The Eye
The words that Taylor had interpretted were, at least to the Eye, written as a riddle. He was confident that Taylor had translated them correctly, nonetheless. But it still required much thought and research.
There was a bomb in an isolated part of the world - which could be anywhere. If it went off it would destroy the world. And it was ticking, ticking away now.
The information contained partial instructions on how to defuse it - at lease, that's how it looked to the Eye. It also contained some directions, but as much as he poured over them, he could not work out where they they trying to tell him to go.
While the Eye wracked his brain, he did not keep as close a watch on Taylor as he usually did.
Taylor
Taylor had been left to roam free in the apartment ever since he'd translated the inscription for the Eye. He'd made it to the window the day before as the Eye puzzled over the interpretation, but there'd been no animals around at all that could help him.
Besides, the Eye wanted to keep him from telling anyone else about what he'd translated.
Taylor watched him from where he was sitting on the floor in the corner. His back was to him... and the door. But Taylor knew it was locked, it always was.
His eyes turned to the coffee table behind the Eye where the keys sat. Taking a deep breath, he decided it was worth a shot. The only thing he had to lose was his life, and he'd just about given it up anyhow. The Eye usually kept the keys on his person somewhere so Taylor couldn't get to them, which made him wonder what had changed.
Maybe he was trusting him more. They'd been together a few days from a month now.
Slowly, he got onto his hands and knees, and began towards the table. The keys were just within his reach. He watched his hand shake as he reached for them... only taking the one he knew was for the door. Somehow, he didn't make a sound.
The Eye
The Eye leant back and stretched in his chair. He rubbed at his temples. This was exhausting work!
"A red point, blue gaze..." he said allowed. "What the heck is that supposed to mean?"
He muttered a bit more and then pulled his atlas over again.
Taylor
Taylor flinched as he moved, but slowly pulled back.
His hand was still shaking as he held the key, all his nervousness coming out at once. He closed his eyes for a moment, gulped, then headed for the door.
Without making a sound, he slipped the key into the lock, and turned it. He couldn't even force a smile onto his face, knowing he wasn't out of danger yet. By far.
He pulled the key out, checking over his should every second or so to make sure the Eye was occupied. Slowly, he turned the doorknob, moving some hair out of his face as he did so.
The door opened.
Taylor gulped again, his nerves still making him shake. He knew there was no way out of it now. Even if the Eye turned around he'd have to run. The worst part was that he didn't know where he was, increasing his chances of being caught again.
Glancing over his shoulder one more time, he stepped through the door, and silently closed it behind him. Then he began down the hallway.
A couple of people were in the hallway, and he walked past them covering his face. He didn't need to be recognized now. He decided his best chance was to get to a phone.
When he got to the stairwell, he picked up speed. He jumped down about four steps at a time until he got to the ground level and out into the main area.
He made his way over to someone standing by the reception.
"Excuse me... umm..." he closed his eyes once he had their attention. He hadn't spoken to anyone in so long, and being outside definately had him nervous.
"Do you... do you know where I could find a phone?"
The man pointed to a public phone outside. Taylor nodded a thanks and rushed out to it. He stepped into the phone box, grabbed the phone, and dialed for reverse charge.
He rang his home.
Isaac and The Eye
"Is anyone going to get that?" Isaac called.
No answer.
Sighing, Isaac got up and picked up the ringing phone before the person on the other end could hang up.
"Hello?"
"Hi Ikey!"
"Who is this?"
"It's me! Your lover and future wife."
"I don't know who you are or how you got this number, but -"
Hang up.
Isaac rolled his eyes in digust. Great. Obsessed fans. Just as he was going to move back to what he was doing, the phone rang again. If it was that girl again...
"Hello?"
Meanwhile, the Eye was still searching the atlas again. In frustration he threw in across the room. Then he sighed.
"Taylor, would you mind getting me a drink?"
Silence.
"Taylor?"
Taylor
Taylor froze.
It was Isaac. His brother. He hadn't heard his voice in a month...
Then he realized he'd better say something.
"Umm... Ike? Oh God... Ike, I-I-I need help," he stuttered desperately, not knowing what to say.
He still had no idea of where he was, and he had no idea if Christian was still in the house or not. He was just thankful it wasn't him who'd answered the phone.
Isaac and The Eye
"Tay... Taylor?" Isaac asked in surprise. "Taylor... is that really you? Christian said you were dead..."
The Eye stood up and looked around.
"Taylor?" he called again.
Where could that boy be?
Taylor
"Chris... you know about Christian?" Taylor frowned, "he, he was... Ike, I might not be dead but I'm getting damn close to it. You've gotta help me, please!"
He practically begged into the phone.
"He... he doesn't know I'm gone. He's gonna come after me, I know it. And, and I don't know where I am, I don't know how to get away."
Tears were forming in his eyes as he grew more desperate.
Isaac and The Eye
"Sure, sure, man. Of course I'll help you, if I can," Isaac thought quickly. "Okay do you have any money?"
The Eye searched the apartment, and then he noticed his keys were gone.
He stalked over to the door.
Taylor
"IKE! I've been held prisoner for a freaking month! You think I'd have any money?!"
He stopped for a moment, trying to calm himself down. Besides, people were beginning to stare.
"Wait a moment."
He caught sight of the phone book in the booth, and quickly opened it to the index page.
"Oh man..." he shook his head.
Isaac and The Eye
"Well," Isaac replied reproachfully, "you could have swiped some from your captor, for all I know. Who were you being held by anyway? Oh never mind that... what are you 'oh manning' about?"
The Eye flung open the door and peered down the hallway. He didn't see Taylor, but he would have headed to the elevator first, so that's the direction he took.
Taylor
"Ike... I'm still in freaking Canada!"
He looked out the window in the phone booth.
"I have no idea where the hell I am. Ike, I need to get home. I... if I can't get home I'm gonna kill myself."
He wiped some tears away from his cheek.
"He's a freaking telepath, he's gonna be out after me in a second. I should have found a phone box further away."
Isaac and The Eye
"Canada!" Isaac gasped. "Okay, Tay, hang up now and run. When you think it's safe, give me a call on my cell, reverse charges, and tell me where abouts you are. I'm going to Canada for you."
The Eye tapped his foot impatiently as the elevator went down.
Taylor
"But... he's a telepath..."
Taylor put his hand on his forehead and took a deep breath.
"Ok, ok, ok... he said he couldn't do anything to my mind because it's already screwed, but... oh crap."
His eyes widened.
"He doesn't need me alive anymore."
He glanced back at the apartment building.
"Ok, I'll find a phone. As soon as I found out where the hell I am."
Isaac and The Eye
"Okay," Isaac replied. "Call me as soon as you can, I'm on my way."
They said their good byes and Isaac raced towards his bedroom.
Meanwhile, The Eye had arrived in the lobby. Swiftly from much practic, he scanned the minds of those around him to find out who of them had seen Taylor.
Taylor
When Taylor hung up he quickly flicked through the phone pook to try and get an idea of where he was. Every few seconds, he checked the lobby to make sure he wasn't being followed.
He found a couple of pages with suburbs and the like, and ripped them out, glancing toward the lobby again.
There he was.
Taylor's heart skipped a beat as he stared at him.
Then, before the Eye could turn in his direction, he flung the door of the phone booth open, grabbed the pages, and hurriedly took off down the street.
Isaac and The Eye
Isaac half telekinetically, half manually packed two bags, one for him and one for Taylor. Then he carried them down to his car, got in, and started driving.
The Eye had found him. He could see him in the mindof those who had seen him.
He knew where he was.
He would catch him. Alive though... there may be more translating to be done.
Taylor
Taylor tore down the busy street not knowing where he was going. As he looked back he managed to bump into a few people, quickly apologizing, before continuing to run.
He wasn't sure if the Eye had seen him or not, but it was better to be further away from him just in case. Also just in case, he decided he'd better not stay in one place for very long. He knew some telepaths were capable of implanting some sort of tracker in people's minds, and even though the Eye had said he wouldn't hurt Taylor's mind any further, well... desperate needs call for desperate measures. And Taylor knew he probably knew too much.
He managed to get a few blocks away and turned into an alley to catch his breath. He needed to find a phone, like Isaac had said. He decided his best hope was to steal a cell, rather than stay in a phone box for too long.
Isaac and The Eye
Isaac's mobile phone rang.
"Hello? Tay?" he answered.
"Tay?" came the confused reply. "Ike, this is Mom. Honey, where are you? You're supposed to -"
"No time! Look, listen, I just got a call from Taylor. He's alive, Mom, and he's in Canada. But whoever had him is aware that Taylor's escaped. He doesn't have any money or anything, so I'm going after him myself."
"Honey... are... are you sure? Are you sure it was him?"
"Yes. Absoulutely."
"Because I don't want to hear that he's still alive, only to find out that... that..."
"Mom... look, I'm expecting a call from him again soon. He didn't know where he was and he had to run again. He's going to call me back when he knows where about in Canada he is, okay? I'll call when I hear anything, but I really need you to hang up now so he can get through."
"Umm, okay, Ike. Take care of yourself. Talk to you soon. I love you."
"I love you too Mom."
They hung up. Isaac feverently hoped Taylor hadn't been trying to call then.
The Eye took control of a few bodies near Taylor and sent them after Taylor. He wouldn't escape him so easily!
Taylor
"What the..."
Then Taylor realized what had happened. The Eye must have taken control of these people...
He was on the run again.
"Need a phone, need a phone..." he murmured as he ran.
He stopped at the corner of a street and looked around frantically. Then he spotted someone at a corner cafe` talking on their cell.
He quickly dashed over, ripping it from the woman's hand.
"Sorry!" he called as he ran off, and she just stared in disbelief.
He put the phone to his ear.
"Hello?"
"Who's that?"
"Sorry, she's gonna have to call you back."
And he hung up. Quickly, he dialed Isaac's cell number reverse-charge and put the phone to his ear.
Isaac and The Eye
Isaac heard the phone ring, and his car kit picked it up.
"Hello? Tay? Is that you?" he asked.
The Eye's new found minions ran after Taylor. He wouldn't get far, and when they caught him... that boy was going to be in big trouble.
Then he paused. Darn! They had lost sight of him! He scanned the nearby minds again.
Taylor
"Yeah! Ike! It's me!" Taylor said, blocking his other ear so he could hear.
He managed to find a deserted alleyway and run down it. There were a few large bins and a lot of plastic bags loose, as well as a few stairwells.
"I... I'm in an alley, somewhere... I don't know, should I go to the roof or stay down here? Ike, he had people after me. He took over their bodies and had them chasing me."
He had to stop and catch his breath.
Isaac and The Eye
"Okay, umm... look, if I were you, I'd go to where there aren't any people. I'd suggest too many people but he would have more bodies to use then. I don't know if you should stay there or not, though. Do you know where abouts in Canada you are?" Isaac asked. "Tanya gave me a telepathic shield the other day, this telepath of yours won't be able to touch me either."
The Eye tapped his foot impatiently. Then at last he found it. A brief moment, but someone had seen him going into an alley.
Taylor
Taylor bit his lip.
"Ok well, there's no one here. I think. And no, I don't know where I am, and I don't know how to find out without someone at least seeing me."
He leant back against the brick wall and slid to the ground.
"When I still had Avery someone said we were in Toronto, but there was a fire, and this guy got me out. I don't know, we might still be in Toronto for all I know."
He closed his eyes.
"Ike, I'm so tired of this."
Isaac and The Eye
"And understandably so," Isaac replied. "Okay, look, I'll head for Toronto. Say... if you're in an alley, you must be on a cell, right? Can't you check what area it thinks you're in?"
The Eye sent his people down the alley. He smirked. It wouldn't be long now.
*Search everywhere!* he commanded them.
Taylor
"I don't..." he began to shake his head, before he saw the people coming.
"Oh crap, they've found me."
He scrambled to his feet and bolted for the end of the alley.
"Just hang on a sec."
He took the phone from ear as he ran, knowing the alley was a dead end. He got to the last stairwell up into another apartment complex, and jumped to pull the bottom ladder down. When he had it, he quickly climbed up, and began for the roof.
On the way up, he grabbed the phone again.
Seeing the name of the place, he put the phone to his ear.
"Keswick. York. That's what the phone says. But I doubt I'll be staying in one place for very long."
He looked over his shoulder. They were starting up the ladder.
Isaac and The Eye
"Well," Isaac said. "It gives me somewhere to head for, anyway."
He snapped his fingers.
"Tay? Try and get to a train or something. If the telepath doesn't get ont he train too, once his bodies are out of range, he can't control them any more."
The Eye's minions were almost upon Taylor, he could feel it.
Taylor
"Oh man oh man oh man," Taylor stressed as he reached the roof and looked around.
"I'm on the roof of a freaking apartment building, I have no idea how to get to a train!"
He looked back, hoping the people weren't very far up.
"Ok. Ok..." he headed for the other side and began down another stairwell.
"Ok, coming down the stairs. Down, down, down... no one following? No, good. They're coming. Damnit."
He made it to the ground and ran out into the street.
"Ok, lots of people."
But he didn't wait around for the Eye to take over them, rather took off down the street.
"Ok, I'm running down the street, looking for a train..."
Isaac and The Eye
"Sorry, Tay," Isaac said. "I'm going nuts in here, hearing what's going on but not being able to do anything until I get there in what? Two days time! Speaking of which... maybe you should save your breath and save the battery on the cell (where you got it, I won't ask) and hang up. Call me back when you have a chance okay?"
It killed him to say it. He knew the silence would drive him crazy. But he also knew it would be safer for Taylor if he concentrated solely on his escape.
The Eye cursed. Damnit! They had lost him! In annoyance he realeased his hostages and started scanning new minds again.
Taylor
Taylor cringed. He'd waited so long to hear his brother's voice again, but he knew what he said was true. He needed to save the battery, as there was only half left already.
"Ok," he said finally, slowing his pace unintentionally.
"Ike? I really miss you. And Zac. And Avery. Oh God Avie."
He stopped running as he rubbed his forehead.
"Please, at least tell me Jess is awake. Tell me you're all ok."
Isaac and The Eye
"We've missed you too, Tay," Isaac replied. "And yes, Jess is awake."
Isaac felt it wouldn't be wise to tell him about her suicide attempt.
"Everyone is fine. Zac's started sleeping around again. But at least I think it's only with one girl. Hey, I'll talk to you again soon, dude. You'd better run."
The Eye kept scanning minds. Darn it, where could he have gone? He moved through the crowd swiftly.
Taylor
"Thank God," Taylor sighed.
He looked around.
"Ok, I think I see a subway. I'll call you if I settle somewhere. Bye Ike."
He bit his lip as he hung up on his brother, then looked up towards the railing.
"Ok Taylor. Last chance."
He looked back over his shoulder and ran for it, running down the steps as he heard the train pulling in. He pushed past as many people as he could to get to it before the doors closed.
Once on he sighed thankfully as he leant back against the door and closed his eyes.
Isaac and The Eye
Isaac heard the click and sighed. He prayed that Taylor would be alright and then turned on the radio before the sheer silence drove him mad.
The Eye saw him. But too late. He cursed as he saw through the eys of people on the subway that Taylor had gotten on the train. Despite a last moment attempt to grab him, the train move out of his range.
He glowered and spat, then stalked back to the apartment. Time to move on, and hopefully catch up with Taylor on the way.