"AAAAAAHHHHH!"
"Elise! ELISE!"
I screamed her name after I heard her and William screaming.
The shadow! My father was attacking them! Why!
*Crk*
"AAAAHHHH, Grrrrggg."
I heard William enduring another one of his bones break.
I had to save them! How!
"Let him go!" Elise screamed.
*Slap*
I heard Elise fall to the ground.
My mind went blank. My breath was stuck down my throat.
"E-Elise… *Crk* AARRGG!"
Another one of William's bones broke.
I… I was hours away.
I… I looked around in panic and defeat.
Willow was ashen and in shock. Ken terrified. James… was gripping the steering wheel hard. I… I was pushed farther back into my seat. He was driving as fast as he could.
"Pl-please," I heard Elise beg.
*Slap*
She fell once again.
Could James fly at high speed and carry me!
No!
Could my powers make me run fast enough!?
N-No.
NO! NO! NO!
*Crk*
"Aaarrrggg!"
USELESS! THEY'RE ALL USELESS!
I'm… I'm useless…
I heard Elise get up again.
"Elise! Run! Please!" Was all I managed to scream out.
I heard her move again.
But not away from her phone.
Closer to it, towards her dad.
*Slap*
Another fall.
*Crk*
Another scream.
I can't… Why is this happening? Why! Why does he always…
*Crk*
I only heard William whimpering now.
I don't… I can't…
"Ja-. -lea-," I heard Elise beg with pained difficulty.
The way she said that sounded odd.
W… why?
Because… he had hurt her.
Her face.
Mouth. J-Jaw.
Something snapped in me.
Venom coated my tongue.
I didn't care anymore.
I screamed.
"YOU BASTARD! LET THEM GO! I'LL DESTROY YOU! YOU KNOW I WILL! LET THEM GO RIGHT NOW!!!"
…Silence.
…More silence.
Then…
I heard William fall.
"Aaahhh…"
"Da-! *Sob* Da-!"
"Is he gone!?" I screamed.
"Y… yea-, bu- *sob*, da-…"
"I… I'll live," William said strained.
"Wiliam, tell me your injuries! What did he do to you two!"
"My hand… fingers…"
"Which one!?"
"Right one."
Like mine.
"Elise?"
"She's..."
William stayed silent.
"-ine."
My heart almost broke when I heard how she sounded.
"You're not fine!, I can hear it! Can… William, go to York with her. Avoid an ambulance if you can. Can you manage?"
"…I'll call Beth. Is that all right?"
"It's fine. We'll tell her too," I answered William.
"…Are we safe?" He continued asking.
"He won't attack again."
"Alright… we, arg, we'll see you there."
"Yes. Elise…, don't talk. Everything will be alright. I'll see you two soon."
"…Yea-," she nevertheless said with a hint of pain through her broken mouth.
I hung up the phone.
It was still hovering between Willow and me. The phone had been on speaker the entire time.
The car was silent.
I looked up from my phone.
My eyes met Willow's. She looked as pale as I likely was.
"Jack, wh… wha-"
"Later. I'll tell later. I need to make a phone call immediately."
Willow's expression froze. She showed a hint of fear, but then composed herself and nodded.
A quick glance told me that Ken was looking at me, scared but silent. He was lost, and hiding his anger and frustration at his inability to do something. But I saw trust too. He was waiting for me.
And James… was still driving as fast as he could while trying to retain his calm.
…They had all shown fear. …Because of what they heard… No… after too?
Had my voice been too loud?
Oh… of course.
I was livid.
I took a deep breath and grounded myself.
Stop frowning.
Relax your facial muscles.
Stop gripping the phone so hard.
Breathe at a regular pace.
Calm smile… no, better to look serious now.
…Elise.
The anger didn't subside.
Shit! No, I don't have time for this! I have to hurry! He might attack them again! This might be my only chance!
But not like this. Emotion overwhelmed me. He'd make short work of me.
I didn't have time! Didn't have time to process this! What! What could I…
Could I?
Maybe.
Focus… focus…
My intent clicked into place once I realized the possibility.
Calm down.
Serenity returned.
I felt like Jack Sporo again.
I typed my father's number into the phone and put it to my ear.
Before I pressed the call button, I thought.
Why had he attacked them?
I knew the answer. It was simple, really.
He had sensed trickery on my part.
My right hand broke in that fight, and now he broke William's right hand too.
He was there in that building, maybe even watching me fight, but he definitely watched the aftermath.
When he saw me interrogate James, and learned that my right hand was broken.
James was prone to underestimating me, but my father knows me better, and this is basically a confirmation that he realized that I had connected the dots about what really happened in that city and building, and that's why I was secretly interrogating James.
And that I needed a hospital and would call William. So he sent the shadow there to overhear since he couldn't put it in the full car.
During the phone conversation, he must have figured out that I was delaying to prepare something.
So he was trying to strong-arm me to submit.
And… I almost yielded. If not for Elise…
But I held my ground. He retreated once he heard the wrath in my voice.
I had leverage too.
James.
Willow.
Everything else.
He would avoid mutually assured destruction.
I'd leverage the time I would need.
To get James and Willow on my side and do what needed to be done in New Freedom.
I had already been thinking about it, and now I'd twist his attack to work in my favor too.
I worked out all the details in my head, calculating through all the scenarios I could, and pressed the call button while eyeing James.
The phone rang three times before my father answered.
"Father."
James flinched, but that was all.
"Jack, one moment," he said in a detached, confident, matter-of-fact tone.
*Cough*
I heard muffled noises in the background.
I focused.
I heard.
I processed everything in a single moment.
Chairs. Paper. Breaths. Distance. Volume. Echo.
The room was in my mind.
My father had the phone to his ear.
He was in a meeting.
He had been casually sitting in a meeting while he brutalized them.
When the room grew mostly quiet, I gained his permission.
"Speak."
"James and Willow are in the car with me. We're driving back."
A slight quiver in my voice. Not good enough.
My father pounced.
"Well done."
Words from the past. He had said the same thing back then too.
It flashed through my mind involuntarily.
The sparring ring. That girl.
Red. Broken. Puppet.
Elise.
Stop thinking.
My mind snapped blank.
Calmdown.
I could continue.
"Ten people are dead because of me."
My father stayed silent. I was matching his tone perfectly.
"I'm wounded and heading to a hospital. We'll stay in New Freedom until I've recovered."
Silence. A few seconds passed.
Then he spoke.
"You won't. We have someone here who will heal you. You'll be here by today."
I looked at James. He was focused, driving whilst paying attention to what I said.
One punch to his temple to knock him out if needed.
"The person who kidnapped my mother is hunting me. He has a vendetta against the family. I'm getting rid of him first."
James flinched again. His eyes moved to the rear-view mirror, where my eyes were already looking.
They met. Dark blue and hazel. And I saw…
No animosity.
My father had kept him in the dark about what he had done to me. About the shadow.
Like I expected, giving me the opening I need to slowly wrestle James out of his control.
"You will retu-"
"No. He already retaliated against me for getting the police involved and for leaving to get James. I can't leave town."
My father fell silent. He contemplated. I wouldn't let him, not yet.
"This entire conversation is a risk. He might be listening in from your end."
Now I've said all I needed. The last three sentences, all with underlying threats for him. I could play his game too. It was my turn to make him sweat.
Seconds passed…
James was deep in thought. Ken was looking forward and away from everyone, trying to hide everything he was feeling. Willow was looking seriously at me.
More seconds passed…
My father spoke again.
"Put James on the phone."
He hadn't yielded. He realized. He called my bluff. He had seen through me.
That I was trying to get James and Willow on my side.
I held the phone between Willow and me, in the middle of the car again, and pressed the button.
"He's driving. You're on speaker."
"Father," James immediately said with a slightly submissive tone.
"James, speak."
"Willow and I got out fine. Jack helped as well, but was hurt. And…"
We looked each other in the eye briefly.
I signaled with my broken hand.
"His wounds are serious."
"…"
Father fell silent again. Even more seconds passed, before he gave his command.
"Jack will stay then. James, I need you here. You and Ms Frye will head towards me."
My brother grabbed the steering wheel tighter.
James looked into my eyes again, and I saw what I expected.
A reluctant apology.
He could never defy father, even if he wanted to, after what he had made of my brother.
So I would do it for him.
"You won't," I spoke aloud while staring into James' now wide, terror-struck eyes.
"…If you need help with your recovery, I'll send some servants toward you."
"Don't. He'll sense foul play. He's still underestimating and playing with me. That's the only thing that keeps him from escalating and killing everyone."
"…"
Quiet again. James was looking at the road again, but his posture was stiffer.
He won't bend.
I turned my head.
Past Ken, lost, leaving it all up to me.
My hazel eyes met Willow's brown.
They had the same look in them that they always had.
Willpower and determination.
She spoke, in a way I never suspected from her.
"Damian Marwood, Sir, it's a pleasure to speak with you again."
"…The pleasure is likewise. Thank you for taking care of James throughout all this," my father responded curtly.
"I appreciate it, and James takes good care of me likewise. I'm forever glad I have been able to develop relations with him, and that he's willing to stay by my side through these turbulent times. In addition, I wanted to thank you for sending your son Jack to us. He and his friend really saved us. Without Jack, who risked life and limb for us, James and I wouldn't have made it out unscathed. I feel like I owe your son my life, so I feel obligated to repay the favor and help him out now. And I also believe James shares the same sentiment. So I ask kindly to please reconsider your earlier statement."
"…I see."
Father took a moment again.
And as for me… I suppressed all current thoughts about the new light I saw Willow in now, so like James who already seemed to know, we remained neutral.
Unlike Ken… who was slack-jawed.
But the moment was short-lived, for my father spoke again.
"Ms Frye, I appreciate you wanting to help my son. But before you go through with that decision, I wanted to inform you that there is talk of Washington D.C. going into lockdown protocol from tomorrow onwards, since there are troops sent from there to Philadelphia. That means no one will be getting in or out. Therefore, I'd rather have you and James here by today, also for your own safety. I have no insight into how long the lockdown will last, meaning that if you're not here by then, I won't be in a position to assist you in getting back to your family for the foreseeable future like we previously discussed. That said, my recommendation for you would be to put your own family and country first."
…It's over for me.
I hadn't realized Willow was that important. Whether he had just told the truth or not, how could she risk it and refuse?
Now I understood why my father found her so important and why James was with her, despite his inclination toward women more beautiful than her. It was my father's orders.
He sent James to seduce her, just as he had trained him to do with all those female servants. Because if James ended up marrying her, the Marwood family would gain massive foreign political connections.
More power. And my father would do anything to get more of that.
And James would too if he were ordered to do so.
Even burning down a city and orchestrating a massacre, just to make her completely dependent.
…Not that it matters now.
I looked at Willow, and our eyes met.
I saw what I expected.
She was conflicted and felt guilty toward me.
My heart pounded in my chest.
If she and James left, I had no immediate leverage anymore.
And considering how much I had defied and threatened my father during our talk just now, I was sure to be a risk in his eyes now.
He would eliminate me.
Or Elise…
My fate was in the hands of Willow now.
She had to choose me over her country.
How… how do I convince her of that, while I basically knew nothing about her entire situation.
While my father, the best lawyer in the world, was listening in on the phone, ready to rebuke every word I said.
I… I didn't know. I couldn't think of anything.
But I had to do something… had to…
So… so I mouthed the only words I could say to her.
Words that flowed from my heart.
'Please help me.'
She read the words from my lips. She saw the vulnerability in my eyes.
And I saw something shift in hers.
Because she had somehow recognized something of herself in me.
Her eyes first showed sympathy.
Then compassion.
Then determination.
She had made her choice and spoke into the phone.
"I appreciate you informing me, but nobody can know my country's situation anyway due to the [Grace of Hestia], so I might not be needed there as much as I'm needed here. I'll stay where I know I can represent my family's values and help your son."
…I couldn't believe it. And since my father fell silent once again, maybe he couldn't either.
My heart was beating so fast in appreciation for her that alI my thoughts only returned when I heard my father speak again.
"Alright. I'm sincerely thankful for your willingness and compassion, and I hope I can soon share what you've done for my family with your father when I have the chance."
"I'm sure he would appreciate it."
"…James. Go and help out your brother until he is fully recovered. You three will stay in New Freedom and not leave there until you can safely return to me again."
"…Thank you, father," James responded with the tension draining from his voice.
"However,However, I still insist on sending a servant over there to keep an eye on things. I wouldn't be able to face Ms Frye's family if I at least didn't arrange for that."
Willow gave me a look as if to say, 'Is that safe?'
No, not for me, obviously. I wasn't off the hook yet.
But I quickly thought I shouldn't immediately rebuke him. My father had placed emphasis on the word 'insist'.
This was likely a threat. He was playing along with me now after failing with Willow, but this was likely the final straw for my father. His last method to regain some control over me. However, I couldn't identify what he could still threaten me with using a single servant after pondering it over.
But I could ask.
"Who?"
"Cassandra."
Jane's art tutor.
Why?
Her power? If my father claimed it was for Willow's protection, it must be pretty strong. But that shouldn't be enough dissuasion for me since in his eyes I could just kill her.
Was her power so strong that I had no chance against her at all?
I could just ask what her power was, but from Willow and James' perspective, a dangerous individual could be listening in to whatever my father said. He was playing along with me and neglected to tell her power even though the subtext was Willow's protection, so the kidnapper wouldn't suspect foul play. So I was expected to keep it clandestine too, otherwise it would expose all my lies due to the inconsistency.
But my father wouldn't count on me overthinking things like that. There must be something else. What about her should make me feel absolutely dissuaded?
…Art… art… Jane… she spends a lot of time with Jane…
Jane?
…No… No no no shit! Of course!
If I were holding James hostage…
He could hold Jane hostage.
Fuck! Of course! Jane was just currency to him, to be sold to the highest bidder.
The most disposable by design of all of us siblings. Her highest worth right now was to keep me in line.
With mutual hostages, my father and I had reached a stalemate. However, despite that, I'd managed to turn the odds massively in my favor.
Because, for once, I finally had the initiative against him thanks to Willow. I could have ample opportunity to turn the situation around later.
I could deal with one servant.
"Alright, send her," was my response to him.
"Good. I'll send her to that house you've been staying at. If that's all, I'll be unavailable for the upcoming days. I'll get back in touch once you can all return here. James, Ms Frye, I'm glad you're both alright. And Jack…, I hope you recover soon. Goodbye for now."
*Beep*
My father hung up.
…Thank god.
I exhaled my relief out and leaned back into my seat.
…I was tired. So tired… Starving too…
But still… I had to keep on talking.
And…
I looked to the side, into Willow's eyes again.
She looked at me seriously.
Of course, she had neglected to return to her family… for me.
Even though… even though… what I said were all lies.
But still, I spoke my heart out to her.
"Thank you… thank you so much… but… why?"
Her eyebrows shot up. She gave me a look like 'isn't that obvious', but spoke nevertheless.
"Well it's like I just said. Also, if daddy ever found out I abandoned you here in these circumstances after all you've done for me, I'm sure he'll put my neck to the sword himself."
"…Even so, and if you don't want to answer or give any details it's fine, but… will your country be fine without you?"
"…Yes, it will. I'm sure they're worried about me, but if things are as bad or worse as here, which I doubt, I'm sure daddy and sis can handle it. And if not, they can find and pick me up over here too.
"…I see. Nevertheless, th-"
"Stop with the thank you's. And you better not treat me any differently now that you know, like…"
Her eyes moved to look at Ken, who was staring at her.
"Well, can you blame me?" He asked her.
"This is why I'm so glad I can use a different name here."
"…Well, which country are you from anyway?"
"…Netherlands. That's all I will say."
"Oh…, that explains it."
"What? That you're jealous of my height?"
"…You're charming personality."
"Ha! Guess it's easier for you to talk back to women, unlike with Jack."
"Grr!"
Ken looked forward again with gnashing teeth, while Willow had that grin on her face again.
It seems that Willow had won this round.
"If everyone's done bickering, I think we have something more important to discuss," James said, drawing everyone back on topic.
"Yeah. That's right," Willow added, and then looked at me to continue speaking.
"The real reason I stayed behind is because that bastard hurt your adorable girlfriend, and because I'm a big fan of your mother, so you'd best explain everything."
Instead of another thank you, I gave her a smile and a nod, then looked James in the eye again through the rear-view mirror.
"Thank you too. Although, I was kinda scared for a moment there."
"Don't thank me yet. Explain."
He deflected.
He was looking at me, so I couldn't look at Willow.
I shifted my eyes to the road.
James' shifted for a split-second too.
All I needed.
I glanced at Willow.
She was looking seriously at James.
Noticed. Didn't know why. Wouldn't ask now.
James' eyes met me in the mirror again.
He hadn't caught me.
I gave an appreciative nod.
But before I explained, I thought…
That I was so glad that I finally had the chance to save one of them from him.
James, Jane, my only regrets when I left that hellhouse.
And now… my brother… I could do it.
I could save him.
Repair him.
He was still the same, of course, that could never change.
He could never defy my father, even if he wanted to.
Because my father was everything to him.
James, the oldest, was the first to be broken to his liking.
By positive reinforcement. The least risk averse method of the three siblings.
He was my father's main heir after all. He needed at least one assurance to continue the legacy, in case he went too far with his other two tools.
His life in his part of the household was utopia.
All he wanted at his disposal.
Luxuries, entertainment, beautiful female servants.
Paradise.
As long as he did what was expected of him.
Studies. Training. Obeying orders.
Otherwise…
Horror, personally by my father's hands.
That, together with always instilling the importance of the family and legacy, when it had gone on long enough.
A religion was created.
Everything that was James, his confidence, competence, personality, wants, needs…
His very life itself.
Was because he was the sole believer of the Marwood family.
With my father as his God.
Blind Faith.
Absolute obedience.
For if not, he was a sinner.
He wouldn't be James anymore.
And God would punish him.
And after all these years, James has become a zealot.
Forever loyal. No one else could let him defy his belief.
He had become too scared to do so.
The prospect had become like suicide to James.
My father's first tool, the family's zealot.
Forever loyal. Doing everything to continue and better the Marwood legacy.
And I had to get blind believer James on my side.
In these scant few days in New Freedom that I had bought myself.
To help me kill the God he believed in.
So that we could both be free.
How would I do it?
I could think of three ways.
Ways that had broken religions before.
Critical thinking.
I would let James untangle the web of lies my father and I had created, and discover the truth himself.
If he did, he might start to question his faith, and realize…
That his God had betrayed his own religion.
And next to that...
Love.
Willow.
After all I had discovered, I could only call it a relationship born from lies, personal gain, control, manipulation and dependence.
Once she was ready to face the truth of what James had done to her, I would convince her.
To save my brother together with me, if there was something genuine in both of their eyes left to save.
I hoped so.
Perhaps she could reach him in places that I never could. A place where only love can reach.
Maybe love would end up saving my brother.
Like it had saved me.
…And lastly… if all else failed…
Sacrilege.
I would make James believe in a new God.
Me.