Chapter 34

False Promises

Joshua sighed. It was an exasperated sigh. Even after forty minutes he hadn't gotten even an inkling of the answers he was looking for. Hell, he hardly knew the questions. Inside an interview room that was unlocked, Joshua had started to talk to Jason mostly, although Dorothy came in some times and David and Jennifer had a few questions directed at them.

He knew that the bridge was fabricated. Not Death's design. So that meant something gave Dorothy and Jason the visions. After the question's, Joshua had decided that they weren't drugged. There weren't any 'blank' moments in their memories, which would have supported the theory. They hadn't drunk anything suspicious recently and while it was still possible a drug could have been slipped into their drinks, it was unlikely. A drug which would induce visions would be a very potent drug. Likely knocking the subject out since it would be affecting all sort of things in the brain. No, it wasn't drugs.

Soon, Joshua took other possible out of the equation. They weren't threatened, Dorothy because David watched over her like a hawk and Jason was tough and Jennifer protective. No-one would have got close to them to threaten them like that. Jennifer and David would have caught on, easily. They hadn't had any interactions with police or FBI or special services, no-one who would have got close simply by civilian trust. No threats, no drugs... Joshua was at a stand-still and it irritated him.

Something had to have caused it! The vision's came about by Death, usually, but this wasn't death. They had to have been implanted, but how?

"You know what, this is useless." Joshua finally said, standing up and brushing a hand through his hair.

"Oh? Finally worked that out, have you?" David asked with a roll of his eyes.

"You know they were fake. You know that something implemented your visions." Joshua said, ignoring David. "So... that's all for now. I need time alone, I need to figure out what and why and how. Because you are not giving me anything. It's not your fault, but I am not getting anything from you."

"Right then. We'll be going. Thank you for wasting forty minutes of our time. You could have simply said the visions were fake, explained it and that would'a taken five minutes." David shook his head in irritation and gently pulled Dorothy up. Dorothy smiled slightly in Joshua's direction before both left for the motel.

Jason stayed sitting, massaging the bridge of his nose.

"Aren't you going?" Joshua questioned, glancing down at the sitting man.

"I will do... but... are you saying something got into my mind?" Jason actually looked worried, perhaps even scared. "Something... got into my head?"

"It's a possibility. I mean, you could have got drugged. I doubt it, but it's a possibility. But it's almost certain that your brain has been tampered with, yes."

"You say it so bluntly..." Jason smiled grimly. "Well, thank you for today... for explaining everything. I think it's what a lot of us needed. But who would believe it..." with a faint humourless chuckle, Jason let Jennifer out of the room.

Joshua remained in the same standing position for five minutes after Jason left before moving. He walked towards the wall and placed both hands flat on the surface, putting his weight on it as he thought.

What is the answer? I can't think of it, but it had to be something... something that's outsmarting me... something on the edge of my thoughts but what? Joshua clenched his fists against the wall, his knuckles pressing against the concrete. Damnit, why is this happening? Who the hell would want to imitate Death?

"You seem deep in thought."

Joshua opened his eyes to see Nick standing in the doorway. For a moment Joshua didn't recognize him, since Nick had freshly shaved. The ugly moustache was completely gone, leaving a fairly handsome young man underneath. He looked like one of your typical white rookie cops, in Joshua's experience. "I'm always deep in thought." Joshua replied. "Why'd you shave?"

Nick shrugged in reply. "Seems ridiculous, now I think about it. Got a motel room, like you said. Looked myself in the mirror and I couldn't take myself seriously. Act of impulse, shaving, I guess. To think I kept it just because she told me to..." Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, Nick pressed a hand to his chest. "You know, I don't forgive you for this."

"Guessed as much." Joshua replied. "Most people don't forgive others who shoot them."

"No, not the bullet."

"Hm?" Joshua raised an eyebrow, confused.

"My heart is trembling. Full of worry." Nick sighed. "It's bad for me, you know. In just a day, I've seen way too many dead bodies. And now I gotta worry about fourteen more, including myself. You're saying we got the potential to die, and as a cop, man, that's hurts. I gotta protect and serve. I feel like I can't do that."

"None of you are going to die. Not on my watch." Joshua said stiffly.

"You say that, but... you are one man. Hell, hardly a man. What are you, eighteen?"

Joshua didn't reply, staring at Joshua as if to say, what's your point?

"Look... a whole lot of people protect the presidents. But that didn't stop some of 'em getting assassinated. Trained people, people who work together in tandem still couldn't stop some presidents getting killed. Are you telling me that you are better than hundreds of trained people? I don't believe you." Nick shook his head. "I may be somewhat inexperienced in terms of being a cop, but I've experienced stuff like this before. Sometimes, you have to make a choice, and sometimes, it ain't a good choice. It's a lose-lose situation. I had to admit it, but out of the fourteen of us some of us are going to be killed. It is impossible for us to protect each other. You can't expect us to just stick together."

"Only for a year. After that, it's fine. I've explained that."

"A year is a long time." Nick said seriously. "And this group isn't exactly similar. I'm a cop and I will have to go back to my job. I expect Dorothy and David will want to go back to New York. Hell, most of them are from New York, aren't they? So say you keep track of them. Then I'm going to die, because it's impossible to get down in time to help me. Let's not mention that fact that you got other occupations that can't work together. Whether it's me or Dorothy or Jay or anyone, somebody's gotta die. Someone is going to die."

"Kind of a pessimist aren't you? What are you trying to say?" Joshua found himself angry, but kept it inside.

"I'm trying to stop you from making false promises. It's in my blood that the truth goes a long way. None of us are going to die?" Nick shook his head. "Ain't gonna happen. You're inexperienced, simply because you're young. You cannot save all of us. Accept that fact, and don't make promises you can't keep."

Joshua didn't reply, just stared at a spot to the left of Nick's ear. Staring into nothingness.

"Also, it's a good idea to leave the station. The other's will be coming back soon, and you're still a fugitive for attempted murder." With that, Nick left the room in silence.

Joshua found his fists clenched and made an effort to unclench them.

"Heh... Truth goes a long way, huh? In my experience, that statement itself is a lie." Joshua forced a smile on his face, but it didn't reach his eyes. Speaking to nobody but himself, Joshua said loudly, "I will make sure nobody else dies. That's the truth." Joshua nodded to himself firmly, persuading himself. He had the means to save everyone. He knew the days they would die, all he needed was the clues that the others would see. Working together, everyone will be able to survive a year, that much was certain.

Was it?

Joshua's eyebrows creased as he doubted himself. Could he save everyone? Yes. Yes, he had to. But was Nick right? No, he had the means to save them... but...

"Stop thinking, damnit!" Joshua growled out loud, putting a hand to his forehead stiffly. "Damn... Damn!" Irritated and his mind awhirl, Joshua left the room and walked straight out of the main door. Usually, Joshua would have seen the man in the corner, but being in the wrong state of mind he completely missed the man.

Gerald Myers couldn't help but smile. He had heard everything in that room. He knew Joshua was now trying to solve the bridge problem. Can't have that now, can we? Myers unfolded his phone and speed dialled a number before placing it to his ear. "Gerald Myers. I need one of your very best. You know what for. I need someone killed."

A/N:

Thanks to Silentking1, LocalTalent53, Cenobia100, Bookreader2010 and Gabe's-Girl-Forever for the reviews!

I feel much better now, so updates should be back to normal. Just when you think your better, it comes down on you again. But anyway, I'm not sick, so that's good news for both you and me.

Also, I estimate perhaps four to five chapters, maybe, until the end of Act 1. Or, in the story, two days.

With that, I'll leave you be 'till next them which should be either tomorrow or the day after. Thanks, and 'till then!