Chapter 1
The position Milligan was in was decidedly uncomfortable as he stared out over the cliff. It wasn't unusual for Milligan to be on a precipice or other high point, nor would it have been abnormal if he had jumped off. This time, however, it was impossible to jump, as his arms and legs were pulled up over his back and tied together with stiff black cord, forcing him to lie on his stomach. He was barely able to lift his head to look over the cliff.
McCracken, who sat beside him, smirked as he pointed down into the canyon below. "See how far down that is?"
Milligan's only thought was that he shouldn't have let go of his tranquilizer gun.
"Fortunately," McCracken continued, "I won't be going down there. Unfortunately..." His metal-tipped boot kicked Milligan painfully in the stomach, sending him over the precipice. "You will be!"
At first Milligan's eyes were wide with fear, but he quickly squinted them almost shut in the wind. He was grateful to glimpse a lake at the bottom of the canyon.
McCracken sat back up on the cliff, listening. He was satisfied to hear a loud splash. Rubbing his hands together, he laughed loudly.
But his malicious glee was interrupted by a stuttering voice behind him. "E-Excuse me, sir?"
McCracken snapped around. "What is it, S.Q.?"
"Sh-Should I free the children?"
"NO!"
"Oh. Okay." There was a pause. "S-Sir?"
"Now what?"
"What if I already did?"
McCracken smacked his forehead in frustration.
"Uh...sir?"
The next thing he knew, S.Q. was dodging a hail of razor-sharp pencils. "Sir?" he panted. "Is this necessary?"
"YES!"
Meanwhile, underwater, Milligan's mind was beginning to fog. It's no use, he thought. His eyes drifted shut and he didn't notice that the ropes binding his hands and feet had caught on a rock and snapped.
I'm going to black out...
Milligan drifted down farther.
I'm...going...to...
Suddenly a single, simple thought entered his head and made his eyes snap open.
K...Katie...cat?
With the last reserves of his energy, Milligan swam up to the surface, strengthened by the thought of his daughter.
A pair of arms caught him as he broke the surface of the water, gasping for breath. "Milligan!" Kate exclaimed, pulling him out of the water. "You're alive!"
Milligan coughed and clutched his daughter, struggling to stand. Then he moaned and doubled over, holding his chest.
"Are you okay?" Kate tried to support her father, but his legs buckled underneath him and he collapsed onto his back.
Kate put her hand on Milligan's chest, When she lifted it, it was stained with blood. He must have hit something when he fell into the water.
Milligan's eyes slowly closed. Tears streamed down Kate's face. "No! Milligan! Please stay awake!"
His head fell to one side. Kate wrapped her arms around his limp body, pressed her face to his bleeding chest, and pleaded with him to stay awake. "Oh, Milligan! You can't leave me! Please!"
She squeezed Milligan tighter and closed her eyes. "Please..."