Subject: Sometimes the Dragons Are Real, Chapters 9 & 10 |
Author:
Jaron
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Date Posted: 21:55:10 12/12/01 Wed
In reply to:
Jaron
's message, "Sometimes the Dragons Are Real" on 18:37:45 12/12/01 Wed
Sometimes the Dragons Are Real, Chapter 9
He kept pacing back and forth, back and forth, in front of us pointing his automatic
weapon at each one of us as he walked. This man was a sadist. He enjoyed the
terror he saw in our faces, and sooner or later, he would choose someone to hurt or
kill.
Each time as he passed us, I would gently cup my hand around Rene’s cheek and pull
his face into my shoulder. I didn’t want his eyes on Rene and I also didn’t want the
man to see the steely look in Rene’s eyes as he watched the man pacing up and
down, up and down. The phrase “if looks could kill” came to mind and I knew that I
would give anything to keep that look from Rene’s eyes. But just now, I didn’t know
how to do that. I just wanted to keep Rene and I alive until Michael arrived. That is, if
he did arrive. I had no guarantee that those who controlled Michael’s life would even
allow him to come to our rescue.
The phone on David’s desk rang. The man went to answer it.
“No,” he shouted into the phone, “you are the one who is not listening! I want an
armored car here in one hour, or do you want dead hostages littering the front lawn?
You know I can arrange that.” He was quiet, listening to whoever was on the other
end of the phone. Okay, one hour or I promise you, you won’t like what comes out
the front door. Hey! And how about some food? I’ve got some hungry people in
here. Send in some food. I’ll give you 15 minutes and if you are on time, I’ll give you
a hostage.”
He slammed the phone down and came toward us, resuming his pacing once more.
The other two men stayed in their position, watching the front doors, occasionally
pulling down a section of the blinds that covered the entire front glass of the bank to
peer out at what was happening in front of the bank.
“Nick!” One of the men shouted over his shoulder, “it looks like the food is here.”
“Well, thanks, Brewer,” he said angrily, “ Now they know my name. Are you trying to
be stupid or does it come naturally?”
Brewer realized his mistake just as he realized that Nick had also betrayed his name
to us, but just as quickly let it go. Apparently, arguing with Nick was not something
he chose to do right now. He grinned sheepishly, “So, who goes out to get the food?”
Nick took another few steps down the line of hostages and stopped in front of one of
the tellers. “What’s your name, girlie?” She kept her eyes downcast, not wanting to
look her fate in the eye. He kicked at her feet and said again, gruffly this time. “I said
what is your name?”
She finally looked up at him and said simply, “ Elaine, my name is Elaine.”
“Well, Elaine, how do you feel about going on an errand for me? And if you are a
good little girl, you might just get a reward. How about that?” He extended a hand
toward her and she slowly raised her hand to his. He pulled her up, finally letting his
machine gun hang loose by the strap around his shoulder because he needed two
hands to pull her to her feet. Elaine was heavily pregnant and looked supremely
uncomfortable, not only because of our situation, but also because three hours sitting
on a hard marble floor had not done her back and legs any good. She finally stood
straight and limped along behind him.
Nick pulled her to the front door and signaled to Brewer to unlock the door. Brewer
pulled out the keys he had taken from the dead guard and unlocked the door.
“Please,” she begged, “don’t hurt me... my baby! Please!”
“Look, I’m not going to hurt you. All I want you to do is walk out there and bring the
food back in here to me. If you do that, I might let you go. Okay?” He smiled at her
and pushed her closer to the door. “Wait here. I’ll be right back.”
Nick left her and walked back to David’s desk and picked up the phone. “Ah,” he said
into the phone. “I knew you would be there. Now listen carefully. Elaine, our little
mother-to-be is going to come out and cross over to you. You give her the food and
she brings it back. If she does exactly what she is told, I might let her go free. If she
doesn’t or if you try anything cute, she’s a goner. You got me?” He smiled and said,
“I knew you would see it my way. Get ready, she’s coming out.”
He nodded to Brewer and Elaine walked out the door that he opened for her. “Come
back soon, babe,” he whispered in her ear as she passed him.
After a few minutes, Elaine came back carrying several paper bags from a nearby fast
food store. “There’s more. I need to make another trip.” She told Brewer and Nick.
“I’ll be right back.” She turned and crossed the no-man’s-land between the bank and
the rows of police cars. Elaine again loaded her arms with white bags of food and
came back to the bank. As she handed over the food, she asked hesitantly, “Can I go
now. You said...”
“Yeah, I know what I said. Go, now, before I change my mind.” Nick said as he
walked over to the door and watched as Elaine turned and ran, as quickly as she could
run in her condition, to the police officers from whom she had just taken the food
bags. It was not until she collapsed in their arms that Elaine felt safe...at last.
Sometimes the Dragons Are Real, Chapter 10
Nikita was awakened by the voice of the pilot announcing that they were one hour
from their destination. She stretched and looked down at Michael’s face, so innocent
and looking so much younger in sleep. Nikita smiled as she ran her fingers through
his hair brushing it back from his face so that he looked more like her Michael than
the young pre-Section Michael of fourteen years ago. Her touch in his hair must have
struck a chord of memory in him because he smiled in his sleep and murmured softly,
“Rene.”
She hated to do it, but knew he would be very unhappy with her if she didn’t, so she
bent her head to his ear and whispered, “Michael, wake up. It’s almost time.
Michael,” she said a bit more loudly this time. His eyes flew open to find Nikita
staring into his eyes only inches from his face. Without a second thought, she gave
him a quick, friendly kiss and said, “Welcome back, sleepyhead! Ready to kick some
butt?” She smiled just for him and was very surprised when he smiled back at her.
She leaned back in her seat as he sat up quickly and rubbed his hands over his face.
“How long did I sleep? What time is it?” he asked as he swung his feet from the seat
to the floor. He put his arms in the air and stretched, turning his shoulders from side
to side to stretch tired muscles.
“We’re an hour to touchdown, Michael” Nikita told him. “how are you feeling?’ She
stood up and put her hands on his shoulders and massaged the knots she found in
his neck and back. He rolled his head from side to side and groaned as he accepted
her touch.
“I feel better. Thanks, Nikita. I didn’t realize how tired I was.” He sighed and pulled
away from Nikita’s touch. “I have a lot of work to do.” He moved back toward the
table where his computer was setup.
“No, Michael,” Nikita said as she followed him over to the table. “WE have a lot of
work to do.” She bent over his shoulder and watched as information updates scrolled
down his screen.
“We will get them out, Michael. Please don’t worry.”
“I know we will, Nikita, but that doesn’t stop me from thinking about all the things
that could go wrong.” He looked up at her with green eyes that were filled with fear
and concern for his son, and put his hand over the one she had placed on his
shoulder.
As soon as he had read through the profile sent to him by Madeline, he rose from his
chair and went to brief his team. He intended to tell them the truth. This was a
personal mission and he was going to give them the option to stay with the plane.
The mission would be difficult without a full-strength team, but he would not ask
them to risk their lives for him and his.
“And that’s the profile. I think you may have realized that this is a somewhat
personal mission for me. I will not ask you to risk yourselves for me. If you want to
stay with the plane until I get back, you have that option. No one will think less of
you for your decision.” Michael finished speaking and turned away to let the other
operatives decide.
Each looked at the other and they all nodded. Carson, a big man with long blonde
hair tied back in a ponytail, stepped toward Michael and reached out to put his hand
on Michael’s shoulder. Michael turned and looked up into Carson’s startlingly blue
eyes. “If one goes, we all go. We’re your team, Michael, we’re with you all the way.”
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