Chapter Thirty-Three - Bodyguard

Tyler's blue BMW shot like a freshly fired bullet down the country roads, making easy work of the tight corners and dirt tracks whilst he and his team travelled to Bournemouth Airport.

"It's my turn for the aux now, Max!" Ava cried; she, Max and Elvie sat in the rear whilst Charity took the passenger seat.

"No! I've still got one song left! Tyler, tell her!" Max argued.

"You're both acting like children! If you continue to complain, neither of you will be playing music on the way back! But, on the other hand, look how good Charity and Elvie are. I've barely heard a peep out of them." Charity looked back at Elvie, who was passed out and asleep.

"Elvie has a Monster crash. That's probably why she's been so quiet." Charity explained, humour in her tone. "I'll leave you to wake her. I've got too many scars from disturbing her sleep after a Monster Energy knockout." Tyler laughed, turning the music slightly to prevent Elvie's premature awakening.

"Do we need to go over the plan again? We are nearly here after all." Tyler asked. The team agreed that they understood the plan precisely and watched Tyler pass through a 'Road Closed' sign without a second thought.

"You know the road's closed through here, right?" Max sheepishly asked, looking out the rear window at the quickly shrinking sign.

"Why do you think that is? To prevent civilians from entering an area where Mr Gould is coming in. There should be a way in through here." Tyler slammed on the brakes and spun the steering wheel aggressively, sending the back end drifting and proceeding down a narrow route that would take them to the airstrip. They parked next to two black jeeps, most likely the vehicles that would transport Mr Gould to the harbour. Tyler gently awoke Elvie, who sheepishly rubbed her eyes, not realising they had arrived at the rendevous point. Then, instructing them to put their masks on, Tyler left the car and walked to a large man wearing sunglasses and a black suit who stood at the hood of one of the jeeps.

"We're Hunters. How long till touch down?" Tyler asked.

"Two minutes. You're just in time. Although I have to say, you're not as threatening as I had thought." The man replied, eyeing up Tyler's team as they joined him.

"You'd be saying something completely different if you were our target instead of looking out for your asses," Elvie replied cockily. The man grunted before turning his gaze up to the sky. In the distance, a black jet with yellow trims began to fly into view. Tyler took a deep breath; he had seen what his team could do in the field by hunting down a target when they helped Thomas catch a street dealer, but this would be different. He watched as the jet landed and a set of steps folded from the doorway, allowing Mr Gould to exit. As he stepped down the steep steps, his gaze was fixed upon the Hunters.

"It's a good thing you're on our side, right?" Mr Gould joked, expecting a response, but instead, Tyler gave a cold stare that penetrated his soul. The personal bodyguard escorted him to the jeep, closing the door behind him.

Tyler motioned his hand to signal that the Hunters were to return to the BMW, which they followed - Max took the passenger seat, racing Charity to the position in a genuinely child-like fashion; the rest followed Tyler's lead, entering the car one after the other.

"What is the point of us? Who will cause such a problem that they need to call us in?" Max questioned.

"Don't you see, this person is clearly a friend of the Grand Masters; otherwise, why would he have known about the Hunters? So we are probably just reassurance that he will be safe, right, Tyler?" Elvie asked. Tyler didn't respond - in his bones, he felt something was off. There was something about this mission that felt strange. "Right, Tyler?" Elvie asked again.

"Did anyone else get a strange feeling about him? Like something about him felt wrong?" Tyler asked.

"Umm, not really. We didn't get too long to speak to him. What was strange about him?" Ava asked. Tyler began to follow the jeeps on their route to Poole Harbour.

"I can't quite put my finger on it, but there was something evil about him. I don't know how to explain it, but trust me."

"So what, the Grand Master won't give us any clues, and we can't just question him," Ava asked.

"I'm going to tail him. Max, you take the car and park nearby after I leave." Tyler's tone turned harsh, "And whatever happens, you stay in the car. I don't want to give him fresh kills if this person is dangerous."

Tyler followed the jeeps to the harbour, parking neatly behind them.

"Thank you for your service. Thankfully it was not required. I have seen your skill set before, and it truly is impressive." Mr Gould told Tyler.

"Where may this have been?" Tyler asked calmly.

"Ah, so you do speak! I was starting to believe you were a simple golem." Mr Gould began to chuckle before walking away to his boat. Tyler and the team retreated to the BMW, but before Tyler unlocked it, he threw the keys to Max and launched himself onto the back of the boat before another word could be said.

Sneaking onto the ship's hull, Tyler crept his way to the upper deck, keeping within earshot the entire time.

"R.E.A.P.E.R is working overtime to hunt down the last few Magicians that have evaded us for so long, Sir. Soon, the entire world will be completely rid of Magicians within the next few months, should our reports indicate anything." A shadowed man explained; Tyler couldn't identify any distinctive signs of his identity.

"That's great news! Have we got any names of the people we are looking for? Well, people is a strong word for those freaks of nature. Any idea regarding the locations; anything we can use to flush them out?" Mr Gould asked calmly.

"We have names of a few 'up and comers' thanks to some intel our men dug out of a Magician we captured. Most are just children, so they won't pose a threat when raiding them. I have noted a few: Opal and Michael Dawson, Frank Mitchell, Oliver and Mary Styles and Tyler Brown. We had a run-in with Tyler before, but the Vigilante got in the way, a girl too. She had some superior training and took out ten of our men. We haven't managed to locate Tyler since."

'The Grand Master had us helping the R.E.A.P.E.Rs! I knew he was up to something! But why? I have to tell the others! Those other people are just children, and I highly doubt they have had the same training I have.' Tyler turned around to leave but was stopped in his tracks when he met Ava standing right behind him, shrouding herself in the covers of darkness.

"What are you doing here?" He whispered aggressively.

"I followed you. I wanted to see from a pro how to do something like this!" Ava lied, hoping it would save a scolding.

"You realise how much danger you have put yourself in? We're going. NOW." Tyler grabbed Ava by the arm and attempted to drag her off the ship with him, but Ava's swinging arm knocked a chalice off its stand and sent it crashing to the floor, shattering upon impact. Mr Gould came sprinting towards Tyler and Ava before they could escape and found themselves pinned against a wall, Mr Gould in front of them brandishing a handgun.

"You should've left with the others." He told, switching his aim between Tyler and Ava, "Now, which one of you am I going to shoot first? The Golem or his sidekick?"

Ava rushed in an attempt to disarm him but missed her chance. Mr Gould squeezed the trigger quickly, a single bullet rocketed towards her, and a near lifeless body tumbled to the floor. Tyler reached his hand out, a poor attempt to stop her and, to his surprise, sent out a glowing orange dagger from his hand wrist, which pinned Mr Gould to the wall, blood dripping slowly on the floor whilst the light drained from his eyes.

Without the care of his magical abilities, Tyler rushed and scooped Ava in his arms, her blood staining his clothes. "Ava!" He began, "Ava, please don't close your eyes! I need a medic on the scene! Someone's been shot! Send someone quickly!" He cried on the comms, but it was too late. Tyler watched the light drain from Ava's bright blue eyes.

Knowing that she was no longer with him, he picked her up in his arms and carried her out to his car, much to the dismay of his teammates.