it makes you feel like, vertigo, like you’re falling.” Jon says quickly as he attempts to collect himself.
“Has he killed people?” She replies.
“Uh- yes, a- a few I think.” He says, as I clutch onto Mikes still from, my body now shaking.
“Mike you need to get up, please. We need to get out of here. Or stop her. Please.” I say under my breathe, my fingers tight against his jacket.
“Does he need to see you to do it? Does he need to speak?” Daisy snaps.
“I- I- don’t know.” Jon replies, voice unsure.
“Okay.” Daisy goes to move closer to Mike once again.
“Stay the fuck away from him!” I yell, voice coming out ragged as I bring him closer to my chest. I go to try and scramble back and away from her, while holding onto Mike still. Quickly Daisy lunges forward grabbing my throat, ripping me away from Mike and pinning me against a wall with inhuman strength.
Jon remains frozen in his seat as I thrash against her, her hand closing tightly around my throat.
“That’s enough from you.” She barks, and then slams my head back against the wall, causing me to lose consciousness.
-time skip-
Blinking I groan out in pain, my head pounding as a dull ache creeps up and along the back of my skull. Looking around I try to get a feel for my surroundings. Trees surround me, and Im sitting in a small clearing. Daisy and Jon are standing a few metres away. Near me Mike is lying on the ground unconscious. Quickly I panic and begin crawling towards him.
“No, no, no- Mike wake up.” I whisper as I get closer.
“What? You think he’s going to save you?” Daisy says humoured in response to whatever Jon said.
Just as I get my fingers wrapped around Mikes jacket a loud bang goes off and a small spray of blood hits my face.
Time almost slows as I realise what happened. My eyes widen and a sharp pain shoots through my gut.
“No, no, no, no!” I yell, voice coming out tight as shock over takes my body. My eyes dart between Jon’s terrified face, Mikes lifeless form and the smoking hand gun Daisy is holding. A clean bullet hole going straight through Mikes forehead.
I grab him by both his shoulders, dragging him closer to me. Not believing what I’m seeing as I begin to shake him.
“Mike please! No, wake up! Please wake up.” I cry out as tears begin to breach my eyes, sliding down my cheeks.
“You can’t leave me! Please!” I cry harder as I clutch on to him tightly.
“Now. Let’s see what’s in the bag.” Daisy’s bored tone interrupts my sobbing as she points the gun at Jon, who is still staring at Mikes lifeless corpse and my shaking form with wide horrified eyes.
I turn, looking between the two of them, my hands trembling as I continue to hold Mike.
“You killed him!” I scream at her, my voice coming out trembling as I cry harder. “You fucking ki-“ quickly Daisy turns and points the gun at me, cutting my sentence short.
“Yeah, and you will be next if you don’t shut up already.” She says, her voice devoid of any emotion. I turn away from her looking back at Mike. His face still, blood slowly trickling down it from the wound, it slowly reaching his scar and then dripping to the ground.
Daisy’s voice and Jons anguish slowly fading away into white noise as I stare at him. My brain unable to hold onto what’s happened.
“You can’t…” I cry, pulling his body closer to me, my head burying against his neck as sobs begin to rack through me.
Minutes pass like this, refusing to let go of him. Holding on to the last remaining scraps of this all not being real.
“Daisy!” A recognisable voice cuts through the air. I snap my head up seeing Basira entering the clearing, her eyes scanning the scene. She looks at me clutching Mikes lifeless form, but then quickly looks back to Daisy and Jon. Daisy is now holding Jon up against a tree with a knife to his throat. Gasping pained sounds escape Jon.
“Daisy put him down.”
“You been following me Basira?” Daisy replies voice shaky, not looking at her.
“Didn’t need to. I know what you do here.” Basira says softly.
“He tell you?” Daisy asks.
“He didn’t need to. You’re not that subtle.” Basira glances back at me and Mike. “But I- I always thought you just killed monsters.” She says looking back at Daisy.
“I do.” Daisy says annoyed as she presses the knife deeper against Jon’s throat, causing him to let out a gasp of pain.
“Just let him go.” Basira sighs.
“You don’t know what he is.” Daisy snaps back. “You don’t know what it’s like to have your secrets pulled out like teeth. Just because he asked.”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t-“ Jon whimpers.
“Shut up!” Daisy yells, causing all three of us to flinch. I tighten my hold even further on Mikes lifeless body.
“Don’t you dare look at me like I’m crazy.” Daisy starts and I begin zoning out again as I look past the three of them into the vast expanse of trees. Their voices trailing off as I look up at the sky, the clouds a slow moving blur as I try to blink the tears out of my eyes.
“He’s gone.” I say barely audible. “He’s gone. And now I have no one.” I breathe, my chest tightening painfully as more tears fall and nausea rolls it’s way through my stomach.
I look back down at his face, smoothing my hand across his cheek, my palm smearing the blood there as my finger tips make contact with his scar. His body now turning cold.
Suddenly a hand touches my shoulder and I instinctively flinch away. Looking up Basira is gazing down at me, her face somber.
“Rose we have to bury him. And then we are heading back to the institute.” She says quietly, as if talking to a wounded animal.
“Wha- what?” I blink, my body rigid. I look around, Daisy is standing behind her expectantly and Jon is not far off behind, looking shaken, blood trickling from the cut in his throat.
“Cmon.” Basira goes to help me up but I quickly shrug away from her.
“Wait.” I say more harshly than I meant. I gently manoeuvre Mikes body, so I can pull his jacket off him. Needing to keep it with me. After removing his jacket I quietly slip it on. The scent of ozone quickly engulfing my senses bringing me a slither of comfort.
“I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry.” I cry as I place a kiss against his blood smeared cheek. “I wish I had told you how much I loved you.” I whisper so the others can’t hear. Shakily I attempt to stand, Basira grabbing onto my arm to help steady me. Slowly she leads me to her car, opening the door I sit inside. Lying down on the back seat as she shuts the door. I wrap his jacket around me tightly as body wracking sobs over take me, tears burning their way down my cheeks.
The comforting scent of ozone surrounding me as I cry myself into oblivion.