I ended up spending the night in Kara's room, sleeping on the floor. In the morning, we were awoken and alerted by Elizabeth that Bayani was rushed into the infirmary last night, which I've now learned is on floor five. Kara's face turns as white as a ghost, she darts out of the room in a stumbling rush, and leaps out the window in the hallway.
"Kara!" I shout, running over and leaning out the long open window, searching frantically for her as my heart beats erratically, and my breath hitches. Even a powered person falling from that height would…
That thought is interrupted as my eyes hone in on a small figure clinging to iron needles stuck in the wall. Making one stick in the wall below them before letting go and catching themselves on the lower one. Already on the lower floors, before crashing into the window, shattering it.
I hear a shrill scream echo from the room. Probably a poor nurse, shocked by the sudden loud invasion. Kara's handiwork. Sometimes I just wonder what is wrong with her.
I shout out the window: "Bayani! Catch!" as I follow suit and hop out the window, falling toward the concrete below. I feel the air around me beating onto my body as my descent continues.
The second I am level with the fifth floor, I feel strings wrap around me and yank me inside the window that Kara shattered. My left shoulder grazes a piece of shattered glass, luckily not breaking the skin; it just leaves a small scrape.
The nurses recoiled as I landed on my face in front of them. I look up and see Kara, sitting on Bayani's hospital bed, looking bewildered at me, as though she didn't do something equally as reckless. And next to her, Bayani is wincing in pain as he gently lowers his arm to his side. He is breathing heavily as though he just ran for twenty-four hours straight.
Oh…
I made him strain himself too hard. I didn't think his injuries were that bad. I feel that now familiar swell in my chest as I stand up and hurry to his side. "Bayani! I didn't realize you were hurt that bad!" I exclaim as I lower my head in apology.
"It's alright. Not as bad as you would've been hurt if you splatted onto the concrete falling from the sixty-eighth floor." He replies, giving me a weak smile.
Kara lightly punches me on the shoulder, her eyes narrow as she looks straight into my soul. In response, Bayani shoots her a dirty look, "Kara, you did something that could've gotten you hurt as well."
I quickly changed the subject, not trying to argue further, "So what happened to you?"
"Oh, Elizabeth took me out on a mission to save people from a burning building. But I got into a brawl with the arsonist." He explains.
"The arsonist?" I ask. Probing for further elaboration.
"Yeah, some guy with a Jack of Clubs mask strapped to his back. He apparently was trying to draw you out, Parker." He tells me.
I feel myself tense up. That gang? Looking for me? And Bayani got hurt over it? Kara and Bayani both recoil at my reaction. "You don't look very happy right now, Parker," Bayani remarks with a nervous chuckle.
I start storming out of the infirmary.
"I'll be right back," I tell them.
I make my way right to the elevator, and as I am about to press the button to call the elevator, it opens right in front of me. Out walks Mr. Eun-ji. He looks down at me, "Hey, Parker. Where are you heading?" He asks.
"Just… doing a favor for Bayani," I tell him as I look away so he can't see my expression, because I feel my lips purse inwards and my eyes go right to the floor.
"That's… nice of you. Glad you're getting along with those two. You three have a lot in common; you should try and keep that connection." He says, patting my back. I feel his smile beaming at me.
"And when they find out the truth?" I ask, now looking directly at him.
My question seems to jar him. I see him pause and sharply inhale. After holding his breath, he exhales slowly, his face turning more contemplative, "Let's hope they don't."
I nod and walk into the elevator, pressing the button that will take me to the lobby. The elevator ride feels fairly quick as I exit the elevator and make a break for the front door. However, I am stopped by Elaine right when I reach the front doors. "And where do you think you're going? I didn't give you permission to leave. And, you and Kara are still banned from leaving." She scowls down at me.
"Elaine. Move." I snarl.
"And what's with this 'Elaine' crap? You refer to Sonar as Mr. Eun-ji, and give him his proper respect. Why not me? I'm your superior." She matches my tone and stares down at me.
"Because I have zero respect for you." I retort.
"Listen here, Parker. You take your little ass and get back up to your room, or I will extend your punishment. I already reduced it because of Kara, and I's deal. Don't make me-" she starts, before I interrupt her: "No. You listen. It's clear that you don't like me. And guess what? I also hate your guts. You're pushing the identity of some dead kid onto me because what? I look like him? You can't be mad at me for looking like him and not being him, because he's dead!" I shout.
I feel the air around me slow, as I can no longer move. Well, I can, but it's so infinitesimal that it doesn't matter. Elaine recoils her fist back and hits me straight in the stomach, causing me to cough up blood. As the air around me returns to normal, I fall to my knees.
Elaine looms over me and grabs my hair. "Back to your room. Now." She threatens as she throws my head back, letting go of my hair. I stand up and turn around, reluctantly heading back to my room. I feel myself stagger back as I crash into what feels like a brick wall. I look up and see Paragon.
"What has you so pissed off and battered?" He says, looking down at me.
Without waiting for a response, he notices Elaine blocking the doors. "Elaine, what's the harm in letting him out?" Paragon asks, his voice dropping a bit, his eyes narrowing at her.
"I am the one in charge of the apprentices, not you. I have the final authority, so I will decline your recommendation." Elaine retorts.
"I'm sorry, I phrased it like a question. Let him leave." He commands.
Elaine, gritting her teeth, relents. She steps to the side, and Paragon motions for me to leave the building.
I nod at him and begin to walk out as Paragon turns around. Before I can leave, Elaine grabs my shoulder and whispers in my ear. "Last warning. Don't go out. You look pissed, you're going to do something stupid, and that's what Paragon wants. My father is testing you because he's interested in you."
"And?" I reply, Paragon is the least of my concerns at the moment. I just want Elaine to let me leave! What is her damage? Why is she playing the concerned act now after literally punching me?!
"He shows apathy to everyone until he feels slighted, and when he shows any sort of emotion toward anyone, it always ends in death." She explains.
"I don't intend to die, least of all to Paragon." I retort.
"The last person who got that kind of attention from him was my brother." She states.
I'm sick of her brother or "penguin" talk. I feel my fists clench as I storm past her, "Shove it, Elaine."
I exit the building, immediately taking a left. Shoving past all other pedestrians. I then turn right, and I dart across the street despite the fact that cars are coming. I make it to the other side and keep running straight.
After a few more minutes, I reach my destination. I'm standing right outside of the casino run by "Mr. Perfect."
I barge my way inside, being stopped by the receptionist. "Hey, buddy. The kids' arcade is over there. This is for adults, okay?" The woman tells me in a gentle voice, leaning down and smiling at me.
I shoot her a nasty glare and shove past her, barging my way inside. I hop up on top of one of the roulette machines, scaring the old man sitting there putting money into it. I spot the door labeled "VIP Lounge." I leap off the machine, rolling on the ground as I land. I recover and make my way into the VIP Lounge. I throw open the doors.
I am greeted with a set of leather couches, some extravagant paintings that don't make much sense to me, but it's clear they're expensive. And some very breakable glass vases around the pristine countertops. There's a large table with some papers on it in the middle of the couches.
On the couches is Mr. Perfect, alongside some woman speaking in a thick French accent, wearing a pink dress with a large fluffy white hat and some fluffy thing of the same color around her neck. And the last man there is the most physically imposing. I immediately recognize him from my encounter in the docks…
The King of Hearts is here?!
Which means that the obnoxious-looking French woman must be the "Manon" that Mr. Eun-ji was telling me about. Mr. Perfect turns around, noticing me, his face lighting up rather innocently compared to what he's done and is probably currently doing. "Ah! Parker! I was hoping to see you soon!" He says, standing up and walking over to me.
"Cut the shit! You know what you did!" I shout at him. Lightly shoving him back.
"Whatever do you mean, Parker?" He says with a sense of faux-confusion. I see a small smirk briefly pass his face.
"Bayani! In the hospital! Because of you!" I yell.
"Bayani?... Oh! Ironhide's apprentice? He got hurt? Wow, I feel bad for the boy. First, he loses his mentor, and then this?" He says, starting to circle me. I see Manon holding in a laugh.
"What happened to Ironhide was quite unfortunate, non? I wonder if the boy knows who did it?" Manon says, laughing at her own jab. Great. I'm sure Mr. King of Hearts being all silent over there did fill everyone in on my identity.
"Shut up! Who made you a part of this conversation?!" I shout at her.
"Calm down, Parker." Mr. Perfect says, before leaning down and whispering in my ear: "Or should I call you Chameleon?"
I jump back and shout at him, "I'll tell everyone about the gang and what you're doing!"
"And then what?" You have no proof. And if you do, I'll tell everyone about your little Chameleon secret." He says, his prior gentle look turning into a full-on smirk.
"You have no proof of that either!" I retort.
"Yeah? Well, it'll turn into a huge mess for you either way. They're more likely to believe me than some nine-year-old brat." He replies.
"You!" I snarl, before jumping up and kicking him right in the face, causing him to stumble back. I see the King of Hearts laughing in the background, causing Mr. Perfect to glare back at him.
The King of Hearts stands up and walks past me, patting my back, "You stay interesting to me, Parker." He says in his thick Russian accent as he exits the room.
Manon stands up and follows him, not even giving me a second glance; she's laughing to herself the entire time until she's out of my sight.
I lunge back at Mr. Perfect, and he side steps me quite effortlessly. I lunge at him again wildly, and he dodges me again. Before I can make a third attempt, I feel arms wrap around me to restrain me.
"Parker! What the hell is the matter with you?!" I hear behind me. It's Mr. Eun-ji.
As if right on cue, Mr. Perfect puts on a victim act, holding his face as if my kick actually hurt him. "Sonar, control your apprentice!" He shouts, recoiling in fake pain.
"I'm so sorry about him!" Mr. Eun-ji apologizes while dragging me out.
"I'm gonna kill you, if it's the last thing I do!" I yell as I'm being dragged out of the casino.
Mr. Eun-ji drags me out of the casino and throws me onto the hard concrete floor of a nearby alleyway. "What were you thinking?!" Mr. Eun-ji yells. "You attacked a ranker completely unprovoked! Do you understand how badly this looks for you?! The repercussions of this?!"
"He got Bayani hospitalized!" I shout back.
"How so? It was the Jack of Clubs, right? I read the report, you know!" He asks, looking down at me.
I look away, refusing to answer. I have a newfound resolve, I will take down the gang, and Mr. Perfect. If Mr. Eun-ji finds out about Mr. Perfect's involvement with his old gang, that will fall apart.
"Well?" He says. Tapping his foot and glaring down at me.
"None of your business, Mr. Eun-ji," I reply.
"It is my business! You are my business! I'm supposed to be protecting you, making sure you don't die while Claire is gone! Do you not realize how dangerous it is to be living as Parker long-term?! I have been working my ass off to make this persona of yours convincing to the higher-ups, but you pulling this shit doesn't help and puts you in danger! If you're not gonna tell me, fine. But I hope you know how much trouble you just made for yourself." He scolds, grabbing my hand and pulling me up. He gives me a look over, and I assume he's making sure that he didn't hurt me.
Mr. Eun-ji pulls me in for a very tight hug. "What is wro-" I begin, before he cuts me off: "If it helps, I hate that man too. I just fear for the consequences this has for both of us. Okay? Don't actually try to kill him. It won't bode well." He then lets me go, and we walk back to HQ. It is a short walk, but we elongate it by taking a longer route. I get the sense that we both fear the consequences that my recent actions will bring.
When we can't delay the inevitable any longer, we arrive back at HQ, the moment we walk through the doors. I am greeted by Kara, who runs over to me, laughing. "Did you actually kick a ranker in the face?!"
Poor Kara is promptly met with a menacing look from Mr. Eun-ji, and Kara backs off a bit. "Geez… What has you so mad?" she mumbles.
As if right on cue, Paragon walks out. "Parker, I can't believe you. You broke Elaine's punishment for you and went out and attacked a ranker unprovoked. I hope you know you are in huge trouble." He scolds, as if he weren't the one who told her to let me out.
"And you. You need to teach that boy some control. What kind of teacher are you if you can't even keep your apprentice in check? Even Kara wouldn't do anything that stupid, and let's face it, she's pretty dumb." Paragon admonishes, turning his attention to Mr. Eun-ji.
Kara's jaw drops in reaction to that. I put my hand on her shoulder in an attempt to get her not to say anything. Now is not the time for that. Kara looks over at me and gives me a pouty look, her lips pursing as she holds her tongue. Good, no need to have Paragon direct his anger at her.
Paragon walks over and grabs my hand, and starts dragging me away. "Sonar! Report to my wife, got it? I'm dealing with your little bastard on my own." Paragon states as he grips my wrist harder, I feel like it could break at any second with all the pressure he's putting on it.
"Mr. Eun-ji!-" I start to shout before Paragon delivers a smack to the back of my head. I feel the part he hit start to open as a wet sensation hits, I feel it drip down my hair until I see the cause hit the floor.
Blood. My Blood.
My eyes widen as I realize what happened. One simple, effortless slap caused the back of my head to crack open and bleed. Kara looks on in horror as well, her eyes widen as she takes a step forward, but quickly freezes in place as Paragon glares at her as he calls the elevator. When the elevator arrives, he throws me in there, pressing the button to take me up to floor seventy.
I stare up at him wide-eyed, unable to move. He smirks down at me, looking quite proud of himself.
This might be the end, and it's all my fault.