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On the bottom level, I have free rein of the place, and I go wherever I like. Some of the staff see me and say hello, giving me a friendly wave. No one asks what I’m doing. No one tries to stop me from going anywhere.

It’s not hard to get the stun gun from Dr. Acker’s old office, that’s all I’m saying.

No one’s even done anything with the office, either. All the stuff is there.

I get other things, things that are just in this filing cabinet she had in there. I get handcuffs and zip-ties and I put all that in a bag and I just walk out with it.

No one stops me then either.

They just smile and wave.

Good to see you, Knight.

Have a nice evening, Knight.

Easy.

The next thing I do is go and scope out an old, abandoned warehouse I used to know about. The place is still there, and it’s still easy to get inside. I check out a few rooms on the upper floors that still have doors on them. I think I can secure these doors with padlocks.

I need to get padlocks, though, so I do that.

I go to Walmart and buy what supplies I need. I get other things besides padlocks. I get some kerosene heaters and lights and I get blankets and I get a couple cheap beanbag chairs.

Finally, I’m ready.

I don’t need to be a tracker to hunt down Calix, because we have a life bond, and I can feel him in the bond. But being a tracker probably doesn’t hurt.

On the other hand, Calix is just at his sister’s house.

I remember this place, because it’s where we found Lotus the first time.

That time, we went to a window and yanked Lotus out of there.

This time, I go to the front door and knock.

The sister answers. “Hey, Knight,” she says.

“I know your brother’s here,” I say.

“Okay,” she says.

“Well, tell him I’m here,” I say. “Tell him I want to talk to him.”

“You know…” She looks me up and down. “You don’t own him.”

“Heismine,” I say darkly. “If you don’t go and get him, I’m going to come into your house and find him myself.”

“You’re a jackass,” she says. “Stay away from my brother, you abusive fuckwad.” Then she slams the door in my face.

I’m about ready to break the door down when Calix shows up at the door. He smells fucking good, and I remember the first time he got down on his knees for me, and I’m lost in that sweet reverie of his mouth on me.

“Knight,” says Calix, his tongue darting out to run over his upper teeth. He has that thing going on for him, that thing where he’s ostensibly afraid of me but also turned on underneath that. He knows I’m never going to actually hurt him.

I think he knows that.

Well, whatever.

“Calix,” I say. “Come with me?” He gets the choice to come willingly. I’ll start with that.