Chapter 13

Betrayal

The steady beat of strong wings soothed Sam's anguish as he flew towards what he thought was Jebs new base. He had made a brief journey to the mind of one of his erasers, apparently named Jake. He examined the surroundings through Jakes eyes and left him as he entered a small cabin with Jeb. Then he flew off in search of the place, ah, to be a bird-kid.

Below him, Sam could see trees, lots of trees. Always a favourite spot for hiding illegal experimentation. Sam dipped slightly as he slowed down to hover over the vast forest. He scanned everywhere, every tree, every clearing searching for something that didn't fit. After some frustrating searching he caught a glimpse of white in the corner of his eye. Through closer inspection he found it was a small cabin, there were only three or four but Sam had already seen the whole thing through Jake's eyes. He knew this had to be the place.

Sam tumbled face forward into a tree as his legs gave way beneath him. Landing was never his greatest skill. Luckily for him no-one seemed to be guarding the small base so his embarrassing amount of noise went un-noticed. He slipped through the trees towards the cabins. Sam sat in the darkest patch of shrubbery he could find near the site and tried to stay inconspicuous. This proved difficult as his wings hadn't lost their white glow since he had last summoned the power. In fact, the strength itself hadn't left him. It sat, fizzing at the back of his consciousness ready to be used at any time. Sam tensed as Jeb Batchelder stepped out of a cabin with a sign scratched across the wooden door:

Restricted

With every step Jeb took Sam had to resist the urge to jump out and throttle him for all the pain he had caused. It pleased him to see Batchelder was worried, sweat dripped from every pore as if he was shedding his consciensce itself. Jeb stumbled twice on his way to another cramped, narrow building and paced nervously up the steps towards the door. Sam could have sworn Jeb looked straight at him before retreating into the room and closing the door.

Jeb slumped into his chair, he felt his shirt stick to his back but he was focusing on something else. A skill he had practiced ever since he got into this business. With his sweat he let his conscience go to. Let it ooze out of every pore and leave him. Jeb had to learn not to feel. A screech from outside let him know one of his many terrible chores was ended. He picked himself up and went outside.

Sam had to swallow a gasp as he nearly tripped over a small body. It had been so badly mutilated its face could barely be made out. There wasn't an inch of it unscathed. Sam kneeled down beside it. He could tell it was an eraser attack, any animal would have eaten it, not just left it here. It wasn't just any eraser though, normally they were much more efficient and there was always a fine line across the victims neck. Even erasers had limits. Sam looked up at the sound of quiet sobbing, ahead of him was a large figure hunched over. It held its head in its hands and faint sniffs could be heard from its direction. The creature hadn't noticed Sam edging ever closer. One broken twig later and its head shot up. Sam stumbled back, it was an eraser. It was Jake.

"D…Did you do that?" stuttered Sam, pointing a talon to the still body. Jake nodded.

"I didn't want to, I couldn't stop" Jake looked straight at Sam. He saw fear in those black eyes, fear and something else. Guilt? He wasn't sure but maybe it was telling the truth. After all Jake wasn't trying to kill him and erasers always wanted Sam dead. Jake wasn't even standing, he knelt there scratching at something round his neck.

"Please help me. You're the one with all that power aren't you? I'm not me" sighed the eraser.

"I have no control. I wouldn't have done that to Dom if I could help it." He finished, glancing at the body.

"If she makes me attack you I won't stop. It gives me strength I can't control. Save me… p…please" Jake rose to his feet as if pulled by an external force. He tensed, preparing to leap onto Sam. With the power summoned Sam wasn't expecting a challenge. His ideas changed when he was pinned against a tree trunk. His force barely keeping the eraser from tearing him apart. Jake's powerful arms were thrashing out against Sam's power. His wild eyes not focused.

An idea struck Sam before Jake could and he caught a brief glimpse of Jeb before he disappeared.

Sam couldn't stay in Jakes mind for long. Pain shot through him almost as soon as he entered, alongside it cam anger and frustration. Jake was fighting, lashing out at his oppressor but all these different feelings and thoughts were hurting Sam, killing him. He couldn't escape but Jake wasn't the one keeping him in there, no, this was stronger than any eraser. Sam began to panic, he couldn't bear the thought of being trapped somewhere again. He clung to one remaining strand of sanity and pulled his way out of Jakes mind, a child's laugh ringing out behind him as he left.

Sam was against the tree again beside a very confused eraser. He stood for only a second before his legs crumpled under his weight. All his strength had left him and now he was helpless. Sam could only watch as Jake picked him up. He heard that same laugh before his world was consumed by darkness and he fell, without resistance into a deep dreamless sleep.

Jeb couldn't help but let a smile pass his lips as Jake carried what was supposed to be the biggest threat in his arms. Sam just hung there, limp and helpless. Jeb liked helplessness.

"Did I do good Mr Jeb?" asked the little girl standing beside him.

"Yes Angel good girl" Jeb ruffled her hair and her feathers before making his way back to camp.

I would like to apologise for ignoring this for so long, i will update again A.S.A.P, seriously! please Review?