Return : Book One in the Return series

Part 6 - Vulture

  Matthew groaned as he opened his eyes. He blinked a couple times in confusion, trying to get a hold of his bearings as he came to his senses. He smelled... something, that he couldn't quite place his finger on. It smelled like something he somehow knew, but wasn't quite familiar with, something that was around him all the time, yet never interacting with him directly.

As he opened his eyes and blinked again, he saw a couple things that had questions spring to mind.

First off, why was he surrounded by rusty iron? Nothing on Apollo rusted, and his house most certainly did not have any rust in it.

His house...

The memories of recent events flooded back into his mind. The Cataclysm, Sledge, and oh, Janice, the robot.

  He tried to get up, but found his arms held down with something he didn't recognize. It was a round, interlinked metal circle with a chain next to it, attached to another circle closed down onto the chair handle. His legs were bound with some sort of fibre material, slightly coarse and rough. 

  "Well, I guess all I can do is sit back and see what happens to me. Can't be any worse than what Sledge will do when he finds me, will it?"

He raised his head and looked towards the light as he heard a door creak open. Somebody came through the entrance, keeping their eyes on Matthew the whole time. They slowly closed the creaking door shut, then just stared at Matthew without a word.

Matthew couldn't see his face. It was covered by a ragged black hood, and the stranger wore a mask on their face, along with a pair of visors, so that Matthew couldn't see any part of their face. They wore clothing the likes of which Matthew had never seen, ragged, dirty clothes in a strange light and dark green pattern. He had a belt which looked full, but of unknown items, and he also had a gun strapped on his back.

"Hello?"

Matthew asked the stranger.

"What am I doing here?"

"Why are ya here in the first place, ya bugger?"

The stranger's voice gave Matthew quite a fright. He'd never heard anything quite like that. In his life, everyone he'd met spoke in soft, well toned accents like his. Never had he met one who spoke with such... barbaric tones.

He decided that he might as well ask for help. If the person turned him in to Sledge, well it was going to happens anyways. But this person might be able to help him, and that was a risk he was willing to take. Besides, what did he have to lose?

  "Who are you?" Matthew asked. He couldn't get a clear view of the persons face, just the equipment he wore.

  The stranger paused a moment before replying, "Vulture. Not my real name, 'course, but you aren't going to get that tidbit of info anytime soon now, are ya?"

Matthew asked, "Why have you got me locked up in here? There's no way - I didn't do anything to deserve treatment like this man!"

Vulture stared at Matthew for a few long, long seconds, before answering, with what Matthew thought was a little snark in his tone, "Oh yeah , maybe ya didn't see it mate. I'll tell you. Your face? Plastered all up on 'em digital billboards across the whole city, blaring that 'orribly annoying lady voice screaming about how you're wanted for some pretty nasty crimes? Of course, you couldn't have seen them since you was running for your life, eh?"

  Matthew struggles a bit with his bonds, trying to manage to slip out of them, but to no avail. He decided he'd might as well try to talk this guy out of it, seeing as he was so easily duped. "You don't understand. I've been set up! I found out something I wasn't supposed to know, and the next thing I know, the cities entire police force and even Argent freaking Sledge is chasing after me! I have no way out of this situation, you have to help me!

  Vulture cocked his head to the side a little, as if deep in thought. He tapped the butt of his rifle and murmured to himself : "Hmmmm..."

  He looked a little in Matthew's general vicinity . Matthew felt his spirits lift as he thought he might have been able to sense what was a slight face of agreement under all of that gear, although there was no possible way that he could be sure.

  All of a sudden, Vulture burst into laughter, the kind of laughter only a happy... or willing and trusting person has. Matthew quickly exhaled, not realizing he had been holding his breath while waiting for this mercenary's judgement, and gave a large sigh of relief, thinking things might just be beginning to turn around for him, and that he might actually have a chance against Sledge and his insane army.

  But what Vulture said next made Matthew think his fate was sealed.

  "Of course NOT, you absolute fricking bloody idiot! Did you really think that a high and mighty asshat like you could trick someone like me, with a lie that fake and unconvincing? There's no way a office drone like you could've gotten your hands on anything of importance, especially something that apparently happened due to Sledge! For all I know, you actually did kill 6 different police officers with a freaking pencil! Besides, why would I want to help you when I can earn enough to live like a king for the rest of my life from the bounty on your head?"

  "So, the jig is up for you now , mate. Betcha didn't calculate me into you master crafted escape plan, did you now. Well, I'll tell you what. Due to the fact you almost had me convinced up until that horrible story, I'll give you one chance to tell me the truth before I send you on your way to Sledges personal asylum of horrors."

  Matthew spoke quickly, both out of fear and desperation. "I swear to you, I'm telling the truth. You have to believe me! There's no telling what Sledge will do to me if he gets me! Besides, he'll probably kill you too,so your only chance is to help me get out of here!

  Vulture said "Fool me once, shame on me. Fool me twice, shame on you.  Now sleep tight, cause when you wake up you'll be in prison.

  Vulture stepped towards Matthew, and with the butt of his rifle clocked Matthew on the head. He was out like a light.

  Vulture chuckled a little. "I have to give it to him, he's one hell of an actor , that's for sure."