Chapter 4:
Three Days Later:
The wind picked up causing the newly fallen snow to once again fly off the ground. It had been three days since he agreed to Sebastian's demand to help capture animals in exchange for Chris' freedom. He knew he had no choice, Chris is his brother, but none of that took away the guilt or made it any easier to do! He had spoken to Chris a few times, and he was okay, but Martin knew that wouldn't last long if he didn't think of a way for them to get free.
"Have you found my wolves yet?" Sebastian's voice spoke coming through the radio in Martin's jacket pocket, interrupting his thoughts, he sighed as he took it out and spoke.
"No, Sebastian not yet! I found their tracks though!" Martin answered.
"Tracks? That's all you've found? You've been out there for hours!"
"Sebastian it's not that easy to find wild animals…even in the Arctic! I'm trying my best, but if I'm not working fast enough why don't you look for them yourself!" Martin said annoyed.
"Keep looking, I'll check back in an hour and you better have my wolves!" Sebastian threatened ending the call.
Martin had followed the tracks for a while until he finally lost them when a blizzard blew in covering the tracks. He was tired, and wanted this nightmare to end he stood in the middle of the frozen land and lifted his head to the sky and screamed. After letting out all of his frustrations, he fell to his knees, hanging his head in defeat. Suddenly his radio came to life again; he took it out ready to get yelled at by Sebastian.
"Forget the wolves for now Marty, the blizzard's too bad!"
"What? You actually care about me being in the blizzard?" Martin asked shocked.
"Of course I do!" Sebastian answered.
"Wow, Sebastian! I'm…"
"If you freeze to death or something, how am I going to find my animals?" Sebastian said cutting Martin off.
"I should have known!" Martin replied.
"Hurry back Marty, it's almost time to contact baby brother!"
"I'll be there soon." Martin said ending the call and he began the walk back, he needed a plan and he needed it soon!
With Chris:
The cabin was quiet, Chris looked around trying to figure out where Thomas had gone, but couldn't see him anywhere in the small building. It had been three long days since he was brought to his prison; Thomas kept him tied to a chair in the corner of the room. Thomas didn't speak much to him, the only times he said more than two words were when he was using Chris as a punching bag. Despite the beatings, Chris was more worried about Martin, he knew the deal Martin had made with Sebastian to free him, and he was scared knowing they were going to kill Martin. The guilt tore him apart knowing it was because of him, Martin was once again for the third time risking his life to save him! He had to figure out a way to get free and save his brother, but how? He was tied up, in a cabin in the middle of nowhere! He didn't even know Sebastian's plans! He hung his head sighing, the front door opened and Thomas walked back inside carrying more wood. He put it near the fireplace before he got out of his outdoor gear; he then went to the fireplace and put more wood onto the fire.
"If I had known I'd be stuck out here freezing to death, I never would have accepted the job from that lunatic!" Thomas said bitterly.
"You poor baby!" Chris said his head still down.
"You little piece of crap!" Thomas yelled as he went up to Chris. "I'll show you what happens when people mock me!" He said as he punched Chris in the face twice. "You better learn…" Thomas was cut off by the radio going off, he went to the table and picked it up. "Go ahead boss."
"How's our guest Thomas?" Sebastian asked.
"He's fine, aren't you Green Guy?" Thomas answered.
"Yeah, I'm fine." Chris added.
"Things are going according to plan…slowly, I thought I'd check in and let the brothers talk, maybe it might help get things moving?" Sebastian explained.
"Chris?" Martin said worriedly.
"Martin, its okay I'm fine!" Chris answered his eyes locked with Thomas. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine! I'll get you out of there soon, I promise! Stay strong little brother!"
"Always! Be careful Martin!" Chris answered.
"Don't worry about me bro, I'll be fine!" Martin said.
"Alright, that's enough! Thomas, keep our guest comfy and we'll be in touch soon."
"Hurry up boss; I can't take this cold much longer!" Thomas whined.
"Again with the whining! For a big guy you sure are a wuss!" Sebastian said, Chris still starring into Thomas' eyes smiled at him. "I'll be in touch later; as soon as the blizzard is done we'll go after the last animal! It ends today with the final part of my plan!"
"You got it boss!" Thomas said smiling ending the call.
Chris didn't like the way that sounded or Thomas' smile, he knew this was it they were going to kill them! He wasn't about to give up, Martin wasn't and neither was he! Sebastian wanted a fight; they'd be more than happy to give him one! Thomas went into the bathroom leaving Chris alone; as soon as he was he began playing with the ropes again. He had been playing with the ropes trying to get free since he was brought here; every time he did he felt them loosen. He smiled to himself as he felt the ropes loosen even more, he wasn't worried about being caught because he was positioned in the perfect spot, so when they did come off Thomas wouldn't know until Chris attacked! He was getting frustrated when after struggling the ropes wouldn't come off. Thomas returned and began putting more wood on the fire keeping his back to Chris. Chris continued trying to get free when Thomas' back was turned, when he'd face Chris he'd stop moving. Finally the ropes were almost off; Chris decided to learn all he could before he attacked. Thomas sat on the couch drinking a coffee, his back to Chris so while he freed himself he spoke.
"What was Sebastian talking about?" Chris asked almost free.
"He was talking about finishing you two off, so I can get out of this frozen wasteland!"
"Yeah, I heard that! I meant what's his plan exactly?"
"Now why would I tell you?" Thomas asked laughing looking at him over his shoulder.
"Why not? I'm not going anywhere! I can't stop Sebastian or warn Martin!" Chris said.
"Good point!" Thomas answered as he put his coffee down and stood starring at him, he then walked up to him. "Alright, I'll tell you! See, once the snow stops Sebastian's going to take big brother to that big mountain the one with the funny name, and he's going to tell him the last animal is there." Thomas said smiling.
"Wait…do you mean Sky Peak?" Chris asked worried.
"Maybe, does it have those weird ledges on it that look like stairs to the sky?" Thomas asked, Chris' heart sank as he nodded yes. "Then yeah, that's the place!"
"That mountain is dangerous! It's known for avalanches! Martin would never agree to go there!"
"You sure about that?" Thomas questioned.
"Of course I'm sure, I know my brother!" Chris answered.
"Not even is it meant saving you?" Thomas said smiling as he turned his back to Chris and looked out the window. "Oh, look…the storm's stopped!" Thomas said his back still to Chris.
"You'll never get away with this!" Chris said getting free, he stood and grabbed a piece of wood as he snuck up behind Thomas.
"Who's going to stop us?" Thomas asked as he turned smiling.
"Me!" Chris answered as he swung the wood connecting with Thomas' stomach, then he hit him again on his back bringing him to his knees. "No one messes with my family! It ends today!" Chris yelled as he hit Thomas in the head knocking him out.
With Martin:
After the call to Chris, Martin needed fresh air so he went outside to think, even though the blizzard raged Martin stood in it thinking about the situation. He knew Chris had told him he was fine, but Martin knew his brother too well and his voice told Martin the truth! Time was running out and Martin hadn't made any progress in figuring out a plan, he decided to go back inside and check on the animals; he kept an eye on them it was the least he could do after he helped cage them! He went inside and walked past the control room, Sebastian saw him and called out to him, Martin froze his hands clenched.
"Where are you going Marty?" Sebastian asked coming into the hall.
"To check on the animals." Martin answered his back still to Sebastian.
"Why? Come join me for coffee, so we can talk about our next mission."
"No." Martin answered.
"No?" Sebastian repeated.
"I need to cool off, being around the animals helps!" Martin explained.
"You always were like that Marty!" Sebastian said smiling.
"Stop!" Martin said angrily as he turned to face him finally. "Stop calling me that, and stop acting like you know me!"
"Don't I?" Sebastian questioned.
"No!" Martin answered angrily.
"Maybe I don't…but I do know one thing about you! I know you'd do anything to make sure baby brother is safe…anything! That's always been your weakness Martin, and in the end it'll be what finishes you!"
"Are we done here?" Martin asked trying not to punch Sebastian.
"Yeah, but don't go far I checked the weather and there's going to be a break in the storm soon." Sebastian answered.
"I can't wait!" Martin said as he walked away.
Martin went to the cargo area where the animals were held and stood outside the door, guilt stopping him from going inside. He felt like a complete failure; Chris was still being held somewhere and he had captured animals for a complete lunatic! He wasn't usually a fighter, but at this moment he needed to hit something, anything! He punched a wall hard, not feeling the pain, he hit it again a couple more times before he kicked a gas can across the room. He sat down hanging his head running a hand through his hair; he needed to come up with a plan. Maybe Sebastian; the smug psycho was right, and he was thinking too much with his heart and not his mind? It would be hard to change the way he always thinks, but by doing this might be the answer to getting them free and finally stop Sebastian! He began to pace as he thought about what to do using his head this time, he ignored his throbbing hand as he thought of a way out of this. He had been down in the cargo bay for an hour when Sebastian called him to the control room. Martin still was no closer to getting out of this than he was before he went down, and now his hand throbbed worse than before and Sebastian wanted him! Could his day get any worse?
"What Sebastian?" Martin demanded coming into the control room cradling his hand.
"There you are Marty, what took you so long? What happened to your hand?"
"I'm sorry Sebastian; I had no idea I was supposed to be at your beck and call! As for my hand…I punched a wall!" Martin answered.
"Why did you punch a wall?" Sebastian asked confused.
"You weren't around so I couldn't punch you!" Martin answered smiling.
"I'm going to ignore your sarcasm and get to the point! Look outside!"
"What? Sebastian I'm not…"
"Just do it!" Sebastian yelled cutting Martin off.
"Fine!" Martin agreed sighing as he went to the window and looked out it.
"What do you see Marty?" Sebastian asked smiling.
"Uh…I see snow?" Martin guessed not in the mood for games.
"Look again, the blizzard stopped! You know what that means!"
"Time to finish this!" Martin answered.
"That's right Marty! Go get things ready and we'll leave once you're done!"
"I'm on it!" Martin said as he went to the door.
"Oh and Marty?" Sebastian said stopping Martin from leaving.
"What?"
"Make sure you wrap your hand in something before we leave! I need you at 100% for this mission!" Sebastian said as he turned to look out the window smiling.
"Yeah, right!" Martin answered as he looked at his swollen hand before he left. "I'm coming Chris, this ends today!" Martin said to himself as he walked down the hall.
TBC…
