Chapter 263: Hostage Situation

Gideon kept his attention on Jasper as they continued deeper into the mine. The man had been unusually quiet since the encounter with the mimic aberrants, although his eyes still occasionally moved toward Gideon with the same hostility he had shown earlier.

He even ’guided’ them toward a place that ’might’ be where the hive mind resided because he supposedly ’remembered’ the map of the mine.

Gideon didn’t believe that bullshit. Something had clearly happened to Jasper, and he found that more interesting than anything else.

’Maybe they’re whispering something specific to him. His brother’s voice, perhaps. Something that makes him follow.’

He kept watching Jasper’s back as they walked. He had time. It had only been forty-five minutes since they entered the mine, and he would gladly stall if it meant Kilian could evacuate more people.

After all, the true size of the hive mind was still unknown. If it was large enough, the fight could get ugly, and the last thing Gideon wanted was to bring the entire canyon down with the people inside the settlement.

Petter seemed determined to make up for the silence.

"So, Jasper, are you actually going to tell us where we’re going, or are we supposed to trust your mysterious wilderness instincts again?"

Jasper didn’t even look back. "If you don’t trust me, then walk in front."

Petter immediately looked toward Addam. "He has a point."

Addam snorted. "You only said that because you don’t want to walk in front."

"I prefer being alive. There’s nothing wrong with that."

Nick sighed. "Can both of you shut up for a minute? We’re underground, surrounded by something that can apparently crawl into people’s heads, and you’re arguing about who gets to be the first person eaten."

"That’s exactly why I’m arguing," Petter replied. "I don’t want to be the first."

Gideon chuckled quietly as they continued along the uneven passage. "At least he’s honest."

Nick glanced at him. "Chief, you’re encouraging them."

"I noticed."

Addam grinned. "See? I told you he’s better than Aaron."

"Don’t get too comfortable," Nick replied. "He might decide you’re annoying and leave both of you here."

Gideon looked toward them, "I might."

Petter opened his mouth to protest, but Nick laughed before he could answer.

They continued walking until the tunnel widened again, and the white growth became noticeably thicker.

Some of the strands were so thick that they looked like roots growing through the stone.

Jasper slowed down. Gideon noticed immediately.

"What is it?" he asked.

"There should be a chamber ahead."

"There should be?" Gideon repeated, raised his brow.

Jasper finally looked over his shoulder. "The old mine had several excavation chambers. I remember seeing a map before."

Addam frowned. "You remember a map from how long ago?"

"Does it matter?"

"It matters when you’re the one leading us."

Jasper’s jaw tightened. "Then don’t follow me."

Nick immediately stepped between the argument before it could become something worse.

"Enough. We’ve already wasted enough time."

Gideon didn’t say anything. He simply watched Jasper turn around and continue walking.

A few minutes later, the tunnel opened into a large chamber.

The ceiling rose several meters above them, supported by thick stone pillars that had been almost completely covered by the white parasite growth.

Then Petter stopped. "Chief..."

Gideon followed his gaze. Something was hanging from the wall. It looked human at first.

Then the faint blue light from the growth illuminated the body properly.

A man was suspended against the stone, his arms and legs wrapped tightly in white strands. His chest moved weakly, proving that he was still alive.

Several thinner tendrils disappeared between his lips and down his throat, pulsing slightly whenever he breathed.

Petter’s voice dropped. "He’s alive."

"Yes," Gideon said.

Nick approached carefully, keeping his rifle raised. "Don’t touch him."

"I wasn’t planning to."

"Good, because I don’t think we know what happens if you—"

Before Addam could finish his words, Jasper grabbed the back of his tactical gear and shoved him hard toward the wall.

"Jasper, what the hell—"

Addam’s shoulder struck the white-covered stone, and the growth immediately reacted.

Several thick tendrils peeled away from the wall and wrapped around his arm, then his chest, dragging him against the surface.

"Addam!" Nick rushed forward and grabbed his wrist, trying to pull him free.

The wall reacted. More tendrils burst from the cracks beneath Nick’s feet and coiled around his legs before climbing toward his waist.

"Fuck! These disgusting things! I’m gonna kill you, Jasper! This isn’t funny!"

Addam kept moving, grabbing his knife and started to slash the tendrils around him. But they were too fast and strong enough to hold his wrist and bend it, making him scream in pain and the knife fall on the ground like that.

"Shit! What the hell?! Stop moving Addam, it’s just like a quicksand!"

"If I don’t move this thing will swallow me more!"

Nick cursed and fired into the growth, but the sudden movement only made him lose his balance.

Gideon was already moving. He crossed the distance in seconds, his sword cutting through the tendrils around Addam.The parasite tissue split apart and recoiled, allowing Addam to drop onto his knees.

Gideon immediately turned, caught another strand wrapping around Nick’s shoulder, and severed it before it could tighten around his neck.

"Get away from the wall!" Gideon ordered.

Nick didn’t need to be told twice. He dragged Addam backward, both of them stumbling away as the severed tendrils writhed across the stone.

Gideon barely had time to straighten and turned his head to see more chaos happen.

Jasper’s arm was locked around Petter’s neck, while the barrel of his rifle was pressed against the man’s head.

Petter froze, his hands slowly rising.

"Jasper..." Nick breathed.

Jasper’s eyes remained fixed on Gideon.

"Drop the sword, Chief."

Jasper tightened his arm around Petter’s neck and smiled at Gideon.

"See? You’re not so untouchable after all, Chief. All that strength, all those stories about how you killed the Verdant Devourer, and now you’re standing there because one of your men has a rifle against his head."

Petter swallowed hard. "You know, Jasper, I really don’t appreciate being used to prove a point."

"Shut up."

Nick slowly raised both hands. "Jasper, listen to me. You need to calm down. Whatever you’re seeing or hearing, it’s not real. We’re your friends. We’ve been fighting together for years."

"Friends?" Jasper laughed quietly. "You all became his friends the moment he arrived. You follow him, defend him, joke with him as if you’ve known him your whole lives."

Addam’s teeth ground together as he stared at Jasper. "Let Petter go, you fucking lunatic."

"Addam," Nick warned.

"No, let me talk." Addam took a step forward, his hands tightening around his rifle. "You want Gideon? Fine. Take him. But if you hurt Petter, I’ll put a bullet through your skull myself."

Jasper’s rifle shifted toward him.

Gideon took a deep breath. He hated this hostage situation with all of his being. But this was actually good, he was able to be alone with Jasper and crack open his brain, not literally... or literally. It didn’t matter anymore for him.

Gideon finally spoke. "Enough."

Everyone looked at him. He slowly lowered his sword and let it fall onto the stone floor.

Jasper’s expression brightened.

"That’s better."

Gideon kept his eyes on Petter. "I’ll go with you. But you let him go first."

Jasper shook his head. "You’ll move before I release him."

"Fine."

"You coward, Jasper. Let go of Petter now." Addam snarled, making Jasper turn his gaze and attention to him.

Gideon turned slightly toward Nick as though he was simply checking on him, then spoke quietly enough that only Nick could hear.

"Get out of the mine. Find Kilian or Jade and tell them everything. If I’m forced to fight the hive mind down here, I might bring the entire canyon down."

Nick’s eyes widened slightly. Gideon slipped one hand toward his belt and pressed a folded teleportation scroll into Nick’s palm.

"Don’t let him see it. Use it, think about the settlement before you open it and you will arrive there."

Nick closed his fingers around it and gave the smallest nod.

Behind them, Addam was still glaring at Jasper.

"Congratulations," he muttered. "You finally lost your mind."

Jasper was clearly irritated enough to forget about Nick for a moment.

Gideon took the opportunity to walk forward.

"Good choice," Jasper said, his voice carrying a hint of triumph. "Maybe now you’ll understand what happens when you stop pretending you’re invincible."

Gideon stopped in front of him. "Yeah, yeah. Stop talking and move. Being a hostage isn’t exactly one of my virtues, and you should probably hurry before I change my mind."

Jasper frowned. "Still arrogant, aren’t you? Should I cut that tongue out so you can finally shut up?"

Gideon chuckled and shook his head as he stepped closer.

Jasper instinctively moved back, his rifle remaining trained on Gideon.

"You can try," Gideon said, lowering his voice. "But we both know who’s more likely to end up with a death wish and a cracked skull."

Jasper swallowed, his confidence faltering for only a moment before he finally released Petter and immediately raised his rifle toward Gideon’s.

Petter stumbled away, and Nick caught him by the arm.

Addam’s rifle came up. "Let me kill him."

Nick grabbed his weapon before he could fire. "No."

"Get your hand off me."

"Not here."

Gideon heard them even as he continued walking. He didn’t turn around.

For now, Jasper still believed he was the one controlling the situation, even though the man had already started sweating from a few careless words.

Gideon had no reason to correct him.