Hey. *sheepish grin* Long time no see. Uh. I'm sorry for taking so long to update with so little. It's just some major plot changes are happening and I haven't been able to get around to actual writing. So here's a bit of a filler chapter. It does give you info though. So pay attention.
Chapter 20: Finch
Edgar Finch gasped and fell to his knees as the side of an assault rifle hit the side of his head. A trickle of blood made its way down his wrinkled face as he stared into the face of his captor.
A tall sandy-haired man looked down on the old man with an expression of of anger and mild disgust. He and the two other attackers in the room were dressed in dark, combat attire.
Finch met the man's eyes with the steely expression of a trained -if former- agent of SHIELD.
He let out a small chuckle, "So what brings such promising young folks to attack an old man?"
"Cut the crap, Finch." The man growled. "Where's the kid?"
Edgar ignored the question. "Who are you? Who sent you?"
The tall man grinned ferally, "The name's Jason Ryker." he crouched down to Edgar's level, "And I was sent by someone who is very interested in that little brat you're hiding."
"I'm not hiding anyone." Finch said steadily.
The old man's head flew to the side as Ryker's fist connected to his cheek. The hostile man grabbed Edgar's thin hair and forced him to look back at his attacker.
"Where. Is. The. Kid!?" Ryker shouted.
Edgar blinked rapidly. He could only hope that Katia would sense something wrong as she arrived home and run.
Ryker released the man with disgust. "Alright, this will be fun." The sandy-haired man stood and drew his handgun.
Finch's eyes widened slightly as Ryker aimed. A shot rang out and the old man cried out, a bullet in his leg.
"Where is the girl?" Ryker said angrily.
Finch was white with pain. He said nothing. Ryker rolled his eyes and fired another shot into the man's shoulder. The veteran agent silently shook.
"I'm getting impatient old man!" Ryker warned.
There was a minute of silence before Ryker's face reddened and twisted in rage.
A shot rang out again and Finch slumped over, a bullet in his gut this time.
"WHERE" - another shot- "IS" -another- "THE" -blood decorated the stained oak floor- "CHILD!"
A final shot caused Finch to collapse onto his stomach immediately.
Ryker cursed. "Blasted handguns. Got his heart." He turned his attention to the man with the rifle. "Search the house. If she's not here, start sweeping the woods."
The dark-haired man nodded and strode out the door, passing the woman that had been guarding the door. She followed and Ryker wasn't far behind.
The girl had been clever. She knew the forest far better than their team and they had the disadvantage of being on foot.
Not long after the sun had set, they saw a flash of light off the path. At the location they found the girl's bike, crumpled beneath a large Ash… and a dagger, driven into the side of the magnificent tree.
The girl was gone.