(Aubrey’s P.O.V.)
I need to see a doctor, my arm hurts really bad, but it is more important that we hand the letters to Leopold’s lawyer right away. Jareth drives at full speed to the lawyers house and we ring the doorbell frantically, not caring that is way past midnight and that he is probably asleep. The lawyer opens the door fuming by the fact that we woke him up, but his anger turns into joy as soon as we show him the photographs and explain to him what they are. With evidence like this the case is ours.
After leaving the lawyer’s house, Jareth takes me to the hospital. As I suspected, I broke my arm. The doctor gives me something for the pain and puts a cast on my broken arm. Then we go back to Jareth’s house, it is already morning, but we do not feel tired, our excitement keeps us awake.
(Aubrey’s P.O.V.)Jareth comes running toward me, he is holding his mother with both arms, she looks very distressed. I can not blame her, we just survived a shooting.“Are you alright, Aubrey?” Jareth asks.“Yes,” I reply as I stand up.“I should have guessed Xander Norton would send people to look after his darling,” Jareth mutters. “At least we caught one of them. Now we have to focus on finding Grace and Xander.”“What will happen with Leopold?” I ask concerned that the Keepers took him away in handcuffs still. We just proved that he is innocent, why didn’t they let him free?
(Leopold’s P.O.V.)I hastily put on a clean uniform and then I go to the Command Center where the 9th and the 4th Units are working together to find out where Grace and Xander are hiding by checking the surveillance footage. I walk in and I look around. It feels good to be a Shark again instead of a prisoner.“Have you found a location yet?” I ask out loud.“Not yet, commander. We are checking the footage from around the courthouse, we can not figure out how Grace managed to escape unseen,” Anthony explains to me. “It is like she vanished…” Oliver Parker mutters.“Do not be ridiculous, Lt. Parker, no one vanishes! I wan
(Aubrey’s P.O.V.) Something is not right, I can’t move my body and I have a terrible migraine. I try to open my eyes but they don’t seem to respond to my wishes. It takes me several tries for my eye lids to obey me, I blink repeatedly until I am able to fully open my eyes. At first, my vision is blurry but little by little I am able to focus and see what I have around me. My heart sinks to my stomach the moment I recognize the two people in front of me: Xander Norton and Grace White. They are both standing in front of me, as if they were waiting for me to wake up. They are looking at me with contempt. I gulp. I try to move but I am unable, something is holding me in my place. I look down and see that I am tied up to a chair, so tight that the ropes hurt my flesh. My broken arm is throbbing in pain and I am unable to move to alleviate it. Grace and Xander kidnaped me, I
(Aubrey’s P.O.V.)Grace runs to my side and puts a gag in my mouth to prevent me from letting Leopold know what is happening.“You won’t mess another one of my plans, Bearer,” she warns me as she looks down on me. She then takes out a gun and presses it against the side of my head. She is pressing so hard the metal hurts my skin.Everyone is looking straight at the shaft in front of us waiting for Leopold to come in. We hear the sound of boots and a few seconds later Leopold crosses the shaft that accesses the mine. His eyes examine the mine and then he fixes his gaze on me, desperation runs through my veins, I wish I could warn him of the dangers he is facing. Xander and his accomplices are pointing their guns at Leopold, although he is only able to see Xander. Leopold is carrying
(Aubrey’s P.O.V.) Leopold then breaks the kiss and puts something in my hand, I look down, it is his car keys. “My car is parked outside, go up the ramp and drive away,” he orders me. “No, I am not going to leave without you,” I reply firmly. “You have to. I need to stay and put an end to this once and for all,” he says. “Then let me help you,” I ask him. “No, Aubrey, it is too dangerous. I can not risk anything bad happening to you, I need you to be safe, far away from this place,” he says shaking his head. “Please, let me come with yo
(Aubrey’s P.O.V.)I slowly open my eyes and I find myself in a hospital room. There is a nurse by my side checking the monitor. On the other side of the room, seated on a couch I see Leopold and his mother Mabel. She is reading a magazine so she has not noticed I am awake. His eyes are closed, I think he is sleeping, his uniform has holes and dirt stains from the mine, he has not changed his clothes so I probably have not been unconscious for too long. I look at my arms and legs, I do not seem injured and neither do I feel any pain, not even my broken arm hurts anymore. What happened to me?“Oh, you are up! We were wondering when you would wake. It is good to have you back,” says the nurse with a kind grin.Her voice makes Mabel look up. She gets up from her seat and rushes to my side.
(A few months later) (Aubrey P.O.V.) It is so early the sun has not come out yet. Leopold is soundly asleep next to me. I try not to make any sound or movement that could wake him. His new position as a major is very demanding and he needs all the rest he can get. I look straight at the wall in front of me while I think of the first time I saw Leopold. I was with my squad practicing close combat when the sound of boots walking hastily caught our attention. We all turned our faces to see the 9th Unit as they crossed the field ready for their next assignment, Leopold was walking in front of them with his usual unfriendly gesture and arrogance. “Look, Aubrey, there goes Commander Mortensen,” Zack whispered to my ear with admiration.
We park in front of the luxurious brand new building that will be the headquarters for the Ministry of Opportunity. All the guests are going up the long white stairs that lead to the main entrance, everyone is wearing their best clothes, gorgeous dresses and perfectly tailored suits. The press is already here, taking photographs of the attendees. The excitement is palpable. Having a new Ministry is a big deal, especially one like this that instead of terrorizing citizens gives people a second chance.A valet opens my door, I get out of the car and check my dress nervously, I hope I look okay.“You are going to be the prettiest woman in that party,” Leopold whispers to my ear.I give him a thin smile, I doubt it, but it is very kind of him to say that. We walk pas