“Frank, can you please help Alex. Jaxon, can you check the perimeter to see if you can find anything?” she asked the two men that came with her. Both nodded at her request and jumped into action.

  “I’m fine,” Alex said, trying to swat Frank away but nearly falling for his efforts.

  “Alex, you are bruised and bloody. Now please let Frank tend to your wounds and tell me what happened again.”

  Seeing the look of concern in Emily’s pleading eyes, Alex nodded and turned towards his living room. Plopping on the armchair he looked up as the big man she called Frank started to rummage in the first aid kit. Emily went to the kitchen and gasped seeing the pool of blood on the floor. Grabbing a towel and some ice she walked back over to Alex as Frank tended to his face.

  “There is a lot of blood in the kitchen. Zayd needs help but I don't know who could have taken him,” she said perplexed as she handed the towel with ice to Alex. “Okay, so walk us through this,” Emily said, gesturing towards herself and Frank. Alex started from the beginning, carefully leaving out the details regarding his abilities. Halfway through his retelling the guard named Jaxon came in. “Anything?” Emily asked him.

  “Nothing that I can find ma’am,” he replied.

  Emily sighed and returned her focus to Alex. “Okay, continue.” Alex finished explaining the encounter and answering the line of questions that followed. Leaning back in the chair he put the ice to his face and closed his eyes. As Emily and the two guards spoke and looked through his apartments Alex’s mind drifted.

  Zayd said the government is looking for people like me. And the voice, the voice said I need to call them, Alex thought, the conversation a murmur in the background. How do I call out to them though? How can I reach people that don't know they can do these things? Or is it that they don't want people to know they can do them.

  “Alex!” Emily shouted.

  “Huh? I'm sorry, what?” Alex replied, sitting up dazed.

  “Maybe we should take you to the clinic,” Emily answered, her brows etched in concern.

  “I’m fine. Promise. Just need some rest,” Alex winced as he tried to give a reassuring smile.

  “Riiight,” Emily frowned. “Alright, we will get out of your hair, but if you need anything or think of anything please contact me. I am going to see if I can get any footage of who may have grabbed him.”

  “I mean if it wasn't your people I don't know who would have known to come here and get him,” Alex confessed. “Unless it was somehow General Dempsey’s people.” Alex added with a half chuckle. Sitting up suddenly, he looked at Emily. “It was him.”

  “How would he know? That doesn't make sense,” Emily sputtered.

  “How does it not?” Alex challenged. “With what Zayd told me. How the last time any of us saw him was that day. If he didn't deliver what the General wanted and was hiding then why wouldn't it have been him?”

  “I mean this is a government facility,” Emily muttered. “They probably have access to the cameras… and the phone lines.”

  “They intercepted my call to you. They knew where to grab him,” Alex said softly.

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  “I mean to be fair I would have had to turn him in to them anyway, but to snatch him up is just kind of scary,” Emily said quietly.

  “Yeah, I mean he was terrified of what they would do to him,” a tinge of guilt flitted in Alex’s mind.

  “Well, we can't be sure who took him, but it is a good possibility,” Emily said, biting her lip. “I am going to try and find some footage that might help. You try and get some rest.”

  “Sounds good,” Alex yawned and stood up to walk them out, locking the door behind them. General Dempsey is the only answer for who took Zayd, he thought to himself as he made his way to the bathroom. Yikes!, he thought, looking at his reflection in the mirror. His face was swollen and starting to bruise. Blood crusted his nose and streaked from his busted lip. Gingerly he washed his face, trying to get the blood off. A hiss escaped his lips as he worked on cleaning up. When he was done, he laid down on his bed and closed his eyes, letting sleep claim him.

  Alex awoke late the next morning, groggy and sore. Going to the bathroom he looked at his bruised face and sighed. He got me good, Alex thought as he poked at his face and winced. Sighing again, he turned and went to his living room. Turning on the television he scrolled through the news stations looking for any new major disasters. Finding none he sat back and closed his eyes.

  Alex’s eyes opened slowly and focused on the player next to his television. Getting up he went to it and took out the disk. “You will get me in a lot of trouble,” he said as he held it between his fingers. Going to the kitchen he got out the rolling pin. This will do, he thought. Putting the disk on the counter he took the rolling pin and smashed it. “Hopefully he didn't have copies,” he frowned as he swept the pieces into the trash.

  “I should go to the lab, but I don't want to meet the new people looking like this,” Alex sighed. Looking at his bag in the corner he nodded. “I could work on my speech I suppose,” he said. Walking over, he grabbed out his laptop and notebook and set up at his table. “Alright, I have been at this for thirty minutes and have a sentence written,” he sighed. Looking at his door he nodded to himself, “I need inspiration.”

  Packing his stuff back into his backpack he headed out his door and headed to the clearing in the woods. Once he got there he put his backpack down and flopped onto the grass. Closing his eyes he sighed content. Nothing felt better than being connected to the earth.

  “Allllllleeeeexxxxxxxxx,” called a quiet yet familiar voice.

  Sitting up, he half expected to see someone but somewhere within he knew better. Sighing he laid his head back down and placed his hands by his side, slightly digging his fingers into the dirt. Slowing his breathing he tried to push his senses out like he did in his apartment.

  “Alllllleeeeeeeeexxxxxxxx,” called the voice again.

  “I hear you,” Alex replied. “Where are you?”

  “Heeerrreeeee,” it answered.

  Frowning, Alex opened himself more, trying to connect with anything. A breeze blew through the clearing, cool and crisp. For a second Alex thought he felt someone there but as quick as he felt it, it was gone. Digging his fingers deeper into the earth he took a deep breath and relaxed. As he let out his breath he sunk into the ground. He kept his eyes closed as he felt the earth below him give way, felt himself flow through the crust of the planet. He felt the dirt fall on his face and cover his body.

  “Alex,” said the voice.

  “Yes?” he replied, not opening his eyes.

  “You need to reach out. You have to find our people,” the voice begged.

  “I don’t know how,” he said frustrated.

  “You do. You have to hurry. Danger is imminent. I am trying to hold on. I need your help,” the voice pleaded.

  “Who are you?” Alex asked, though deep down he had a feeling he knew.

  “Not who, what. I am everything, but I am hurting. I need your help. You are the only one. Many work against you. I can only do so much as I try to hold on,” the voice whispered.

  “Can you tell me who?” Alex questioned.

  “Many, but know when you need help all you must do is call upon me. I will always answer your call,” the voice said

  “I know what I have to do,” Alex nodded.