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--donation bonus (day #22, post 1/5)--
Hector looked to his mother again. “Were you expecting someone?” he whispered.

She shook her head.

‘I only sense one soul waiting on the other side of the door.’ Garovel grabbed Hector’s shoulder, sending fresh waves of vigor through his body. ‘It’s not someone we’ve met before.’

Hector set his helmet down and moved toward the door. Through the tiny scope, he saw a man in a black cap and coat. Not someone he’d seen before, just as Garovel said. He held up a hand for both his mother and Garovel, a silent request to stay where they were. He cracked the door open and looked through.

“Hello,” the man said, “my name is--” His eyes widened as they lingered upon Hector’s face. Metal clapped around his mouth, and Hector grabbed him by the collar to pull him into the room.

The door eased shut again, and Hector dragged the man into the bathroom and forced him to sit on the toilet.

“Who are you?” Hector said lowly. He annihilated the iron so the man could answer.

“I’m just a courier! The prince told me to ask the woman in this room to come see him! I don’t know why! Oh, goddess! Please don’t hurt me!”

“The prince?” Hector’s brow lowered. “Which prince?”

“Prince David! Here!” He retrieved a cellphone from his coat. “Call him! You’ll see! It’s the number at the top of the list!

“Calm down,” said Hector. He tried to make his voice sound gentle, but the man only seemed to go paler. “As long as you don’t try anything... I’m not going to hurt you. Please... just relax.” He couldn’t tell if the man believed him or not. He backed up toward the bathroom’s entrance, keeping the courier in sight, and found the number in the phone. After a couple rings, the prince answered.

<“Is it done?”>

Hector glanced between the courier and the reaper.

‘Don’t just hang up,’ Garovel advised him. ‘Tell him who you are and that you have his man hostage. See what information you can get out of him.’