Available Darkness Season 1

wait,” John said, noticing the agents had left Larry handcuffed on top of the box. They also left an envelope, no doubt for John, laying on top of Larry.
    From what John could tell, they’d only knocked him out, nothing more. But why would they leave him instead of taking him prisoner, too?
    After the agents were gone, Tiny drove onto the field, lights out. John hopped from the car and glanced at the violet sky. They didn’t have long to find somewhere to hide for the day. John looked down as Larry woke from the sedative, and squirmed against the handcuffs behind his back. A white envelope was taped to his chest.
    John reached down, grabbed it and opened it. Inside was a letter which read,

    “John,
    Let’s talk.
    ― Duncan.”

    It was followed by his phone number.

    * * * *

CHAPTER 14 — John

    Two weeks later…

    John sat on the deck staring out at the water.
    It seemed like a lifetime since he last sat with his dog. Now, he had Larry, his other faithful companion beside him, kicking back beers as they awaited Duncan’s arrival. John had tried to get Larry to leave, but Larry insisted, “Fuck no, we’re in this together.”
    John admired his friend’s loyalty, even if it had wavered.
    It had been two weeks since Abigail was taken by the Guardians. Two weeks since he last saw Caleb. Two weeks since Tiny took off for parts unknown. Two weeks since he’d last picked up on Abigail’s signals.
    Duncan had assured him in a phone call that she was being taken care of, but John didn’t like the sound of that at all. Duncan said they would have a chance to talk about the matter soon. Now soon meant tonight.
    Duncan’s car arrived just past 10 p.m.
    Duncan joined them on the docks, the smell of his cologne arriving ahead of him. He requested a private chat with John. Larry nodded at them both, then offered his chair to Duncan, and headed toward the house.
    “It’s a beautiful night,” Duncan said.
    “Where is she?” John asked, cutting to the chase.
    “In our custody, being looked after, of course.”
    “Like you looked after me?”
    Duncan laughed, “She’s quite the fighter. Lots of potential.”
    John turned to the old man, “Fuck you.”
    “Such foul language. You always were the tough guy, weren’t you John? Makes me wonder why you didn’t want to join us.”
    “I wasn’t interested in being an assassin for your little cabal. All you rich, powerful men dictating the events of the world without the slightest care for people. The lot of us just pawns in your game.”
    “Correction, they are pawns, not us. Not the Others. Besides, we look out for their interests. We’re the only thing keeping the scourge away. We protected this world at great personal expense, I might add. You should know that better than anyone.”
    John sighed into a swig of beer.
    “What do you want with her?”
    “You opened the portal, John. We’ve got soldiers surrounding it, waiting for God Knows What to come from the other side. You and Caleb changed everything. The Guardians must now be more vigilant than ever, eradicating all Harbingers and magick to prevent an apocalypse. We need Others on our side. Especially ones with powers such as yours… or Abigail’s.”
    “You are a monster, no better than Jacob.”
    “Sometimes, the world requires monsters. If we don’t protect humanity, who will?”
    John shook his head, “She’s just a child.”
    “But such a powerful one,” Duncan said. “She has the hunger.”
    John’s stomach turned at the thought of exploiting a child in such a way. Particularly a child who had lost so much to exploitation by monsters. He looked Duncan in his cold eyes.
    “What happened to you? What happened to the man who risked everything to keep two boys alive? The man who raised Caleb and kept him from becoming a monster? Is that part of you finally dead?”
    “Caleb is gone to the other side. And I’m too old for sentimentality. All I can do is protect this world as best as I can, the only way I know how.”
    “Why are you here, then?” John asked, “You’ve already got your next assassin, what do you want from me?”
    “I’ll offer a trade; you come work for us, we let Abigail go.”
    “Work, or kill?”
    “They’re really the same, aren’t they? You come work for us, stay in our program, and help. If you do this, you cannot see your friends again, including Abigail. You are ours, completely and fully until we close that portal or kill every last Other