A/N: I felt inspired for this chapter by Paramore's "Emergency" and Breaking Benjamin's "Breathing Slowly". This chapter is like my overall favorite for the story because of the descisions Angela has to make. Next chapter will be the last one for Control. Sequel is in mind, but planning. Read, review, and enjoy!!
Chapter 16: Missing
Griffin was getting bored with playing the same game over and over, with no Paladins to track and all, so he decided to go see if he could go help Angela with whatever research she was doing. It had been hours since she holed herself up in her study and Griffin also figured she could use some company. He opened the door and poked his head in. "Angela?" he called. As he opened the door wider, he didn't see Angela. Not at her desk, not napping on the couch, and not slouched in her recliner in the corner behind the door reading a book. Griffin ran a hand through his hair, messing it up in the process as he sighed. 'Never sensed a jump. Where did she go?' His eyes went to her desk. He noticed her computer was still on and walked over, leaning on the desk and peering over it. There was a Map Quest page up for a location in Houston, Texas. "Oh shit. Damn it, Angela." Griffin needed a picture of the location and found that she had one open in the corner of the screen. He clicked it and enlarged the photo. The photo was touristy looking, with a family of five smiling in the foreground and a large building in the background. He ran out of the study and into his bedroom. He changed into his boots, expecting a fight, and then grabbed the wooden baseball bat he kept in his armoire. He darted to the living room and jumped once his foot touched the wood floor. He landed in his destination: David's living room.
David flinched back, a bit surprised at seeing Griffin appear in his house. "Griffin? What are you doing here?" He got up from the couch and walked over to Griffin.
Griffin furrowed his brow. "Angela took off."
David's face dropped. "Where'd she go?" he asked in a worried tone.
He glared at David. "Texas. I think she found another Paladin base."
David looked at a door. "No time to lose then. Let's go," he motioned to the door. "After you." David rolled the sleeves of his button up to his elbows and Griffin nodded. He walked towards the door and jumped to the building in Houston. David was right behind him when he looked over his shoulder.
Griffin swung the bat onto his shoulder. "Let's go find the party, yeah?"
---
(Angela POV)
Angela was engaged in a battle with a Paladin woman and man when she felt the jump. She looked out the entrance and saw the forms of two men just outside the gate and moving towards the door. 'Damn. They weren't supposed to come.' Angela flicked the knife out of her back pocket and swiftly slashed the man across the chest, ripping his shirt and causing blood to pour from the wound. She really didn't want them to be here, but she could use the help. 'Not like I can take on a whole building of Paladins on my own.' She jumped behind the woman and kicked her feet out from under her. Second after her jump, Griffin burst into the lobby with David not far behind. He jumped in front of the Paladin woman, who was struggling to hold onto her shock stick and not let Angela take it, and whacked her across the back of the head. Angela pulled the stick from her as she dropped to the floor with a slight huff. "What are you two doing here?" she asked very nonchalantly.
Griffin held the bat in one hand and stormed up to her. "You bloody took off that's why!"
Angela shrugged. "Sorry. It's just something I have to do."
David took a step forward. "If this about your mother-"
"She's not my mother!" Angela shouted at David. "I just have to see if he told me the truth."
"Who? That bloke who claimed to be your brother?"
Angela looked back to Griffin. "Yeah." She turned around, still brandishing the knife in her hand, and started towards the elevator.
"Where yeh goin' now?" Griffin asked.
"To find Paulette. Maybe see if any of the other higher ups are here," she told him as she pushed the button to call the elevator.
She looked over and saw David hurrying over to her. "Don't hurt my mom if you find her. Please," he looked at her with big pleading blue eyes. Angela smirked and gave a nod.
Griffin joined them with an eye roll. "I guess I shouldn't let you two go off alone." He waved the bat and said, "I do have this too. Could get a bit of use out of it."
Angela smiled at him and kissed him on the cheek as the elevator dinged, signaling it arrived. The doors opened and the trio stepped into the elevator.
---
(Griffin POV)
They rode the elevator until someone on a different floor called for the elevator, which only took a couple of minutes. A Paladin man was waiting for the elevator and looking at his watch. Griffin stepped in front of him and smacked him down with the bat. They got out of the elevator and looked up and down the hallways. Griffin set eyes on two people on the opposite end of the hallway, looking towards them. 'Is that?...' The two looked towards them with surprised expressions.
Griffin heard David say, "Mom," next to him, looking up towards them. "And Roland…"
Griffin fumed at seeing them. "Guys, I saw Paulette go into a room down there. If you two wanna take care of this, I'll be right back." Griffin heard her footsteps run off in the opposite direction and a door shut.
He looked at David. "Think you can take on your mum?" he asked his fellow jumper standing next to him.
David sighed. "This was always going to happen. I guess."
"Good." Griffin jumped a few steps in front of the two and smirked.
---
(Angela POV)
Angela ran into the room she saw, what looked to be, the back of Paulette go into. She concealed the knife in the pocket of Griffin's jacket and stared Paulette down. Paulette stood in front of a desk and turned around, an evil look upon her face. "Hello Angie."
Angela snarled at her, toying with the knife in her pocket. "So is it true? You used me for testing when I was younger?"
Paulette raised an eyebrow. "You finally found out. Did you remember or someone tell you?"
"Bobby. Before he died," Angela said with a shrug. She noticed Paulette's expression become shocked. "Oh, didn't you know?"
Paulette smirked at Angela. "He was missing. I expected the worst." She crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes. "How did it feel to murder your own brother?" she asked in a dark voice.
"I don't know," Angela replied. "I didn't have to. But in a minute I'll know what it's like to kill my mother!" she shouted and jumped onto the desk, kicking Paulette in the back. Paulette fell, but got right back up with a shock stick in hand. She shocked Angela in the hip, causing her to twitch backwards.
Angela whipped out the knife and crouched on the desk, looking quite barbaric with a glimmer of evil in her eye. She leaped at Paulette and the knife made contact with Paulette's stomach. Angela felt a sting in her side though and toppled to the side. 'Stupid stick.' She rolled away from Paulette, who was writhing on the floor in pain and holding her stomach. Angela pushed herself up and managed to stand. She tried to jump, but only twitched and nearly fell again.
Doubled over, she heard Paulette laugh menacingly. "You won't kill me. I know you," she cackled.
Angela glanced at her. 'She's right. I just can't bring myself to do it.' She stood up straight and swayed a little. "You don't know me," Angela said weakly.
"Oh, but I do. You watched your sister die, you don't trust David because of what happened, and you were pregnant." Angela noticed the blood practically pouring out from her wound and winced. "I do know you Angela. I know more than you think I know." Paulette's face twisted in pain.
Angela jumped back to the spot in front of the elevator, not knowing what to expect when she was there. 'Not a second longer.' She assessed the situation and saw Griffin fighting Roland, and David engaged with his mother in a verbal fight with a hit here and there. Angela's world went spinning. 'What is going on?' Her only reaction was a scream. She screamed loudly and clenched the sides of her head. Angela dropped to her knees and felt someone at her side, gripping her arm.
Griffin's voice rang in her ears. "Ang, are you okay?" Angela's breath sped up and shook her head. "I'm taking you home. Hang on, alright." She felt the familiar pull three times and then realized she was back at their home.
"No no no. We shouldn't have left. She's still alive," Angela said as she opened her eyes slightly and pounded her hands against her forehead.
Griffin grabbed her hands. "Hey. Stop tha'. Look I've gotta get David out of there. Do you want me to-"
"No. Don't even touch her," she growled as she looked up at him with scornful eyes. Griffin gave a nod and let go of her, jumping back to the Paladin building. She stood up slowly and shuffled over to the couch in the living room, throwing herself down on it. She groaned. 'I'm hopeless. I can't even make a simple decision.' A voice in her head was brewing an argument. 'Kill or be killed. It's as simple as that.' She shook her head in detest with herself. 'But she's technically my mother.' Angela pulled the pillow on the back of the couch over her face. 'She's a Paladin and used you. Would you really give her mercy?' Angela squeezed her eyes shut; hoping to fall into a deep slumber, but only saw Paulette on the ground and bleeding as she did mere minutes ago. 'This is ridiculous. Stop. Stop. Stop. Stop. Stop!' All the screaming in her head was starting to give her a pounding headache. She clenched her eyes tighter and shortly drifted to a dreamless sleep.