Chapter two

second draft

Ake unlocked the door to the office, so Loki could walk in. Loki took note of the man's appearance. He was thin with an elongated face, pointed chin, long reddish hair, and dark eyes.

Loki walked over to the messenger. "Who are you?" Loki asked.

The messenger eyes met with Loki's. "I do not have to answer your question," he said a bit nervously.

Loki grabbed the man by the arms, lifted him off his feet and threw him across the room. The messenger collided with a wall and fell to the floor. He was still conscious, and let out a groan because of the pain he felt.

Loki casually walked over to the man. "How about now? Want to answer my question or shall I send you flying into the other wall?" Loki calmly asked.

"My name is Ari," the man responded very quickly.

"Good, glad to see you are going to cooperate," Loki said. "Now, who sent you, Ari?"

"I do not know. I was given instructions by a cloaked and hooded figure. I couldn't see his face. I was handed money and the note. I needed the money so I did not care what it was for. I swear I am telling you the truth." Ari's voice shook as he spoke.

"Did this figure speak to you?" Loki asked Ari.

Ari shook his head. "No, just handed me the note.

"Where was this?" Loki asked.

"In a cave on Svartalfheim," Ari answered. "That is all I know," Ari quickly added.

"Was anyone with this figure? Loki asked.

"Yes, there was someone with him. I think it was a woman and she was holding something. I just assumed she was with the figure. It didn't occur to me she was there against her will," Ari answered.

"How long ago did this transaction take place?" Loki asked.

"A few hours ago," Ari answered.

Loki walked over to Ake, who had followed him into the office. "Get Ari ready to go with us to Svartalfheim."

~O~

Cuffed and chained, Ari lead the way to the cave. Ake, holding one end of the chain followed with Loki beside Ake.

Ari pointed at a mound of rocks. "It's over there," he said.

They reached the cave and entered it. "How far in did you go?" Loki asked Ari.

"Just the entrance," Ari answered.

"It has been a few hours, they could have gone anywhere," Ake suggested.

After Loki's eyes adjusted to the darkness, he searched for any evidence that someone had been there. His search did not fail. "Foot prints," he called out to Ake and Ari who were still back at the entrance.

Ake urged Ari on and they walked until they caught up with Loki. "A bit strange to find foot prints so far from the entrance, don't you think?" Ari asked.

"Looked to me like someone tried to hide the prints back at the entrance. Probably thought no one would look this far in, so didn't bother to hide them any more," Ake said.

"I think you are right, Ake. We are going to follow these foot prints," Loki said and continued walking.

"Is it me or is the cave getting smaller?" Ari asked. "It is getting harder to stand and the walls seem to be closer."

They continued to walk with their heads bent as Ari had been right, the ceiling was lower.

"Umm, not wanting to point out the obvious, but is anyone else bent over besides me?" Ari asked.

Loki stopped and advised Ari and Ake, "The cave is narrower up ahead. We are going to have to crawl to go any further."

"You are kidding? Right? How am I suppose to crawl chained up the way I am?" Ari asked.

"Get down on your hands and knees and crawl," Ake ordered.

Ari got down as he was told. It was more uncomfortable than walking with chains, but he didn't have a choice.

Loki, Ari, and Ake crawled along for two miles. Loki could feel a breeze blowing on him. "We must be near an opening."

"Oh thank the gods. I couldn't stand crawling like this much longer. Besides the chains, I think I have swallowed a pound of dirt," Ari complained.

"Stop complaining, I'm right behind you and have caught the dirt you kicked up," Ake said.

One by one, they exited the cave. Loki stood and looked around him. He turned and faced Ari and Ake, "Nothing, there's no one here. The trail ends," he said very disappointed.

"Well, they couldn't have just disappeared," Ari suggested.

"Actually, yes they could. If the person who kidnapped them had the power to do so, they very well could just disappear," Loki said.

"This is not my fault! I had nothing to do with this," Ari spoke in an anxious voice.

"No one said it was your fault, Ari." Loki said.

"What do we do now," Ake asked.

"What else can we do, we go back to Asgard." Loki answered. "Let go of Ari's chain, there is no need to keep a hold of it now. He did what he was told to do," Loki told Ake.

Ari smiled, but only for a moment when he realized what they were going to do. "Wait a minute you can't just leave like this?"

"Good luck to you, Ari," Loki said. He then called out to Heimdall to send the Bifrost. He and Ake were soon transported back to Asgard.

"My King, should we have left Ari like that? How will he get unchained?" Ake asked.

"He will be fine. Something tells me, he has been in worse situations. He is no longer our concern," Loki replied.