He turned and walked as quickly as he could without actually running.
Tension poured from Higgins as clearly as the sweat dripping from his face.
Mr. Black shoved Higgins out of the way. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have a lunch date."
***
Footsteps clicked on the tile floor. Mr. Black waited in a room that was entirely dark. His foot tapped the floor in time to the person who walked the hall.
A sliver of light appeared as the Seeker entered and sat in a chair across the room. "I trust you had a nice meeting with our illustrious Headmaster?"
Mr. Black couldn't make out any of his features—that was the point of the darkness, he assumed. Well, one of the points. "It was fine. How's the hunt for Sam and Drake going?"
"We have them in our sights. They should be our guests shortly."
"Care to define what you mean by 'shortly?' I'm trying to keep this school safe and in lockdown, but it would help if I knew what was happening."
He heard the Seeker shift in his chair. "You need not worry about my business. Focus your attentions on your own job. You seem to have a problem keeping order among the children. If any more escape, you are done here."
"I've got it under control. These kids had too much freedom under Higgins, but soon they will not question my commands." The darkness set Mr. Black on edge. He rested a hand on his gun, ready to use it should something unexpected happen.
"And this is your idea of maintaining control? To whip and shoot children? They are young. They do not deserve such treatment."
"You want to put a group of incredibly powerful kids in one place, train them to use their powers, and expect them to stay in line? It's insane. They're dangerous, and they have to know that someone bigger and stronger can stop them. My sources say they're planning something. A group called the Freedom Fighters has formed, led by those twins you just sent on assignment. They're the most dangerous of all. They're experienced, good at what they do.... Mark my words, they're planning a rebellion, and we can't allow it."
"There are many pieces to this puzzle that you are not privy to, Mr. Black. Know your place and keep to it. Soon, we will have Sam with us. Combined with the encrypted data you secured in Russia, we will have the two most dangerous weapons in the world. We will be unstoppable."
That thought frightened Mr. Black. No one should have that much power, especially not genetic mutations who considered themselves the next evolution in mankind. He would destroy them if he could, but he needed them too much. "Do you have family? Kids, siblings?"
The Seeker's laugh filled the dark room. "I have an interesting family tree, one with many divergent branches. Sadly, I do not know my family well—a circumstance I am working to remedy as we speak. I do know that family should be cherished. I was sorry to hear of your wife's accident. We have not spoken of it, but know that I feel your loss."
Loss, misery and shock warred in Mr. Black's heart. The night of his wife's death played through his mind in Technicolor....
***
"Do you want the cheap wine, or the cheap beer?" Laura's smile lit up the run-down convenience store. She held up the choices and posed with each like a magazine model—and her beauty rivaled any model ever to grace those glossy covers.
Mr. Black wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her to him. Her lips tasted of mint gum. He kissed her deeply without shame or modesty.
Laura put the alcohol back on the shelves. "Guess we don't need libations to celebrate, do we? I think this new job of yours will be just what we need to cover Sarah's medical expenses. I can quit my job and stay home with her. Things are finally looking up."
Sadness filled her bloodshot eyes. The dark circles spoke of the many sleepless nights she'd stayed awake with their daughter while he worked graveyard.
The curves of her body, the soft honey-colored hair flowing down her back, her womanly scent—all distracted him from the two teenage boys who entered the store.
He didn't see their guns until they pointed one at the cash register and one at his wife.
He didn't react in time to save her. The gun thundered and his wife fell dead at his feet.
***
...The Seeker's hand on his arm startled him out of his thoughts.
"I am sorry. I had no idea."
"You were in my mind?" The violation rankled Mr. Black, but he forced himself to feign a calmness he didn't feel.
"You projected that memory so forcefully, I had little choice in the matter. I understand better why you reacted the way you did today with the boy, but I do not approve of killing these children. I have plans for them that your puny, normal mind cannot comprehend."
Pain shot through Mr. Black's head. He moaned and fell to his knees. Tears streamed down his face.