off!” Nadia threatens the men, still fearing the device. Her head jerks about wildly as she searches for an escape.
Thomas grins wide at the sight of the girls, and he chuckles as he pulls off his dark glasses to get a better look at his capture. Nadia backs up, pushing Mila back with her. Percy stands frozen in the doorway, the disgust in his eyes hidden behind his dark shades. His stomach churns, the bile in his bowels threatening to rise and spew from his lips. He knew the captures were young; but as he sees them trembling before him all he can think about are his own little girls.
“Please don’t kill us,” Mila begins to plead as Nadia pushes her towards the false protection of the closet.
Thomas chuckles and pulls out a cigar, totally relaxed now. He strikes a match, lights the cigar and slowly presses it between his lips. After taking a long, hard drag he blows a grey cloud of smoke towards the retreating girls. “Where you think you going?” he says. He steps forward quickly, two steps at a time. He grabs Nadia’s long ponytail and yanks her to the ground as she desperately claws at his face. Mila screams and wraps her arms around the teen’s waist. But the struggle only draws more sinister chuckles. “Feisty,” Thomas says to Percy who stands unmoving in the doorway.
“Don’t damage the capture,” Percy says. But it sounds like a command. Would Percy dare give orders to the great hound dog? Thomas pauses for a moment, but only a moment. “Damage? Fuck, I think the order said dead or alive. Ain’t that what it said?” he taunts and then he grins at Percy’s squeamishness. “Don’t tell me you soft on these brats?”
Percy narrows his eyes, his disapproval hidden behind his dark shades, “No, of course…not. Just want to get the job done and over with before the freeze,” he says, justifying his hesitation. And in an effort to prove that he’s not soft, he wrenches Mila away from Nadia. He yanks her hard; but not too hard — just hard enough to make his point. Mila offers little resistance, but a floodgate of tears is let loose.
“Don’t touch her!” Nadia flails about as Thomas binds her wrists behind her back with zip ties. She strains to see her little sister’s face and fights her own urge to sob. Instead she screams. Would the neighbors come? Does anyone care about the horror she is facing? Unfortunately, she knows the answer is no, no one is willing to risk themselves for others. Finally able to bring Mila’s face into focus, Nadia’s heart breaks when she sees the girl’s sadness.
“Shhh,” Percy says to Mila in that calm, genuine sounding voice for which he was hired. “What’s all the fuss about little princess?” The manipulation isn’t obvious to the little girl; but it nevertheless makes Percy’s stomach churning intensify. He gently brushes her sweat soaked hair out of her face, “There’s nothing to be afraid of. You’re safe here.”
Thomas grins at Percy’s “people management” skills. It’s one of the reasons he keeps him as a partner despite his other shortcomings.
“Bullshit!” Nadia writhes on the ground.
Thomas smirks, “You got a nasty little mouth for a level 5.”
Mila’s hands tremble like those of an elderly woman as she sees her big sister helpless on the cold, wooden floors. Percy cups her chin in his gloved hand and redirects her face towards his own. “What you looking for?”
Mila glances at her sister again and her lips quiver.
“She’s going to be okay. I won’t let anything happen to her.” Percy lets go of her chin and grasps her trembling hands.
“You promise?” Mila asks.
“I promise,” Percy says with a smile he only uses in his work. He would never curse his own kids with that smile — never.
The man’s smile triggers something in the girl and a small but still fearful grin spreads across her lips. “I’m going to see my mommy and daddy now?” Mila asks hopefully.
Percy nods, “Mmhmm…and then we’re going to have marshmallows and hot chocolate just like how you always liked.”
Mila’s brown eyes widen with surprise, “How you know I like marshmallows and hot chocolate?!”
“Cause friends know everything about each other, isn’t that right?” Percy chuckles. “You’re mama told me to come get you because Nadia‘s being a bad girl,” he nods as if to reinforce the thought.
“Oh my goddess!” Nadia yelps.
Thomas snarls at the teen, “You want me to make your mouth so you can’t ever open it again?”
Mila frowns at Nadia and then quickly looks back at Percy, “I knew. It was all her fault,” she says.
“Oh yes, it’s all Nadia’s fault and she’s going to be punished too,” more nodding.
“Yay!” Little Mila throws herself at Percy, jumping into his arms as if he is an old lost uncle.
“Good girl!” he says to her, bundling the girl in his arms as if she is his own child. The gesture deepens his disgust with himself. “We’re going to go for a little ride, okay? You’re going to take a little nap too, while we travel.”
Mila nods in compliance, “I like naps,” she smiles as Percy balances her on his hip and fills a syringe with clear liquid. She is use to shots; they are part of the program.
“Only a little pinch,” Percy gives Mila the injection and within moments she is out cold.
Thomas also knocks Nadia out cold…with his fist, “Save the medicine for myself,” he says.
Calcane City – Industrial District – Warehouse #236
Blankets of white snow spit out from the caterpillar tracks of the snowmobile as it zips past rotten trees and frozen corpses. The guttural buzz of its engine is the sole sign of life in a city devoid of all vitality. The decaying city’s urban landscape seems to grow larger as the vehicle approaches a dingy, abandoned warehouse, its windows sealed shut with thick slabs of steel. Thomas, seated at the helm, brings the vehicle to a complete stop. Percy, seated right behind him, tenses, resting his hand on Nadia’s back as she lies unconscious across his lap. All of them, including Mila who is fast asleep in the side carriage, wear thick snow gear and masks to protect them from the elements.
“Why are we stopping here?” Percy demands.
“You calling the shots now?” Thomas challenges him.
Percy doesn’t respond. How do you respond to that, to the loud, the arrogant but praised hound dog?
Thomas dismounts the snowmobile giving a cursory glance to the side carriage which holds Mila. He turns and immediately walks to the warehouse doors which loom tall, 20 feet in length, from the snow covered ground to the solid frame of the doorway. He unlocks and removes the thick chain which holds the doors shut.
“It’s forbidden,” Percy pipes up again.
Thomas laughs, “You’re like one of those pesky parrots.” He opens the large warehouse doors, pushing them just wide enough to fit the snowmobile. He motions for Percy to enter, “Rev her up and don’t take all day.” Thomas steps into the warehouse, confident that Percy will follow his instructions, which he does.
As Percy drives the vehicle into the warehouse, there is a loud sound as part of the floor inclines becoming a ramp leading to a basement.
“We got a few seconds, hurry it up,” Thomas as he quickly jumps on the passenger seat behind Percy. “Drive!” he barks. Percy drives down the ramp. Just as soon as they have entered the basement, the ramp begins to lift like a drawbridge, once again becoming part of the basement’s ceiling.
The subterranean room is dark at first but is soon filled with white light so intense it momentarily blinds the men. But after a few moments their eyes adjust revealing two men and a woman standing just a few feet away. Nadia begins to stir, slowly awakening. Thomas’ dark lips curl downward with displeasure.
“You brought a crowd, I told you we wanted a private transaction,” Thomas says to the woman as he removes his helmet and eye gear.
Percy’s breathing becomes heavier, his palms slick with sweat. He removes Nadia’s gear; but he keeps his own gear on.
Nadia’s eyes flick open, fully aware now, she tr
ies to squirm out of Percy’s lap, but he presses down hard pinning her between his slick palms and lap. “Please, please let me go, I didn’t do anything,” her voice little more than a whisper. Her pleas are ignored.
The woman steps forward, her white robe dragging through the muddy slush which coats the brick floor, “Which one?” She glances from the side carriage to the struggling teen.
Thomas lights another cigar and takes a puff, “Both.”
The woman frowns, “No, we had a deal. You’re not dumping your shit on me. We got a plan, we need to stick to it.”
Thomas grins knowingly, “Yes. But…plans change.”
“Not this one.”
One of the black robed men whispers something to the other. Thomas gives them a suspicious glance.
“Show me the original package,” the woman motions to Nadia who strains to look at the woman.
Thomas stares at the men a little longer as if to warn them. He flicks his cigar to the ground and makes an about face. Black boots marching towards Percy and the girl. Nadia begins to hyperventilate and whimper. Would he strike her again? Would he kill her? Torture her? Tears stream from her already reddened eyes. Where was she? Where had they taken her? Her mind reels with dozens of questions. The marching stops. Thomas looms over her and Percy whose sweaty palms remain firmly planted on Nadia’s back, holding her, almost in a protective manner. The heavy stench of nicotine fills Nadia’s nostrils causing her to cough and gag.
“Your hand,” Thomas commands, a slight hint of aggression just under the surface.
But Percy doesn’t remove his hand, although it has begun to tremble, a tremble which is almost imperceptible to the untrained eye. “Can I talk to you for a moment?” he asks, his voice betraying his barely subdued fear. He tenses his arm to stop the trembling.
“No the fuck you can’t,” Thomas barks.
The woman smirks, “Seems you have a crowd of your own.”
Thomas’ gaze snaps back to the woman, “Protocol.”
Beads of sweat begin to form on Nadia’s forehead although it is about 40 degrees Fahrenheit in the basement. She can feel Percy’s protective hands press down on her back but her breathing quickens nonetheless. She turns to see the woman but is unable to get a good look at her face. Only the white robe is visible and it nearly blends in with the white light illuminating the room.
“This isn’t protocol,” Percy challenges, his voice once again betraying feelings of intimidation. “I don’t want to lose my job,” he adds quickly.
Thomas’ yellow stained teeth are bared in a huge grin as he lets loose a round of laughter. “Well I guess you’re right. This ain’t quite protocol, is it?” he feigns sincerity. “If someone was to find out, might not be too good for either one of us, now would it?” he grins glancing at the white robed woman again, who still has a self-satisfied smirk on her face.
“No.” Percy responds, calming himself just a little.
“I little something for your troubles?” the woman says to Percy.
Thomas cocks his head to the side, “Hmm? Something extra to take home to the family?”
The white robed woman grabs a tote bag sitting at the feet of one of the men and hands it to Thomas. “Just for the original package. I’m not taking the other one,” she frowns in the direction of Mila who is still unconscious in the carriage.
Without even looking, Thomas grabs the bag and sticks his hand in it. He pulls out a block of cash. He brushes the bills against Percy’s cheek and grins, “Feel good, don’t it?”
Percy grits his teeth and jerks his head away, earning a snarl from Thomas.
“Look, the order said dead or alive! Just trying to make a few fucking extra bucks. What? Your blood too rich for it?” Thomas asks suspiciously.
“No…,” the words choke out of Percy’s throat as he swivels his gaze back to Thomas who