Yeah Supreme Court, #LoveWins and #SCOTUSMarriage! Super glad the US has finally made the decision to legalize LGBT+ marriage throughout the country. There's a really touching video about it on YouTube by Google/YouTube. Disclaimer: I did not write the Bloodlines series or affiliated characters.
"What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us, what we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal."–Dan Brown
ZPOV
My phone's service cuts off and I wish I were the cursing type. I wasn't done talking to Carly, but I know my phone well enough to know it won't reconnect unless it wants to. Pocketing it, I slip out of the supply closet and head back to the main offices. An Alchemist that Sydney used to be close to, Stanton I think, waves me over to her office. I slip inside and take the proffered seat.
"Zoe, I have something you might be extremely interested in."
"Ma'am?"
Stanton reaches down to her laptop and does something before spinning it to face me. A live-feed, night vision camera shows someone huddled in a mostly bare room. The person turns and reveals a swirling tattoo on their cheek and I can't control my exclamation.
"I thought so."
I look up at Stanton and feel my face drain of color. She knows. She knows I'm not truly an Alchemist. "Ma'am…"
"Please don't. I truly believe in the Alchemist's goal, but the Re-Education system…well let's just say that it can be improved. The technique used is more akin to torture and the things considered sins are too restrictive for my taste."
"So why are you telling me?"
"I'm not. I just thought you should know that there's been rumors a POI in a facility about 8.8 miles southwest of Tumxuk, China in the Ben He Da Dao mountain and valley range. Also, that there's a rumor that this person is a certain Marcus Finch. I trust you'll pass these rumors along to your sister."
"Y-yes ma'am."
Stanton smiles politely. "Glad we've had this little chat."
"If I may…"
"Go on."
"How did you know?"
"Because people don't just disappear for months on end without a trace if they aren't being helped by Marcus Finch. I also happen to know that a certain set of files has been stolen from the Alchemist database and that these files have been used to look into the potential destruction of the Moroi."
"Mm. Do you believe in that too?" I know I'm being snarky, but I can't help it.
"No. Like I said, I trust you'll pass along the information."
With that, Stanton dismisses me. I smile and leave the office quickly. Taking out my phone, I move through the halls until I get service. Leaning against the wall, my fingers automatically seek out Sydney's number before hesitating. I gnaw on my lip before clicking her number and holding the phone up to my ear. "I know where Marcus is Sydney."
"You…never mind, where is he?"
"In the Ben He Da Dao mountain range, China."
"In the mountains?"
"There's a Re-Education center somewhere in the valleys there. It's good info."
"Okay. Did you find anything out about Operation Descendant?"
"No, sorry."
"It's fine. Right now Marcus is my main concern. Rose and Dimitri said they'd help, I've also got the Palm Springs team pledging their allegiance to the cause. Some of Marcus' Merry Men are helping too."
"Merry Men?"
"Adrian."
"Ah…well, I'll call if I find anything else."
"Cool."
MPOV
I don't know how long I've been in Re-Education, but I now get why they choose to 'reform' people this way. The darkness, the lack of privacy, the constant urging to give up…it's a mind game. A brutal one, too. It's manipulative and gives me too much time to think. I grow weary of the drug regimen the Alchs have me on, the crappy food doesn't really help matters either.
The Alchs have started to wake me long before they turn the lights on. Thus, I'm forced to sit in the dark and think about my 'sins'. The lights flash on and I no longer resist blinking against the harsh light. "Marcus Finch, you have committed sins against the Alchemists and the human race. Ae you ready to purge the darkness within?" The overhead voice parrots.
I drag a breath through my parted lips "…yes"
That's a wrap! For the record, Marcus has been gone about a month now, if anyone wants to know the timeframe.
R&R
Ciao
