Hair///Trigger

"I say again, is that 'last guy with you?"

The radio in the corner says that Janine is looking for me. I'm both extremely happy and terrified at the same time. She's alone now, in a city where anyone and everyone—human and demon alike—will turn their guns on her.

"No. Ice Cream, get off this frequency. Out."

The transmission ends. I'm alone in this room, or whatever it is, with my arms tied behind my back. Stone walls, chains, bloody benches, and miscellaneous 'tools' surround me in this would-be torture room. I suppose I should be grateful they've only been beating me instead of using everything else around here.

The door opens. Kicked open, to be more accurate. The set of boots that my face has become all too familiar with are joined by another significantly smaller, less rugged pair of shoes. A woman with short, deep violet hair enters the room. Unlike her barbaric associate, she carries herself in elegance. Her gray pencil skirt suit and cl.i.c.k.i.n.g heels subdue the violence that surrounds us with professional grace.

"Leave us." She says to the brute in the doorway.

"But chief, what if—"

"What could an unarmed, bound, and beaten human possibly do to harm me? Leave."

My former assailant bows and steps out, slowly closing the door behind him.

"Mr. Felix Armeen, correct?"

If she knows who I am, I can only assume she's associated with the plane bombing. I need to handle her questions carefully—there's more than just my own life at stake here.

"You can stay silent, that's alright. It was just an introduction, anyway." She places a chair in front of me, but instead of sitting, she continues to walk behind me.

"Hold on. This probably isn't a good way to have a conversation."

To my surprise, the bind around my wrists relax. The rope falls to the floor, and my wrists drop freely to my sides. I get I'm no real threat to her, but I'm still confused.

"Whatever you're thinking, you can relax. I told them I wanted you alive, but I didn't think they'd handle you so roughly—or throw you in here, for that matter. For that, I apologize."

This feels like a round of good cop, bad cop. I have no idea what she's aiming for yet, so I remain silent.

"My name is Alexandria Atlasz. For what it's worth, it's nice to meet you." She says while seating herself. Did she just say 'Atlasz?'

"So, how's Janine?"

Every alarm in my head fires. How does she know Janine? Why do they have the same last name? What does she want from me? Is Janine in danger?

"You look surprised. I suppose that's expected. Let me explain." She crosses her legs and rests her hands in her l.a.p, visibly relaxing.

"It's been ages, but she and I go way back. Given our background, we're practically family. We have the same mentor, you know?"

I keep quiet. I need to figure out what she wants.

"Felix, please. This isn't an interrogation. I was just curious. I get that you're probably wondering about a lot, but I WILL give you an explanation and you WILL leave here alive. That much I can assure you. Just say something. You're allowed to talk."

Nothing in her tone implies malice. I can't help but feel suspicious that she's trying to manipulate me, but there's no violence in her presence—just the sound of honesty.

"Why do you know about Janine? What do you plan to do with her?"

Exactly how much does she know about us?

Her already relaxed state eases into the chair even more. Her hazel eyes smile into mine.

"You were nearly beaten to death by my soldiers, but your first question is about your girlfriend's safety? I like you already."

She leans back into the chair while gazing up at the ceiling. She looks as though she's remembering a pleasant memory.

"As I said, Janine and I were raised by the same mentor. We both actually shared similar ideals back then. In a way, we still do—our methods are just different. Janine, as you probably know, wants humans and reborn to co-exist in harmony. Did you know that she even tried to enlist among the military as a Hunter, too? She's trying her hardest to make a difference."

She doesn't sound like she knows about Janine's enlistment with US4-D1. The demons that escaped us earlier must not have been able to send word, otherwise she'd have asked about it. I should look surprised and play along with her reminiscing. Janine's Hunter status has been a well kept secret, and I intend to keep it that way.

"I don't understand. Why? Hunters and the notion of reborn equality don't exactly fit together."

"Exactly. That's why it would have been beautiful if she succeeded. She could have had the chance to make a difference from the inside."

"So if that's how you feel about Janine, what about me? I don't understand why you tried to blow me up just to capture and tell me you'll let me live."

"I didn't know who was onboard, and I definitely didn't expect you, of all people, to be there. As for the plane, though, it was a signal. We would attack once we saw the explosion, and the humans working with us could use the confusion and panic to begin citywide evacuation."

"Evacuation? You wanted the city evacuated?" I had wondered why, aside from the people fighting, the city was otherwise empty.

"Of course. The plan doesn't involve killing innocent civilians. Janine and I have similar goals, remember? The difference is that I'm willing to make the hard choices that others would consider 'evil,' all for the greater good."

She straightens her posture and locks her eyes into mine with a stern hold.

"Look at France—it has the largest reborn population in the world and ''demon' crime is practically nonexistent. We try to live peacefully, but are still murdered in our own homes."

She pauses, as if silently asking 'did you know?'

"I'm done hoping for humans to do the right thing. I will make France our new home, finally free from human oppression. You probably think I'm crazy, but you don't know what it's been like. Even the human activists that protested in our defense—people I will forever be eternally grateful for—were butchered just as we were. And, thanks to the French government, no one has answered for their crimes."

"Is that why I saw humans fighting alongside reborn in the streets? These were 'protestors?'"

She sighs. "No. Worse. They're guns for hire. The black market for violence is tragically greedy. You humans will kill one another for money, even for a cause like mine."

"I'm starting to understand your motives, but I still don't understand why you'll let me, a Hunter affiliated government employee, live after all this."

"Are you asking to die, silly? I'll tell you, but you've got to answer one question first. Is Alice dead?"

"I can give you an answer, but how can you trust what I say? I imagine you want some kind of assurance, but I won't have any."

"Consider it a sixth sense, but I can 'feel' your intentions. My 'talent' is honesty. You can't lie to me."

I've only heard of reborn abilities being of physical nature. If what she says is true, this Alexandria Atlasz is definitely unique.

"Fine. She's dead. She and Cesar were—"

"Okay." She interrupts. "That's all I need. You don't have to relive what happened, I'm sure it was traumatic enough."

I want to believe I'm imagining it, but either she's an amazing liar, or that was genuine concern in her voice. Why is she so considerate? Aren't big boss villains supposed to be more... Evil? Hostile? Anything but this?

"You see, Felix, Alice—or 'Mist,' as you know her—was a genius. We reborn have an affinity with certain materials that can augment and enhance our natural talents."

I recall the radiant glow of Janine's explosive gunshot, amplified by the special ammo the squad prepared for her.

"Alice took that to new levels. Hell, she could practically perform magic by freezing the air around her as a weapon. Cesar, I needed dead, but I wanted Alice and her research. Too bad."

She stands.

"Come on, let's go." She gestures me to come with her.

"Where are you taking me?" I ask, following her lead.

"Home. You're going to share what I've said. Controversy spreads like wildfire across news and social media, especially within the US. Even if you don't say anything publicly, I have enough to use for propaganda. Our conversation has been recorded, after all. I'll cut out the parts that identify you and Janine, of course. Just keep being happy together."

She looks back and winks.

Confusion doesn't even begin to describe what I'm feeling right now.

"Why not do this in France, then?"

Surely she'd have the resources to manipulate the media here, as well. Why the US?

The cl.i.c.k.i.n.g of her heels stop. She sighs and shakes her head. Did I say something stupid?

"Are you really trying to argue against the only excuse I can come up with to get you home alive, Felix? You're technically in 'enemy' territory here."

She guides me into another room, past several less-than-pleasant looking people that I recall being responsible for the bruises I'm covered in. The next door leads outside, and the midnight chill breathes down against my skin. A car is waiting for us on the street. Is she really taking me back?

Wait. Janine. I can't leave without Janine. But how do I get to her safely without exposing her?

The next few seconds rob me of the chance to formulate a plan. The woman named Alexandria Atlasz turns around and tackles me back into my prison, dragging me back towards the 'dungeon.' At first I thought she changed her mind and was going to kill me.

"Don't panic. I need you to play hostage with me for a bit, okay? Trust me."

Then I saw the car we were approaching just explode.