| Chapter 54 Nick sat in the garden, his head in his hands. The afternoon suns beat down on him, warming his skin to the point of overheating, but he didn't care. It had been days since they'd heard from the kidnapers, and with each passing day, he grew more and more uneasy. The talks were basically stalled. Kelah still demanding everything, and Tunk and Anthony frustrated beyond words that the man wouldn't at least try to compromise. Nick had avoided the men and Anthony. He didn't want Anthony to see how much he was hurting, afraid that it would influence the younger man into giving Kelah what he wanted just to get Brian back. Everyone was in a somber mood, frustrated and biting each other's heads off at every turn. They all knew they didn't mean what they said, it was just so hard going about the days activities when God knows what was happening to Brian. Nick sighed, a sinking feeling in his gut that he couldn't shake. He was afraid something had already happened, that that was the reason they hadn't heard from the kidnapers. He tried to stay positive, but it was an act, and he was sure everyone could see it. His mind wandered to Marie. With each day passed she grew more and more depressed and upset. It was a chore to get her to come out of her room now, and she barely ate a thing at meal time. Nick was worried about her. She didn't look well, and he was afraid for the baby. Devon had still not talked, even though Nick had gone to talk with him several times. He could tell the man wanted to tell him, but fear stood in the way. He saw it in Devon's eyes each time they talked. Nick had made up a story of Devon going out of town on business when Marie had tried to contact him and didn't receive a reply. He hated lying to her, but she was in no condition to handle the truth. Nick sat up and looked toward the clear blue sky, "What am I gonna do? How am I suppose to fix this?" he asked, hoping something came to him before it was to late, if it wasn't already. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Slowly Brian opened his eyes, becoming aware of his surroundings. He was confused, looking around the room. He didn't know how he'd gotten there, or for that matter exactly where he was. The last thing he remembered was the two men dragging him down the hall. Now he was laying in a bed, an IV in each arm and an oxygen mask over his face. He looked around the room, relieved to see a window with no bars. Maybe he'd been found and he was back at the palace? His stomach growled, like it hadn't seen food in days, and when he tried to move, his muscles balked. The pain was still there, throbbing up his leg, but it was manageable. He felt almost like he did when he'd taken the Krystal, and wondered if they were giving it to him through the IV's. The door to the room opened and the portly man walked in, Brian's hopes sinking as he did. The man walked over to the bed and stared down at him. Brian decided to play a little sicker than he felt, hoping the man would leave him where he was for now. "So you finally wake up," the man said, sounding annoyed. Brian blinked a few times, acting confused. "You've put us days behind schedule," the man went on, "But I guess that's alright. Maybe the king has come to his senses by now." "H-how l-l-long?" Brian whispered. The man laughed, "You have been out for the better part of four days. I was beginning to wonder if you'd make it. I'm glad you did, otherwise I would have had to start over with another one of the kings friends." Brian closed his eyes, letting out a soft moan. "Ohh no, you aren't going back to sleep, we have work to do," the man said, shaking Brian. Brian stared at him through tired eyes, wondering what was up the man's sleeve now. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Marie, please just try," Ana begged. Marie shook her head, staring out the balcony doors. Ana sighed in frustration, setting the food tray aside. "You can't do this, I won't let you," she said. Marie glanced at her, "What?" "Drift into this depression. It's not good for you or the baby. You've gotta snap out of this and take care of yourself," Ana scolded. "I can't," Marie said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Yes you can!" Ana yelled. Marie jumped, and gave Ana an icy stare. "You have no idea what I'm going through! Just leave me alone!" she yelled. "Marie..." Ana started. "NO! Just stop telling me what to do or how to feel! I'm tired of everyone treating me like a child! My soul has been ripped out .... do you understand?! Brian was my life, my joy, my ...everything! And now he's ......he's...." Marie sobbed. Ana pulled her friend into her arms and let her cry, "Shhh, it's gonna be Ok." Marie's head shot up, "No it's not! If Brian doesn't come back, I'll die!" Ana stared at her for a moment, then pulled her back into the hug. Marie cried on her shoulder as Ana gently rocked her. She'd never seen her friend so broken, so desperate and scared all at the same time. Her heart broke for her, knowing that if something were to happen to Nick, then she would feel the same way. "What if ...what if he doesn't come back?" Marie asked after several moments. Ana hugged her tighter, "He will, you have to believe that." Marie sat up and wiped her face with the back of her hand, shaking her head, "It's been to long Ana. Something's happened, I know it. What if he ...?" "Shhh, don't think that way," Ana said, taking her hand. "I can't help it. He was so sick from the poison, what if he couldn't fight it? I can't go on without him," Marie cried. "You wont," Ana said, patting Marie's stomach, "You have a part of him in here. Brian will live on in this child." Marie looked down, placing her hand over Ana's. "Please Marie, you need to take care of yourself and this baby," Ana tried again. Marie looked up at her friend, a sadness beyond belief in her eyes, she nodded, reaching out for the tray. Ana handed it to her. Marie forced herself to eat. She had to keep the baby healthy, knowing it may be the only thing she had left of Brian. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Nick walked down the hall, headed to his office. He needed to study the trade routes that Interstellar used. Maybe there was a clue there as to why they wanted control of the mines so badly. "Nick!" Anthony yelled, running down the hall towards him. "What is it?" he asked, seeing the urgency in the young mans face. "There's a message for you," Anthony said, as Nick took off at a run to the control room, Anthony on his heels. As soon as Nick reached the room he sat down at a console and passed his mark over the sensor, allowing him access to the message. What he saw made his heart leap into his throat. Brian was struggling to sit up in a bed, IV's in his arms, an oxygen mask on his face. He looked like death, his skin pale and dark circles under his eyes. Brian grabbed the rail on the side of the bed for support as he looked at the camera, "Nick," he croaked, flying into a horrendous coughing fit. Nick's chin was trembling, and tears welling up in his eyes as he watched his friend struggled to breathe. Finally Brian calmed a bit, "Nick.... if you don't ...give Kelah the mines ... before the .....the end of the week ....." Brian's eyes filled with tears as he struggled with the words, "they'll kill ....me." Brian coughed, this time so hard he could no longer sit up. He fell back in the bed, wheezing as he tried to get enough air in his lungs. Nick blinked, a few tears escaping and falling down his cheeks. "Take a good look at your friend. The only thing keeping him alive is the medicine and the oxygen. You have until noon on Friday to comply. If you refuse, we take that away. Your friend will die a slow agonizing death," a voice from off camera said. Nick watched as Brian stopped gasping for air, his eyes rolling back in his head, and passing out. "Oh God," Nick whispered, as the video faded. Nick stared at the blank screen for a moment. He blinked the tears away and slowly turned around. Anthony and LaDonna were standing behind him, both with tears in their eyes and concern etched on their faces. Nick looked up at them, a determined expression on his face, "Anthony, arrange a meeting with Tunk. Keep it private. I don't want anyone but us knowing about it." "Nickolas, what are you doing?" LaDonna asked as Anthony left the room. Nick stood up, staring her straight in the eyes, "I'm getting Brian back." Chapter 55 |