hey, how you doing, everyone! so, new chapter…!
I couldn't believe my eyes. Was this really him?
As if he heard me thinking, his head snapped up and his eyes met mine. I saw a look of fear deep in his eyes. This Mike was so unlike the one we met in the subway tunnel. He didn't seem paranoid; he didn't look over his shoulder every three seconds. He just looked scared.
He started walking towards the hotel and I sprang up from the window. I walked across the room and pulled open the door. After a couple of weird looks from the people in the hallway, I practically flew down the stairs, rather than going half a mile per hour in the elevator. I made it to the lobby and out the doors, hearing footsteps behind me.
I came face to face with the mystery Eraser. I saw how his eyes flickered down to my wrist, as if to look at the chip that had been implanted there when I was younger. I saw a familiar expression on his face. I took a step forward, looking him in the eyes.
I felt the dirt shift around me and I glanced to my side where Fang stood, fists clenched, ready to fight. I reached over and placed my hand over his, hoping it would calm him down. He looked up at me and then back at Mike.
I looked around and saw Iggy appear at my left with the kids flanking him. I looked up at Mike and gave a slight smile. I was surprised when he returned it. I thought I saw Fang's face soften in realization as he stood up straighter. Even the Gasman took a step forward, realizing who it was.
Gazzy stepped in front of me, and held out his hand. I grabbed his shoulders when Mike gave the Gasman a small smile and took his hand with a rough paw. I looked over at Fang, giving him a look that said, 'what happened when I was gone?'. He, obviously, just shrugged and looked down at the Gasman.
Fang stepped forwards and held out his hand. "Long time no see."
Mike nodded and I saw a smirk play on his lips when he saw my confused expression. He looked at Fang, as if to eg him on. Fang looked at me and started explaining, "I guess we conveniently forgot to tell you that we saw Mike in California while you were in Paris or France or something. He was the one who helped us get the word out about Itex."
I almost felt my mouth drop. He conveniently forgot? What kind of bull was that? I was just about to yell at him but someone beat me to it.
(AN: I just got cake on my 'H' key. It is now dark brown and the rest of my keyboard is white. Just thought you should know… carry on…)
"What are you talking about? You guys went to California?" Nudge questioned bluntly.
"Yeah. California. The land of hot weather and beach bunnies." Iggy said, staring dreamily at the sky through his unseeing eyes. I reached over and smacked him, muttering about how much of a sexist pig he was.
"Why didn't you guys tell me?" I demanded.
"We're telling you now, aren't we?" Fang questioned rhetorically.
I rolled my eyes and turned back to Mike. "What happened?" I asked delicately, motioning to his gruff, dog-like appearance. He just pointed at his neck, where a long pink scar was hidden. I felt my eyes widen in anticipation. He motioned to Fang and started to do a typing motion and Fang nodded, turning on his heel and walking inside, followed by four other pairs of footsteps. I looked at Mike, and realized. He couldn't speak.
I followed the flock up the stairs and into my and Fang's room with Mike on my tail. Once in the room, he sat down with Fang's laptop and started typing.
After you guys left to go to Germany or whatever the enemies came back. They got to a lot of the people who helped you out or basically just talked to you. Instead of killing me, they kept me alive. Only to work on all of their equipment and to do research. I guess they heard about my past with computers.
On one day, about three months ago, the guy named Sam heard that I knew you. He got really angry when I wouldn't say anything about where you were. Because I honestly didn't know. He wanted to find you for some reason.
I didn't talk. He wanted to make sure I wouldn't talk again. So he cut my throat and screwed with my vocal chords. Now I can't talk.
I finished everything they asked me to do and I heard they were sending Sam to look for you so I volunteered to come. I needed to find you. Thinking you could help me. Now I don't see how…
His typing trailed off and I had to read it through again. Why was he in California? What did they do to him? How was he Eraserfied? I needed some answers. One more than any.
"Do you-do you know how long Sam has been an Eraser?" I asked slowly, hoping the answer would come out in a good way. He just shook his head and looked down at the computer. His fingers hovered over the keys.
His whole life.
That was all he wrote. It was all I needed to know. Everything in Virginia had been a trick. One horrible, freaking trick.
I looked up at the rest of the flock who were just sitting around the room in deep thought. I looked back at Mike and saw his eyes flutter shut occasionally. I grabbed the computer from his clutch and pointed behind him at the bed.
"Sleep." I said as he shook his head. "Come on. You look tired. Just sleep it off."
He looked at me skeptically but obliged. He lied back and closed his eyes. Five minutes later, he was out like a light.
I turned back to the Flock about a long minute of silence. Now we were faced with a very important question. "Can we help him?" I whispered, not knowing if anyone heard.
"Max, everything he said- well, typed was true. He was thinking it all." Angel said seriously. "He doesn't want to hurt us."
I frowned at the thought of that. We found an Eraser. One that already knew us. One that didn't want to hurt us? It was too weird.
"We have two choices," Fang started, looking down at the carpet.
"Let him stay with us so we can help him, or send him on his way, killing him." I finished, looking up at where the kids were cramped onto one of the beds.
"I say we help him." Iggy said quietly from the armchair by the window. "He helped us, me, Fang, and the Gasman, in California. That's how we knew you were trying to contact us. We owe him."
I nodded and looked over at Nudge. "I don't know, Max. He didn't seem that nice the only time I met him, but I don't want him to die or anything."
"I want to help him!" The Gasman said, cheerfully. "He was pretty cool. In a way."
"He sounds like he really needs help, Max. He looks calm but on the inside, he's screaming." Angel said remorsefully. "It hurts."
I finally glanced up at Fang. My eyes met his and we made a silent agreement. Help him as long as we can trust him. The only thing was, how can we help him?
"There's a way!" Angel said, after reading my mind. We got her to stop talking to us in our minds, but she still won't stop reading them. "I think he has to explain it though. I don't really know what he means. It's confusing."
I nodded again, watching the Gasman and Iggy walk over to the window, discussing something. I do not want to know what. Angel and Nudge pounced on Fang, trying to let them dye his hair. It really wasn't working.
I just sat down and lied back onto the carpet in the middle of the room. I put my feet up onto one of the beds and closed my eyes. What are we going to do now?
so… hope that explains a few things…
please review with your opinions and comments.