Tuesday 27th April 2010
09:42
She is aware of a slight crackling noise while she is riding shotgun but she dismisses it. She has to admit that it feels a but strange sitting in the front passenger seat of the car beside David – a seat that she knows Alice normally occupies, if only because she always managed to call it first. Robert does not seem to be paying much attention to anything, instead opting to look out of the window at the trees in the woods that they have just entered.
"So why would these guys want to kidnap Alice?" Belinda asks.
"Because they want me to join them," David replies, although from the tone of his voice, his mind seems to be elsewhere.
"I thought that you said that these guys were friends of yours? Why didn't they just ask you?"
"They have asked me before… as recently as last night in fact. I keep telling them that the answer is no!"
This confuses Belinda. "Why did you say no if they're friends of yours?"
David sounds a little bit huffy that he has to justify himself to her. "I said no to them because I also have friends in the Society who would think that I am choosing sides."
Robert, who has obviously been paying attention after all, asks, "What is the Society?"
"They're the people that I used to work with. The people from Nemesis also used to work with them. There were some… company policies that we didn't quite agree on so I chose to leave them. Other Society Members did the same and formed Nemesis because of that."
"Oh right!" Robert replies, although he does not feel any the wiser.
Belinda is not so easily satisfied. "I can't help but think that there are things that you're not telling us."
"If I am keeping things from you then it is only for your own safety," David tells her.
And after that, he says nothing more on the matter.
Robert cannot believe that the house they finally stop at is anything more than the abode of a kindly old woman who has decided that she has finally had enough of the city and wants to move slightly more outfield to a place where she will have a wonderfully large back garden and no real trouble or neighbours for miles in every direction.
"Well," David says upon hearing Robert's opinion, "looks can be deceiving."
They park the car quite a distance away from the house, which is barely in sight. "There's a good chance that they know we're here but we may still have the element of surprise if we move fast!"
"So what do we do?" Robert asks.
David smiles. "We do exactly what Belinda said in the office. We walk up to the door and ask for Alice back. Or at least that's what I'm going to do."
"And what is it that you want us to do?" Belinda asks, getting a bad feeling.
"Well, just in case your excellently well formulated rescue plan doesn't work out, I want you both to go round the back and see if there's another way in!"
And before either of them has a chance to complain about that idea, David is gone and heading for the house.
Belinda and Robert know that they don't have much time and start to circle through the trees round to the back of the house, keeping David in sight for as long as they can. This is not anywhere near as long as they would like but soon they are at the rear of the house.
Belinda is very paranoid and looks around as they approach. There does not seem to be any kind of surveillance equipment on show – but that doesn't mean that their approach isn't being monitored.
Robert is paranoid for a completely different set of reasons. "Are we sure that we've got the right house?" He asks, his voice lowered to a whisper. "I don't want to be arrested for breaking and entering."
"Have you ever known David to be wrong about things like this? About anything, for that matter?"
He doesn't need to reply and they continue to the back entrance, Belinda jumping slightly (although she would never admit it to anyone) when the door is wrenched open suddenly.
A man in a grey suit, a few subtle shades lighter than David's charcoal one, stands at the door, looking a little curious. He has one arm raised to the top left hand corner of the entrance, trying to make it look as though he is relaxed, but it crosses Belinda and Robert's minds at the same time that it is quite obvious that the other arm, hidden behind the door, is being kept out of view because it holds a gun.
2.
Tuesday 27th April 2010
09:54
On your mark
Get set
Go
David opens the front door of the house and is not surprised to find that there is nobody behind it. He pushes the door open quickly, sure that there will be a squeak or something to mark the opening if he were to push it slowly. He knows the way that the people in this house operate and the little traps like this are easy enough to spot when you have this mindset.
Ahead of him he sees a long corridor that leads straight through to the back of the house. He enters when he is finally sure that he will be out of the line of sight of anyone who is looking around the house, making sure when he steps inside that his feet go onto the long strip of carpet that runs down the centre line of the hall, and not on the creaking wood floor.
With the help of the long strip of carpet, which, for some reason, looks completely out of place in this grand house – way too tacky, he is able to quietly walk towards the door that he assumes to be the Kitchen (he has never set foot in this house before but already his mind is working through the layout) after closing the front door fast enough to avoid the squeaking but not so fast that it slams.
The Kitchen door is completely closed too and he knows that there will be someone on the other side of this one, so it is going to be a little trickier than his front door entrance. He fixes his hand onto the doorknob and makes a swift clockwise turn, the latch making an almost inaudible click (although one louder than he would have liked – he now has fractions of a second to react). He pushes the Kitchen door open quickly and noiselessly and moves forward before it has opened completely, towards the man in the grey suit, who has not even had time to turn round yet and has not moved the gun that he has hidden behind the door.
"What exactly do you want?" The man asks the people on the other side of the door. David cannot see them but knows that it is Belinda and Robert that he is talking to. He is a little amazed as he realises that the man has been too caught up in asking the two of them questions that he has not heard David, entering the room, despite him making what he has considered to be a lot of noise.
As he moves slowly forward, David hears Belinda's voice. "Our car had broken down and we were wondering if you could give us directions to the nearest town."
The man cocks his gun while he is talking to her, obviously not believing their story one little bit. "I have a phone if you would like to use it…"
Before he can say any more, David moves forward and knocks the man who is about to kill his friends unconscious with a vicious punch to the back of the neck. He tumbles to the ground, out for the count before he is even aware what has happened to him. David catches him before he manages to hit the ground and lowers him slowly, more out of fear that he makes noise than out of compassion. The gun has fallen from his hand and makes a small thudding noise on the carpet, but nothing that David is greatly worried about. He picks the gun up and ushers Belinda and Robert into the Kitchen.
"How the hell did you get in?" Belinda has to ask.
"I know Kevin and he's not one to waste resources. There's one man on guard to alert the others if there is any trouble."
David points to the door to the Kitchen. "Back through there, there would be a row of television screens connected to hidden cameras outside. I knew that he would have spotted you both before me because… I have more of a talent for sneaking about. Then, when I was sure that he would be going to the back to check up on you, I took my cue and walked out of hiding and to the house."
Belinda looks confused. "And why didn't he alert the others if he spotted us?"
"He would have definitely raised the alarm had he seen me – that is who they're expecting to come today. But all he saw was two curious people hanging about the house and he arrogantly assumed that he could handle it without any help!"
"God, you're amazing!" Belinda feels she has to say.
3.
Tuesday 27th April 2010
09:56
Kevin is thinking of locks and closes the door to Alice's room quietly behind him before looking up to see the man in the black suit standing there.
"I thought you were on some kind of schedule."
The man in the black suit shrugs. "I get some free time now and again."
"I wouldn't know it from what I see on the news."
"Why did you have to tell her about David?"
Kevin smiles. "I can't believe he hasn't told his friends what he really is."
But the man in the black suit can't be appeased by the friendly tone. "You've crossed a line. You're actions will cost everybody dearly."
The smile disappears and a frown crosses Kevin's forehead. "What do you mean?"
"You're kidnapping of her was bad enough. But your comments a few moments ago just gave the situation another couple of problems. One of them was inevitable anyway but it has been moved forward. It's typical of you Kevin, other people always pay for your actions."
Kevin, clearly sick of this conversation, says, "You just love talking in riddles, don't you?"
"I have to go Kevin", the man in the black suit says. "But I promise I'll see you soon."
The smile disappears from Kevin's face.
4.
Tuesday 27th April 2010
09:57
Gary sometimes forgets why he loves his father so much - why he is the most charismatic man in his family in everyone's opinion. He hates the thought that he is standing between a rock and a hard place with the two most important men in his life. Things are going to get worse; he can sense it.
When Gary brings him into the main office of Progression Software and sees that the only person around is Edward sitting in front of his computer screen, he knows immediately that something is wrong and it might be the wrong time to bring his father here.
Edward gets up from his desk quickly and walks over, offering his unwounded hand to Walter. "You must be Gary's dad. I've heard a lot about you."
Walter shakes the hand in front of him and smiles, deciding not to ask too much about how Edward has come to be wearing the sling. He has no doubt that it has to do with the excitement of last night.
"We were just in the neighbourhood and Gary decided to show me where he worked. I've never been here before so I thought it was as good a time as any to check it out."
"Where is David?" Gary asks.
"He had to go out with Belinda and Robert. Something has come up."
"About Isabelle?" Gary asks. Walter's eyes turn on Edward again, and at this moment the programmer knows that Gary has told his dad everything.
He looks down at his feet. "No, Gary. Sorry."
"If David's out with Belinda and Robert then where's Alice?"
Edward is quiet for a moment, not sure what he should say. Walter looks at him with a gaze that he has previously thought only David Oswald is capable of.
"That's why they're out…"
"What's happened?" Gary asks.
Edward doesn't answer. He doesn't know what he can say.
"Answer him!" Walter snaps.
"Alice got kidnapped this morning!"
Walter turns to his son, the fury in his eyes. "Another one? First it's Isabelle and now it's someone you work with? And you think that it's safe to work here?"
Gary reels at this attack from his father. He knows that if he is told to resign this instant he will obey. He feels like a school kid again and, frankly, he does not like it much. But he is much too intimidated to say.
Edward, helpfully, explains that, "it wasn't the same people who kidnapped Isabelle."
Walter turns casually back to Edward. "Oh it wasn't? Well that's okay then. And just how did your arm get into that sling?"
"Ah well…"
"Well?"
"Gary's possessed girlfriend stabbed me."
Walter smacks himself on the forehead and turns round to his son again. "Gary, I won't be happy until you quit your job."
"Dad…" He starts, although he already knows that is what he has to do.
Walter doesn't wait for an agreement though and pushes past him, heading out of the office. He is gone. Gary turns to follow him but Edward grabs his shoulder with his good arm, although he must hurt himself because Gary hears a wince escape from his lips.
"Gary, he needs time to calm down."
Gary nods in agreement and puts his business head on. "Who's got Alice?"
"Belinda said it was something called Nemesis."
"What the hell is Nemesis?"
"She's the Greek Goddess of vengeance and retribution…"
"I knew that…" Gary stops himself. "Actually I didn't know that… but what is Nemesis in this context?"
Edward shrugs and the look of pain reappears on his face, although it is never truly gone at the moment. "I don't have a clue. But knowing David, would you be that surprised if there was a Goddess kicking around the city kidnapping people?"
"Good point!"
5.
Tuesday 27th April 2010
SOME TIME LATER
Thoughts of a strip club that he visited once will come up in his mind and he will push them away, trying to forget about the erection that he is going to get. He will pace up and down his room. He will not have been home for too long but soon his mind will be working on what he can do. And then it will come to him. "I have to kill him!" It'll be that simple. Killing him will solve everything. "NO!" A voice is going to scream in his head. He will clutch his head in agony. He hates when the voice does this. It is okay when it whispers to him but when it screams it is like a file scraping against his brain. He is going to fall to his knees and think he is going to black out. "WE HAVE PLANS FOR OSWALD. HE MUST NOT DIE… YET!" That will be too much. He is going to black out…
6.
Tuesday 27th April 2010
09:59
Dealing with things that happen too quickly is David's speciality. The following events were inevitable but when they come it happens fast - maybe almost too fast for most people.
All hell breaks loose. Just as David, Belinda and Robert are starting to ascend the stairs, the front door is smashed off its hinges. David's head spins round in synchronicity with his two companions. Isabelle is standing at the door, looking up at them.
"Hi guys. Did I miss anything?"
To say that David looks very worried is an understatement. "What are you doing here?"
"I have business here, Oswald. Get out of my way."
David looks at Belinda and Robert. "Get Alice!"
"But…" Begins Belinda.
"No buts."
They scamper upstairs past David as he walks back down to the demonic force standing at the doorway. "You won't get her. I won't let you near her."
Isabelle laughs at this. "I don't want her. But I don't want anyone else to have her either."
David fakes hurt. "Not even me?"
Isabelle's new trademark sneer crops up on her face. "I'm quite happy for her to stay with you for now."
"And why would that be?"
"Don't patronize me."
Isabelle jumps at David and, before he can do anything about it, she wrestles him to the floor. He manages to kick her off, more out of luck than anything else, and both of them are back on their feet in an instant, facing off.
"You're a fool if you think that you can stop me!" She hisses.
But David is willing to try. He rushes at her. Isabelle bats him out of the way as if he weighs nothing. He falls to the ground badly, striking his head off the wall. Most people would be out cold, but David is not most of people. However, by the time he is up, Isabelle is already racing up the stairs.
7.
Tuesday 27th April 2010
10:00
Caffeine is one of the most dangerous drugs in the world. Hyperactivity can be deadly. What is worse is when you drink coffee and have nothing to do with the pent up energy it gives you.
Oblivious to the events that are unfolding and powerless to do anything to stop them from where they are anyway, Edward and Gary sit in the office of Progression Software, drinking this drug of choice. Gary takes a look at his friend's sling.
"How is the arm?"
Edward looks down at it. "It hurts like hell, but I'm sure that's a good sign."
Gary laughs at this. "You have a bizarre definition of a good sign."
"It's when the pain stops that the worrying starts."
Gary takes a sip of his coffee and there is a moment of silence before he says, "I wonder if my Dad is right."
"You mean about you leaving Progression?"
Gary says nothing but merely nods.
"Do you really think after this job anything that you did would be as interesting?"
"Probably not… Definitely not! But I would feel safer."
Edward shakes his head. He is not very good talking to people at the best of times, but talking people out of things might be his ultimate failing. But he has a good go at it. "If I were you I would wait until David comes up with a solution about Isabelle and then take it from there."
He is very surprised to find Gary nods in agreement to his idea. "There's no way I can leave until I know one way or another about whether she is going to be okay."
8.
Tuesday 27th April 2010
10:01
Everyone has had a conversation that they begin to forget almost the second it is finished? Did he say he was coming at half past seven on Friday or that I would never see him again?
Kevin is so shocked by the implications of what the man in the Black suit had said that, instead of going downstairs, he goes back into Alice's room. Already it seems like a dim nightmarish memory. If Kevin had gone downstairs the next few moments would turn out very differently.
He is in mid conversation with the girl, when he hears the noises outside the room. He gets up, aware that the time has come. He has not expected it to be so soon. The door bursts open and he accepts his fate almost without thinking about it.
But it is Belinda and Robert who pile into the room, wrestling a couple of the men in grey suits. They all pile to the ground in front of them. Kevin returns to his normal self immediately. These people will be no trouble to him.
Did he say he was coming at half past seven on Friday or that I would never see him again?
The men in grey suits manage to gain the upper hand and subdue Belinda and Robert. She flashes a smile at Alice, who returns it without thinking. "Hi Alice."
As they are picked up from the ground, Kevin looks them up and down.
Alice's eyes roll. "Please don't tell me you guys are the rescue party?"
"Kind of!" Robert admits, as they are lifted up from the ground.
"That's just fucking great!" Alice mutters.
But the doubt has already returned into Kevin's mind. "There's no way you would be alone."
He looks at the two men in grey suits. "If they're here then David must be with them."
"You really are an idiot, aren't you?" Belinda says.
Kevin cocks his head to one side. "And why is that, pray tell?"
The stress that Belinda is feeling starts to show again. "It's not David that you have to worry about!"
"Oh really?" Asks Kevin. "And who should I be worried about?"
Suddenly the four people standing in front of Kevin are batted out of the way. Isabelle stands in front of Kevin, a smile playing on her lips. "Me!"