Telepath

“I’d believe it.” He replied. He had experience both in people and the manipulation of people; after all, he did it for a living. 

He tilted his head, listening to her with interest. “Would it surprise you then — To learn that certain individuals — aside from myself — had their eyes on you? Three months, give or take, and they would have snatched you up. Ridiculously prejudiced people, that would have liked to see you chopped into little pieces?” He nodded, “In my keeping,” He explained, “You at least have a choice.” 

He leaned back in his seat, shifting around until he was comfortable. They had a few minutes of driving yet. “I suppose you could say I saved your life.” 

Kristen almost smiled at his question. “Actually, not at all. I’ve never been one to hide in the shadows. I know my way around people’s minds--” She paused a moment, smirking a little wider “--and the bedroom. So I’d either have gotten out of most of those situations the same way I always have; making them think I’m not an Evo or sex.”

She shrugged, almost as if bored with what he was telling her. “Are you looking for me to thank you for saving me life? Because I don’t plan on doing that anytime soon, Nathaniel.” Kristen paused, glancing over at him and shaking her head.

“Oh come on.” He said, seeing the look she shot him as he unlocked the door. “This doesn’t have to be so horrible.” He frowned, ever so slightly, realizing she was still more than upset at him. 

But — It didn’t matter. 

Kristen had evolved to survive and to live on others. Doing anything for anyone else didn’t come naturally to her — Of course she would be angry. It didn’t take too long to get her outside. There was the business of blindfolding her, and getting her into the passenger seat of a car of course — but once far enough away he undid her blinds, letting her see again. 

He sat back again in his seat. He released a sigh but didn’t say anything else, staring out the window. It wasn’t until their driver had taken them some distance and they had stopped at a light that he spoke. “How long —,” He looked curious, “Did you expect to avoid getting a tracker?” 

“Don’t be pissed off because a man I clearly shouldn’t have started to trust is using me? And not in a fun way, I might add. Don’t be pissed because you put a tracker in me? Because you kidnapped me and completely destroyed a little trust I had in you? Oh, suuuure, I’ll just be happy-go-lucky.”

Kristen rolled her eyes at him. The request was completely ridiculous and he should have known better.

@manipulativetelepath

Nathaniel knocked on the glass, getting her attention. 

“Interested in going for a ride?” He asked, “I’ve got a car outside. Shall we?” He wouldn’t deny that he was wanting to see her reaction to her new place, and if she liked it. His life tended to be full of work so that pleasure often took a second seat — this however was a lucky meeting of both business and pleasure. 

Of course, it was also exciting. The fact she probably wanted to kill him made it so. 

The knocking on her glass cell made Kristen turn around. When she spotted Nathaniel, the that she gave him was pure venom. Part of her could understand what he did because she definitely would have done the same if their roles were reversed, but that sure as hell didn’t mean that Kristen had to like it.

He smiled widely. “For you? Anything.” He replied. 

She’d be angry at first of course, but it really was necessary. Perhaps she’d come to see it; perhaps not. Nevertheless he was honestly doing her quite the favor. 

“But first —” He started, “There is the small matter of paperwork. I’m not a fan of it, honestly. Red tape over everything and nothing can get done. Same problems as then I suppose…” He shrugged, not going into detail as to what ‘then’ meant. “However. I will hurry it along. If I can. I know how good a shower can be and I wouldn’t want to keep you waiting longer than you needed to.” He winked. 

Kristen smiled a little. This situation may not have been ideal, but he was still just barely wrapped around her finger. Maybe this wasn’t going to be so bad after all.

He grinned, unable to keep himself. It was inspiring to see evolution at work, that even when cornered she still bartered for what her nature drove her to find. Food. Shelter. Safety. These types were almost like parasites, always using others to let themselves live. Their needs were really quite small. 

He tilted his head. “You will have quarters. Food. Basics. Probably not quite as luxurious as you’re used to.” He said, “But prove yourself to me, that you are valuable, and your worth will be returned full-fold.” He chuckled. “Basically your lot improves the more you improve mine.” 

Her glare hardened at his answer. She didn’t like it, but what choice was there? Get torn to bits? No, that wasn’t an option for her. Besides, if Kristen could find a way to get all of this information to Peter or the other Rogues, maybe they could figure out a way to remove this new tracker. 

Then she could make her move and kill Nathaniel.

“Fine. You have a deal.” The little voice inside her head was screaming at her, telling Kristen that this was a terrible idea, but she ignored it for the moment. “Now can I get a shower?”

“You work for me.” He said, letting her know exactly what he wanted. “You go where I tell you to, you send me the people I want. You put your gift to work finally to something useful, something other than your own self-importance.” He raised an eyebrow. “You make yourself pleasant to work with — I do the same. You always tell me the truth — and I will never lie to you. You do anything to injure me or my people — and I will make you beg for hell.” 

It was the first time he had ever threatened her. He did not raise his voice, but something about the way he presented it could make the greatest doubter believe. “I am a man of my word. You can choose to work with me, or leave your fate to another. Your choice.” 

Kristen listened to what he had to say. She hated it. Every single word. Part of the reason she hated it was because Kristen didn’t like being told what to do. It was part of her survivalist nature. This went completely against it. But then again, she also didn’t want to be tortured any more than having a tracker or die. It was a tough decision to make.

She turned away from him for a moment, pacing the cell in thought. “I don’t like being told what to do, Nathaniel.” Kristen muttered, pausing a moment to glare at him. “But I think you already knew that. So, other than getting to live without physical torture, what else do I get? I mean, since I would be risking the little bit of life I have, I feel like there should at least be some more incentive. A place to live. Food. You know...the basics.”

“The way I see it. I can do one of two things in this situation, but it does ultimately depend on you and what you allow me to do.” He tilted his head. “I can send you away. To another facility.” He sighed. “Unfortunately there — I understand they will tear you apart. Into little pieces, and study every atom, putting you under far more pain than you can imagine.” 

“I don’t think you want that though.” He said. “You’re a survivor, a perfect predator. Evolved to be almost on top of the food chain…Valuable and certainly in some demand for science.” He licked his lips. “However. Your particular talent is more common than some — and I am willing to make an exception.”

The very mention of him sending her away to be torn apart, tortured, and experimented on set Kristen’s teeth on edge. It was the one thing she’d been trying to avoid for years, aside from getting a tracker but now that was down the drain.

“Of course I don’t want that.” She hissed, grinding her teeth in anger. If there wasn’t a glass window between them, Kristen would have thrown herself at him and probably tried choking him to death. She jutted her chin out proudly, her eyes clearly dancing with anger. “Just spit it out, will you? What do you want from me?”

“I don’t think that’s in your best interest.” He replied, “You’ve been fitted with a new kind of tracker — one we’ve worked very hard on. Any tampering and it’ll kill you. Guaranteed.” He licked his lips. “We’ve also been working on signal commands. So far the only one we’ve mastered is — kill.” He looked towards the camera on the wall, waving at it with a grin. “You could confirm what we already know, that this thing works — or you could hear what I’ve got to say.” 

“You--you what?” Kristen stammered, her voice fearful and hateful at the same time. It was her worst nightmare come to life. She’d worked so hard over the past five years to avoid getting a tracker. How could this happen now, of all times? 

After a moment, she took a deep breath and steadied herself. She was a fighter and would do anything to keep herself alive. Whatever he had to say, Kristen would at least listen.

When she turned back he stepped up to her with the grace of a dancer, acting before she had a chance to react. A vial glinted briefly, but was quickly drained into her shoulder. “My apologies.” He muttered, “I’m sure this isn’t quite what you had in mind in regards to excitement, but it can’t be helped—and I can’t risk you getting away again.” He smiled. 

He moved out of the way of her reach, avoiding whatever frenzied blows she might attempt. 

“It’ll be alright.” He turned his head, shouting at a man to get out of the way when he saw her grow weak from what he had given her. Looking back towards her, “I promise.” 

The second Kristen felt the needle go into her shoulder, she turned around and attempted to push him away. She knew not listening to her gut a moment ago was a bad idea and the drugs were already starting to take effect. She could feel herself slipping away.

“You--you bastard.” Kristen breathed, her voice faint and barely above a whisper. The minute she got her strength back, she was going to kill him. 

As she finished speaking, some shouting began echoing in the crowd — waves of unease, and then a scream. Nathaniel had felt that it wouldn’t be long before something would happen. A large gather like this — and the types of people it attracted — something was bound to. 

He leaned over slightly, staring off at the noise before glancing back to her. “Sounds a bit of a commotion.” He observed, stepping back in order for her to get a view herself. There was a rumble in the ground, like something powerful had been unleashed. Strangely, Nathaniel seemed to be taking the surprise well. “Who said there wouldn’t be some excitement?” He said, taking another step behind her and waiting for her to look away, letting herself be distracted by the noise. 

Kristen’s head snapped around at the sound of shouting and screaming across the plaza. Her lips curled up into a small grin after a moment and she turned back to Nathaniel. “Well, maybe I was mistaken then. Guess there will be a little more action like I’d thought.” She mused, eyeing him curiously. He didn’t seem fazed by it at all.

@manipulativetelepath

Meredith enjoyed having more people at the safe house. It was terrible why- she had shuffled the abandoned teenagers into two rooms down the hall, closely monitored. It took no time for the parental bigotry to come to a head, and Meredith had kept opening her door to more sniffly or stoic children.

It was taxing, and her heart broke for every single one. She’d been bringing in cots from the attic all day, and her bones were sore, and her leg almost seized up on her more than once.

Mere spotted a familiar, and more importanly, adult face through the guard rails. “Hey Kristen,” Mere called. “All good?” She hoped so, more bad news right now would be devastating.

Kristen shook her head at Meredith’s questions. “No, it’s not at all good. I’ve come to pack up my stuff and find somewhere else to stay. Clearly, you’re getting a little over crowded here and I’ve got some real problems of my own to deal with .” She answered, not elaborating on what had happened. 

She wanted to keep it to herself for a little while longer, not mention that it was extremely difficult to tell anyone about what had happened during the first part of the protest. Not just emotionally, but physically as well. 

“Bitch…” Aundi said, but before she continued she stopped herself. She was about to school this woman on the many reasons why someone shouldn’t mess with her; till she heard what the woman said next. Obviously, Aundi could tell that this woman was upset and that was without the use of her ability, so instead of adding fuel to her flame, she decided to take the high road.

“Look, I can see that you’re upset. So instead of threatening me, why don’t you tell me whats wrong.” She took a guarded step forward, “What didn’t you see coming?”

Kristen raised an eyebrow at the other woman. That was rather ballsy of her to say, but then again, this woman didn’t know her. Most who did wouldn’t have dared, so it was a little refreshing and jerked Kristen out of whatever was going on with her.

“What?” Aundi questioned. She hadn’t even known the woman at the church but happened to randomly look at her while she was out to get coffee. “Excuse me, but what’s your problem?”

“You heard me.” Kristen growled, eyes narrowing in anger at the woman in front of her. “And my problem is that I just got fucked and not in a good way either. No, no pleasure for me. Just blackmail and betrayal.” She cursed rather loudly and threw one of the pew Bibles at the altar.