After his run in with Lucius, Tom climbs the stairs to the third floor to meet up with Oliver. As he climbs, Tom goes over the plan one more time in his head before he meets up with the group in an hour. Lost in his thoughts, Tom runs into someone as he rounds a corner.
"Sorry about that" Tom says backing up a little bit from the collision
"It's okay" the person says taking a couple steps back. "I should be used to you lost in your thoughts"
Tom looks up as the person comes into focus and realizes that it's Oliver. "Sorry man, I guess I haven't been too attentive to my surroundings lately"
"Like I said before, it's okay" Oliver says motioning towards a door in the hallway. Tom follows Oliver into the room and they both take seats at a table occupying the space.
"So, you wanted to talk with me about something?" Tom says getting situated.
"Yeah, I wanted to ask you how you think the plan will work out" Oliver says looking at Tom intently trying to gauge his reaction.
"Well, it seems pretty straight forward to me, we meet up near the one-eyed witch, go through the passageway to the cellar of Honeyduke's. Then, make our way outside and head towards the place where they are keeping Mikayla. It can't fail!" Tom says leaning back in his chair with his arms behind his head confidently.
"There is always risk when it comes to these things, we were too cocky last time we tried this and it cost me my sister." Oliver says leaning forward "We can't afford to make that same mistake again."
"Who says we will?!" Tom says sitting forward in his chair as he places his arms on the table.
Tom's thoughts skid to a stop, "Oliver's backing out!" "Wait... does everyone want to back out? Do they think that this is a bad idea too?" Tom thoughts race trying to come to any solution that might fit.
"I'm just trying to get you to look at things logically and think them through before we go"
Oliver states sitting up straighter. "You have no idea what we are up against; you have never encountered these men before!"
"I may not know who these men are or how strong they might be, but I will never give up hope. It may not have worked for Sarah but it will work this time!" At this point, Tom is beginning to get very angry and his voice is getting louder with each passing second.
Sensing that things are beginning to escalate, Oliver stands up and begins to pace. "I hope that, for Mikayla's sake, things go better for us" Oliver continues walking to the head of the table.
"I was a lot like you a couple years ago, very sure of myself and how things were going to be. When Sarah went missing, I tried everything I could to find her. If I had any glimmer of hope as to where she went, I would have done anything to get her back. I was cocky just like you and thought that I could defeat anything that came my way. We went on our rescue mission, I decided that I didn't need the others and went off on my own. I got cornered and had to fight my way out. While I was fighting, the others ran to my aid and the men killed Sarah while we were distracted. I cost us the entire mission because I only thought about myself."
Oliver's hands are clenched around the top of the chair in front of him. His eyes flash with anger and regret.
"Don't be like me, Tom, Don't. Get. Cocky."
Every word Oliver spoke, shot arrows of self-doubt into Tom's heart. "What if he couldn't save her, what if he was too late?" The self-doubt soon turned to anger, Tom thoughts tripped over one another ranging from doubt over his abilities to anger that Oliver wanted to back out. Through the mass of thoughts in his head, one thought jumped to the fore front of Tom's mind, "Oliver didn't believe that he could do it, he didn't believe that Tom could think of others besides himself". Anger burned Tom's chest and before he knew it, he formulated his own plan in his head. If the Oliver or the group didn't want to help him, then he would do this on his own. In the blink of an eye, Tom stands up and the chair falls over behind him.
Tom wanted to say so many things but the only thing that came out was "We need to meet up with the others" Tom turns around quickly, opens the door and heads down the stairs.
Still upset from the conversation with Oliver and battling with his anger, Tom meets up with the group at the one-eyed witch passageway. Once everyone is there, the group splits into their respective teams; A small group staying behind to keep an eye on things there, one team working as re-enforcement once they get there, and the main team going in to rescue the girls. Once all the groups have been assigned, everyone leaves one at a time through the narrow passageway. As Tom descends, he overhears two people in the re-enforcement group talking to themselves. They tell each other about how unsure they are about what is going to happen. Tom wants to smack them and tell them to focus, but he knows it won't do much good. They are all nervous about how this will all play out. Once they reach the cellar at Honeyduke's, they climb onto a box and slide out of the basement window, which has already been previously propped open. They make their way across the street and into the alleyway designated. When they arrive at the rendezvous point, the sun has set. They decide to wait for nightfall to make sure they can move around without being seen.
Once night has fallen considerably, the group is ready to go. Slowly, they edge their way out of the alley a couple people at a time, making sure to keep to the shadows. Throughout countless hours of research and previous knowledge of rescue attempts, Michael is more than sure that this is where they are holding Mikayla and the other girls. The details of the building have been muddled in the encroaching darkness but Tom can just make out the tall smoke stacks of the old sugar mill. Tom looks around to see if he can spot the guards that should be out front. He doesn't see anyone but knows that they wouldn't just leave the place unguarded. Being cautious of his surroundings, Tom makes his way to the back of the house across the street from the mill. Once everyone arrives, two girls break out of the shadows and make their way towards the front of the sugar mill. As if on cue, two men appear from blind spots on either side of the main door and ask the girls what they are doing.
"We are just on our way home" One of the girls says sweetly, battling her eyelashes. The men give each other knowing smiles and tell the girls that it is a little late for two girls to be walking alone.
"We only live around the corner, we will be fine" The second girl answers taking the first girl's arm as they walk away and disappear around the corner.
As planned, the men follow after the girls. A commotion can be heard and a minute later, the girls come back around the corner of the building twirling their wands, walking arm in arm. With the front guards taken out, the two girls walk to the front door and take their positions. Michael mentions that one of the head guards will be passing by any minute and will be looking for the two men guarding the door. A couple minutes later, a tall burly man appears from the right side of the building carrying a flashlight, looking towards the shadows.
"Status report" the man chirps
"All clear" the girls respond in unison, mimicking the voices of the guards they just took down.
The head guard nods and continues his patrol rounding the corner a few seconds later. Michael and Tom break from the shadows and quietly make their way to the door. The door is heavy and it takes both of them to open it. Once the door is open, the rest of the group files in. Once the last person enters, the door shuts blocking out all sources of light. Someone lights their wand dimly, giving just enough light to see in front of them. The hallway they walked into directly leads to the main mill floor with a couple rooms branching off to either side. They all make their way into the room off to their left, making sure to watch their footing as to avoid making any noises. Listening intently, Tom tries to make out any movement pointing him in the direction the main group will need to go. After a tense couple of minutes, a door can be heard opening on the other side of the wall and someone walks towards them. Tom and Michael scoot back and listen as the someone comes closer to the door separating them from the group. Luckily, they move past the door and continue walking out the they just came through. Michael and Tom breathe a sigh of relief and move back to the door.
"Let's go before someone else comes" Tom says peering into the darkness "We need to find out how to get into the basement"
"Fred, you're up" Michael whispers to a boy in the group. A petite boy walks up with a map in his hand.
"Fred has been memorizing the blue print of the mill, he can lead us to where we think they are holding the girls" Michael says as the boy nods his head.
"It's this way" Fred walks out of the room, leading the main team towards the mill floor door.
Michael, Tom, and their team follow Fred. The door to the mill floor opens with a creak, they all freeze listening for any sign that someone heard. With no audible indication that it had, they continue forward. The room is massive with pieces of machinery abandoned haphazardly around the room. They make their way from hiding place to hiding place, following Fred towards a small door hidden on the right side. As Fred goes to open the door, a door a few feet away opens. They all jump to cover just as two men walk out.
"What do you think the boss is going to do to those girls?" the first man says to the other.
"Same thing he does to the others" the second man says rubbing his hands together.
Both men, from what Tom can see from his hiding spot, are tall and have long dark hair. They seem to be slightly drunk and oblivious to anyone but themselves. They walk towards the door Tom and his group are huddled a few feet from. Duckling lower into the shadows, Tom scoots back against the boxes trying not to be seen.
"What do you think they are making such a fuss over that Mikayla chick" the first man asks reaching for the knob. Tom's head snaps up
"Her brother is supposed to be coming for her so she is worth than the others. Let's just hope that the boss lets us have some fun with her before he kills her" The second man says making suggestive actions with his hips.
"Eww, you can have her. She was pretty when she first arrived but now she's all bony and gross" the first man says making a disgusted face.
At his reaction, Tom's hand clench into fists. He wants to jump out and hurt them for what they are saying about Mikayla but it won't do much good and they will lose their element of surprise. With fists clenched, Tom tries to breathe and remain calm. The men get the door open and begin to walk through it. As the door closes, they can hear the second man reply
"I'll take whatever I can get"
The door closes with a click and the group slowly comes out of their hiding spots. Tom's hands are still clenched and he is struggling to keep himself calm. Sensing Tom's struggle, Michael urges Fred and the group forward.
"This way" Fred says opening the door.
They make their way down some stairs and at the bottom, find themselves in another big room. The room is damp and smells of neglect and mold. The group covers their noses and Fred urges them to the right. Once they pass through another door, they find that this room is full of barred cells. The conditions of this room are very poor, the cells are empty except for some straw covering the floor and a bucket that clearly has been used as a toilet. Tom can't believe what he is seeing and meticulously searches for any sign of Mikayla
"This is as far as the blue prints went" Fred says wide eyed "I don't know where to go from here"
"Thank you, Fred" Michael says putting a hand on his back. "You have been more than enough help, we will take it from here" Fred smiles slightly and backs away from the front of the group.
Michael and Tom retake the lead and find a small staircase that goes further down. This level is very similar to the first but some of the cells have people in them. The people in these cells are chained to the wall and have their heads down. Even though their hair has been ripped out or cut off, Tom knows that these are some of the girls who have been kidnapped. A few members of the group start to walk towards the cells but Michael stops them with a hand.
"Don't you find it odd that there is no one guarding them" Michael whispers looking back at his team. The group have puzzled looks on their faces but slowly nod.
"That is weird" Tom says looking around to see if he can spot anyone in the shadows.
"I think this is trap" Fred says backing himself into a corner looking around skittishly.
"I think so too" Michael says looking around.
He slowly makes his way to one of the cells and leans his ear to the bar listening for a sign of electricity. He hesitantly taps the bars and finds that they are just regular bars.
"That is very interesting" Michael says pulling out a set of lock picks.
He kneels down and unlocks the cell door and then unlocks the chains around the girl's arms and legs. As he does this, nothing happens. Michael grabs the girl, who is limp, into his arms and walks out making sure to close the door behind him. He transfers the girl to someone's arms and they begin to make their way back the way they came bring the girl to safety.
"Why aren't these girls being watched and why was it so easy for me to set her free?" Michael says continuously scanning the room.
"They might not have been as prepared for us to come as we expected" someone says from the back of the group. A few others nod their heads and walk over to the other girl's cells.
"No, something doesn't feel right about this" Tom says looking around the room once more. Everything seems to be deserted like they left these girls to die but Tom knows that can't be the case.
"We should keep moving" Michael says while pointing to two members of the group "You two get the rest of these girls out of here and Fred, lead them back to the front of the building. Signal the re enforcements to meet us back here." They all nod and get to work.
After they take the rest of the girls back up the stairs, the only ones left in the room are Michael and Tom. Michael turns to Tom,
"Now, let's go find your sister"
Thank you all for your reviews and comments. I am currently working on the next chapter so I hope to have it up in a few days!
Reviews are always welcome!