Wared wasted little time after he left the hospital. He returned home immediately and locked himself in his room without even saying hello to his mother. For the next hour, he sat in front of his computer terminal, the memory card in hand. He wanted to put it into the reader, yet he hesitated. Tarun had obviously been afraid because of what he had seen on the card. Was it wise to look for himself? Would it scare him as well? Was it worth it?

When his mother knocked on the door to tell him she was leaving, he acknowledged her but ignored her follow-up question as to whether he was ok. He wasn't. Tarun's reaction said as much. It wasn't worth worrying his mother.

After another fifteen minutes, he rationalized that it would be better to know the danger that may be ahead than to be surprised. Surely that would be better than facing some unknown danger without preparation.

Resolved to face Tarun's fears, Wared inserted the memory card into his terminal and waited for its contents to load. Just as the file structure appeared, an incoming call filled his screen. It was Kyra. He smiled as he accepted the call, but when he saw her tear-streaked face, he felt butterflies in the pit of his stomach.

"What's wrong?" he said without even offering a greeting. "What happened?"

"I was hoping you could tell me," she said and started sobbing.

"I don't understand?"

"My father hold me, Wared."

"Told you what?" Wared was getting agitated. He had no idea what she was talking about.

"That our bonding won't be happening, that I can't see you anymore."

Wared felt a chill run down his spine. Something was wrong.

"I never said that."

"No, I know. He did, Wared, he did. But why would he? Why say one day that we're ok and then change his mind. What changed, Wared? What did you do?"

"Kyra, I swear, I didn't do anything. I don't know what you're talking about."

"'re lying," Kyra said and disconnected the call.

Wared stared at the dark screen, his mouth agape. What just happened? He called Kyra back but was sent directly to her voicemail. His second attempt was rejected outright. Frustrated, he stood up just as the door bell rang.

"Now what?" he grumbled and slammed the door to his room as he walked to the front door. He jerked the door open and was about to let loose on whomever dared ring the doorbell. Instead, he froze as he looked straight into the eyes of Henrin.

"We meet again," Henrin said and gave Wared a curt bow. "May I come in?" He didn't wait for Wared to answer and just walked straight past him.

"Hey," Wared said as he followed Henrin into the apartment. Three other men dressed in the black and red Protectorate uniforms followed. "I wasn't expecting to see you here."

Henrin turned on the spot and locked eyes with Wared. "No, I expect you didn't."

"Kyra just called," Wared said and pointed towards his bedroom.

Henrin raised his eyebrows. "Did she now?"

"Did she talk to you?"

"No. I talked to her."

"You—"

"Have a seat, Wared," Henrin said and pointed towards the couch in the living room. Wared complied as Henrin paced around the room.

"The thing is, Kyra needs someone that is perfectly compatible with her."

"Yes, I thought that's what we—"

"Don't interrupted," Henrin said with a finger in the air. "The point is, Wared, there was a clerical error. You are not compatible enough and therefore, you will not bond."

Wared stood up, perplexed. "I don't understand? "

Henrin stopped by the window and gazed out at the view outside for a few moments before he turned to face Wared. "Did I or did you think I did?"

"But Kyra—"

"Listen, Wared," Henrin said, his tone of voice stern. "I gave you and Kyra the space to explore your relationship against my better judgment. The fact is, as I said, you are not compatible. You will not bond. End of story."

"That doesn't seem fair."

Henrin arched his eyebrows. "Not fair? Your uncle, Tarun, has been elevated to Elder and has been awarded a spot on the council. The council!" Henrin spit the words out. "Do you have any idea how long it takes officers in the Protectorate to achieve that on their own, through merit?"

Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

"I don't—"

"Of course you don't," Henrin said and slammed his fist into the table separating them. "Besides, he doesn't deserve it."

Wared stood up and took a step forward. "Don't you dare—"

He was interrupted by a pair of strong hands that grabbed his arms and pulled him back down onto the couch.

"I'll repeat, he doesn't deserve it. He stole it."

"How could he possible have—"

Henrin gestured towards his men. "Search the place. Start with the bedroom."

"What are you doing?" Wared said, his eyes wide as he watched the other men disappear into his bedroom.

"I heard your conversation with Tarun at the hospital."

Wared felt the color drain from his face.

"Yes, that's right," Henrin said with a smirk. "'s something dangerous on that memory card, isn't there?"

"I don't know what you're talking about."

Henrin smiled as he stepped towards Wared. "We'll see about that, won't we?"

At that very moment, Henrin's men came out of the bedroom. The lead man nodded and walked out the front door.

"Looks like we found what we were looking for," Henrin said and bowed. He then turned and walked towards the front door. Just before he walked across the threshold, he turned and looked at Wared.

"Kyra and you, you're done. You understand? Don't come near her, don't call her, don't talk to her. You are to have no association with her.'ll throw you in a hole in the ground and no-one will ever know what happened to you."

Wared swallowed hard and nodded. "Yes, sir."

"Your hospital access has also been withdrawn. No more visits to Tarun." Henrin slammed the door shut before Wared could protest.

Wared remained on the couch for a moment, still in shock and unsure of what had just happened. Henrin was responsible for Kyra's outburst earlier. That was the only thing that made sense. But why? Then he remembered, stood and ran to the computer terminal in his bedroom. It was as he feared. The memory card was gone. Henrin's men found it. Was that why Henrin had cut him off from Kyra?

He collapsed onto his bed and laid down with a groan. Not only was the memory card gone, he never even got the chance to look at what was on it'd never know. Although, clearly it was important to Henrin. He must have come directly from the hospital to the Wared's apartment. Did Tarun tell Henrin about the conversation or did Henrin force the information out of him? How could he possibly have known what they said. Unless the room was under constant surveillance.

Wared sat up. Someone had been listening the whole time. That was the only explanation that made sense.

A thud from the back of the apartment caught his attention.

"Mom, is that you?"

No response. Wared left his room and checked the other bedrooms. Both were empty.

"Mom?" he tried again and walked out into the living room. He froze in his steps when he saw a woman sitting on the couch, her legs crossed.

"Who are you?" he blurted out.

The woman pointed a weapon at him and nodded towards the chair across from her. "Sit." The word was curt and commanding at the same time.

With a weapon pointed at him, Wared didn't have a choice. He slowly walked over to the chair and sit down.

"Who are you?"

"That's not important."

"What do you want?"

"I met your brother once," the woman said, ignoring the question. "A couple of days ago."

Wared furrowed his brow and leaned forward. "Tarun? Where did you meet Tarun?" He realized that Tarun's hike and incident at the trailhead both fit within that window.

"He took something that wasn't his to have."

"Tarun is not a thief." Wared leaned back in the chair and crossed his arms.

"I didn't say that. That doesn't change the fact that he took something when we met, something very important that I must have back."

"Why are you talking to me then?" Wared said with a shrug. "I have no idea what you're talking about. Go to the hospital."

The woman cracked a smile. "I tried that. It's locked down," she said and paused. "But, you knew that already. I saw you there. You're his nephew so you can come and go as you need."

"So what? You expect me to waltz in there and ask him for something for some mystery woman?"

"My name is Shea, and I promise, I'm not some mystery woman. Just tell him about the map room. He'll know exactly who I am."

"The map room?"

"Yes."

"What is the map room?"

The woman stood and took a step closer to Wared. "That's none of your business. I just need you to do as you're told."

Wared sighed and threw his hands up in the air. "You know, it doesn't matter. My access has been revoked. I can't see Tarun anymore."

The woman watched Wared in silence for a few moments, then took a step closer, the gun to his face. "You're lying."

Wared leaned backwards into the chair and shook his head vigorously. "No, no, I'm telling the truth. Henrin from the Protectorate was just here. He told me so himself."

Shea narrowed her eyes as she took a step back and sat down on the table right next to Wared. "Henrin? Why would he do that? What did you do?"

"What makes you think I did anything? Do you know Henrin?"

"Because you're not cut off from access like that unless you did something to upset him. I repeat," she said and leaned closer, "What did you do?"

Wared hesitated. How much should he tell her? Would she know one way or another if he told the truth? Could he get away with just part of the truth?

"He overheard a conversation I had with Tarun. I guess he didn't like it," he said.

The woman laughed. "Unlikely. Henrin wouldn't do that just because he didn't like what someone said."

Wared shrugged. "Well, he did. What can I say?"

In one swift motion, the woman grabbed him by his collar, pulled him out of the chair and pushed him up against the wall, almost lifting him off the floor with her one arm as she pushed the nozzle of the gun into his chest.

"How about the truth, Wared? Tell me the truth or the first thing your dear mother will see when she returns is blood splatter on the wall and her dear son dead on the floor."

"It was a memory card. I found a memory card," Wared blurted out before he could stop himself.

Shea's eyes widened and her Then, she blinked a few times, locked onto Wared's eyes and pushed him harder against the wall.

"The memory card. Where is it?" she said with her face mere inches from his.

Wared gasped for air, flailing with his arms. He tried to speak but no words came out. Shea, realizing she was restricting his airflow, threw him onto the couch and put her boot on his chest, the gun to his forehead.

"Where is it?" she said again, enunciating every word.

"Henrin took it."

Shea gasped and increased the pressure on his chest. "He did what?"

Wared pushed her foot off his chest and sat up, coughing. Shea took a step backwards and scowled at him.

"He came by with some other guys from the Protectorate. Henrin said he heared me and Tarun talking. He knew exactly where to go, where to find it."

Shea took a step backwards and sat down on the chair opposite Wared. She shook her head.

"What's wrong?"

Shea looked up at him. "Tarun is in danger. He is not safe."

~~~