| Chapter 34 It was early morning of the third day. Everyone had gotten up and was already ready. They didn't know when the call would come, so they wanted to be able to leave at a moments notice. Lyn had hooked Nick's cell phone into her lap top so that when the call came, she could answer it over the computer, letting everyone hear. Tara was sitting with Lyn, quietly talking to her, praying with her. The guys were in various places in the room. The two cousins already pacing the floor, A.J. and Howie trying to find something on the TV to take their minds off waiting. Angel moved from one person to the next, trying in her own way to comfort them. She hated seeing them all in this mood, and tried to lighten it a little. She walked up to Brian, her favorite ball in her mouth and whined at him. Brian stopped his pacing and looked down at her, "Angel, I don't feel like playing right now." She dropped the ball on the floor and stared up at him, whining louder. Brian looked over at Tara. "She says that she knows that, but if she doesn't keep busy she's gonna cry," Tara translated. Brian knelt down and hugged her, "I'm sorry, we know you love him too," then he picked the ball up and lobbed it across the room for her. Howie looked over at the two duffle bags sitting on the coffee table, "Man, have you ever seen that much money?" A.J. looked over at him, "I've seen checks, but not real money stacked up like that, no." "Why do you think they wanted five million? Why not ten, hell why not a hundred?" Howie asked. A.J. shrugged his shoulders, "I dunno. Maybe cause there's five of us, I have no idea." Howie looked over at his friend, "Do you think we'll get Nicky back, even if they get the money?" Kevin whirled around, pointing his finger at Howie, "Shut up!" "I'm sorry...I just...." Howie stammered. Lyn looked over at him, tears in her eyes, "It's OK D, I was thinking the same thing." "Guys, we gotta stop this," Brian said, looking at them all, "We have to be strong for Nick, and at the rate we're going we're gonna self destruct before the phone ever rings." They all stared at him, knowing he was right. They all mumbled apologies to each other, and continued to occupy themselves while they waited. Several hours had gone by. They had ordered room service, but hadn't eaten very much. All to worried to enjoy the food. They were starting to think that there wasn't going to be a call. Their minds reeking havoc on them, imagining everything under the sun that could be happening to Nick. When the phone rang, they all jumped, looking at each other in a panic. Lyn ran to the computer and punched the button. "Hello," she said. "Well, is this the girlfriend?" a woman's voice asked. "Yes, who is this?" Lyn asked. "Doesn't matter. You got the money?" she asked. "Yes we do," Kevin answered. "Aww, Kevin. To bad we couldn't have met in person," she teased. "We wanna talk to Nick," Brian said. "Well he's a little preoccupied at the moment, but I'll tell him you said hello," the girl laughed. "Let us talk to him," A.J. almost yelled. "Well you don't have to be so pissy," the girl said, "Hang on." Everyone listened as the phone was being moved around. "Say hi to your friends," they heard the woman say. "Guys?" Nick said, weakly. "Nick, hang on, we're gonna get ya," Kevin said. "Nick, are you OK?" Lyn asked. "Please come get me," Nick begged, "Please." The phone moved again, "OK, you satisfied now?" "Yes, what do we have to do?" Howie asked. "You don't have to do anything, teacher does," the girl said. Everyone looked at Tara, and she moved closer to the phone, "What do you want?" "You and you alone will bring the money. If you are followed, or we sense any others like you around, you will never find all of Nick, you understand?" the girl said. "Yes, tell me where to go," Tara said. "There's a town about seventy miles outside the city called Elgin. Drive there and wait at the gas station just inside the city limits. We'll call with further instructions. You have two hours," the girl said, then hung up. Everyone's heart sank as the line went dead. Tara leapt into action. "Kevin, get the map and find it for me. A.J. and Howie grab the bags and take them down to the car," she said. They all got up and went about their tasks. Tara went into the bedroom. She grabbed a hair tie and pulled her hair back in a pony tail, then pulled her jacket on, slipping her sword in it. Brian watched her. He could tell she was getting ready for a fight, and he didn't want her to leave. "Baby, let one of us go with you," he said. She turned to him, "I can't. You heard them, if they see anyone else they'll kill Nick." Brian walked up to her and pulled her to him, "I'm afraid for you." Tara hugged him with all she had, "I'll be OK." He pulled back and looked at her, "You promise?" She smiled, "I promise." Brian grabbed her face in his hands and kissed her, not wanting to let her go. "I love you," he said, as they finally parted. She smiled, "I love you always." Then she walked out of the room, Brian following her. Lyn handed her Nick's cell phone and Kevin quickly showed her on the map which highway to take and hugged her. Tara took the map from him, and walked to the elevators. Everyone going with her. When they reached the parking garage, A.J. and Howie already had the car next to the elevator. Tara hugged them, then turned to Lyn. "I'll bring him back, don't worry," she said. Lyn hugged her friend, "Stay safe." "I will," Tara said, turning to get in the car. Angel was standing in front of her whining. Tara knelt down and ran her hand through her fur. "Angel, take care of them OK? Protect them while I'm gone," Tara said. Angel barked at her, then went to stand next to Brian. Tara got in the car, and laid the map next to her in the passenger seat. She looked back at everyone one last time, then made her way out of the garage and down the street. Brian watched her until she was out of sight. He didn't know why, but he didn't like this at all. The hair was standing up on the back of his neck, and he felt very uneasy. Lyn walked over to him, taking his hand in hers. He looked over at her. "I'm worried too," she said. "You feel something?" Brian asked. Lyn shrugged her shoulders, "I'm not sure. Just a very unsettling feeling." "Me too," Brian said, looking back in the direction the car had went. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Tara made it onto the highway, checking her map once again. She sighed, "Guys?" Tracy, Jade and Gideon appeared in the car. "I don't like this," Jade said. "Neither do I," Gideon agreed. "Well, there's not much we can do about it now," Tara said. "You know this could be a trap," Tracy said. "I know, we just have to be ready," Tara said, "You guys are gonna have to stay out of range, until I see what's going on." "We know, but if we're out of Nick's range, we're gonna be pretty far away," Gideon said. "I know, but you'll be there when the time is right," Tara said. "What if we're wrong?" Jade said. "Then you guys do what we planned," Tara stated. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Tara pulled into the gas station with thirty minutes to spare. She cautiously looked around, not seeing anything out of the ordinary. She turned the car off and waited, silently praying as she did. Finally the phone rang, and she picked it up, "Hello." "You made good time," the woman said. "What do I do now?" Tara asked, not wanting to engage in idle chit chat. "Look across the street. You see the park?" the woman asked. Tara looked, "Yes." "Take the money and leave it next to the swing set, then come back to the car," she instructed. "OK," Tara said, laying the phone down and getting out. She opened the back door and pulled the duffel bags out, heading across the street. She walked through the park and found the swing set, leaving them under the slide, then returned to the car. "OK, it's done," she said. "Good, now wait fifteen minutes, then drive through town. I'll call when I want you to stop," the woman said, then hung up. Tara sighed, and looked at the clock in the car. "Fifteen minutes," she said to herself. She hated this game. Hated waiting like this, knowing that Nick was somewhere close and needed her. Time seemed to stand still, taking an eternity for the clock to pass another minute. Tara closed her eyes and tried to calm herself. She prayed for the hundredth time since she'd left. Hoping beyond hope that her worst fears were just that, and that Nick would be alright. She opened her eyes, as the clock clicked over. "Finally," she said, starting the car and heading out of the parking lot. She drove slowly through town, the phone in her hand. As she left the city limits and headed out into the desert again, the phone rang. Tara quickly answered it, "Yes." "You've done very well, continue on this road until you see a mission on your right. Stop and go in, Nick will be waiting for you," the girl said, then the phone went dead. Tara drove for several miles before she spotted the mission. She pulled into the parking lot and got out, looking around. The place seemed to be deserted, but she felt uneasy. She pulled her sword from her jacket and slowly made her way inside. It took a moment for her eyes to adjust to the lack of light in the mission. It was only lit by a few candles placed here and there. Tara scanned the pews, not seeing anyone. She stepped into the sanctuary, looking up at the large crucifix. Then her heart leapt into her throat, and her eyes went wide. What she had at first thought was a large statue of Jesus hanging on the cross, became more clear. It was Nick. He was tied to the cross by his arms and feet. He seemed to be unconscious, and she knew being tied like that, that he would have to push himself up to breathe. She covered the distance between them and looked up into Nick's face. It was badly bruised and his lips were already blue. Tara ran around to the back of the cross, and with one blow cut the ropes around his feet. Two more quick cuts and Nick had fallen to the floor. She ran to him, turning him on his back, and tilting his head back, leaned in and began mouth to mouth on him. Nick gasped for air, and opened his eyes. He started to try and fight her, but Tara grabbed his hands, "Nick, its me." He looked at her, his eyes slowly focusing in, "Tara?" "Yes baby, it's me," she said. Nick grabbed her in a hug, crying, "Oh God Tara, it was awful!" "I know, I'm so sorry," she said, tears falling down her cheeks. She moved her hand down his back, and he winced in pain. Tara pulled away from him and looked at him, seeing for the first time the whelps on his chest through his open shirt. She then moved around and pulled his shirt away from his back, seeing the ones there. "God Nick, what did they do to you?" she asked. Nick said nothing, but continued to cry. Tara stood up, "Come on Nick, we need to get out of here." Nick reached up, and she helped him to his feet. She had one arm around his waist, his arm over her shoulders. She kept her sword in the other hand, still feeling something was off. As she and Nick took a few steps toward the door, Jered and Ephah appeared in their path. "Well now, you're just gonna leave and not say goodbye?" Jered taunted. Tara could feel Nick trembling with fear, and eased him down to the floor, "Stay here." "No Tara, leave me. You can't fight both of them," Nick begged. She looked at him and smiled, "It'll be alright." Then she turned to face the two men. "Feeling brave today?" Ephah asked. Tara glared at him, "You tell me." Jered laughed at her, "You always were overconfident." "And you always were lacking in your ability to fight," Tara retorted. Jered glared at her, "I'm gonna like this." She laughed, "Not as much as I am." The three squared off, each eyeing the other. Ephah made the first move, and Tara quickly blocked it, returning with one of her own. Pretty soon the three were in a battle for their lives, swords flying everywhere. Nick watched from his place on the floor, amazed that someone hadn't already been killed by now. Tara knocked Ephah's sword away, and shoved hers into his chest. Jered came up behind her, but Tara let go of her sword, as Ephah fell to the floor, she spun around and retrieved Ephah's sword, blocking Jereds blow. "One down, one to go," she said, glaring into his eyes. Jered was fuming, and came at her with everything he had, backing her to the wall. He managed to rid her of her sword and had his hand around her throat, ready to plundge his sword into her. Tara closed her eyes as Jered came down with his sword. "Stop!" Nick yelled. Both Tara and Jered looked over to see Nick standing over Ephah. "You said you wouldn't hurt her," Nick spat at Jered. Jered didn't move. Tara looked from Nick to Jered. She could see fear in Jered's eyes, and realized he was afraid of Nick. Nick helped Ephah up, after removing Tara's sword from his chest, and healing it. "Get the cuffs," Nick instructed. Tara's heart fell, realizing that it was all a trap. "Nick, why?" she asked as he came closer. He smiled at her, "Why not? You know how this feels, it was either this or death, and frankly I'm liking this better." Ephah came over and shackled Tara's feet together, then pulled her hands behind her and cuffed them as well. "Nick, why are you taking me? I've already been through this, you can't turn me," Tara said. Nick leaned in close. The look in his eyes, sending fear through her body. "You've never been through it with me," he said. Tara shuddered under his words, Jered and Ephah laughing at her. Jered leaned close and whispered in her ear, "You're ours now," then he planted a kiss on her neck. Tara jerked back, just as Nick came forward and grabbed Jered by the throat, slamming him into the wall, "What did I tell you about touching her?!" Jered was struggling for air, "I'm....sorry." "You touch her when I say you can, until then, hands off!" Nick screamed, letting Jered go. "Lets get out of here," Nick said, taking Tara by the arm. Ephah took the other, and Jered came to stand next to them. Together they all vanished. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Jade and Tracy appeared in the mission, and looked around. They were both saddened by the turn of events, and dreaded what they had to do now. Tracy picked up Tara's sword, looking at it. "She fought hard," Jade said. "Yeah she did. You think Gideon kept up with them?" Tracy asked. "I'm sure of it," Jade answered. Tracy sighed, "I'll go get the guys and get things set up." Jade nodded her head, "When your done join us. Leave the others with them. I have a feeling it's gonna take all of us for this one." "That's what I'm afraid of," Tracy said, as she disappeared. Jade looked up at the cross, "Me too." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Brian and Lyn both looked out the window. It had been hours since Tara left, and they were both extremely worried. "We should've heard something by now," Brian said. "Tracy," Kevin said, as she appeared in the room with them. Brian and Lyn both turned around. "Get your things together, we're leaving," Tracy said. Everyone looked at one another. "Tracy, what about Tara and Nick?" Brian asked. Tracy sighed, pulling Tara's sword out and handing it to Brian, "They have her. It was all a trap." Brian was in shock, taking the sword from her and staring at it. "What about Nick?" Lyn asked. Tracy walked over to her sister and put her hand on her shoulder, "Honey I'm sorry, he's one of them now." "No, you're lying," Lyn said, tears springing to life. "I wish I was," Tracy said, looking at the others, "Get your things." "Where are we going?" Kevin asked. "To Lyn's, now hurry, I don't know how much time we have, and we have a lot to do," she said. Chapter 35 |