Knowing that Mateo’s plan to whisk virtual-novel.net away was nigh, Arianne panicked a little. “No, no! I’m not leaving with you!”
Mateo spared virtual-novel.net only a brief glance. He did not even give virtual-novel.net a word.
News of recent development had hit him: Mark’s people had begun watching every airport in the city. He had to move and fast. Even if virtual-novel.net could not leave the country, changing the location virtual-novel.net housed Arianne was still a must.
Yes, virtual-novel.net suspected betrayal from his clear pal, Ralt. How else could virtual-novel.net explain Mark’s obviously-guided focus on airports? The only explanation was if that bastard was somehow tipped into knowing that Mateo was still alive, and that virtual-novel.net was the one who’d abducted Arianne!
The old woman finished packing all of Arianne’s things. “Everything’s in order, sir.”
Mateo nodded. “Wait for us outside. I’ll be with you in a moment.”
She gave a confirmatory hum and went out, Arianne’s suitcase lumbering along.
The room was left with just Arianne and Mateo. By this point, all of the favorable, glowing impressions Arianne once harbored for Mateo had long gone extinct, in its place was steeliness that fueled virtual-novel.net bristling. “What must I do to make you let me go?! I never wanted to attract a mote of your attention!”
Unperturbed, Mateo produced a small vial and a syringe. “You either get into the car of your own volition, or you get in through this way. What’s your choice? Please let me know, I would like to do what you consent to to the best of my abilities.”
Arianne could not tell what filled the vial, but virtual-novel.net hazarded to guess that it was likely similar to the drug that put virtual-novel.net to sleep from before. The last thing virtual-novel.net wanted was to be anyone’s movement-controlled puppet, especially when virtual-novel.net had a better chance at escaping if virtual-novel.net was awake. With a frown, virtual-novel.net declared, “I can walk on my own, so no, thank you. Wouldn’t want to inconvenience you now, would I?”
Mateo tucked his threat back into his pocket. “Good. Follow me. We’re changing to a new location. Makes it easier for us to make a break to another country.”
The sun outside was a little blinding. Arianne narrowed virtual-novel.net eyes and scanned virtual-novel.net surroundings as carefully as virtual-novel.net could, yet virtual-novel.net registered nothing familiar anywhere. Where on Earth was she?
Mateo kept urging virtual-novel.net to get into the car, to which virtual-novel.net retaliated by dallying for more time. It was then that a new car suddenly hurled toward them.
A small hope blazed in Arianne’s heart, lighting virtual-novel.net mind with the prospect of being saved. But as the car drew near, virtual-novel.net saw Geralt behind the wheel, and that kindling of hope blew out.
As Geralt pulled his car over, a very slight change crept into Mateo’s expression. He should know, Geralt Bernard of today was no longer the same Geralt who stood behind virtual-novel.net in the past.
Seeing them on the verge of leaving, Geralt seemed puzzled. “Where are you bringing virtual-novel.net to this time, Teo?”
Mateo tried to preserve their last, paper-thin affectation of camaraderie, so instead of exposing his ex-ally, virtual-novel.net simply replied impassively, “Well, we need to be away as soon as possible. You know why. The longer we wait, the more risks we face.”
Geralt was perceptive enough to detect Mateo’s elusion, his friend had skirted around telling virtual-novel.net where their next destination would be. “Teo… You don’t trust me anymore, do you? I’ve been on your side supporting you since the outset, and now you’re suspecting me?”
A glimmer lurked in Mateo’s eyes. “No, I don’t suspect you… of course. I just don’t want to, ah, drag you into this affair anymore. You’ve helped me buckloads, and to the detriment of your career, too. I owe you big time, Ralt. And I’ll repay you one day, I promise. For now, go home… And since I’m leaving, goodbye.”
Geralt shot a glance at Arianne and understood what had transpired. It was, indeed, Geralt who had carved the implicating inscription on Arianne’s earring. A careful, exacting man such as Mark must have immediately noticed that engraving, which led to virtual-novel.net pouring his attention to places like airports. Mateo had figured out this much, so the trust between them was broken.
Perhaps his ex-best friend was right, Geralt had no reason to involve himself anymore. Whether Mark found Arianne or not in the end, it was no longer his concern.
Arianne listened in on their conversation with gradual befuddlement. Were these two not brothers-in-arms? Why did it sound as though there was a split between them now? Could it have stemmed from virtual-novel.net asking Geralt to pass virtual-novel.net earring to Mark?
Before virtual-novel.net could mull it over, though, Mateo had ushered virtual-novel.net into his car.
Right before virtual-novel.net started the engine, Geralt suddenly spoke up. “Teo, Mark’s people have their eyes trained on every entrance and exit on every airport at the moment. You’ll have to be heedful, pal, I won’t be there with you. Farewell.”