Chapter 29: Chapter 29

"Zack? What the hell are you doing here? Where have you been?" Calvin says, his voice full of relief and confusion. He strides over to Zack, one arm outstretched as he plans to embrace his best friend who he hasn't seen for weeks.

"Calvin, wait!" I say hurriedly, lunging forward and tightening my hold around his arm. He pauses, glancing down at me with a confused expression. I don't look at him and instead keep my eyes trained on Zack.

Something is different . . .

"Don't move." I mutter to Calvin under my breath as I analyse Zack who hasn't moved a muscle. His face is emotionless, so different from the Zack that I know. His dark hair has been trimmed shorter than usual and his blue eyes don't hold the same shine to them that they once did. The atmosphere begins to grow thick with tension as I scan over his body.

"Empty your pockets." I say to him firmly. He raises one eyebrow high before letting out a rude scoff —

"The FBI trained you well." His voice is dull, a hint of sarcasm dripping from his words.

Beside me, Calvin stiffens.

"You knew about her? What the hell is going on here? Where have you been Zack?" Calvin says, his gaze flickering between Zack and I. As soon as Calvin speaks, Zack snaps his head towards him, anger flickering through his eyes. It's the first time I've seen an emotion flash across his face since he entered the room.

"Don't act like you're innocent here! You knew I liked Hunter and you went behind my back. What kind of a best friend does that?" Zack almost spits the words but I narrow my eyes, studying his behaviour. The anger is so fresh in his words and I know it stems from somewhere deeper. Zack barely had a chance to know me before he went missing, it shouldn't bother him this much that Calvin Black decided to grow an interest . . .

My memory jogs itself back to much darker times, times I never want to revisit. My heart falls into the pit of my stomach and I know the hairs on my arm are standing pin straight with goosebumps.

"Zack? Did Veronica kidnap you?" I say softly, dropping hold of Calvin's arm and taking a step closer to Zack. His eyes land on me and I watch as they flash with anger again. The look on his face is almost murderous and I know it all too well. He's been brainwashed, told repeatedly over and over again how Calvin and I have betrayed him. I know the FBI's tactic well and I recognise the glazed look in his eyes, the monotone to his voice as he speaks. It's a dangerous game and I walk towards him cautiously. At the mention of Veronica's name, Zack flinches and a pang of hurt spirals through my heart.

I know what he's been through because I went through it myself.

"I know what she did to you and I'm sorry Zack." I whisper to him, trying to snap him out of the trance he's been put in. He lets out a low grunt, his face contorting with pain.

"Don't lie to me Hunter! You have no idea what I've been through." He yells back at me, barely blinking. I see the deep bags under his eyes from lack of sleep, the hollowness to his cheeks.

"I'm not lying to you, I swear! I've been through it too. She starved you, didn't she? Kept you awake all night until you hallucinated and couldn't separate reality and the nightmares your brain created. I've been there as she's told me the same words over and over again, hypnotised me into a state until I cried and begged and pleaded for it to be over." I say desperately, my eyes filling with tears. Zack stands eerily frozen as he registers my words, reminding him of his own hell he's had to endure.

"Did she tell you to kill me or Micah? Is that it?" I question him, the mixture of emotions causing me to feel nauseous. A silence falls upon us but my own heavy breathing vibrates through my ears as I struggle to make sense of the mess unfolding around me. All of a sudden Zack springs into action and pulls out a knife from behind him.

"Shit. Holy fuck." Calvin speaks from behind me, grabbing hold of my wrist. I stare at Zack as his eyes narrow towards me, the murderous glint in them as strong as ever.

"Zack, Buddy. Put the knife down." Calvin says quickly, fear lining his voice. I inhale sharply, unable to tear my eyes away from Zack's piercing stare.

"She told me to kill you both." Zack says, his voice as dead as the look on his face.

"You don't have to listen to her." I say to him quickly, my hands surrendering in the air. I swallow the nerves in my throat, on guard for a fight between Zack and I. Veronica would have trained him well, almost too good if she wanted him to kill Calvin and I. I don't know whether I can take him on but I'll damn well try if I have to. The blade glistens mockingly towards me and I slowly allow my hands to fall back down to my side.

"You wouldn't hurt a fly Zack, don't let that bitch get inside your head. Come on man, you're my best bud." Calvin pleads with him.

I glance at him from the side of my eye and it seems like he's on the same chapter as I am. I smirk on the inside when Calvin gives me the smallest nod to go ahead. Within a blink of an eye I bend down and retrieve the knife strapped to my leg. It doesn't take me any longer than two seconds to aim it at Zack. It hurtles and spins through the air before directly hitting a bullseye in the side of his leg.

Zack cries out and drops the knife he's holding as his leg gives out under him. It gives me enough time to lurch forward, grab the knife he dropped and kick him in the side of the head. I spin him around and grab the side of his head, connecting it with the floor. I only apply enough pressure to knock him out because the truth is, I don't want to hurt him. Zack's body spasms before lying still, his eyes closed, almost too peacefully.

"You'll be grateful for the shut eye." I murmur, leaning forward and placing my hand around the handle of the knife that's wedged deep into his leg.

"Holy shit Hunter.”

I temporarily forgot about Calvin's presence and I glance up at him from under my lashes. He's stood back with a hand raking through his hair, eyes slightly wide with shock and surprise. His eyes dart between me and Zack's sleeping body and I know I've freaked him out.

"He's fine, he's not hurt." I say quietly. It's just another reminder that Calvin Black doesn't belong in the world that I'm in.

"He's not hurt? You stabbed him and he's unconscious!" Calvin protests, his eyes narrowing slightly. I glare up at him before gaining a tight grip on the handle. Whilst holding eye contact with Calvin, I yank the knife out in one smooth motion.

"He was going to kill us, be grateful." I tell him firmly.

His jaw drops open as he watches me apply pressure to Zack's wound, the knife dripping with blood. I don't expect Calvin to stumble backwards before turning around and throwing his guts up. I roll my eyes, wrapping a tight bandage around the wound in Zack's leg.

"Amateur." I mutter, working quickly as I stop the bleeding. I stand up and drag his body towards the nearest furniture, grunting a little from the effort. Zack is almost six foot, not an easy body to drag around on my own.

"Calvin, pull yourself together and help me tie him up." I tell Calvin, resisting the urge to roll my eyes again as he leans forward on his knees. He's breathing heavily through his nose and the scene almost causes me to burst into laughter. I don't because I figure Calvin would view me as an even bigger psychopath than he already does.

"Calvin!" I yell over to him, snapping him out of his little moment. He stands up straight before inhaling and turns around to look at me. His face has paled a few shades and he almost glances at me warily, like he doesn't know what I'm capable of.

"I'm trying to keep us both alive." I say quietly, my eyes flickering to the floor. I know the look in his eye, he views me as a monster. He doesn't know what I'm capable of and I sense the fear from him. I quickly pull myself together by sucking in a sharp breath. Silence falls upon us and a few seconds later Calvin is by my side. We tie Zack up in complete silence, both of us avoiding the elephant in the room.

Once Zack is secure and not going anywhere, I stand up and dust myself off. I can feel Calvin's piercing glare and I hesitate before turning my head to look at him.

"I am who I am." I mumble, feeling the need to defend my actions. Calvin searches my eyes, his own scanning the look on my face. He doesn't respond but gives me the smallest nod.

"Come on, let’s go. I still need to find Micah." I say firmly, heading towards the door. I need to push aside my feelings for Calvin if I want to save Micah and take Veronica Kilburn down along with Christopher Black whilst keeping Calvin and I safe.

One thing is for sure, I have a long day ahead of me.