THE WATCHMAN

The Powers that be

Susan was dazed from the accident, with blood all over her face. The pain she felt on her left side let her know she had broken a few ribs. "What could have happened to cause this accident?" She thought to herself. She notices the device on her right arm was destroyed and broken into two, she hurriedly pull it off her wrist, she knew this was her opportunity for an unlikely escape.

Bang! Bang!!

Someone was trying to break their way into the container! She lay on the floor, pretending to still be knocked out by the accident, waiting to be taken out of the container. Then she would access the situation, before probably taking one of the agents hostage or fighting her way out of it all.

BANG!!

The door flew open and she heard footsteps hurriedly approach her position. She could hear the swirling of chopper blades outside. "He's not here Sir! it is a female cargo here and she's out". she heard one of the agents say. "Bring her here". She heard a voice from outside say " But be gentle!' the voice warned.

The men laid her on a stretcher and took her out to meet the man who was speaking.

"Mr. Gio!" She exclaimed in surprise... "Yes my dear Susan, it's me". Mr. Gio replied. "You're a very lucky girl". He said.

She strained to see the insignia on his chest. "You're a Baron?" she asked in shock. as she was taken into the helicopter.

"Where am I being taken to?". Susan asked the agents, but none of them gave her a reply. She tried to move but realized she was handcuffed to the stretcher she was laying on.

The helicopters landed on a massive property with a mansion in the middle. Susan was taken inside to one of the rooms to be treated, while Mr. Gio went into another room with a massive door.

After a few hours, Susan was ushered into the room which Mr. Gio walked into. She saw twelve people seated side by side in front of a long table, six men and six women. Me Gio was among the men.

Susan recognized some of the men and women, they were the leaders of the Timekeepers or Barons as they were called. She didn't recognize some of the others, though she later realized that these were the Barons or Baronesses of both the Leagues of Watchmen and that of the Timekeepers.

There was a man seated in the middle with white beards and hair. He was the head of the Barons. He beckoned to her to sit before them. Susan fearfully sat in front of them, unsure of what they needed her for.

"The Leagues of Watchmen and Timekeepers have been enemies from time immemorial... why are their Barons seated together?" Susan thought to herself confused about what she was witnessing

"Susan Boyle, are you the White Angel?" The head Baron asked? Susan lifted her eyes and looked across the table, took a deep breath, and gave an answer none of them expected.

"No! I am not the White Angel" She replied with all confidence.

**********************************************

After many hours of interrogation, Susan was finally allowed to go retire to her room to rest. She sat on her bed confused as to why the highest cadre in the history of both sects would be interested in her dealings.

A few minutes later she heard a knock on the door and Mr. Gio walked in...

"Good evening Susie," He said. "Good evening Mr. Gio, or should I say, Baron Gio". She grudgingly answered.

" I know you are both confused and angry, but in time you would understand a few things. Just be grateful that you were not executed." Mr. Gio said...

"There are so many dealings in our world that you don't understand, so many secrets we have that keep us from tipping over the edge.

So many sacrifices we have to make to keep the balance of life, including our blood!" he continued

"What do you mean your blood? You mean you gave up your own son?" She asked in bewilderment

"Do you think I didn't try to save him? Do you think I would just sit and let my son die? Of course, I tried to save him and that's what led me to you! And when I found you, instruction was given to transport you here, which means someone high up is interested in you and planned your escape. They just used me to find you, not my son. Sometimes we must accept that we are pawns on a chessboard". Mr. Gio replied

"As I said before, to get to the top you have to make sacrifices and there is much you're yet to understand," He said as he walked to the door.

"Try to get some sleep, tomorrow we continue!" He said as he walked out and shut the door behind him.

********************************************

Anton and Jorge had walked for hours unending and were tired and dehydrated. The newfound abilities had sapped Anton of his strength so fast that he dared not use them at that moment. They had walked so far and yet there was no road in sight. The scorching heat of the sun in the Sahara beat against them. Both men slumped to the floor, awaiting their inevitable deaths.

Suddenly they heard the movement of desert vehicles around them, some young men crossing the desert had found them and help them into the vehicles. The men were initially scared about their weapons, but they assured them they won't harm them and so the men took them to the closest city and went their way.

A lady took them in and helped them settle in, she prepared a meal for them and they are and slept off.

Jorge was the first to wake up to handcuffs on his hands and that of Antonio also and to the sight of Watchmen agents all around them including the lady who helped them. They had been taken to a secret Watchmen Base at the Sahara made to look like a city.

Their arms had been taken away.

A few moments later The Reckoner walked in with a few other agents. "It seems I underestimated you boys and I will have to be more hands-on this time," She said with a wry smile on her face

"Just one thing before I kill you both!" She suddenly said. "I would like to know how you faked shooting yourself in the head," She said, looking in Jorges' direction, and how both of you beat the unbeatable off to find your way past an army of Insomne?" She said while looking intently at them.

"Well..." Jorge cut in. "I died actually, but I came back from the dead just for you baby!" He said mockingly "And my friend here... Well... he has a surprise for you guys".

"Surprise for me? What kind of surprise?" she inquired

"This kind of surprise!" Anton said, suddenly standing next to her. Shocked at what had just happened, she looked at his handcuffs still cuffed to the bedside.

He then snatched a knife from one of the Watchmen standing next to her and held the knife to her neck.

"Release him!" Antonio shouted.

"Do it!" She instructed the men. "You're surrounded and there's nowhere for you both to go to, you boys can't make it out of here," she said.

"That's why you're coming with us!" Antonio whispered in her ears.

"I really don't want to hurt anyone here, so please do as I say. Get us all our weapons and clothes and a chopper to get out of here".

" For God's sake, do as he says" Becky screamed at her men with a fear-filled voice.

In a few minutes, the chopper and all they asked were ready. Antonio with the Reckoner now at gunpoint and Jorge climbed onto the chopper. Jorge flew the chopper while Antonio watched Becky.

They took off with the helicopter but no one dared follow them for fear for the life of the Reckoner.

Antonio handcuffed both her hands to the chopper and went to sit with Jorge. "I need to find out what's happening to me". Antonio said, " My body is changing and I need answers as to why".

"Then we have to go and see The Oraha" Jorge replied

They landed at a large expanse of land around Badagry in Lagos, Nigeria. The Oraha was a medium they used to communicate with the Fates and other divine beings and resided in a place called Ajegunle in Lagos. His residence was heavily guarded but they were here for answers, not war.

When they arrived at the Orahas' gate, it surprisingly opened up for them and the guards didn't stop them, rather they were ushered in and taken straight to the Orahas' chambers.

As they walked into the chambers they saw a black man with full grey hair and beards dressed in all white and red beads around his neck. He was seated on the floor and he had his back to them and didn't even turn to see who walked in. He seemed to be muttering some words to himself.

The chambers were like nothing they had seen. Though the house was state of the art, the Orahas' chambers had no electricity, it was lit by fire torches on the walls, the walls were covered with animal skins of different types and two lion heads were on both arms of the chair at the end of the room. A fire burning in a clay pot and there were images on every side of the room with the largest of these images being that of the Fates.

After a while, The Oraha rose and walked to his seat. He looked at Antonio and said, "You seek to understand your present and future. Yet all you know about the past is a lie. You cannot know the present and future if you don't know the past".

" I don't understand!" Antonio replied. "How will I not know my own past? A life I lived in the flesh and blood? This is confusing!"

Then the Oraha said... "You're about to embark on a journey that will destroy your life as you know it! All you have experienced up until now is nothing like what is to come. You must be strong and know that the pains to come may break you or even take your life!"

Suddenly the Oraha leaned to the side, being distracted, he nodded as if he was listening to a voice in his ear.

Then he turned to Antonio and said... "What you seek requires a price! The price of a life! A life that loves you and is loved by you. Are you willing to pay it? If you are, say what you want".

"Yes, I am willing to pay it". Anton said... I'm willing to pay with my LIFE for a chance to meet the FATES!"

"Nooooo, bro! Jorge interrupted him. "What good would your death bring, it's not worth it bro. If it must be someone let it be me. Please, bro!"

"It is too late to take it back. He has already spoken the words by do not worry". The Oraha said. "It is the Fates who will decide which life to taken as a sacrifice."

"Now look into the flames in the pot," the Oraha ordered. Immediately a strong wind started blowing all over the room and Antonios' head began to feel woozy. He tried to stay awake but she could not.

Suddenly Antonio fell into a deep sleep and slumped from his sitting position, Jorge was able to catch his falling body before it hit the ground.

"Anton! Anton!! Jorge cried out...