3 Claire

[Four hours ago, in the National Force office...]

"Did everyone understand your part in the plan? We've been after this guy for a long time, and now we have the best lead on where this guy is, everything has to come out perfect, understand"

"Permission to speak, Director Michael."

"Granted, Investigator Barty"

"Sir, you don't think it was too easy to get that information from his location after all these years?"

"What do you mean, Investigator Barty?"

"I'm saying this could be a trap, and that we're going straight towards it."

"In fact, it may be a trap, but this is the only lead we've had on this guy for years, so we can't let that go."

"I'm not talking about leaving aside, but for us to take precautions."

"What kind of preventions?"

...

[Now...]

[Bleeding ]

I ducked in time not to get a second shot, but this shit sure hurts like hell. If what he said was true, there's probably a lot of men surrounding the building right now. Damn, the voice effect is starting to weaken, usually this kind of control only lasts a week, I need to get out of here right before these guys get back to normal, otherwise I'm going to be completely screwed.

"Y-Your old bastard. You have no idea how much that hurts."

"Toby, surrender, the building is surrounded, you can't use your skill now that you're injured, if you turn yourself in I promise we'll help you look for the men who killed your father."

"Hahaha, would it be that easy, Barty? You have no idea what they'd do if they could capture me and capture my ability, do you? Pretty innocent for such an old man."

Shit... This pain is starting to get unbearable, and besides, there's still all this blood loss... Damn, think, think, think, think. Suddenly, I remembered something, an old memory of me and my father, we were fishing in a pond far away from the big city, everything, just me and him, father and son, I think it was one of the best moments of my life. I had spent hours trying to catch a fish, to no avail. My father told me something.

...

[Eight years ago...]

"Damn, this is really hard, Dad"

"Yes, it takes a while to get the hang of it, Toby. Want a tip? Think like a fish!"

"Think like a fish? What a shi...".

"Look your mouth, kid."

"I'm sorry, i'm sorry."

"It's all right. You know, son, I used to come here with your mother before she messed with those bad things. We spent hours fishing, telling jokes and wondering what the future would be like..."

"Do you miss her, dad?"

"Every day of my life..."

"And why didn't you go after her?"

"I was afraid, afraid of not being able to help her, and afraid of failing and losing her. Son, promise me one thing, when you're afraid, face it, life is too short to waste time fearing bad things."

"I promise, Dad."

...

[Now...]

...

I miss you, Dad... Think like a fish... Think like a fish... yes, you were a genius dad.

"Tie the investigator and cover his mouth"

[Tying up]

Great, the Control still working. I took my phone, I love the technology, it's so simple to ask for a cab nowadays, you don't even need to be out there and wait for one, just make a call and ready, here it is. It's going to take five minutes, okay, that's long enough. I think there's a guy here who's my size, so he's going to have to serve then.

"Hey, you, get your gear off."

I put the equipment and now, well, it can be said that I am part of the National Force, maybe an novice hahaha. Well, I asked the cab to wait behind the building. I'm going to get these guys in here to go out in pairs, to confuse the agents outside waiting, and when I'm around, I'm going to hitch a ride.

...

[Outside, in a van parked near the building watching him at all times...]

"Director Michael, look at this, it looks like our agents are all leaving, they've got a guy with a bag over his head? What the hell is that? Was that part of the plan?"

"No..."

"Well, looks like we got the guy, sir."

"Where's Investigator Barty?"

"I can't see him, sir. It must be in there."

"I don't like that at all. Call him."

"Investigator Barty, on the wire? Answer Investigator."

[No answer]

...

"He's not responding, sir."

"Shit, that kid planned this. All agents go now and inspect all those agents."

"Sir, there are two agents going down the alley of the building."

"... Damn it, it's him. GO AFTER HIM, GO AFTER HIM NOW."

"ALL AGENTS PURSUE THE TWO MEN GOING DOWN THE ALLEY, I REPEAT TWO MEN GOING DOWN THE ALLEY."

...

[In the alley, Toby and another agent heading down the street behind the building...]

[Look back]

"Uh, huh? Shit, they found out. Hey, start shooting those guys, but don't shoot to kill."

[Confusing]

"... Where am I?"

Damn it, this is the worst time for Control to end, apparently I'm going to have to get my ass out of here as fast as I can. I start running, I get in the cab.

"OPEN THAT DAMN DOOR."

The driver is a girl, if it wasn't for the moment I would have found it very strange, after all, how many times can you see a pretty girl driving a taxi at two o'clock in the dawn? But this is neither the time nor the time for it. I got in the cab, damn it, my arm hurts like hell, and it doesn't stop bleeding, I think my little marathon didn't help much either, I have to admit. Shit, am I going to die like this? In a cab, shot in the arm... Well, if I'm going to die, at least I'm going to die in the company of a beautiful girl. Her eyes are golden, that's weird, she has white hair and skin so beautiful that it looks porcelain, I don't think I've ever seen anything so beautiful in my life.

"You're Toby, aren't you? Let's get the hell out of here."

"H-How y-you..."

Shit, I'm erasing, damn it...

[8 hours later...]

Damn, once again, these nightmares. All these people I've killed, tormenting me over and over again every night. Why don't you just leave me alone? Shit... I'm starting to wake up, it looks like I'm in an apartment, a very messy by the way, there are several leaves scattered on the floor, by the wall, through various places with some scribbles that I can't identify what it is. I'm starting to remember, I was in the cab with a girl. She said my name, how the hell does this girl know my name?

[Girl appears...]

"Hey, Toby. I see you're up. I made you some tea. Drink, it'll do you good. And don't try to use The Voice, you've lost a lot of blood, that wouldn't do you any good."

"Y-You... How the hell do you know all this?"

"I'm going to tell you if you drink the tea."

[Drinking]

"All right. Start talk."

"You're not fun at all, are you?"

"Just... Talk."

"My name is Claire, I'm a psychic who can see the future."

[Take a deep breath]

"Okay, Claire. It's been a pleasure meeting you, but I see that you are as beautiful as you are crazy. Thanks for saving me and I have to go now."

"I know where Isaac is."

"YOU... How the hell do you know that name?"

"Isaac, a well-known international drug dealer, weapons, people. The man involved in the biggest robbery in history, and... The man who killed your father, Stevan."

[Toby grabs Claire by the neck]

"How the fuck do you know all this?"

"N-no... B-breather..."

[Loose]

"Tell me right now, how you know of all this stuff?"

"I already told you your stupid barbarian. I'm a psychic who see the future."

"Even if it was, it wouldn't explain how you know all this."

"Well, my ability requires some requirements to be activated. The touch, if I touch someone, or someone touches me, I'm able to see some moments of that person's future. I didn't know about this ability until I bumped into your father eight years ago when I was ten. I was walking down the street and then I bumped into him by accident. When I realized, I began to see some moments in your father's life, and consequently yours as well. I'm the one who told your father which orphanage you were in, Toby."

"Damn, let's say I believe you. How did you know where to find me, and how do you know about Isaac?"

"Well, I'm not sure how my powers work either, but it has something to do with a strong emotional connection."

"Emotional connection?"

"Yes. Your father's conection to you led me to you. And when I touched you to treat your wounds, I ended up seeing Isaac. I think you have a strong connection with him, too."

"It's... Let's say it's a strong conection of hate."

"I've been waiting for this moment for four years. When I had a vision of that moment going on, then I waited until now to be able to find you."

"And what do you want from me?"

"I want to help you find Isaac and get your revenge, and in return, I want you to help me."

"And what do you need help with?"

"There are others like us, there are several children with powers and abilities that can not be explained. And all these children suffer because they're different, and they can't understand why they suffer so much. I want to help them, and I need your help for that."

"I think you got it wrong, I don't have any special power like that, all I know was something my father developed."

"You're only half right"

"What do you mean?"

"The voice, it's actually a technique, but your father only missed one thing."

"What?"

"It's not a vocal technique. It's a mental technique."

"Are you trying to tell me I'm some kind of telepath?"

"Something like that. So... Do you agree to help me?"

"I still don't believe much of what you said. But I owe you one. I agree."

"You don't know it yet, but this is the beginning of a great partnership"

"Yeah, Yeah."

[Handshake]