The Girl With Metal Claws

Timings

ELLIOTT

"You.. are alive?" Jack said, shocked as anything.

"I am. Am I not lucky?" Garry managed to say before falling on the ground to sit down.

"You dumbass," Fred said, walking up to him and patting him as a form of affection. Elliott could see that Fred was a little teary-eyed. Even if he was the strongest of them all, he wasn't exactly so emotionally.

"But we have to go now," Garry said.

"Where?" George asked.

"Amberville. There are things you have to see." Garry replied.

~

The car had been running on the highway for the past hour.

Elliott sat in a corner inside the car, carefully watching Garry fidgeting with his fingers. He had never looked this nervous considering his jolly personality.

Earlier, George sent Nish, Meraki and Isis back home to really think about the offer made to them. If the girls agreed to help them, they'd get paid a huge amount, they'd be protected and if they succeed in defeating the Phoenix, the recognition from the government and rewards would be unimaginable.

Gabrielle had said that the potion that was given to the girls, had been stored for a really long time. That's why the powers had to be made familiar with the bodies that'd carry them, for it to start working. But considering what had happened to the school, Gabrielle regretted using the potion.

The worst thing about the potion was that it'd only work if the people came in contact with it, without their knowledge.

The girls were sent home after Gabrielle had decreased the effect of the powers.

Even if they might have to battle head-on with the Phoenix, their powers would keep them safe. If they could just make up their minds and agree to risk it, their lives will go at a great pace whether they win or lose.

"I have a lot of questions for you, so you better start speaking," Fred said, keeping his eyes on the road ahead.

"I was sleeping that night. The curtains were open, soft music was playing from one of the buildings around, the moon was peeking through the clouds. I could also hear the casual voices of people on the street. I was comfortable in my bed. On nights like that, I loved a bottle of wine. I understand why people like wine, it's considered very elegant. But I like champagne better. And a bottle of beer is for -".

"We have a criminal to catch but no. Guess what's more important now? BEER." Jack remarked, cutting Garry's musings off.

"Can you not? Garry?" Fred said. All of them were staring daggers at Garry for talking too much and drifting from the topic.

"Ah.. yes. So what I saw that night?" Garry asked.

"Yes, quick," George said.

"I was on my bed that night," Garry's face turned serious, "I heard a thud on the rooftop. As you've heard, thieves in Amberville are very common. So I did what I've always done." Garry said.

"Went to check?" Elliott said, nodding.

"I hid in the basement," Garry said, nodding back. "As you know, my ancestors were hunters, so I've quite a few weapons down there. Not that I'd have the balls to use them."

Garry started laughing.

"Did you know that?" Jack whispered to Elliott.

"No," Elliott said. "So you'd just let the thief take away everything?"

"I did feel a little guilty but I was lucky. I heard the footsteps of someone near my bedroom but suddenly I also heard the main door of my house burst open at the same time. After that, everything was a mess." Garry said, leaning back and pressing at his temples.

"What happened after that?" George asked.

"After a pause, I heard a male voice screaming 'Who are you?' and 'No' and 'Stop'. I don't know what was happening but the man who I assumed was the thief was howling and screaming for help. But the next moment, everything shut up. The voices, footsteps and all stopped." Garry continued, his face turned grim as he spoke.

"I had a rifle in the basement and I took that and headed out. I looked around to see no one in the house till I turned towards my bedroom. That was the scariest thing I had ever seen. A human." Garry's eyes widened.

"A dead body?" George asked.

"No. A unicorn." Jack commented.

"The man was killed in the most gruesome way possible. I am still getting goosebumps. My rifle dropped to the ground and I ran out of the house. As I opened the main door and got to the streets, I saw two more bodies lying at a distance, killed in the same way. Then I started running and I didn't stop." Garry said.

"What took you so long to come to us then?" Fred asked, his eyes looked suspicious.

"I was empty-handed and I had to come all this way by foot and lifts from strangers," Garry replied, stretching his legs and wincing.

"You said you almost got arrested." Elliott pointed out.

Garry's face turned hesitant and he turned to look at Elliott with a pleading smile.

"Haha.. the rifle. I unconsciously dropped it near the body and ran away. The police found it and the fingerprints over it and now they are after me because they think I'm involved. But I am completely innocent." Garry said, smiling strangely.

The car abruptly stopped in the middle of the road.

"Get out of the car." Fred's deep voice ordered. "You were suspicious from the first and there's no guarantee you're innocent."

"And we can't have someone who's being chased by police, with us. If they catch you, they'll catch us and we'll be exposed too." George added.

"I am innocent. Just trust me." Garry said, turning his gaze back at Elliott.

"I can't help you. What the old man says, happens." Elliott sighed. He was helpless in this matter even if he wanted to keep Garry around.

"If I was involved with Phoenix, why would I be taking you to get leads in this case?" Garry complained, angrily.

"I've watched enough films to fall for this," Jack said, looking away.

Elliott looked at Garry. If he was getting chased down by police, why would Garry take them back to Amberville where a lot of police were posted for the safety of the other citizens? And even if that happened, how would they get inside the locality without being noticed.

"I think we should see what he wants to show us," Elliott said, looking at everyone's faces one by one.

"We'd get in trouble, Elliott," Fred warned him.

"Once the police get us, we're doomed," Jack said.

"But they won't. None of you will get caught." Elliott announced.

"How?" Fred asked.

"Because only I will go inside with Garry. Everyone else will stay back." Elliott said, his eyes already set on what was in front of him.

~

The car stopped blocks away from where Amberville locality starts. If they looked harder, they could see the yellow barricades and tapes sealing the entrance.

Elliott doubted if the investigation was still going on but he was certain that police guards were strolling inside the streets of Amberville, trying to eradicate anything suspicious.

The job was too risky for Elliott and Garry who didn't even plan for it in the first place.

"You can't go, Elliott. You're not smart enough to handle it by yourself." Jack said, his eyes full of concern even if his words were provoking.

Everyone else looked concerned and unsure too. But it was no time to worry about the results.

"And you are an illegal detective, so let the dimwit handle it," Elliott replied, his eyes focused on the barricades. "Garry, we have to get out of here as soon as possible. Tell me where we are headed?"

"I'll tell you the places," Garry said, taking out a notepad.

Because Elliott was very good with directions and places, it wouldn't be a problem for him. He watched carefully as Garry noted and drew the locations and explained every detail of it. Elliott already had a rough idea about where he should go. But how he'd get in the locality, still stood in the way.

"How are you planning to get inside?" George asked, looking around. Not getting caught was harder because it was still day outside but they couldn't wait for night.

"If you can't enter through the entrance, go in from those," Fred said, pointing towards the houses around.

Elliott looked at the house and discovered that every house in that locality was very closely knit. Maybe that was why this area was prone to theft.

"You can do this, right?" Jack asked.

"I will do this," Elliott replied.

That's when Jack came out of the car and walked over to Elliott. He was silent at first, slowly scanning Elliott's face and then Garry's. He leaned towards him and wrapped his arms around him like a hug.

Jack was never the person who'd be that considerate or for that matter, concerned. He knew if Elliott was confident over something, he'd do it without hesitation. His act startled Elliott for a few seconds till he understood what Jack was trying to do.

Jack's hands seeped down to Elliott's back pocket and he slipped something inside the pocket. Then his mouth raised to Elliott's ears.

"If he tries to pull up anything funny while you two are inside, just use this. We'll deal with the consequences later. He.. doesn't look too reliable," Jack whispered to Elliott, clearly referring to Garry who looked clueless.

It was true that Garry was coming out suspicious to everyone and Elliott was aware of that but he still found him trustworthy enough to follow him.

Elliott gave Jack a small nod when he let go of him.

"We'll be off then," Garry said, putting on his dependable face and awkwardly waving at everyone. The rest 3 of them, looked back at Garry with apprehensive glances.

With that, both of them got prepared to start the mission.

"I have a feeling that Jack just warned you about me," Garry remarked, smiling nervously. Elliott turned to look at him and shook his head. He didn't feel like lying.

"He did," he replied.

"You know I won't harm you," Garry assured and Elliott just smiled formally. He wasn't too sure himself.

Elliott touched the back pocket of his trousers and immediately understood what it was. A shiver ran up his spine at the touch of it.

A taser lied in the back pocket. A gift from Jack for self defense.