"Dammit it all....!" Jin's mind wavered, looking around and pinpointing to a set point which he made on the chair.
SNAP!
Jin immediately warped to that location which was right behind the enforcers.
I just need to grab a hold of them and warp us all out of here! Jin told himself, raeching his hand forward. Come on... just one more metre!
A dark presence towered behind him in an instant. He felt it. A hand reaching to claw at his skull.
He snapped his fingers again and warped back to the front of the desk. His breath short as he saw the man who was behind him. It was the enforcer leader who can create fire!
"Oh my~" Arael cooed. "To think you already placed so many anchors in this room while we were chatting. And you're quite proficient with Recall's too. You'd normally need a lot of calculations before you could do it. Not a simple snap."
Jin ignored Arael who was behind him enjoying the show. All his focus was on getting his mother and friends out of this place.
The rush of adrenaline panted out of his lungs. He's never used his warp so many times in quick succession.
At the corner of his eye, he got a whip of his skin. Violet cracks spread like a broken mirror up his arm and to his neck. Molts of purple emanated.
What is this?
"I could also snap my fingers. Enforcers, put the guns to their heads."
It was spoken with such sweetness that Arael sounded psychotic as he emulated the way Jin snapped his fingers. The enforcers were quick to follow orders, holding Nozomi, Isis, and Tora with a firmer grip as they dug their guns deep into their temples.
No... No no no no no!
A cruel memory resurfaced; Jin's father, Amakusa Tomoya getting taken away by enforcers. Jin's hand trying to make any effort in breaking pass the hold that they had on him. The metal doors sliding shut.
That was the last straw for Jin.
He snapped his fingers once again so hard that it twitched with soreness. He flashed right before the three, just close enough to be in proximity. But the enforcer leader was on his tail.
Snap! He warped away to the bookshelfs, gaining distance. But when Jin looked up, he saw a powerful hand. How is he here?! Jin could've sworn that the enforcer missed him. A million thoughts flew by as Jin got ready to warp to the set point behind the enforcer.
Just as Jin was about to snap his fingers, the enforcer was already twisting and turning his body. He's not even looking at me? What? Jin noticed that the enforcer leader was already gunning for his next location.
He finally realised. He can see the set points I placed in the room. Not only that, but he knows exactly where I'm going. I don't know how he's reaching me instantaneously, but if he's predicting where I'm able to warp next then...
Trying to warp himself is futile. There was only one answer.
I'll just not warp then!
Jin snapped his fingers while reaching for a hard book cover behind him. The enforcer leader, who was likely expecting Jin to show up behind him, was surprised to find that he wasn't there.
Huh, he's not...?
"Take this, bastard!"
With a loud smack, Jin slammed the book cover as hard as he could onto the back of the enforcer leader's helmet. He wasn't expecting any real damage, but he was just hoping that it'd buy him enough time to get him as he dived to his mother and friends.
However, when was close enough, he saw in their expression pure horror. In the reflection of his mother's eyes, Jin could see the figure of the enforcer encompassed in an orangle glow. It was like he himself was moving in slow motion as he helplessly got pinned to the ground.
It was violent and brash; carpet scraping his cheek. His arm twisted. Breath crushed out of him.
He flickered out of the all-seeing state but barely managed to keep hold of it. His focus was on its last thread.
"Erg...." he let out a nosie as he struggled to break himself free.
"Don't even try it," the enforcer leader said, a terrifying aura shrouding him. "I'll break your arm in two."
I can... still... Jin still had his free hand. If he could just snap his fingers than he could still warp.
Just as he was about to press his middle finger and thumb together, the enforcer leader locked them in place with a tight grip.
Jin couldn't move anymore. The terrified faces of his mother, Isis, and Tora reaching his eyes. They groaned through the tape. Nozomi now had tears pouring down. He couldn't bring himself to watch that.
Clap, clap, clap.
A slow and deliberate clapping of hands broke the tension.
"Bravo! An amazing display of bravery and skill. I can't even tell if you're trying to escape or impress me futher," Arael chortled, walking towards the now apprehended Jin with a smirk. "He sure got the better of you, Officer Kyle."
"It was a carless mistake, Lord Arael," said the enforcer leader.
He kneeled down, almost tantalisingly to Jin's level as he tilted his chin up. "Now, now. Don't look away. You need to come to a decision now~"
Arael paused before he finally gave him the choice.
"Accept the deal," he taunted with the most wicked grin plastered on his face. "If you do, they'll live comfortably without needing to worry about money again. I can ensure you that. But if you don't, well, I didn't promise to not kill them in your stead."
Jin didn't know what to do. Emotions began welling up as his focus finally began to waver. Time didn't feel as slow anymore. Instead, the seconds passed by.
"You have 5 seconds before I put a bullet in their head~" Arael playfully said, as he began to count down. "5...."
His vision finally blurred. He rapidly blinked, eyes darting across the room, as he tried thinking of a way out of this.
"4....."
Reassess this situation Jin, you can do this! You're trapped and...
"3...."
Maybe I can somehow force my fingers together? No, he's too strong. I can't get myself out of this grip. Think more... faster!
"2...."
Come on! There's got to be a way! I..... Jin finally matched his gaze with his mother. Nozomi's gaze, this entire time, stayed on him. She wasn't even focused on the gun that was held to her head. Only her son. If she could reach out her hand, she would.
She'd reach out to try sooth him. To make up for all the pain which she unintentionally caused him.
Jin's mind finally went blank as he spat out his words.
"I-I'll.... I'll do it! Please, just don't kill them... please..." he cried, voice cracked into sobs. His tears scrolling down and wetting the carpet. "I'll accept the deal. I'll go with you to Halcendre...."
SIlence. Complete and utter silence. Arael's expression changed. He stood up and patted on the enforcer leader's shoulder. The grip on Jin was let loose. However, it seemed he had already lost conciousness from overexerting himself.
"Good answer," Arael said. He turned to his hostages with a calm and cold look. "When he wakes up, inform him that he has two weeks to prepare himself. Best you all spend as much time as you can with him."