| All that could be heard was the steady, hard pounding of the Winter's rain on the tin roof of the old rusted shed. Frank wondered if anyone would find him, or if he would ever get out. He wasn't quite sure how long he had been in there. Whoever had him, kept him fed. The only way in or out of the shed, was a small hatch in the left corner. There was no way to reach it, and no window to see out of. When they opened the hatch, he couldn't see anything out side. Frank couldn't understand where he was. There was no sun and no stars, yet there was wind and rain. It was always cold, and always damp. For what felt like th first few days, all Frank could do was scream and bang on the tin walls. When his voice was gone, and his fists where raw, he sank to the floor and sobbed. At that point, all Frank could do was think. He thought about his childhood, and the things he and his friends would do when they were teenagers. Frank and four other guys would always hang out together. All five of them worked and the Outdoor Depot. They were always going hunting or camping, and they were always working on their cars. Frank and his friends were inseperable. Frank's father would take them everywhere. He was the one that taught them to hunt and survive in the woods with nothing but a knife. The first time Franks father tool them camping, he helped them set up camp. When the boys were asleep he made it look like he had left. He packed all his gear and moved the truck to a different location. He then went back and watched the boys from a distance. Frank smiled at the memory and started doing push-ups until he could no longer feel his arms. Frank sat in the corner farthest from the small hatch and continued to think. He thought abouyt the instructors that had made a difference in his life. None of them had touched his life, like the two he had in high school. The class was based on the study of Law Enforcement and there were two instructors, one for first year and one for second year. Both instructors were retired Marines and police officers. They had a great deal to teach, and Frank wanted to learn it all. Both instructors pushed Frank to achive his his goals and never back down. Frank had thought about joining the Marine Corps after high school. He wanted to be the best of the best. Frank felt like he needed to push himself to the limits everyday and that would be the best way to do it. When Frank felt like things where tough, he would talk to the first year instructor. He always had some encouraging thought to say. He could turn any situation into something possistive or into a joke and make you laugh. He helped Frank through more sittuations than he even realized. Frank wanted more than anything to earn the respect of the secon year instrucor. When they ran, Frank would push himslef to the limit, when they reppelled, he would do it over and over again no matter how bad the harness hurt. He would do extra studing and research so he would be able to have an opinion on anything that came up in class. Frank practiced voice commands and searching techniques so he wouldn't look bad in front of him. Everytime he tought he earned, something would prove him otherwise. The class would practice building searches and high risk traffic stops. They would write reports and practice marching drills. Everyday, five to ten minutes into class, they would have inspection. If they were not wearing the proper shirts, they were required to do push-ups. He was in such a deep though, he never heard the hatch open and close. He looked aover and saw his meal. It was a bowl of macaroni and cheese, some steamed green beans, and a few squares of red jell-o. Frank ate slowly while wondering why his capturers fed him so well. When his meal was done, Frank took a short nap. He dreamnt about his loving wife and their two twin boys. When they were married, they decied she would put her dreams on hole to have Franks children and raise them properly. His boys where six months old and just beginning to crawl. He dreamnt there were outside playin in the warm bright sunlight of a mid-summer day. Frank was just about to reach down and hold his boys, when he woke to banging on the side of the shed. Frank sat up and looked around. The banging had stopped and there was silnce once again. The small hatch opened, and for the first time, Frank was able to see a face. It was a mans face, with long black hair, deep steel blue eyes, and chizeled features. The man grinned at Frank and tossed him a bottle of water. Frank tired to say something, but the hatch was closed to quickly. Frank fell asleep. This time with no dreams. His mind didn't wander and he didn't toss and he didn't turn. For once he slept in peace while in the tin cage. When he woke, Frank realized he had been drugged and moved. Frank was now tied to a chair, in what seemed like, a large office. There were small uncovered, open windows outlining the top of all four walls of the room. For the first time, Frank knew what time of day it was. There was a large oak desk directly oppiste of the door. Frank was to the right of the desk. There were four chairs lined against the wall. At the end of the row of chairs, Frank saw what appeared to be a door knob. The door directly behind Frank opened, but he couldn't turn to see who entered. Frank heard the familiar sound of the cocking of the pistol. He closed his eyes and prayed he would see his family again. Frank felt the muzzle of the pistol press firmly against the lower portion of his head. He was waiting for the person to squeeze the trigger, when he head a thud. There was no longer the pressure of the muzzle on the back of his head. There was a loud bang and the door was kicked in. Officers surrounded the room, and cleared the other rooms. One officer untied Frank and made sure he was alright. When he looked at the body of the man, Frank realized it had been the face he had seen. The sniper on top of the next building had fired a single shot and hit him with precice accuracy. The officer escourted Frank outisde and into the awaiting ambulance. He had cuts and brusies but nothing major. Frank never looked back at teh giant warehouse like building. While n the hospitol, Frank was told that the man with deep steel blue eys was the younger brother of a murderer Frank had shot and killed a few years back. They told Frank the man had left a note explaining everything he was going to do. Apparently after he was going to kill Frank, he wwas going to take his own life believing he would be reunited with his brother. Frank didn't care about what had appened, he was just glad to be with his family and frinds once again. |