I learned later that this old man was rounding off a lifetime of active service as a field Specialist for Outcross, so the sudden high-octane flash was nothing new -- but in the moment, all I could think about was the fact that I was alone in a cramped apartment with a guy who smelled vaguely of prunes, dust, and ink while a faceless killer made plans to very much make me bleed. Oh my God.
Snatches of the vision were still chasing themselves in my mind, but I think it was the dark that gave them cobwebs to spin into. Cyclops stepped away, rummaging in a nearby drawer. I watched him blearily, until he revealed a Smith & Wesson clenched firmly in one fist. The pistol's hammer was already cocked. Without no further ado, Cyclops wedged an arm through mine, and compelled me from the room out to the hallway. I had just enough time to grab my phone from the desk before the door snapped shut.
The Administrator had texted me six times in the span of forty seconds. By the time I shuffled dumbly to the kitchen, three more messages were received. At least the brighter light here caused me to be more aware. I scrolled through my inbox with shaking fingers.
CALL.
CALL NOW.
REPORT
DO NOT LEAVE.
BRIAN IS EN ROUTE. LEAVE THEN.
SPEAK TO NEAR.
STAY AWAY FROM WINDOWS.
ALL OF THE WINDOWS.
THAT WAS WHAT WE CALL A WINDOW.
Window? I turned my head. There was a plate glass window in the quiet living room, the entrance to which Cyclops and I strolled past. Oh. I hadn't even seen it. It was dark. Someone could have been watching from outside, or worse. Oops. The Admin had a nasty sense of humor. Stuff like this was going to get me killed one of these days.
Bad choice of words, Twenty ..
My temples started to throb.
When the Administrator said "call", he meant that I was to contact his secure line and speak at length about the vision. He never picked up, of course. It was more like an answering machine; great way to pass on messages to other Specialists if their numbers weren't preprogrammed into your phones. If Brian was on his way, then I'd have time to do so.
"My Control is on his way," I unstuck my throat, and addressed Cyclops, who was pacing the kitchen as only an armed, gnarled old man can. "He's a DI. I don't know where they're taking me from there."
Cyclops didn't ask any more questions. I think he knew the procedure at this point with events like these. I licked my lips one more time, dialed the call-in number, and waited not for a ring but for a --
Click.
"This is Specialist Twenty reporting a new vision. It was sparked by touching all the evidence letters in a row, chronologically. By the time my fingers left the third one, they closed around a new one. One that doesn't exist yet. It was addressed to the Administrator. I .. I .. "
Oh, I was used to it. I had rattled off (in fairly minute detail) other visions in the past, but none had been as graphic as this one. None had been about me. I faltered a bit in the middle, but I got out the information that I could remember, the information that was important. The words fell dully from my lips. I'm calmly, cooly describing the circumstances of my own death.
" .. The letter was not dated. This could be at any point in the future. All London-area Specialists are advised that, um. Whoever M is, he may be a lot more dangerous than we had first anticipated," I licked my lips one final time before ending the call. There. It's done.
Bzzt. I glanced down.
GO.
There were two light knocks on the door, and then it swung open on its own accord. Detective Inspector Brian Something (his last name wasn't important) stepped into Cyclops' apartment with an urgent but puzzled look on his face. The other DIs from the Convention Centre weren't with him. I hadn't expected them to be. I stared at Brian. He stared back.
Cyclops coughed into his sleeve, which jarred me from my stupor. I scooted back to the welcome mat for my shoes, jammed them on quickly as best as I could, exchanged knowing (fearful) glances with Brian, and then was out the door into the London evening.
"Her skull was fractured before she fell, and she struck each stair solidly before reaching the bottom .. "
Lord save me. I really am going to get myself killed ..