Wanted to hurry up and post this next chapter.
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Chapter 4: Life Goes On Part 2
When she had first heard the voices she had considered it a curse. Now she is willing to give anything just to hear her mother's voice. The same voice that had haunted her in her sleep. The same voice that had soother her fears as a child. But like everything else she loves, it appears to have left.
"I guess you already know about Daddy." Shaking her head Miss Parker looks down at her hands. "It's not fair. There are so many things that have been left unsaid for too long. Things about you, things about me, and things about…Jarod and the Centre." Fighting back tears she stands up and paces in front of the fireplace.
"I did care about him, you know. I wish things had been different between me and Jarod, but Daddy couldn't' take the chance that I would fall for Jarod, could he? That might have meant that his precious 'Angel' wouldn't be under his control anymore! I did want to care about Jarod." Shaking her head she silently scolds herself.
"How is it that I can't even admit my feelings to myself or anyone else, but I can admit them to a voice in my head? Maybe I am going crazy. That's the last thing that I need, another excuse for Sydney to try and get inside my head." Laughing sadly she decides on a course of action.
Today will be just the same as every other day. With Mr. Parker gone they will all have to be more careful. Even Raines himself will have to watch his back. Mr. Parker didn't only protect Miss Parker from Raines; he also protected Raines from Miss Parker. From now on it's survival of the fittest and she'll be damned if she's caught on the losing side.
Picking up her phone Miss Parker dials Sam's cell phone number. After only two rings the sweeper answers his phone. "Sam."
"Sam, it's me. Get a team of sweepers together. I want every coast swept in search of the scrolls. I also want Jarod's mother's location found, and her gotten out of harm's way. That means away from the Centre."
"Yes, Ma'am."
"Raines nor anybody else at the Centre needs to hear about this. Is that understood?"
"Yes, Ma'am."
"Good, report to me when you find something out." Finished giving Sam his orders Miss Parker hangs up and dresses to go into work.
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"Miss Parker?" Hearing the voice of her long time friend Miss Parker hesitates in her long strides.
Up until just a few seconds ago she had been planning on avoiding Sydney and Broots. At the same time she would have been able to avoid this morning's events. Maybe neither one of them will mention it. If they don't, then she won't either. Silently she prays that they won't.
"I didn't expect to see you in today." Picking up his pace Sydney quickly catches up to his colleague.
"Well, I sure as hell can't capture Jarod sitting at home."
"I just meant-"
"I know what you meant, Sydney. Just because Mr. Parker is dead, it's no reason to stall in our pursuit of Jarod."
"That's good news, Sis." Stopping in mid-stride Miss Parker fights back a shiver of revulsion as she turns to face her twin.
"Lyle, what are you doing here? I figure you and Raines would be moving into the chairman's office by now."
"Yes, well our father has insisted that I come down here to check on you."
"Check on me?"
"Yes, to see how you are handling the death of Mr. Parker."
"You can tell Raines not to worry. The death of 'Daddy' won't affect my job." Smiling falsely Lyle nods and leaves his sister alone with the Belgium man.
Shaking whatever negative thoughts that she can from her head the better half of the Parker twins continues to her office. Letting his concern get the better of his common sense, Sydney quietly follows her. All the while he unconsciously observes her manor trying to 'shrink' her.
"Find Broots. I want to know how Jarod got away from us and where he went. This game is over. It's time for Jarod to come home."
With that said, the huntress enters her office closing the door behind her. Taking a moment to consider his next course of action Sydney decides to do as she asked and not risk a royal beheading. The more anger and stress that she endures, the higher her chances are of ending up in the hospital with a perforated ulcer are. If that should happen Sydney isn't entirely sure that she is mentally strong enough to fight to survive again. After everything that has taken place it will be too easy to give into the temptations of death.
Stopping in mid-stride Sydney becomes aware of a sinking feeling in his gut. What if Jarod tries to see Miss Parker? With this new attitude of her's there will be no mercy for him. If Jarod antagonizes her she'll shoot him and not think twice. Whose side will he fall on? Both of them are like his own children, how can he choose?
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Now that they are at their destination Jarod and Ethan just sit there debating on whether or not to go to Miss Parker's house.
"If we go now we could be spotted by sweepers."
"What if she's in trouble?"
"She's probably at the Centre right now. Sydney will watch over her. It's smarter to just wait here."
"I'm just worried about her."
"I know, but if there's one thing that I know for sure about your sister is that she knows how to take care of herself."
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"Broots, do you have a moment?"
"S-Sure. Uh, what do you need?" Almost sighing in relief that it is Sydney and not one of the Centre's ghouls the balding technician gives his friend a small smile.
"Miss Parker has requested that you try harder in the search for Jarod. She feels that this 'game' or theirs has gone on too long, and is growing quite impatient."
"When has she ever been patient?" Immediantly he checks over his shoulder expecting Miss Parker to walk up like she always seems to do when he expresses a flippant remark towards her.
"I'm afraid that any patience she might have had is quickly running out." Twitching slightly the balding man nods and Sydney starts for the exit out of the Sim Lab.
"Hey, Sydney! Do you, uh, do you think she meant what she said this morning?"
Thoughtfully Sydney thinks of a response.
"I think that she's under a great deal of emotional stress. Anger happens to be her way of dealing with that stress. I do not believe that she meant everything that she said. She was merely acting out on her anger." Satisfied with his own response Sydney nods ever so slightly to himself.
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That's it for this chapter.