Noah POV
Yanni is such a fucking idiot!!
How the fuck does rushing into the lions den achieve anything?
Laura said wait... he should have waited! It would have kept him and to some degree Sydney too, safe. I should have forced him to stay outside!
Now we have 2 people to rescue, Syd AND that stupid bloody moron!
I guess I don't blame him for wanting to do all he can to save her, but there was no way he was going to get her out of there alone, and one of the main elements of Harry's plan was to break Yanni into little pieces, Sydney being his weapon of choice.
I wish I'd never agreed to help him. When it was just Syd, who I didn't personally know but did have some serious negative feelings for I was fine with it, I wanted her punished, but as soon as I found out what a great person she is, and he began threatening Yanni too I should have just gone to the police then.
The whole story is however as implausible as it's possible to be... World famous model cum actor Harry Hartwell and his probably just as famous sidekicks kidnap, rape and torture his ex wife and her new boyfriend, international rap star and member of the most popular group on the Earth right now, Yanni Smith!
Yep! Every police officer in the Country would believe that without question or proof!
I had nothing concrete before, and I couldn't forget that Harry had my ring and was threatening to use it against me. He made sure it has both mine and Lola's DNA on it.....
My phone vibrates in my hand, shocking me enough that I almost drop it. It's a FaceTime from Laura.
I quickly connect the call and immediately raise my finger to my mouth, indicating she be silent, then turn the phone to the window I'm crouched beside so she can see inside the room.
I know that Syd is her best friend, and that seeing her in this situation is going to fuck with her head, but she needs to assess the scene to know how to tackle it. There is just one point of entry into the room, this fixed window being more of a small skylight to allow light into the basement ...... the door Yanni and I were outside, and as far as I can tell, which is only accessible through the kitchen floor.
I observe her face on the screen as she visibly steels herself before she allows herself to look at proceedings. Her face immediately loses colour and her hands fly up to cover her mouth, her distress at the scene before her evident from the small gasp that escapes her lips before she seems to realise the need for silence.
I watch, awestruck, as she composes herself, almost as if she is putting on a suit of armour. Her posture changes, her features relax and as she begins to speak into her radio I notice that her voice is strong, clear and authoritative. It's not unlike what we do before a performance actually, steeling yourself for what's ahead, getting your game face on and putting all your personal shit behind you for the duration of the show....although clearly the stakes are much higher here!
Laura finishes her radio transmission with "Bronze team, standby" before turning her full attention back to me and asking me exactly where I am.
"Bottom of the basement steps, back of the house" I reply in a low whisper.
"Ok, stay put. Film all that you can, it'll be good evidence. Don't leave that spot until one of my officers comes to get you, understand?" she instructs firmly.
I confirm that I will remain in my position and film the scene, although it isn't something I want to have to watch. I love a good horror film, but this is in an entirely different league, probably because I personally know the victims, played a large part in their being in their current positions and because I know that all the blood, those screams and the suffering being endured is all too real!
Returning my attention to the view inside the basement I set my phone again to record the scene as it unfolds, thankful that I have a largely unused storage capacity on it, allowing me to record for hours if necessary, I just pray that my battery survives long enough, I'm not particularly responsible when it comes to trivial things like remembering to charge a phone. I prop it on the window ledge and turn away from the scene, desperate not to witness the horrors I am largely responsible for.
Guilt threatens to consume me, the weight of my misdeeds bearing down on my shoulders, crushing my spirit and hurting my heart.
I am startled from my thoughts by a blood curdling scream and spin around to identify the owner of it, and the reason for it!
Sydney!
She is fully suspended by the wrists, her feet just an inch or two above the ground, naked other than for some very bloodstained stockings and ankle boots, her head hanging forward, her braids drawing the eyes down her body to her nipples, now erect thanks to the bucket of ice water that she was just doused with. Bleeding teeth marks encircle her left areola.
I'm relieved that it was something less likely to leave permanent marks on her body, but sorry she is suffering any kind of torture. I now know what Yanni meant about standing idly by, I can't do it.
She needs my help. Yanni needs me... they both do!
With that epiphany I again check that the camera is filming ok, then stand and swiftly alight the stone steps 2 at a time.
I have no idea what I'm doing, but I have to try and help.
I know that one of Laura's teams are already in position outside the room, ready to make their move, with another 2 in various locations in and around the home, so getting in probably won't be easy, but I have to try.
Approaching the front door I'm surprised to find nobody there, so enter unhindered, retracing my steps of earlier into the kitchen to observe the last of Gold team descending the stairs to Hell.
I follow behind, waiting halfway down the stairs before realising I have no weapon. Going in there unarmed is stupid, so I return to the top of the stairs and retrieve the first things that come to hand.....a bottle of champagne and a small fruit knife that looks to have been used to cut lemons.
I make my way down to the foot of the staircase just as an ear shattering bang echoes around the enclosed space. A huge shout follows as movement erupts ahead of me, Gold team surging rapidly forwards shouting instructions to those behind the doors as they go.
Following behind with my Champagne bottle raised infront of me I pass through the doors into Hell and find what looks like the most unbelievable and overly dramatic movie set, but unfortunately this is no fictional drama scene........ and I am almost wholly responsible for it!
Scanning the room I locate Yanni to my right, tied to a chair, slumped forward and bleeding and my heart falls into my stomach.
He looks dead!
Oh god... please don't let him be dead!
Crouching before him and placing the champagne bottle beside me on the floor I take the fruit knife from my jacket pocket and set to work releasing him from his bindings, feet first, followed by his wrists, the sharp blade making relatively light work of the plastic cable ties.
Calling his name I place the knife down and lift his head with both my hands, finding his mouth filled with a big red ball, eyes swollen almost totally closed, his bloodstained and tear streaked face distorted beyond recognition, the horrifying sight eliciting a shocked gasp from me.
Yanni weakly lifts his head and tries to speak, rousing me from my stupor, and I immediately lean over him, reaching behind his head to undo the buckle securing the gag in his mouth, reassuring words leaving my mouth as I work.
His eyes widen fractionally and he attempts to push himself up from the chair.
"Yanni, it's me Noah.... it's ok, you're ok.... we're getting you and Syd out of here... we're all safe.... it's all going to be ......."
I can't finish my sentence, my body thrown off balance by a blow to the right side of my face, chased by blinding white intense pain and an immediate wet sensation running down my neck onto my back and chest.
The bright white stars begin to fade away, my knees buckle and I fall to the floor.....
...... darkness engulfs me!