Two months ago:
I wasn't awake yet and had a hard time keeping my eyes open. Bonnie immediately asked me if I was okay and I just nodded.
"Rough night?"
Bartholomew seemed to find my state funny but I just ignored him. I drank as much coffee as I could and slowly felt my eyes shut back but what Zadimus said next immediately woke me up:
"Bartholomew, you have a meeting with Kallem at three."
I didn't even notice Zadimus when I walked in and headed straight for my chair. I pretended not to have heard but listened intently to what was being said around the table. Bartholomew thanked Zadimus and put down the newspaper before turning to Bonnie:
"Has your night brought you any revelations?"
Bonnie didn't say anything and Bartholomew shrugged:
"It's okay. Maybe our little outing will loosen your tongue."
I suddenly straightened up. This was the meeting when Bartholomew would shoot Bonnie. I couldn't let her go.
"Where are you taking her?
-We are just going for a little walk.
-She isn't going anywhere.
-But she wants to get some fresh air I'm sure.
-How could you take her to such a dangerous place?
-I am not taking her if she tells me about yesterday.
-She won't tell you anything and you know that. You just want to scare her and show her how powerful you are so she will be forced to tell you everything."
It seemed Zadimus didn't like me lecturing his friend because he immediately took a step towards me:
"What gives you the right to say that?
-It's okay, Zadimus. Little kitten is right."
Hearing the nickname, I grabbed an empty plate and threw it towards Bartholomew. Zadimus immediately protected him and Bartholomew didn't move an inch, smiling at me. Zadimus on the other hand didn't seem to find it funny at all. He looked ready to tear my heart out and security already started moving but Bartholomew told them to stop:
"He warned me that he would hit me if I called him kitten. It was an agreement between the two of us.
-What kind of agreement? I just threatened you and you still continue pissing me off."
Bartholomew laughed but it wasn't funny at all. Bonnie felt that things were getting out of hand and tried calming me down:
"I'm okay. I will go.
-It is not okay and you are not going anywhere. She is staying here.
-I am afraid that's not possible, darling.
-Don't call me darling either.
-Sweety?
-Nope.
-Honey.
-You have to stop. This is not funny.
-I am having a great time.
-Is your hobby playing with people?
-I don't see what you are talking about.
-What I'm talking about is that Bonnie is not going anywhere dangerous.
-But then how is she going to tell me what she knows?
-I won't tell you anything, anyway."
Bartholomew looked at me with an air of victory:
"See? I don't have any choice.
-Then I'm coming too."
Bartholomew lost his smile for a second:
"You don't have to worry, your friend will be back in one piece.
-I won't worry if I come.
-I see that the two of you are very close despite saying that you met yesterday.
-We really did meet yesterday."
Bonnie didn't want to drag me into anything but I didn't care anymore. It was too late to care.
"Think what you want."
And just like that it was decided that I would come too. At two we got into the cars and the drive was very long. It was so long that we left the city and were now in the suburbs. Buildings turned into houses which then turned into fields. I was starting to get tired and seeing me battle against sleep, Bonnie proposed to me to sleep on her shoulder.
"Thank you."
I immediately fell asleep but when I woke up Bonnie's shoulder's felt higher than before. I looked up and jumped when I saw Bartholomew smiling at me. Where was Bonnie? Didn't I fall asleep on her shoulder? What was going on?
"Slept well?
-Where's Bonnie?"
Bartholomew didn't answer and frowned for some reason:
"We arrived, we should get out now."
I looked to the right and noticed that the car wasn't moving anymore. Bartholomew got out and came to my door to open it for me before extending his hand towards me but I didn't take it and got out on my own. The others were all standing next to the car and Bonnie was the fortunately. I immediately went up to her and wanted to ask if she was okay but Bartholomew didn't give us time and we followed him inside the deserted firm. It was very dark inside and I could barely make out the people in the back. In fact, I heard them before I saw them:
"We said three. Not three thirty."
The voice was very deep and I shuttered. I looked to the origin of the sound but still needed a few minutes to get used to the darkness. When I did I saw a small man without hair and with a thick beard. His smile was yellow and scary and his skin was very pale. He was the only one sitting because there was only one chair and the other around him were all standing, frowns on their faces. They looked very intimidating and I knew what they were capable of but Bartholomew didn't seem intimidated at all and only shrugged:
"I got lost in my kitten's eyes."
I really wanted to hit him but held back and that made Bartholomew smile.
"You seem in a good mood, Virion. Has something good happened to you lately?"
He shrugged again:
"It is always a pleasure to see you, Kallem.
-Pleasure is mutual, Virion. But maybe we should move on to business."
As soon as they started talking seriously, Bartholomew lost his smile and I couldn't help taking a step back. He looked terrifying without a smile and I regretted coming immediately. I should have stayed far away from him as much as I could. What was I doing here anyway? Bonnie didn't need my help. Everything would work out for her in the end and what could I do anyway? I should move on and live quietly or go back to my world if I could.
I was lost in thought and didn't really pay attention, when came the main act:
"How do we know that we can trust you?"
Bartholomew didn't seem to like that question and waited for what was coming next without having an expression on his face. Did he glitch? Was he rebooting?
"I have an idea."
Kallem looked at Bonnie and I knew what was coming. His look was so disgusting that I immediately jumped in front of her to protect her from that man:
"I see that you brought new faces with you tonight. That young lady looks delightful. Would you mind leaving her with us for a few hours?"
Bartholomew nodded and I was going to lose it:
"She is not staying here with these disgusting men."
Bonnie tried silencing me but Kallemn started laughing like a pig:
"Disgusting? Did you hear that boys? He called us disgusting."
Everyone followed him in his laughter:
"I mean, I can't say I disagree. Look at Eric. He is the most disgusting person I have ever seen."
More laughter. However the next second Kallem went completely serious and continued:
"Jokes apart, would you?"
Bartholomew nodded and I was ready to slap him:
"What is wrong with you? She is a human being. Not your plaything!"
I was completely ignored at this point and Kallem handed Bartholomew the gun as expected:
"What if I asked you to shoot her?"