Monster Inside

When Soren stepped outside he was greeted with the sight of a yard full of vehicles. Along with Fry's car and the van they had gotten from the mercenaries there was now a school bus, a minivan and Issac's car.

"Add the new vehicles to our assets list. Make a note to the side that we need to check how much gas each one has. The bus will come in handy for future outings."

Avery pulled the pen from the notebook's binding and moved a few pages in to write the information down. The top of the notebook was littered with colored tabs. Soren made a note to himself that they would need to write down the name, and basic information, of everyone that was there. He meant for everyone to be assigned a job.

Soren and Avery walked up to Issac's car as the last person stepped out. Reece Marsh was everything that Soren remembered the man to be. He was quick with a smile and gave off an aura that made you want to like him. His brown hair was showing more than a few streaks of grey.

Next to Reece was who Soren assumed was Ava. She was a good blend of both parents and came off warmer than her younger sister. When Soren turned his attention to Issac he could see the exhaustion in the other man's eyes. He could also feel the turmoil that bled off him in waves. It told Soren more than words as to what Issac had found while out.

"Issac, it is good to see you back safely."

Issac turned at the sound of Soren's voice, his face smiling but not quite reaching his eyes.

"It's been an interesting trip. I found your Marsh's. I tried to text you ahead of us leaving, but it seems that cellphones are down."

"As far as I know we haven't tried the phones here. If communications have been shut down it happened sooner than expected. We will have to find a way around that."

Soren glanced at Avery who made a quick note. It was necessary for them to be able to communicate with any teams they sent out.

"Mr. Marsh, I'm not sure if you remember me. Soren Valle."

Soren held his hand out to Reece who took his hand, lips dropped in a frown, eyebrows lowered.

"You're Issac's boss?"

Soren glanced at Issac and found his smile broadening. It meant a lot to hear that Issac was referring to him as his boss.

"I am. I'm sure you'd like to reunite with your family. Mrs. Marsh and Bentley are staying in a room in the basement. You're welcome to head straight there. You will find them in the second room."

"Thank you."

Reece was already heading inside, Ava following close behind, though she was watching Soren closely. Based on their reactions Reece had not remembered who Soren was, but Ava had. A small crowd of people had gathered around them when Soren brought his attention back to Issac.

"We have people inside cooking if anyone is hungry. We also have a running shower."

The latter part of his words got the most attention and everyone started to make their way inside. Even with the group going in, it still seemed like there was too much traffic. Soren wanted to give Issac a quiet place to talk and at the moment that was limited.

"Walk with me?"

Issac nodded and followed Soren as he made his way around the house and to the back yard.

"Tell me, how did your trip go?"

Issac laughed and it was full of bitterness, and pain. Lots of pain.

"She didn't make it. The only comfort I have is that it looked like she was dead before they got her." Issac stopped and stared up at the sky, blinking back tears that threatened to fall. "Something happened, I found her car smashed into a building. H-her head, the back of it was… So much blood. I was supposed to protect her. Back when we were younger I was always there to keep her safe. I'm stronger now than I've ever been and I was still unable to save her."

Soren kept quiet and let Issac talk. He knew that it was necessary for the other man to release his pain, to have someone to tell it to. Soren was not worried about anyone coming and interrupting them, they had made all the way to the back of the shed that hid the cooler.

"I've barely been holding myself together. Almost lost it a couple times. I-I don't want to keep going any more. Not without her. She was my motivation for everything I did."

This Soren did interrupt, he refused to allow Issac to continue down that path. He still had use of the man. Soren stepped forward and placed a hand on Issac's shoulder, causing the other to look at him. Tears were falling freely down Issac's face, his eyes devoid of life, a sure sign that he had already given up.

"You can't just give up, Issac, there is still so much work to be done. I know that the two of you were close, the pain of her loss is clearly written on your face. I can't bring her back, but I can give you something else to live for. Help me build the sanctuary. Help me save people."

Silence grew between them as Issac stared at him. After what felt like an eternity Issac wiped at the tears that had stopped falling. There was the barest hint of light within his eyes.

"Growing up I was obsessed over knights. Carol and I would play knight and princess when we were left alone. That focus changed when the agents came and saved us, but it's core has never changed."

Issac drew his gun from his shoulder holster and dropped to his knees. He placed the gun on the ground in front of him.

"I don't want to live any longer. The only thing that kept me going was the mission you sent me on. Until I am freed to join my sister, my life is yours."

This was not what Soren had expected. Far from his expectations, and yet, it was so much more.

"Follow my orders, help me rebuild this world and I promise that when the time comes and you are truly ready to be done with all of this I will personally return you to your sister's side."

Soren held out a hand to Issac who took it and stood up, grabbing his gun on the way. The old light was gone from Issac's eyes, but instead of how lifeless they had been only moments ago there was a sense of peace in them. Soren stared into Issac's eyes.

"You should go and talk with Mason. He deserves to know as soon as possible. After that, find Ethan's room and rest. I can't imagine that you've done much sleeping with that much pain."

"Thank you."

Issac took a deep breath and walked away. Soren knew that talking with Mason, someone who said that they were in love with his sister, would go a long way to help Issac to move forward. Soren found himself smiling as he watched Issac walk away. When Issac disappeared at the front of the house Soren turned to look at Avery.

Avery had been watching everything quietly, mostly detached from the situation. He felt for Issac, but his attention had been on Soren.

"I thought for sure I had lost him when he said that she was dead. I'd planned on him bringing her here and using her presence to keep him here. It seems that I worried for nothing. This worked out far better than I'd planned. Not only do I now have complete control over him, but he even sent me someone who's willing to be an evolved.

"I believe that Mason will be even more willing to join us after talking with Issac. Soon I will have a small army of evolved."

With so many evolved, Soren knew that he might have a chance against his father. He did not trust that his father had completely stopped experimenting just because he ran away. He knew the man well enough to know that he would not be able to help himself. Somewhere out there the bastard is hiding and pulling strings to destroy everything. If I'm going to win I have to be stronger.

Avery felt a cold chill down his spine as he listened to Soren. The smile on the man's face, the way his eyes remained cold, reminded Avery more than anything that he was bound to a monster. That everyone who came to them for safety was coming to live within the monster's territory.

Avery had experienced first hand the fact that Soren looked at the humans as his property. Oh, he would keep them safe and he would play his part. The moment someone tried to stray from the boundaries that Soren had set in place they would be met with Soren's true form.