Face to face (1)

I broke out in a cold sweat. I was like one of those victims who realise that they have just drunk poison and now it’s too late. A series of shivers ran through my body. I was even more stunned when I looked around to see the extent of my mistake.

Firstly, I no longer had my tranquilizer dart in hand.

Secondly, I was sinking halfway into the bed, exposed to danger.

Thirdly, he had just woken up because of me.

Everything was going to be between me and him. I had the advantage.

I immediately repositioned myself on top of him on all four feet, wading through the blanket. I made sure to keep him pushed against the mattress, changing for the most effective position to immobilize him. My outward-facing tibias compressed his thighs like the straps of a harness paralyzing his hips; my first hand-pressed on the brachial plexus of his right shoulder and the second crushed his windpipe enough to drain him of air. At the first second he tried to straighten up and move forward, my left elbow sank into his free shoulder with my full weight.

Wrapped up in his blanket in this way, I had no way of escaping my grip, already in a very bad position. His green pupils narrowed as he widened his eyes. He coughed pathetically after trying to speak and fidget.

Unconcerned about what might be going through the prince's mind, I was very upset that he was spitting at me when our faces were only inches apart. Luckily, my hoodie neck warmer protected me for the most part from his disgusting spittle.

I wanted to run away and wash from head to toe. There was nothing worse than rubbing up against a piece of trash. I didn't care if he had something to do with ‘Big Brother’, I still hadn't rid him of his noble smell.

All the boy could do was grab my forearms and stare at me in confusion. There were ten distinct emotions trying to be expressed at once by his tense features. Disgust had unconsciously caused me to lean back too far, allowing the prince to push me back abruptly in yet another attempt as soon as he felt the pressure at ease.

Carried away by my imbalance, I fell over the side of the bed, landing flat on the carpet that had tripped me up. An insult escaped me as I sat up, dropping my hood in the movement. With a new dart in hand, I watched for his reaction as I slowly approached him.

My target backed up until he was leaning against the head of his bed. He stammered some pleas in a hoarse voice:

“Please, don't do anything to me, I'll give you anything you want...”

His chest rose in an attempt to take a deep breath of air. He must not scream. I rushed to the boy and put my glove over his mouth. He tried to moan, bite me, and struggle, kicking under his blanket. Full of energy, I watched him fight back and forth and scratch me like a savage. I forced him to lift his chin just before inserting the tranquilizer into his neck with a sharp blow. He flinched and intensified his struggle in panic.

My communicator began to vibrate in my leggings pocket at the same time, which cut me off. Surprised, I withdrew the needle’s dart immediately after receiving Justine's warning signal. This meant that I had about five minutes to get back outside because things were starting to stir in the area. I had to be quick before they reached the prince's room.

Five poor minutes...

I could never carry dead weight in time, and on top of that, avoid the guards on my way! If I hadn't foolishly wasted my time questioning the orders... I could have pulled him inert through the corridors without any problem. Not to mention the anti-magic system that covered the entire infrastructure, which prevented me from levitating my new acquisition into the air and directly evacuating it. I was thus limited to my enchanted crossbow and my dear old muscles.

When I let go of the prince, he slid limply into the bed sheets, muttering strange insults. Head down, he struggled to catch his breath. I quickly listed my options: we had emergency B-plans, yes, but never for the purpose of evacuating a civilian. My only way to get out of here in one piece was to keep the prince conscious. All I had to do was make him run down the corridors. To do that, I had to force him to follow me, but it wasn't as easy as it looked. If he resisted too much or turned against me, the guards would hear us and we would be finished...

I had to do my intimidation act and try everything, as long as he was still standing.

Determined, I retrieved my weapons from the rug while my target rambled. The gun came to rest on his chest and he could clearly hear the safety trigger being pulled. My action calmed him instantly, leaving him speechless. Our eyes met, followed by a transcendent silence.

I will not hesitate to shoot, that is to be taken seriously.

His green eyes did not waver. The blond boy looked like an animal on the alert, nipping at the heels of his predator. I was sure he would never forget me. Just as I never forget the looks of the dead I have caused.

He understood from my finger on his lips that he had every interest in obeying me without a sound. He dared not move for fear of upsetting me, plunged into a trance whose impulsiveness I could not predict.

Although he was already softened by some of the stuff that had just been injected into him, he was barely able to stand on his feet when I pulled him by the arm.

Through my neck warmer, I gave him the instructions. “Follow me. At the slightest unauthorized move, I shoot.”

At the same time, I waved my weapon and he looked uncertain.

“Who arg’ you? Want me dearg’, don't ya-uh?”

“Save your questions for later.”

He started to make unpleasant noises with his mouth before continuing to pester me with questions. “Why did ya wake me ursp’ just now? I have the right to know-uh, have ev’ry right! I'm the king!”

His tone had hardened, raising his voice to a level I could not tolerate. Obviously, my target was in a state bordering on drunkenness. I would have hit him, but he would have passed out.

“Shut up and do as I say,” I replied over his voice, refusing to inform him of anything.

I took a step forward and he took a step back.

He nearly bumped into his bedside, causing the shade of his lamp to sway. The prince finally let out a nervous laugh, leaning awkwardly against the small table. He used it to regain his balance and timidly walked toward me. His arms folded against him, showing his insecurity.

I pointed to the big door with a graceful gesture. “The honor is yours, my prince”.

Subtly, I offered him an uncertain and unexplained escape, just enough to lead him to flee from his responsibilities. Perhaps he thought he was dreaming?

This supposition made me chuckle.