Chapter 59: I hoped for better, honestly

Brent knew that if he didn’t get away from Esper Parker, now that he was in his brother’s radar, he could be in danger. Brent didn’t want the man to get caught up in anything, nor did he want his partner to be hurt by rumours that his brother would spread.

As soon as he felt that the coast was clear and his brother had left, he turned to Esper Parker.

“Thank you for your help and information.” Brent told him, smiling, and Esper Parker stared at Brent. Brent could see him putting the pieces together. He watched as the other man’s gaze sharpened.

“Guide Brent-” He started, reaching out for Brent’s hand but Brent stood up, shaking off his hand.

“I’ll be fine.” Brent told him, but it was clear that Esper Parker did not believe him.

“I don’t think you will. You don’t have a phone, remember? Nor access to information about the outside world.” He was poking at the information that Brent had given him. Brent twitched.

“It’s just temporary.” Brent argued. “Once things are settled over the family’s will, I’ll-”

“-Disappear? Don’t think I didn’t recognise that voice and face, Guide Brent. I am aware of who your brother is. I’m surprised to find out he has a brother, and not only that, one who is a Guide too.” Esper Parker said and Brent flushed.

“We…aren’t close.” Brent muttered and Esper Parker narrowed his gaze. He stood, around the same height as Brent but it was somehow more intimidating because of the power that was radiating off of him.

“Aren’t close? Brent, please stop lying. You’re in danger, aren’t you?” Esper Parker asked, his voice a whisper and Brent flinched.

“It’s only temporary.” Brent replied softly and Esper Parker sighed.

“I don’t believe you.” He admitted. “You aren’t selling this well. It doesn’t even sound like you believe it, Guide Brent.” He told him and Brent flinched. God, it was because his emotions were all over the place. From hearing more about Kellen, to hearing word of Sergei…Brent felt like he had every reason to be a little unhinged. Out of sorts, if you would.

“I’m fine.” Brent said, because he was. He wasn’t being beaten every day, he was out of the hospital. He was being fed properly now. Was he going insane due to the lack of enrichment in his enclosure? Yeah, sure, but that was only temporary. It was going to end soon. He would be able to sign the papers and then he would be free to go.

However, Esper Parker just did not believe him. The look wasn’t full of pity, it was full of protection, and a deeper, more serious desire.

“Guide Brent. I do not know if you are aware of what kind of person your older brother truly is, but I do not feel safe leaving you alone with him now that I know you exist. As I’ve already stated, it’s not safe for Guides to be left alone here. Not with the E.A.G. running rampant. My guess? You aren’t lower than B Class, and that’s even more dangerous. You have no guards here. It’s almost like your brother wanted you to disappear here.” He warned and Brent let out a soft laugh.

“I can’t die.” He told him. “If I were to die, the thing he wants wouldn’t go to him.” Brent said and Esper Parker leveled him with a serious look.

“Are you sure about that?” Brent felt doubt fill him as he faltered, unsure what to do in the face of someone who was pushing, but not in a harsh way. It was only made worse when it sounded like a gunshot went off.

The music stopped, the chatter died down and suddenly, Esper Parker had his hand around Brent’s wrist, the prosthetic one, and was pulling him closer.

“Fuck. This is exactly what Dina was worried about.” He whispered to himself, talking to himself and Brent stiffened.

He hadn’t had to deal with the E.A.G. personally yet. Just live through Kellen and what Kellen had been through. This…this felt like something that they would do, and from the anger that twisted Esper Parker’s face, he didn’t have much doubt about who was behind this.

“Is it the E.A.G.?” He asked quietly and watched the other man nod. Brent sucked in, nodded, and felt his back straighten. “Do you have a gun?” He asked, and Esper Parker glanced at him, before he gestured to under his coat, at the back.

Brent didn’t hesitate to grab it, tucking it into his own clothes.

It was only a few seconds later that their curtain flap was thrown back and Brent and Esper Parker were revealed. The fucker wasn’t even wearing a face mask. They were not disguising themselves, and that only made Brent more disgusted.

At least his branch knew better than to walk around in broad daylight without a mask on. The common folk would beat their ass for what they did to Kellen’s family, and to Kellen. These fuckers had no fear, and their eyes lit up when they caught on that an Esper was here. Their gaze slid to Brent, a light going off behind their eyes.

“Is that a Guide?” He asked, a sick sounding delight in his voice. Brent did his best not to shiver as he narrowed his gaze.

“You want to come over here and find out?” Brent asked, his mouth smart, and the E.A.G. member laughed as Esper Parker gave Brent a worried look.

“Why don’t you do the walking, leech?” Leech? How the hell was Brent the leech when Espers literally drained Guides of their own body fat? How the hell had these morons gotten this flipped around?

“Are you talking to me?” Brent asked, confused, and the man laughed. Brent didn’t want to say that evil made him ugly, because he knew plenty of fucking awful people who were pretty and evil. Colby was, tragically, a good example of that. However, this man? It was his mama who made him ugly, not his personal beliefs.

“Who else would I be talking to?” He asked and Brent wanted to curl his lip up at the man. However, he was carrying a weapon, and when Brent didn’t move, he pointed it at him and Esper Parker. “Move. Now.” Brent wanted to disobey him, but there were so many other people in this space.

Brent didn’t really care for any of them, and honestly, if they were associated with his brother, they couldn’t really be ’good’ people. That didn’t mean that Brent wanted them to die either. So, begrudgingly, he moved, and so did Esper Parker. It was clear that the E.A.G. member didn’t like that.

“Hey, you stay back.”

“There is no way I am allowing you to take possession of a civilian.” He countered immediately, and the E.A.G. member spat on the floor.

“Civilian? Don’t even fucking try. There is no way he’s a normal person. He’s too…pretty.” Brent let out a soft gasp.

“You think I’m pretty?” Brent asked, fluttering his lashes. The man looked disgusted, but his cheeks still flushed. Yeah, thanks A Class powers. For making Brent too damn handsome for evil people to ignore him. At least he still had his smart mouth.

“Shut the fuck up.” He ordered, and Brent shrugged. He did let Esper Parker go with them and Brent found that they were being escorted to the front of the room, where the stage was. The band were behind the ground, trembling as several members of the E.A.G. stood in front, about five, looking cocky as all hell.

The gun burned where it was pressed against Brent’s back.

Brent scanned the area, looking for his brother. Looking for anyone who he could recognise, and couldn’t find a single one. It was rather strange that they were able to single him out from the crowd and as his stomach churned, he had to face himself and ask why.

Why was he surprised that his brother would betray him this way? He should know better. His brother worked with the E.A.G. There was no fucking doubt he could set this up. His brother hated him. Viewed him as a nuisance his whole life. He wouldn’t change his mind so suddenly.

Now, it was up to Brent to get himself out of this situation because he would be damned if Kellen made it out of the gate only to find out Brent had been kidnapped and killed by the E.A.G.

That would be how his brother would twist it, no doubt in Brent’s mind.

“Parker.” Brent whispered, aware that if he spoke too loudly the E.A.G. member escorting them would hear. The Esper gave a loud exhale, but that was it. Brent took that as a sign that he heard him. “Wait for my signal before you react, alright?” Brent said. “It’ll be loud and obvious.” Brent told him and heard another loud exhale from Parker.

The plan was set, and while Brent had no idea what this E.A.G. really did since he was a world separate from them, that didn’t mean he didn’t know troublemakers when he saw them.

The E.A.G. member made them get onto the stage, both Esper Parker and Brent. He forced them to stand where everyone could see them, and he also saw a few other members from the audience being escorted up.

There was one common denominator.

They were all pretty. Brent clenched his teeth. These fucking sickos.

“Now, let the fun begin! Who wants to start?” The man at the front was cocky, proud. They all had guns and they were threatening everyone. Brent wondered if or when the Espers in the area were going to show up.

His people would certainly not let this happen laying down. Kellen would already be planning how to infiltrate. Sergei would already be at the scene. Brent’s blood boiled with rage as he witnessed what was happening and how it was going down. He could tell that Esper Parker was also pissed.

Both kept their anger under control as the clock ticked forward. Until Brent couldn’t take it anymore.

He was about to take matters into his own hands when things took a slide into the worst case scenario.

The sound of another gunshot was heard and Brent knew that no matter what happened next, several people were not making it out of this alive.

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