Jumper: Cent's Story
Okay and we are back once again for the next installment! ;)
In this chapter, we will see a whole new twist in this story that will change everything for Cent and John. We have finally met up with the organization known as "Syndicate", who we have met on far distance special occasions, but now we get a close up and a huge decision is made that will decide the fate of Cent and John. I hope you guys like what I have in mind.
After the death of Travis Shaw, both Cent and John meet a powerful figure in the organization of "Syndicate" and a decision will be made. Can our two favorite heroes actually survive against the most powerful organization in the world?
Please enjoy reading the next installment to the story! ;)
Chapter Twenty-Nine:
Truly Free
John:
Usually, a normal person would freak out at the sight of men with machine guns pointed at them, but John wasn't exactly normal. He had been in these types of situations more than once before. Perhaps too many times.
Cent was scared and soon had her arms around his waist, burying her face into his side.
The Men-in-Black remained where they were, their weapons pointed directly at them. The SUVs all formed half of a circle around the building, their headlights beaming right at them.
John tried to make out just how many of the Syndicate operatives there were, but there was too much light to figure that out.
As much as John wanted to just jump away, he couldn't. The chemical was still at work inside his veins. There was perhaps still a few more minutes left or more until the chemical is too weak to keep him from jumping.
"John...," Cent barely could speak. "...what do we do now?"
John shook his head and said, "I don't know. But I don't think they want us dead. In fact, I don't think they know who we are. They might let us go."
"How do you know?" Cent looked up at him.
John smiled and kissed her forehead.
"Because Syndicate operatives are supposed to take the shot at any Jumper, at any time they get," he explained. "And judging how these guys are just taking their time, I'm guessing that they're trying to make a decision about us. Syndicate maybe an evil organization, but they don't like leaving behind a huge mess. Two teenagers are something they don't want on their list of problems at the moment."
Cent nodded and buried her face back into his shirt, not wanting to see what happens.
John looked on and waited for the men to do something.
What are they waiting for? John asked himself.
The SUV in the middle of the half-circle pulled up and came closer to them. It stopped just thirty feet away, with about six Syndicate operatives guarding it. The passenger door opened and a mysterious man appeared, dressed like the rest of them. But John could tell that there was something very different about him. He didn't carry an automatic or any weapon of sorts. He straightened out his suit and closed the door.
John tried to see who the man was but the light from the SUVs were blocking all the faces of who were surrounding them. John kept his arms around Cent, wanting to keep her safe in his arms.
The mysterious man walked forward, past the SUV and continued on towards John and Cent. Two of the guards followed him from behind.
John watched as the man's face was finally revealed.
Unfortunately, the man was not someone that John knew which made him more uncomfortable about the guy.
The man stopped walking when he was about fifteen feet away from John. He had no expression and just stared at him and Cent.
After a few seconds of silence, the man spoke.
"So, this is the great John Bale," the man raised an eyebrow. "And you are the one who Travis Shaw feared some much?"
John didn't return the look and just said, "And you guys are the same people who murder Jumpers and their families for a living?!"
Cent turned her head to see the man herself.
The mysterious man chuckled and said, "Shaw was the one who murdered Jumpers and their families, we don't. We hate living behind messes. In fact, it is part of the rules that we follow." He paused and rubbed his chin. "There are rumors that we capture and experiment on Jumpers, well, they're wrong. We don't kill or experiment on them; we turn them into government operatives. The scientists erase their memories and replace them with ones that don't exist. Only a very few people know about that."
"Why are you telling me?" John asked.
The man smiled and said, "Because my organization wants
to thank you for handling Travis Shaw for us." He coughed. "Shaw has been breaking many protocols and rules for his own personal gain. He broke twice as many to get to you. Even going as far as to kill one of our own."
John's eyes widened. That was news he never heard before.
"Shaw thought he could get away with it, but we're Syndicate, we know everything goes on with our agents."
"Why would Syndicate want to thank me?" John was confused.
"Because Travis Shaw had to be dealt with. We couldn't kill him ourselves. Killing Shaw would have caused a huge riot in our organization. There are people who are followers of Shaw and do what he does in the field. And we also couldn't reveal his actions of killing a Syndicate operative; it would have set things off with our directors. We were on our way to bring him in for question, until we heard the fight between you and him." The man smiled. "We know that you killed him, John. My organization wants to thank you for handling a situation that was far beyond our control. My organization has made a decision about you."
John raised an eyebrow and asked, "And what is that?"
"We will ease all attempts to capture you," the man said. "You will be allowed to go on as you please and live your life in peace. It's our way of gratitude and also repaying our debts."
For once, John was shocked and stunned.
"Why?" John couldn't help but ask.
"We maybe an organization that does horrible things for the right reasons, but we always repay our debts. You did us an honor by killing Shaw and now he isn't much of a problem anymore. My organization will clean up the mess and are allow you to go. And by the way, enjoy the summer vacation." He winked and turned to the vehicle, getting back in.
Some of the men-in-black walked right past John and Cent and walked inside the warehouse, not bothering about them.
Taking it as their moment to leave, both Cent and John walked away from the warehouse and down the street of the prier. When John felt the chemical wear off, he tightened his grip on Cent's hand and jumped.
Cent:
Cent was never happier to be home again.
As John jumped them into her bedroom, she couldn't help but embrace John and allow a few tears to fall from her eyes. She chuckled some more and tightened her grip on John harder.
John returned the favor and kissed her neck.
"What just happened?" Cent asked as they parted.
John chuckled and said, "I think Syndicate has finally agreed to stop chasing me. Despite that they didn't know about me until today, they must have been so happy to have Shaw out of their hair that had decided to reward me by promising to never come after me again." He laughed and said, "I think I'm free now."
Cent cried some more and hugged him again.
"Cent?! John?!" Millie's voice came from the doorway as she busted right in, along with David.
Once they saw them, they didn't hesitate to ran towards them and give a big old hug to both of them. It was like one family hug.
Millie gave Cent a big old bear old and said, "Are you alright honey?"
Cent nodded and hugged her mom back.
"Yes, mom, I'm fine."
David hugged her next and then asked, "What about Shaw?"
John's smile disappeared as he answered, "He's dead. He won't be a problem anymore. And either will Syndicate either."
David understood what he meant and nodded in agreement, not carrying the conversation any farther.
Millie suddenly grabbed John and hugged so hard he thought he heard a few ribs cracked.
"I'm so happy you are okay!" Millie said.
John smiled and hugged back. He allowed one small tear to fall from his eye. He never received a hug like in a long time. Not since his mother died.
Cent couldn't help but cry as she watched this happen before her. She could tell that John was still trying to get use to the whole thing, but he seemed to recognize it very well.
Next, David moved Millie out of the way and gave John a hug as well.
"Thank you so much for my daughter's life," he said. "You are indeed her true love... son."
John didn't even try to hold back the tears and just allowed it all to come out.
Once David and him pulled apart, Millie clapped her hands and said, "Okay, first night of summer and I call it. Ice scream!"
Cent rolled her eyes and playfully punched her on the shoulder, "You got it mom!"
Without another word, they all hurried down stairs to the kitchen, where the Vilonia and Chocolate ice scream was waiting for them in the freezer. While David and Millie shared the Vilonia, both Cent and John shared the Chocolate, who playfully feed each other the ice scream at a time.
John:
That night, while everyone went to bed, both John and Cent slept together in Cent's bedroom. They held onto each other and stroked each other's cheeks and hair, which also included a kiss every now and then.
Cent knew that her parents didn't have any trouble with John staying over, but she asked anyway, just loving hearing the word yes from them. John laughed everything she would repeat the question to annoy them.
While it was near two in the morning, both of them couldn't fall asleep. It was almost impossible to after what just happened.
As John stared up at the ceiling, he felt Cent tighten her arms around his neck and kiss his cheek.
"Thank you," she said in a warm and beautiful voice that John always loves hearing.
"For what?" he asked.
"For saving me and protecting me," she said. "I know I'm one big pricy girlfriend, which just happens not to money kind of pricy."
"You're not pricy!" John chuckled. "I would travel to the end of the world and back if I have to rescue you. All I want is to be with you forever. Just as long as you want me to be with you, I will always be there. I promise."
Cent smiled and said, "I know. I love you."
"I love you, too."
After kissed and Cent rested her head on his chest, just loving the sound John's heartbeat. John loved holding her in his arms and being there to protect her.
"John?" Cent asked a few minutes later.
"Yes?" John smiled.
"Is all of this real?" she asked. "Shaw is gone. Syndicate is no longer a problem. Is all of this really happening?"
John nodded and said, "Yes, my darling, it is real. Just as real as this." He leaned in and kissed her on the lips.
After a little while longer, Cent finally fell asleep.
John stayed awake for a little while longer and just stared into space.
For so long, John had been on the run from Shaw and the evil organization of Syndicate. But now, Shaw was dead and Syndicate was finally out of his life for good. Without having them as enemies anymore, John finally saw the world differently. It seemed bigger and things felt way safer.
For once in John's life, he was truly free.
Whew! Man, this story is really getting good by the minute! I cannot wait to get to the good stuff next! We still have some more things to cover up. ;)
Okay, who is happy that John and Cent are finally free of all of the villains now? Travis Shaw and Syndicate are all gone forever. No more twists and turns, at least none that are always taking a turn for the worst anyway.
A special thanks to Marie King, Rose, and GeekyZoee for their beautiful, wonderful reviews! Thank you guys so much!
Please review on how you liked the chapter! :)