It's just another day at work. He said, in a vague attempt not to let her fears out once more.
The Village had affected him greatly, certainly something here, made his nightmares very frequent.
Nodding his head, he planted a knee on the ground, and began to search there, for any clue as to the whereabouts of the person who was supposed to be here.
He was stopped from his work by the sound of a radio, while the inside of his pocket began to vibrate frantically.
It was only there that Jason remembered something he had completely forgotten.
A radio, which had been given to him by Chris before he began this mission.
Jason grumbled inside, that damn thing ringing right now only meant one thing. More trouble for him.
The radio kept ringing, and for a second, Jason was tempted not to pick up, but his hand automatically took the radio.
–Yes?." He asked.
–This is Alpha. Omega?."
—Yes. This is Omega reporting. What happens Alpha?."
A prolonged sigh was heard from the other side. And Jason guessed that Chris was doubting his condition.
–Jason?."
–Yes."
Jason's answer was short, and Chris cursed him for the umpteenth time, sometimes he was so dry that it made him too exasperating to try.
He bit his tongue inwardly, and decided to put it aside for the moment, and concentrate on knowing the real situation.
–What happened?." Finally he asked, in a slightly worried tone.
Jason got up and continued walking, slowly approaching his next destination.
After a prolonged silence, the young man finally decided to answer.
–Nothing important.. So what happens?."
–The plan failed..." Chris was straightforward, and he immediately liked it.
–I figured it out."
–Miranda survived, and if that wasn't enough, she kidnapped Rose."
–I know." It was his answer, as he occupied her eye on his next target.
–How do you know?." Chris inquired with skepticism, but was interrupted by Jason's voice.
–I ran into some kind of informant."
–Jason.." His tone of voice expressed concern, Jason guessed, and something else.
–Nothing for you to worry about." It was decided to calm him down immediately, and then continue.
–I just want to confirm a suspicion, more like a hunch...Ethan's here?." He asked, not even lifting his eyes for a second from the enormous castle that was already hanging in front of him.
–Yes."
–Okay.More trouble.That... was it?."
–No."
–What's going on?."
–Change of plans.Leave recognition... you become plan A, you're our only choice."
–Good." The young man smiled.
–Rescue Rose and Ethan, I don't care how you do it, but do it."
–And Miranda?."
–That's another matter."
Jason snapped soundly, drawing the attention not only of Chris, but also of the man at the castle gates. Someone who, to his regret, was too well-known a person.
–Well..." Chris sighed.
–The rest of the team and I will take care of it.
Jason blinked his eyes, having mostly negative thoughts about how every step Chris took, led him straight to the hero's path. He always had to act like a hero, and that was counterproductive, because it made him over-demand himself in everything he did.
He still remembered the moment when he had to intercept him in a bar, tremendously drunk and not wanting to live on.
Thanks to Jill for that. She had told him about the death of Piers, a great friend and companion of Chris, and how he had felt so guilty about it.
No doubt, his death had hit him very hard. And only the support of Jill and his, sometimes, when he could, had pulled him out of that depressive pit that he was in.
The Chris of those days was more serious, and he took the missions very close to the skin, committing himself too much to them. And, to Jason's dismay, he always acted like the hero.
If it goes on like this.
Jason shook his head, completely determined to placate those bad thoughts.
–Some meeting point or extraction point?."He asked, trying to obviate the above.
–Meeting.The Moreau Reservoir.You'll know the exact place by how much you see it."
–Received."
–Do you have any idea about Ethan's whereabouts?."
–On the way."
–Jason." Chris' voice was harsh, I felt like I knew more.
The hairy guy sneared, but he still decided to let go of something he knew, at least with that, it would calm him down a little.
–He's already passed through the village, and I didn't find him there, which only means one thing.He's at the Castle."His gaze low, looking for the first time at the old acquaintance already in front of him.
–I'd like to corroborate it first, though." He added.
–Damn it." Chris spat, casting a prolonged sigh.
–Situation possible?."
–Knowing Al-." He stopped just in time, biting his tongue. There were some things Chris should never know.
–Probably the typical... being held or persecuted."
–I hope the second."
–Me too."
–Something about Rose?."
Immediately swallow hard. From what Karl had hinted at, Rose...
He instantly shook his head, Karl was, at times, a big liar.
An example of this was what I had told him about Alcina and her daughters, yes, perhaps they would be a little resentful towards him, that I understood. But they'll get to the point of becoming mere bloodsucking monsters.
No, that was not possible in any way.
Surely it was all just another one of his useless jokes.
–Nothing. Still." He's decided to put the truth aside for now.
–Good." It was Chris's sharp answer, and Jason frowned.
–Yes. I see we swapped roles." He laughed a little.
–Maybe, after all this time, I finally got stuck with your attitude." An attentive Chris quickly counterattacked, and for a moment, Jason felt right at home.
–Shit." He let go.
–What happened?."
–Nothing." He responded immediately
–Sure?."
–Yes."
–Okay, if you say so..." A pause ensued, until it was Chris himself who cut it.
–And Jason."
–Yes?."
–Look out."
–Okay."
–Seriously, Jason. I wouldn't want to be the first person to tell Jill about her best friend's death in a goddamn forgotten town in the middle of nowhere. Even less so, after everything we've been through..."
–Yes. After so much.."
Maybe the place that was the beginning of it all will be the end of me. The end of my path. He thought about himself.
Chris' voice brought him out of his dream.
–Haha, I can picture Jill going to your grave, pulling out your body and slapping you for being so stupid and insensitive." He gave a loud laughter, which Jason copied.
–I missed this... you allowed me to say."
–Me too... it reminds me... of those days when we were just a few members of Stars."
–Yes." Jason replied, as his gaze wandered slowly all over the place, until he finally stopped at the man who was greeting him, and his smile faded away. I had to get back to work.
–Okay, time to get back to work."
–Any new clue?."
–Yes, certainly. See you, Chris. Jason, out." He exclaimed, turning off his radio.
His half-smile a few moments ago was replaced by a completely serious, hard face.
The person in front of him smiled, immediately giving off a laugh, to which Jason frowned.
–I'd never forget a face. It's definitely you. It's a real pleasure, Mr. Jason, after all this time."
Jason under his head in a formal salute.
–The pleasure is mine, Duke. It's true, quite a while now." He replied, giving a quick and melancholy glance at the horizon.
–Well, then. What is the reason for your visit? If I may know, of course."
–Ha, you're still the same, Duke."
–Of course I do, Mr. Jason." He paused briefly, and continued.
–Then... How can I help you?." He offered.
–Direct to business, eh?."
–I'm a trader, that's my specialty."
–If you say so... well, let's get to it. I'm looking for some information."
–I'm at your complete disposal. I'm all ears."
Jason in response moved a little closer to the Duke, not to be something anyone was listening to.
–Tell me Duke. The castle has been.. Perhaps louder than usual?."
The fat man gave him his iconic smile, which, for Jason, turned out to be an enigma.
–You could say yes. But what worries me most is that the entire village has been very busy lately. Tell me, Mr. Jason, you have nothing to do with it, do you?." He whispered.
Jason understood at once what the Duke was implying to him. In exchange for giving him information about the Castle, he wanted to know what had been the causes of the village's situation. And no doubt, I had a feeling that Jason was the culprit, in fact, he had already said it.
It was discussed for a few seconds, the trader wouldn't have to know everything, just... The most notorious.
–It's a fair trade. I'll take it."
–I see the years have made you wiser, Mr. Jason."
–Hey, enough of that Mr., it makes me feel old."
–Isn't it?." The Duke asked cheatingly.
–Yes. Touché Duke. You if you're such a character.."
The fat man laughed, which caused his small abode to falter. Determined to avoid it, he went on.
–Last night there was a meeting between the village's hierarchs. I don't know the reasons for it, but what I did find out was that Heisenberg took a prisoner, a stranger. A person who apparently turned out to be insignificant to Mother Miranda, as he was subjected to Heisenberg's games."
–Interesting." Jason answered, hand on his chin, thinking.
–Tell me Duke. Do you know the whereabouts of that person? I don't think he's dead."
–Good and quick deduction, Mr. Jason." The Duke applauded.
–And to the question... your answer is behind those doors." He went on, pointing to the doors of the Castle which stands at its highest expression behind them.
Jason watched her in complete silence, a kind of sixth sense hinted that it was not a good idea to enter that Castle. Something strange, as he had been in that same Castle thousands of times in the past, and had never felt this strange and paralyzing feeling.
Karl was telling the truth?. He allowed himself to wonder.
He saw the Duke again, if there was anyone who could clear up his new doubt, it would be him.
–I have one more question."
–Oh Mr. Jason. I'm afraid I'll have to say no this time." Jason frowned at once, something the Duke noticed.
–Keep me sorry, I'm a trader, and I haven't received yet.. My assets."
Jason unleashed a silent curse, while he shook his head, he was practically tied up.
–All right, ask whatever you want."
A smile of complete fascination landed on the face of the experienced trader.
–I'll ask you the same question I asked you at the beginning. But this time..." He exclaimed, leaving the end to interpretation.
–I won't be able to divert the subject, or to skip it." Jason continued, taking the post.
–I won't get tired of saying it, Mr. Jason. In his time out he has undoubtedly become very wise."
–Not long enough." The hairdresser replied quickly, still a little hurt from feeling out of nowhere between the sword and the wall.
This is what happened to him for trusting. I should have been more cautious, and more in the face of a person like the Duke. Now I was at your complete mercy.
–Business is business." The fat man exclaimed.
–You took the words out of my mouth.."
–Then... What is the reason for your visit Mr. Jason?."
Silence. Jason's mouth was a stamp, and that, should have upset the trader, but he didn't, indeed, against all odds, loud laughter.
–You should have seen your face, Mr. Jason."
–Good. Look. As an incentive to you... I'll add one more question... and I want you to know that I'm haggling."
Jason laughed unintentionally. I noticed that the Duke enjoyed it too much, and that only made him feel even more miserable.
The person in front of him, between the lines, was enjoying his dominant position, and it hurt him immensely. Jason, at first I thought I would at least have an ally in the Duke. But now, I felt it all fade away quickly.
He was an idiot, the Duke had never been his friend, he was just a go-between, someone who worked in front of everyone, surely with a target in the shadows.
What was that fat man looking for?.
Surely, that was an unanswered question.
–Perhaps I shouldn't have come back." Jason whispered.
–Don't feel bad, Mr. Jason. If it makes you feel any better, many experienced players have played this game, and have fallen."
Jason ignored him, and decided to end this.
–Good. What's your other question?."
–When the time comes, will you do whatever it takes?." The Duke asked, with a bright smile.
That question ended up completely dislocating him.
What did this mean?.
Did... Did the Duke know?.
And then, as if he somehow understood his situation, the Duke laughed.
–Don't worry, Mr. Jason. There's still a long way to go to your crossroads."
That's when Jason regained control of his senses.
–Crossroads you say?."
–Yes. There will come a time when you will have to choose between your old family and..."
Again he left the ending in the air, but what he did, was to take a look at the castle doors.
He definitely knows something.
–Well. I don't bother you anymore, I know you have other more important matters than negotiating with a mere merchant like me. It was a pleasure to meet you once again, Mr. Jason, it's always an honor."
Jason squealed back.
–Duke. If you were a mere merchant, you wouldn't be here."
–Yes. It might be. It could be..."
But at that moment Jason realized something.
–I haven't answered any of your questions yet." He said with a slightly frown.
—You're wrong, Mr. Jason. You have already answered them, and let me tell you that you have done so in full."
Jason was suddenly stunned, and the Duke gave him a sympathetic smile.
–Business is business, Mr. Jason. Still, let me express my most notable thanks."
–I don't understand."
–It has made me very happy, your mere presence has revolutionized the people. Undoubtedly times of change are coming."
–And this deserves a gift."
–Really?."
–Sure. Although I'm afraid more than a gift, it will be a little riddle-shaped warning. Please forgive me, but I found them very interesting."
–I heard you."
–"The four pillars that still hold her in her power, without realizing it yet, have already changed, only with the simple and vague news of her return. The traveler, once a family, will have to choose, and of their choice, the people will eventually rise from their evil or sink into their eternal misfortune."
–W-what does that mean?."
–That will be a task you will have to figure out for yourself, I regret to inform you."
Jason grumbled instantly, he didn't have time for riddles.
Without further ado, the Duke pointed to the doors once more.
A staggering Jason started walking towards the doors, his legs were heavy, and his mind was going at a thousand an hour, thinking about the possibilities.
–After so long..." He exclaimed, knocking gently at the doors.
He fervently shook his head and closed his eyes.
Enough of this, I have to take the bull by the horns.It is time.You can, Jason.
After a few more seconds, he opened his eyes, already decided. He took one step and finally entered the grim Castle.
Oh yes, the next few days will be very interesting. The Duke thought, as he watched the ever-young Jason disappear.
