"They must be punished!" the Father yelled in frustration as he paced back and forward in his office. "Synyster Gates had such potential. I cannot believe his sinful actions!"
"Says the man who let them get away."
The Father stopped pacing and turned to glare at the man who stood in the darkened corner of the room. "Do not dare blame me for the actions of a sinner!"
The man chuckled as he stepped into the light of the room. "Of course not. Father." The man was tall and strong. Had a shaved head and bright blue eyes and pale skin.
The Father walked over to his desk and sat down, folding his hands under his chin. "Can I trust you to track down and punish these sinners, Matthew Shadows, Number One of the Holy Elite?"
Matthew smirked and said, "Yes, Father."
«*»
The next morning was awkward. Alec had fallen asleep while in Brian's arms, and Brian didn't sleep all night, keeping an eye out for any Holy Elite that would be after them. When Alec woke up and realized he was still in Brian's arms, he immediately pushed himself away and turned, avoiding eye-contact as much as possible. Even when Brian handed him an energy bar from his survival kit, Alec took it with a mumbled "thank you" and continued to avoid looking at him. Brian sighed as he readied the aero-pod, then he looked at Alec and asked, "You still coming with me?"
Alec glanced over but immediately looked away again and said, "I don't have a choice." He stood up and walked over to the aero-pod. Once Brian was on, he climbed on behind him and held onto him. "Where we headed?"
"North," Brian answered. "Haven't decided where exactly. Every major city would have a BOLO out on us by now."
"What about that woman?" Alec suddenly asked as Brian turned on the engine. "The one who helped us?"
Brian sat in silence for a moment, closing his eyes as he thought about the sorrow in Kiva's eyes. He had asked her why she had never told him how she felt about him, but he already knew the answer to that: the Holy Elite were made of priests. Allowing a love relationship between two priests was against the law of the church. Allowing a love relationship for a priest was against church law period. He sighed and softly said, "I don't doubt that she's been... punished for helping us escape."
Alec remained silent.
"It's as good a sin as any..." Brian revved the engine, then took off, heading North.
«*»
It was dark and damp. Cold. The smell of blood invaded Kiva's nose as she began to slowly awake. Her head was throbbing from the blow she had received the night before, when she had been caught. After helping Brian and Alec escape, she was surrounded and outnumbered. She surrendered, expecting to die then and there. But someone had come up from behind and hit her hard over the head, knocking her out.
She groaned when she felt soreness in her shoulders, and as she opened her eyes she realized it was because her arms were chained over her head to the cold, stone wall behind her. She glanced around and froze in terror when she realized where she was.
The room she was in was mostly empty. It was like an old dungeon cell you would see in movies that took place during medieval times. Just a cold, damp cell with one barred window way up near the ceiling, hay on the floor and a barred door across the room from where she was.
But this was more than just a medieval look-alike dungeon. This was where the Holy Elite would bring people involved with sinners to... "interrogate" them. More like...
"Torture," Kiva whispered under her breath. The sound of screams echoing throughout the dungeon only proved her terrifying suspicion, and when she heard footsteps heading her way, she wished she had been killed. When the silhouette of a man appeared on the other side of the cell door, Kiva dared not look away. She glared at the figure as he unlocked the door and stepped in.
The man wore a thick black cloak and a hood that overshadowed his face, so Kiva could not identify him. But she figured it was either Joshua or Boheim. Both seriously sadistic bastards who loved their job way too much. In one hand the man held a long electric rod, used to bludgeon the interviewee for answers.
Kiva continued to glare at him, showing no signs of fear or remorse.
The hooded man held up his electric rod and was ready to start beating Kiva when another man came in and shouted, "Halt!" Both Kiva and the hooded man looked at the man who had just walked in. Kiva's eyes widened in horror when she saw Matthew Shadows walk in with his dark smirk. "Leave us," he told the hooded man, not taking his eyes off Kiva.
The man gave a slight bow and left immediately.
Matthew glanced around the room, then walked over to Kiva. "Plotting with sinners, are we?" he asked sarcastically.
Kiva spat at his feet.
Matthew only laughed. "You think that's intimidating?" He crossed his arms as he leaned against a wall.
"No," Kiva answered nonchalantly. She smirked. "It's more... humiliating."
Matthew shrugged as he pushed himself off the wall. "I am a humble man." He smiled. An oddly kind smile. It terrified Kiva. "And I am willing to help you."
Kiva chuckled, shaking her head as she looked at the ground. "Help me how? The Father would never just let a sinner go free."
"Exactly," Matthew said, raising a finger in agreement. "He doesn't want to kill you, per se. His plan is to make you suffer."
Kiva looked up at him blankly, but deep in her eyes, she was terrified.
Matthew smirked, knowing he had her right where he wanted her. He stepped over to her, placing one hand against the wall by her head and leaned forward, making eye-contact with her. Still smirking, he spoke in a soft voice: "You tell me where they are, I will kill you painlessly. That's the deal."
Kiva stared into the man's bright eyes for a long moment before finally answering, "I honest to God have no idea where they are... I confess I helped them escape, but damn if I know where they are heading..."
Matthew's smirk did not falter as he stared at her. He pushed himself off the wall and took two steps back from her. "Okay," he said with a nod. He turned and left the cell, shouting, "She's all yours!"
The hooded came back in right away, his rod at the ready.
Kiva glared at the man as he slowly approached. This was not going to be a pretty sight...
«*»
Matthew threw off his cloak as he approached his aero-pod. He wore a black turtle neck tank top tucked into black cargo pants and wore combat boots. (It was a hot sunny day. He would not need his heavy cloak.) When he reached his aero-pod he pulled out his long sword from the latch that was on it and attached it to his back. Four men pulled up alongside him on their aero-pods and waited. Matthew looked at each of them and nodded. As he jumped onto his aero-pod, he shouted at the men,"All of you, stay on me! We'll head in the direction they were seen going when they were leaving the city, and go from there! Father's orders is to track them down and punish them for their sins! In other words-" He smirked as he pulled on a pair of black, fingerless gloves. He started the engine and leaned forward, still smirking. "-Kill 'em," he whispered as he revved his engine and took off with the four men following close behind.
«*»
When Brian parked the aero-pod just outside a rundown, middle-of-nowhere, bar and grill, he waited for Alec to step off first, then got off and turned to the younger man. Brian sighed when Alec turned away. "We should be safe here... for now, anyway. News travels slow in the desert."
Alec continued to avoid Brian's eyes, his arms crossed and head turned, looking out toward the horizon. It seemed there was nothing out there but sand and sun.
Brian nodded as he turned. "Avoid me all you want, but I have money for food, and I'm sure you're starving by now." He began walking toward the door of the old bar.
Alec watched him walk away for a moment, the dropped his arms and called, "I never said thank you."
Brian stopped and turned back toward Alec.
Alec gulped, suddenly feeling embarrassed. "For... for saving me. For not... killing me. And helping me escape."
Brian raised an eyebrow at him.
Alec gulped and shifted his weight, looking shyly at the ground. "So... thanks..."
Brian couldn't help but smile. Alec's shy side was quite attractive. "You're welcome."
Alec looked up at him, then gulped again. He crossed his arms once more, once again avoiding Brian's eyes. "D-don't get a big head... I'm still pissed you let Amos..." He paused suddenly, staring at the wood of the building, standing in silence for a long time.
Brian looked away, suddenly wanting to avoid eye-contact as well.
"I am hungry..." Alec walked passed Brian, up the steps and through the doors into the restaurant.
Brian stood in silence for a moment before taking a quick glance around, making sure there was no one in the distance, then he walked up the steps, following Alec inside.
It was dark inside, a few lights here and there. There were tables all over, but only a few people. The music that was playing was classic country. Everyone turned to look at the two men as they walked in, but immediately went back to doing what they were doing. Alec immediately headed toward the bar and sat down, looking up at the menu.
Brian glanced around, taking in his surroundings, checking for all exits, getting a good look at the people in the restaurant, then walked over to the bar and sat near Alec.
Alec was already ordering: "A chicken ranch wrap with some water, please."
The bar tender wrote down the order, then looked at Brian who was taking off his cloak. When Brian realized the man was waiting for an order, he glanced up at the menu. He skimmed it quickly before saying, "Cheese steak sandwich. With bourbon."
The bar tender wrote down the order, then turned and slipped it through a whole in the wall to the folks in the kitchen, then he immediately turned to get the bourbon.
Alec glanced at Brian and asked, "Alcohol? At a time like this?"
Brian shrugged. "Just a few shots."
Alec shook his head with a sigh. As Brian received his first shot and threw it back, Alec took in the older man's new appearance. For a while, all he saw Brian in was that huge cloak. But now that Brian had taken it off, you could really see what he looked like.
He had a nice body. Fit and strong; understandable, considering his line of work... Former line of work. He wore a tight, long-sleeved, black turtle neck shirt with a gray hooded tank top over it, black jeans and black boots. On his knuckles he had tattoos that would spell out a word if he put his fists together, thumb-to-thumb. It took Alec a moment to guess, but he figured it would say "Marlboro", after the cigarette brand. And from what it looked from the hems of his shirt sleeves, he had more tattoos up his arms, but they were not visible at the time.
Brian noticed Alec staring and he glanced at him, smirking when Alec immediately looked away. He turned back to his second shot of bourbon and picked it up. He looked back at Alec and held up his shot in a toast and said, "How's to new friends?"
Alec looked at him and stared a moment, then couldn't help but want to join in the toast. He lifted his glass of water and said, "Sure."
Just as Brian was about to throw back his drink, a gun shot rang through the bar and the glass shattered in his hand, the bourbon spilling all over the counter and his shirt. Alec had flinched, but only stared at the shattered glass in shock, while everyone else in the bar dove in a panic, screaming.
Brian sighed as he turned in his stool and looked toward the entrance.
Matthew stood with a smug look on his face, his smoking gun aimed directly toward Brian. He wore a pair of sunglasses, covering his bright eyes.
"Should've known the Father would send his Number One after us," Brian said as he crossed his arms, leaning back against the bar.
Alec looked over at Matthew and couldn't help but feel terrified. Something about Matthew just gave off a dark aura that would terrify even the strongest man.
"Who else would he send?" Matthew asked as he pointed his gun upward and took a few steps toward the two. "You're Number Two, right? Anyone else would fail miserably."
"That pride of yours is going to be your downfall, Matt," Brian said with a sigh as he stood up, dropping his arms at his sides.
"I am proud," Matt said with a smirk. "Proud to follow the law of our everlasting God."
"Have you ever actually read the bible?" Brian asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I have," Matt said, his smile dropping along with his gun hand. "And it clearly states that no man should ever lie with another man as he would with a woman." He took a few steps closer, glancing at Alec with a slight glare before glaring back at Brian. "And you violated God's law by helping this filth escape the wrath of God." He came face to face with Brian and muttered between gritted teeth, "And you can never be forgiven for such treachery." He lifted his gun and aimed it at Brian's temple, smirking darkly. "Any last words, my sinful brother?"
Brian smiled back as he said, "Yeah." He grabbed Matt's gun hand, twisted it upward as a shot rang out, the bullet going through the ceiling, then with his free arm he elbowed Matt in the face. "Get to the aero-pod, Alec!" he shouted as he grabbed Matt's neck and pinned him to a table.
Alec immediately jumped off his stool and ran for the door, only to be grabbed by one of the men, who had come with Matthew, as he walked in the door. "Gates!" Alec shouted, struggling to get away from the man. But the man's grip was too strong and it only tightened around his arms. "Let the fuck go!"
Brian glanced over his shoulder at them and growled when he felt Matt grab his ear and yank on it. He glared down at Matt, who's nose was bleeding, and sunglasses had fallen off. Still holding Matt's gun hand in a firm grip, he lifted it then slammed it against the edge of the table, causing the man to let go of the gun.
Matt brought the heel of his free hand up, catching Brian's chin and forcing the man off him.
Brian stumbled backward a few paces, then caught himself on a chair, then he pulled out his knives and came after Matt.
Matt dodged each swing tactfully, then dropped and swiped his leg underneath Brian, tripping him. He jumped on top of him, grabbing hold of one of Brian's hands and forcing the man hold his own knife to his throat. He smirked as he looked Brian in the eyes. Without looking away, he told his colleague who had Alec, "Kill the kid."
Brian's eyes widened as he turned his head to look toward the door, seeing Alec struggling against the cloaked man. When he saw the cloaked man bring a knife to Alec's throat and Alec freeze in fear, Brian screamed, "NO!"
A gun shot echoed in Brian's ears as the cloaked man suddenly halted then fell down dead at Alec's feet. Brian could not believe his eyes as Kiva stormed in passed Alec and charged over, holding her gun at Matthew's head.
Matthew halted, glaring at Brian now.
"Let him the fuck go, Shadows," Kiva said firmly.
Matthew gave Brian one last glare before he let him go and stood up, hands an over his head. He turned toward Kiva and smirked. "How the hell did you get out?"
"I'm smart," was all Kiva answered as Brian stood up. She kept her gun aimed at Matthew as she began to back away.
Brian ran over to Alec, who had fallen to the floor and backed away to lean against a wall. Brian knelt beside him and softly asked, "Are you all right?"
Alec only stared at the dead man before him, eyes wide and face paled from shock.
Brian grabbed Alec's arms and helped him to his feet, saying, "We need to get going." He looked at Kiva. "You coming?"
Kiva continued backing away toward the door, gun still aimed at Matthew's head. "On my way," she called without looking away.
Brian pulled Alec along through the door.
Matthew laughed as he said, "You will suffer for this. Kiva."
Kiva shrugged one shoulder. "Maybe. Oh, by the way: You should find stronger and smarter men. They were way too easy to take out." She backed out of the door.
Matthew's laughter slowly became maniacal as he dropped his arms at his sides. He began laughing so hard he fell into a chair, slamming a fist on a table as he continued his psychotic laughter.
Outside, Brian was getting onto his aero-pod, and helping Alec on as Kiva ran to her own. "I thought you'd be dead by now!" Brian called to her as she hopped onto her aero-pod.
Kiva smirked at him. "You really think I can be taken out that easily?"
Brian smiled at her.
"I'll give you the run down once we're safe!" Kiva called as she started her engine. She revved the engine with a smirk, then took off into the desert, Brian and Alec following close behind.
Matthew stepped out of the restaurant just as the two aero-pods took off and smirked. He chuckled as he said, "It's been a long time since I've been on a good hunt." He licked his lips in satisfaction before bursting out in maniacal laughter again.