Give up on

‘Quickly. In here.’

Joe found himself in the same office where Xavier, Jean-Claude and he had hidden when they first arrived. As his eyes accustomed themselves to the low light, he realised there were two others beside him, a young woman about the same age as Emma and Delphine, and a man with very broad shoulders.

‘Thank you,’ said Joe. ‘That guy had a gun-’

‘Yes, we saw that,’ said Brontë. ‘Don’t think he has it now, Hugo will have taken it for safekeeping. I’m Brontë and this is Alain.’

‘You must be the people Xavier brought us here to save. Although you seem to be doing the saving. I’m really very grateful.’ He sank into a chair and tried to stop shaking. He couldn’t help thinking this experience was a world away from his day job in the office. The door opened softly and Joe tensed as he saw two silhouettes slip in, closing the gap behind them.

‘It’s alright, I found him,’ said Hugo.

‘I think you mean I found you,’ said Xavier. ‘I see you have met Joe. Where is Jean-Claude?’

‘Three of them took him,’ said Joe. 

‘I fear these people mean business,’ said Xavier. ‘We must go, now, while we can.’

‘But what about Jean-Claude?’

‘There’s nothing we can do about that now. We must go,’ he insisted.

Joe stood, outraged. ‘You can’t just give up on him. After all he’s done for you.’

‘Think about it Joe,’ said Xavier. ‘He isn’t a clone. We are. They can’t deconstruct him, but we are finished if they catch us.’