The Mind

Chapter 9

Killian's phone ringing had him waking up from a deep sleep. He sat up in his bed and rubbed his hand down his face in an attempt to wake himself up. The heat was off in the apartment, so it was very cold. He yawned and furrowed his brows as he saw the unknown number on the screen. "Hello?" He asked groggily, laying back in the bed and covering himself up with the blankets. 

"Is this Mr. Killian Jones? This is Howard Jekyll." 

Killian sat straight up in bed. "Yes?" 

"I have extremely good news for you, sir. You have been accepted into my study. You are going to be our little guinea pig." 

"Oh my God. Thank you!" Killian was in disbelief. This study was going to pay him two thousand dollars. Plenty of money to survive on until his next paycheck. "When do you need me in?" 

"This Saturday at noon would be perfect. You know the place and you know the time. You have already signed all the papers and you are ready for the serum injection. No eating after midnight and only fluids until three hours before you come to see us. Have a great week, Mr. Jones." 

"You too, Mr. Jekyll." Killian hung up the phone and laid back in bed with a huge smile on his face. Nothing could ruin this day. 

Killian woke with a start. It was completely dark in the room now. He looked over at the digital clock to see the time. 3:49 AM. He looked down to see Emma cuddled up on his chest. He chuckled and kissed the top of her head and sat up slowly, being sure not to wake her. He picked her up and took her to the bedroom and covered her up with the blankets. She snuggled into the fluffy mattress and she hummed softly. 

"Good night, Swan," Killian whispered. 

"Night, Killian," she mumbled and turned over. 

Killian stood up straight and left the hotel room. He went out to his car and drove back to his house. He got ready for bed and went into the bedroom. When he opened the door, there was a dark shadow in the corner of the room. He flicked the light on and held out his hand, freezing the person in place. He knew who it was even without having the person facing him. 

"Jekyll," Killian spat, turning the guy around. "What the bloody hell are you doing here?" 

"I wanted to have a little chat. I've been following you around, and I know all about your girlfriend." 

"You keep Emma out of this." 

"Hey, I only want you to hear my warning. I know you won't join me, but one day you will. Until then, you will stay away from me and my employees and co-workers. You will stop looking for me and investigating any cases I may be involved in. If you don't, I will have your Emma killed. And it won't be in a fast and painless way. Oh, no. It will be slow and painful. You can have the satisfaction of knowing that she will call out your name, wondering why you let anything happened to her. She will be one victim you can't save."

In shock, Killian let go of the mental grip he had on Jekyll, and the man walked calmly out of the house. Killian couldn't process anything. He had to stop this man, but he couldn't do it without putting Emma's life in danger. He couldn't let her get hurt. He wouldn't. He had to protect her without setting off any alarms for her. That meant he couldn't leave her. Not that he wanted to anyway. But, she also couldn't know about his secret. Not until Jekyll was taken care of. Either dead or caught in prison. 

It took a long time for Killian to fall asleep that night. He couldn't stop thinking about Jekyll's threats. But, when he did, all he dreamt about was Emma and him, and their perfect life that he just had a feeling would come up. 

The next morning, Killian met up with Emma at Felix's and they went out house shopping. Emma informed him that she was going to start her job at the police precinct Monday morning, and the pay was pretty high. She was excited. Not because of the money, but because of being able to bring justice to the city. 

"Maybe you'll get to meet The Mind," Killian told her, taking a sip of his coffee. 

Emma scoffed, "please, he wouldn't waste time on a newbie to the city."

"I wouldn't be too sure about that. The Mind knows about everyone moving to the city. But, if you do get to meet him, you have to promise me that you'll tell me all about him." 

She laughed, "deal." She sighed. "What do you think he's like?" 

Killian shrugged. "Devilishly handsome, that's for sure." 

"How would you know? He wears a mask." 

"I just have a feeling. I don't know, he's probably nice, charming, smart, no doubt a gentleman. And he probably has an amazing taste in women." 

She laughed again. "You are so full of it." 

"I know that I have good taste in women too." 

"Really? And how would you determine that, Mr. Jones?" 

"Well, I like you. You are a woman." 

Emma rolled her eyes. "So, any good houses or apartments to rent? Where is the safest place to go?" 

"Well, I would say that Adam's Street is pretty good. It has a nice set of apartments and is in a safe place in the city. They're cheap too." 

"Ooh! Let's start there!" She tugged on his leather jacket and jumped up and down excitedly. He nodded and they walked down to Emerald Heights on Adam's Street. Emma looked at the apartments and found a nice one on the fourth floor. She paid the security deposit and first month's rent before going up to her new place. Killian was close on her heels.

"It's a nice place, love. I can help you move in throughout the week if you'd like," Killian offered. 

"No, no, that's okay. I don't have many things." 

"Not the sentimental type I gather?" Emma shook her head. "Aye, neither am I." He looked down to his watch when it started beeping. "My apologies, darling, but I have to go. I hope you have fun with the moving in thing." He kissed her cheek and went out to his car and drove to the lab.