I am beyond sorry that I haven't posted in forever. I don't have any excuses.
Anyhoo, I hope you all had an amazing Halloween and Halloween weekend! Tell me stories in the comments section if you like!
With that, I present you with the 14 instalment of TIV. There's a bit of a time jump here. Felix and Marzia, after exorcising Adam, called Yami's house and got Mark and Yami (the captain and co-captain or the royal guard) for help. That's where we leave off here!
Enjoy!

"You son of a bitch!" Mark yelled.

He pinned Adam against the wall of Felix's living room, two feet in the air, squeezing the man's neck a bit too hard.

"Mark!" Marzia said forcibly, going to pull him aside.

"Marzia, hold on," Felix whispered, tugging his wife back gently.

"You…you died!" Mark stated to Adam, voice raspy.

"I-I know, man and I'm sorry," Adam squeaked out, his throat being crushed under Mark's forearm, "L-let me breathe?"

Mark released his arm and let the once-possessed man drop to the floor. Adam sucked in a few breathes before standing up. The sorrow in his eyes almost made the four people standing in front of him feel sorry for him.

"Well? Why?" Aaron asked quietly.

"I…had no choice," Adam trailed off.

"You always have a choice!" Mark said, nearly breaking his fragile composure.

"Mad was gonna kill Cathy! And Raven! And Sark, Max, Chilled, everyone I love! He said that he needed insurance I wasn't going to go back on my words. Yea, I agreed to help him, but wouldn't you?" Adam explained, choking back tears.

Everyone sat in silence, pondering his words. Felix pulled Marzia close and Aaron stayed silent, high likely thinking about Jess. Mark then broke the silence.

"Adam…you know the punishment for your actions."

"I…buddy," the crying young assassin looked into the head guard's eyes, "You have to understand!"

"I do but l-law stands. So, by the Queen, you're under arrest for high treason and attempted murder."

Mark took out a pair of handcuffs and cuffed his good friend. He and Aaron walked out the Mark's car to drive Adam to the holding cell building. Not a lot of crime happens in Victubia, mainly petty thievery and the like, so there's just a holding cell.

"Ma'k. There has to be a way we can lessen his sentence," Aaron whispered.

"I know and I will do everything in my power to do so," Mark replied, trying to focus on the road and not the thought of him failing.

The drive to the holding cell felt longer than it actually was; grim thoughts suffocating the air with a dark noose. The three men got out of the car and walked slowly into the small building. Adam's tear drops began to stain the floor as well as his reddened face. There was nothing Mark could do but take his weeping friend into the holding cell, except deny himself of his own oncoming tears. He felt those, now too familiar, little prickles of heat at his eyes. After unlocking the holding cell, he hugged Adam tightly, whispering "It'll be okay, man" into his ear. Reassuring both himself and his friend.

High treason and attempted murder are no laughing matters in Victubia. People in the town have had to make difficult decisions before. Difficult decisions come with war and betrayal. This situation should be no different.

Mark paced back and forth in holding area as Aaron watched him intently, high likely thinking about the situation himself. Aaron got up, suddenly, swinging his gun holster on.

"Aaron, what are you doing?" Mark asked.

"I think…we should gather a few more people and check out Cry's house." He muttered in response.

Mark paused for a couple seconds, thinking, before replying "I suppose it's the best chance we have trying to figure what the hell's happening."

"So, who do you want to take?"

"A LNC member or two, maybe Entoan?" Mark thought out-loud.

"Good idea. So, which of the crew members are you thinking about?"

"Mm…Cheyenne? Russ?"

"They're probably our best bet. Okay, I'll give them a ring. Be right back."

Aaron closed the door of the office, leaving Mark outside in the ominous veil hanging around Adam. When Mark looked towards his friend, he saw something he'd hope to never see on someone like Adam. Mark saw sadness and regret. He saw….darkness. A void. There was no current happiness and joy flowing through Adam's eyes like there usually was. How am I supposed to unleash such a punishment on Adam? All of his happiness has already bled away…I can't do it.

"Adam," Mark whispered.

"Yea?" the young assassin rasped in return, still fighting back the tears.

"I'm gonna find you a way out of this mess. A loophole, or something, got it?"

"I…deserve this though, man. I fucked up. Normal citizens wouldn't get special treatment," Adam simply looked off into the distance, face blank.

"No you don't. You were being blackmailed with someone's life. There has to be an exception for that!" Mark pleaded with his friend, trying to make him see reason.

"Just…make sure Cathy is okay? Mad told me he'd go after her first if things got messy."

"Aaron and I are about to head out to Cry's house for some reconnaissance. You can call Cathy?"

"Please?"

"Yea. Here, let me bring you the telephone."

Mark brought over the telephone set to Adam. Adam dialled each number with shaking hands. He held the ear and mouth pieces and waited while the phone dialled.

"Hey, sweety, you okay?...That's good…no reason, just checking in…I know, I know, I can't help it!...I love you, okay?...Nothing's wrong, I just need you to know that….no matter what…yea, forever and ever….I pwomise…gotta go sweetheart…love you too," Adam hung up the phone, looking calmer, yet sadder.

"I take it Cathy is okay?" Mark asked, judging by how the conversation went.

"Yea. Tell me what you find at Cry's house. I need to know what's happening," Adam said.

"I will, don't worry. Aaron and I will be back. Sit tight."

Adam nodded and went to lie down on the metal bench hanging from the wall. Mark walked back into the office where Aaron was waiting patiently for him. No words were exchanged as they walked outside and back into the police car.

Mark was about to open the drivers' door when Aaron said, "Maybe I should drive?"

"No, I'm okay." This got a doubtful look from Mark's Aaron, "I am!"

"Alright. I believe you. So, are we heading to Cheyenne's, Entoan's or Russ' house first?"

"Russ is the closest to here."

"Let's go then!"

As Mark drove to Russ' house, he grew more and more frustrated at the current situation. Mad is playing us! He's taking our friends from us! Making us remember the war! Twisting and messing with everyone's emotions. The worst part is that the most harm he's done so far is possess Nanners!

"I can't do it Aaron," Mark choked out of his anger, "It's not Adam's fault."

"I know. I really hope we find something. But…if we don't…"

"There is no 'if we don't''. We have to…," Mark stared blankly at the road," I can't sentence my own friend to death."

Laws of Victubia; section 3, paragraph 2:

"Any attempts of murder will be sentenced anywhere from 20 years to life in prison. Any attempts to murder any of the royal family will be sentenced anywhere from 50 years to life in prison. Any attempts to murder the queen or king of Victubia will be sentenced either to life in prison or execution by either hanging or electric chair. High treason against the king or queen of Victubia, which includes espionage, kidnapping, and treachery, will result in the sentence of anywhere from 60 years in prison to execution by either hanging or electric chair."

{not an actual excerpt from any sort of law posted by Gabbi}

There it is! This chappie's inspiration song is Calling by Trifonic. Hope you enjoyed! Reviews are always welcomed!