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“Good. Here. Take this.”
He extended the slice of fruit to me, the knife’s edge glinting from the harsh overhead lights.
“I’m not hungry,” I said.
“I insist,” the Supervisor said, maintaining eye contact with me through my visor and holding the fruit out.
My stomach churned as I realized he wanted me to take my helmet off. He would see my face and realize I was not the guard he thought I was.
Then this whole rescue-Lily episode would be over before it had even begun.
What had made him suspicious? I wondered. Had he seen my files? Would he take any interest in them? He wouldn’t have been the one to recruit me — the previous Supervisor would have.
Still, I didn’t want to leave it up to chance. Not with Lily’s life on the line.
But if I refused to take my helmet off, that would make him even more curious and investigate who I was. My mouth was dry and I swallowed what little saliva I had.
Then I had an idea.
My ability!
I could use it to make the Supervisor see the face of the guard I was supposed to be!
I reached for the metal clasps on either side and released them. The helmet fell away and I presented the other guard’s face into the Supervisor’s mind.
He just sat there, looking at me. His eyes dropped to the piece of fruit and I took it.
He waited once more. It wasn’t enough to take the fruit — I also had to eat it. I did, and the noise was loud in the tense office.
“You have an honest face,” he said. “I always like to look into the eyes of those I’m working with.”
I nodded. “I understand,” I said, before placing the helmet back on my head. “It’s best to be sure.”
The helmet could protect someone from my ability to manipulate them… but it could also be a way to cut me off from my ability. I would have to bear that in mind the next time I needed to use it.
At the door, I saluted the Supervisor and left, grateful to be away from him. He was creepy and I sensed there was more to him than met the eye.
Yes, I thought, the sooner we were away from this place, the better.
I headed down the steps and wound through the hallways as if I had never been away. Nothing had changed about the place.
A pair of armed guards flanked me on either side.
Two goons stood outside the cell Thillak had used as his office. I was surprised to see Cayggod still sitting at his desk, sporting a large black eye from where Druin had taken him by surprise.
I wished I could have revealed to him who I was, to talk like old friends… but not with Lily’s life hanging in the balance.
“I wish to see Thillak,” I said, my voice electronically distorted.
Cayggod might have been expecting me by the lack of surprise he wore on his face.
“He’s in a meeting right now,” he said. “I’ll end it and have them leave immediately.”
I waited as he disappeared inside the office and two heavyset Ghanisians exited, keeping their eyes firmly on the floor as they left.
“He will see you now,” Cayggod said, ushering us inside.
I motioned for the two armed guards to remain outside. I didn’t want them to overhear the offer I was going to make to Druin. I would give him anything he wanted, just so long as he could get Lily and me safely out of the prison as soon as possible.
