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Chapter 12: The Game
"It matters to me, when someone I love is keeping secrets from me and acts like a completely different person anymore!" Abby shouted as tears streamed from her eyes.
"I don't have any choice!" Connor shouted.
"You always had a choice, Connor! And now, you're choosing to act just like, like-"
"Say it." Connor said sternly.
"You're acting just like Stephen!"
The argument Abby had had with Connor before he walked out, still weighed fresh on Abby's conscience as she walked toward the medical bay, her legs like lead weights, to collect Stephen. She carried a fresh pair of clothes and shoes that Becker had pulled from storage.
"This job, it does things to you." Jenny had said before her resignation.
It was true. Abby couldn't argue with that. Anyone involved in the ARC project was proof of that.
Abby still wasn't certain that inviting Stephen to live at her flat was a smart idea, considering everything that happened recently; but Jenny was still reeling from what had happened at the flat and Sarah and Becker would be on the brink of a fight if Stephen moved in with Sarah.
To be honest, Abby wasn't sure she could deal with a silent flat much longer. She could only hope that Connor was alive and unharmed.
Helen led the way back to the mansion, Connor following, and the Cleaners bringing up the rear.
"This way," Helen called as she led the way to a large room.
Helen walked over to a nearby table and set down her hand gun as she ruffled through a box.
Connor glanced at the Cleaners and back and forth between the gun and Helen.
He could very well dash over, grab the gun, and prevent Helen from harming anyone else. However, he had a feeling he was being set up, considering no one seemed to be paying him any mind.
Connor stepped a few feet forward; but froze when he heard Helen mutter something as she moved to a different box and continued to search for whatever it was she was looking for.
She was far enough from the table that Connor made a mad dash for the gun. He grabbed the gun and pointed it at Helen.
"I had a feeling you'd try something like this." Helen mused as she looked up from the box she was looking through.
"Really? Then, why did you leave the gun on the table for me to grab it?" Connor asked aiming the gun at her.
"Because I know that you don't have it in you to shoot me, Connor. You couldn't shoot Nick and you can't shoot me." Helen smiled.
"I wouldn't be so sure of that." Connor replied, the gun shaking in his hand.
Helen turned to Connor.
"I gave you a choice the last time we met. Do you remember?"
"Tell me Connor, would you rather lose your life? Or lose your love?" Helen asked as she stepped into the anomaly closing it behind her before Connor had the chance to reply.
"You made your choice, Connor; and I can promise you that it's the smartest decision you've made so far." Helen sneered.
"What are you talking about?"
"You know what I'm talking about, Connor. I gave you the option of dumping the lizard girl or dying. After your last near death experience, your will to live overpowered your supposed love for Abby." Helen chuckled.
"Abby means everything to me!" Connor shouted, keeping the gun pointed at Helen.
The Cleaners stayed where they were.
"Keep telling yourself that, Connor. If she truly meant everything to you, than why did you hide secrets from her and walk out on her?"
Connor didn't answer.
"I'll tell you why. It's because the puzzles of the anomalies and the safety of your life mean more to you than some stupid crush." Helen explained.
"Come on, Stephen." Abby said after he was changed into the fresh clothes.
"Where are we going?"
"Back to my flat. I arranged for you to live there until things can be sorted." Abby explained flatly.
"What about Connor?" Stephen asked.
"We should get going before I change my mind." Abby announced, turning toward the door.
Stephen nodded and followed her to the car.
The drive to Abby's flat was mostly quiet. Abby was too afraid of starting a conversation with someone, who was supposedly dead until several hours ago; and Stephen was too confused to know where to begin asking questions.
As they neared the flat, the mystery of what happened to Cutter and Connor was beginning to get to Stephen.
"Abby, please explain to me what's happened. I didn't end up in some odd parallel universe did I?"
"I thought at first, you might have;" Abby began, choking back tears, "but your story is just about proof that you didn't."
Abby wandered how long she could continue to dance around the fragile story of Cutter's demise and Connor's disappearance.
A few minutes after they had entered the flat, Abby explained the arrangements to Stephen.
"Right, I hate to do this, but the only other place for you to sleep is the couch." Abby apologized.
"The bathroom is down the hall on the right, the kitchen is right through there, and anything else, just ask." Abby finished.
"Actually, there is something else." Stephen spoke.
"What happened to everyone?" Stephen asked.
"I—I need to go check something." Abby pointed out as she tried to sneak away; but Stephen grabbed her arm.
"Abby. Tell me." Stephen said sternly.
Abby took a deep breath and sighed, as she turned to face Stephen.
"Cutter is dead and Connor has been kidnapped by Helen." Abby blurted out.
"What?" Stephen asked incredulously. "How?"
"Helen shot Cutter in the chest a little over a year after your death and kidnapped Connor several hours ago when you popped back up in Jenny and Danny's flat."
Stephen let go of Abby's arm and slumped down onto the couch, as he felt his heart crack at the news.
"I will shoot you, Helen." Connor warned, his finger on the trigger.
Helen stepped forward, so that Connor was pointing the gun at her head.
"Do it. I dare you." Helen challenged.
Connor couldn't do it. Cutter would've stopped him if here still alive. Helen had called his bluff; but Connor kept the gun aimed at Helen's head. He had hoped to negotiate his release.
Connor's breath caught in his throat as he felt an electrical charge burn through his veins, causing him to convulse and crash to the floor unconscious.
"Showing mercy won't get you very far in this game, Connor." Helen explained as she replaced the stun gun in its pouch and collected the gun from Connor's hand.
"Here," Helen ordered, tossing a pair of handcuffs at the closest Cleaner; "Handcuff him to that pole over there. I need to find those blueprints."
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