Anton woke to the sound of buzzing electricity. He sat up, shaking his head to clear the persistent noise from his ears. The lump on the back of his head was fresh.
After he’d refused to tell the humans anything more, the officers shadowing Charles had approached his cage. With the barrier still in place they’d reached a long needle through and jabbed his arm with it, just before he passed out. He must have hit his head on the floor.
He got to his feet. His suit was gone. A pair of loose-legged trousers was all that covered him now.
Anton’s hope lifted when he spotted freedom. An opening to the room was all that separated him and the way out. But in his effort to reach it, something slowed him down. A strange energy nipped at his skin. His legs grew heavier, as though he were treading deep waters. He only made it two thirds of the way before an electrical current rooted him to the spot.
Two voices reached him, one belonging to Charles and the other to Gilchrist.
Her voice was low. ‘Charles, how long do you plan to keep him here?’
‘As long as it takes.’
She laughed once. ‘But I’m still not clear on your reasons for holding him. Is he a threat?’
‘No, my dear. He is the answer to our problems.’
‘Charles, I still don’t under—’
‘All in good time, Daphne. You worry too much. I promise to tell you everything. Now leave me.’
Anton heard a door close. Charles appeared in the tunnel outside the opening. He whistled a tune.
‘Let me... out of... here.’ Anton’s words were thick and slow, just like his movements. Breathing hurt more than usual. His device! He rolled his tongue over the back of his throat. The flexible membrane shifted in place.
‘I’d like to, dear boy, but you’re far too valuable to me.’
‘Let me... go and I won’t... kill... you.’
Charles laughed. ‘You won’t, because you can’t.’ He fixed his watery gaze on Anton. ‘Daphne is terrified of you. But me, I find you utterly fascinating. She agrees with me in public, but I know she has her reservations about my plans. We cannot live on this planet indefinitely. We cannot live in these broken bodies. We can help each other.’
Anton inched backwards until he had regained mobility. The electrical binds released his hands, allowing him to check for the rest of his filtration device. Finding it calmed him enough for the device to work as it should.
‘You’ve seen what I can do.’ Anton huffed out a breath. ‘The female is right to fear me. You should too.’
The old human laughed, hard. ‘I’m quite sure I’m safe. You won’t escape this room unless I turn that thing off.’ He swirled one finger in the air. ‘That low buzzing noise is an irritation, even to my ordinary ears, but the electricity works wonders to halt you.’ He hid his hands behind his back and a small smile settled into place. ‘We need each other.’
‘How?’
‘You need me to survive and I need you to convince the board members of my ambitious plans for the human race.’
Plans?
Anton slowed his breathing down, until the fog in his mind had lifted a little and he could think a little clearer. They had drugged him. His sluggish body and mind were attacking the new substance; it wouldn’t be long before his supercharged immune system counteracted its effects. ‘My friends, they’re coming for me,’ he breathed out.
Charles tensed up. He dropped his friendly manner. ‘Who is coming for you? Are there more of you on the way?’
Anton considered telling him about Stephen. How he had evaded the authorities and was loose on Earth. He could send them on a wild chase and buy himself more time. But to admit to it would be suicide for both of them. He pursed his lips.
‘Yes, that’s what I thought.’ Charles relaxed his shoulders. One Indigene was apparently enough for this human. ‘You’ve come alone. Or maybe you haven’t, it doesn’t matter. I only need one of you, anyway.’
Anton slid down to the floor and wrapped his arms around his knees. His bare back pressed against the cool rock. It felt familiar and comfortable, like District Three. He concentrated on his captor’s thoughts, but the old human appeared able to block Anton’s abilities. Or maybe it was the electricity, or the drugs. He shook his head to clear both.
Would Stephen send for help? Would he live out his days as a prisoner? Not if he had anything to do with it. But how could he fight against both the drugs and the electricity?
A part of him resigned to his capture. He looked up at the old man. ‘What do you need me for, anyway?’
Charles’ eyes brightened for a moment, but then he turned and walked away. Anton heard a door open.
‘To help keep me alive.’ His voice echoed in the open space.
Keep me alive? The three words tumbled about in Anton’s mind as the door shut. The faint thread of a thought danced before him; he tugged on it.
Charles needed Anton for something. That meant he had a fighting chance.