Avenging You

Chapter 9

Parker

I get up in the morning and AJ is still sleeping. He seems to be sleeping better here than he ever did in Paris. I feel like maybe he knew a part of us has been missing and now that we’re back home with family it’s like we’re completed. That definitely makes it a little more tempting to stay because he seems happier.

Thankfully there hasn’t been any more run ins with the Aberrations yet. I’m still needing to improve my training before I’ll be ready to face Hunter again. I am nervous to see him again, but I can’t get the curiosity out of my head of why hasn’t he been searching for me the past five years? He’s obviously been busy here and we never had many run ins with people with powers in Paris.

I sigh as I climb out of the hatch to get started on my laps this morning. I see Ryan outside already doing his stretches before his run. I stay quiet as I begin to stretch as well. I know that he isn’t very happy with me, so I try not to ruin his moment and I’ll just trail behind him, so I don’t get in his way.

I hear his voice, “I know you’re here. You don’t have to hide from me.”

I come closer to him and say, “I just didn’t want to upset you.”

He huffs, “We are having some issues right now, Parker.” I wish he would call me Par like he used to. He continues, “But we have to get past them at some point… the only way we have a chance defeating Hunter is if we are all a good team and we aren’t a good team until we get back to a good place. So, us being around one another isn’t a bad idea.”

I nod in agreement and he asks, “Are you ready?”

I nod as I follow him. I notice which trail he is going it’s the one that Skye always uses. We’ve been running for at least two miles and I decide to pass him to hopefully pick up the pace and get back home. As I pass him, he says, “You always did like being first.”

I respond, “I like being the first at risk… if anyone were to see us, they would target me before they would you.”

“And you want to be the target right now?” He asks with a scoff before continuing, “I thought the whole point was for you to not be the target?”

I sigh as I realize that we are about to get into another argument and say, “I don’t want you to get hurt.”

“You realize I’ve managed to live for the past five years without you being here.”

I stop and turn towards him and see him standing with his arms crossed and glaring at me. I say, “I know you have, Ryan. I just want to protect you.”

He scoffs and yells, “I don’t need your protection, Parker! I’ve been fine without you for five years, stop acting like you care about me.”

My heart breaks at the thought of him thinking I don’t care. I care more for him than I do anybody else other than AJ. I respond, “I do care about you.”

He rolls his eyes as he begins to pace, “Obviously you don’t, Parker. If you did then you never would’ve left.”

Tears begin to fill my eyes as I try to defend myself, “I had to think of my child. I asked you if you wanted to come, Ryan, and you told me no! I wasn’t going to stick around and put myself and AJ in danger all because I was trying to spare your feelings.”

“I have regretted not coming with you every single day, Parker. You could’ve at least talked to me a little bit you didn’t have to completely shut me out.”

“I thought I was keeping you safe.”

“You drove me insane!” He screams and suddenly I collide with the ground.

We both grunt and I noticed we’re caught in a net. I use my powers and begin to burn the rope to get us out. As soon as I get out, I stand up and look around as I try to find out where my opponent has come from. I watch as Hunter and ten other Aberrations appear from the trees. Hunter smirks at me and says, “It’s about time you came back.”

My breath hitches in my throat as I look him up and down. He looks a little different… I could swear he was an inch or two shorter, his dark hair looks a little longer and messy as if it hadn’t been brushed in days, his eyes looked crazed. Overall, he just didn’t look quite like himself, even his aura didn’t seem as strong as it used to.

I look to his side as he thanks someone, and my eyes meet the woman who I met at the park. I knew something was wrong with her. AJ knew it too.

As I’m distracted Hunter lunges to attack me, and I dodge him. I see some Aberrations going towards Ryan and I put up a wall of fire to block them from him as I yell, “Run!”

I watch as he runs off and I focus part of my energy on making a shield to block anything from happening to him.

Hunter growls and commands the others, “Follow him!”

Most of them take off after him and I hope he has a plan on how to stay safe and not lead them right to our bunker.

He looks down at me with distaste and says, “Let’s take her back.”

Two Aberrations attack me at once and I hold my own pretty well until a big hand wraps around my neck and lifts me off the ground. I look into Hunter’s deranged eyes as I try to gasp for air and I reach my hand up to use my powers, but suddenly I feel handcuffs wrap around my wrists and I am unable to use my powers.

How the hell did they do that?

Hunter looks me up and down and throws me to the ground as he says, “Bring her back to the hideout and I want her unharmed. Then find the others. I’m tired of people getting in our way.”

He walks away without another word and I watch in silence as I hear the two Aberrations laugh as they begin to discuss their plan on what to do with me.