Arc Five: Something Smells Rotten in the Big Apple

Part 6: More Bad Guys!

Unknown Location

December 23, 1991-8:20 P.M.

(Kevin's PoV:)

My eyes slowly open to the pain of a throbbing headache and to the discovery of being tied up in the backseat of a fancy-looking car. I'm not sure what kind it is, but I know it's nothing like my Dad's Lincoln Continental. I can't see through the backseat window to get an idea of where I'm located, since it's concealed by a black curtain. I can't really make out anything from the front window, either—just a road surrounded by darkness.

The last thing I recall doing, is screaming for Christine to help me, and that my kidnapper was taking me down a manhole into the sewers. I was then smacked hard across the head and knocked out by the mean homeless bum, who snatched me. My arms and legs are tied together with some very tough rope, as I struggle to get loose. At least my kidnapper was nice enough to not cut off my circulation.

"You're finally awake, I see, little comrade. Don't worry, you don't have to wear those ropes any longer. We're almost to the base…" speaks the driver, with a strange accent, scaring me.

His English is bad, but not as bad as Jean-Luc's, the older French person that my sisters and I met on the plane. I quickly make the assumption that the person who's driving isn't the person, who grabbed me in the park. This guy is dressed in a nice suit, his voice is different, his hair is blond—not grey like the guy in the park—and he doesn't stink like pee, unlike the guy in the park. My kidnapper also didn't have a scary scar on his face, like this guy does. Being tied up, however, means this guy isn't any better than the bum, who took me away from my sisters.

'He might be worse…' My insides shudder at the thought.

I become depressed, when I think of my sisters. I'm hoping they're all right… I can still hear Christine's screams chillingly play in my mind. I also hope Susan, the pigeon lady, is OK, too, since she did try to save me—only to end up getting backhanded across the face and shoved onto the ground for her troubles. I feel regretful now about judging her so bad, before even getting to know her.

"Um… What happened to the man, who kidnapped me, back at Central Park? I think his name was Lefty," I nervously ask the man, who's driving, while hoping he doesn't kill me.

My insides become chilled, when the man laughs and says, "You don't have to worry about him, anymore, little comrade. He's dead, because I killed him. Shot him right in between the eyes and left his body to rot in the sewers. He outlived his usefulness, once he finished the job I coerced him into doing—namely kidnapping you, little comrade. Didn't need any loose ends blabbing to the wrong people,"

"What did you need him to kidnap me for? I've never done anything to you," I ask, trying to suppress the fact that I'm terrified right now. My heart rate increases at the thought of never seeing my family again, especially Christine. At least she has my Talkboy… I hope Christine puts it to good use in stopping the bandits.

"You'll find out soon enough. The good doctor and the boss are both very excited about seeing you," the man sickeningly laughs.

"Why? Is the doctor a bald-headed child molester, who wears a monocle and has an ugly handlebar mustache?" I sass, hopefully giving the kidnapper the impression I'm not going to be cowed so easily.

"I suggest you watch that flippant tongue of yours around the good doctor, boy, unless you want it hacked off in a blender. He's not as gentle and lenient as I am. He will make you beg for death, if you dare piss him off," the driver growls, eyes still focused on the road.

Well, so much for not being frightened easily… I think I just soiled my pants.'Mom, Dad, Christine, Uncle Frank, anybody… Save me, please,' I silently plead.

I have a sick feeling these bad guys are much more dangerous than the Wet Bandits or that crazy man from the hotel, who tried to kill my sisters and I. It's even worse, since I don't have Christine to protect me. I'm basically defenseless… I silently cry. I stay quiet for the rest of the trip, out of fear that the scary man might tape my mouth shut or do something worse, if I say anything else…

Cartel's Secret Base

December 23, 1991-8:35 P.M.

(Kevin's PoV:)

'The car coming to a stop isn't a good sign…' I think to myself, my fear spiking. 'It means whatever my kidnapper has planned for me, is about to happen, and there's no hope of being saved, this time.'

"Time to see the good doctor, little comrade," the evil man says, getting out of the car. He opens the backdoor and takes me out of the car.

He carries me toward what looks like an old abandoned brick warehouse. It's surrounded by a chain link fence, topped with razor wire, and guarded by a bunch of big, scary dudes that are walking around, carrying semi-automatic machine guns. Another man quickly shows up to collect the car I was just removed from.

"Where are we?" I bravely ask the evil man.

He chuckles. "Well, it won't hurt to tell you, since you're not going to be leaving, anyway. This is Hughes Island, and that up ahead is the Old Columbus Warehouse," He points up ahead.

"So, you're going to kill me, like you killed Lefty?" I ask, wanting to know the answer.

"That depends on how well you cooperate with Dr. Petrov, little comrade," The man chuckles. I suddenly regret asking that question, again feeling anxious about the situation, as we approach the heavily guarded gate. The evil men that are patrolling the area give my kidnapper alarmed looks whenever he passes by, as if they're scared of him, too.

The evil man shows his ID and whispers something to the man guarding the gate. The guard quickly lets us pass through. I was able to learn from sneaking a peak at the ID that this evil man's name is Louis. I wasn't able to make out his last name… Upon passing through the gate, the entrance to the old warehouse is just a few feet away up the gravel path.

'So, this is where I'm going to die…' I want to cry, as Louis carries me inside the scary warehouse.

The first thing I see, upon being taken inside the warehouse, are wall-to-wall stacks of crates and boxes. I can see a bunch of scared boys and girls, around Buzz and Jeff's ages, quickly sorting through the boxes and taking out electronics, like boom boxes, computers, VCR's, small TV's, and portable CD players, while being watched over by two trigger-happy goons. They have their guns pointed at the young workers, to make sure they don't steal anything for themselves. Those who slack off are flogged across the back with a thick leather strap.

My Mother is a technophobe and dislikes new technology, which is why we don't own a computer or a CD player, much to my Dad and siblings' annoyance. I really miss my family now, and become depressed after accepting the fact I'm never seeing them again.

I'm brought out of my thoughts, when Louis speaks, "Here's where you'll be staying during your time here, little comrade,"

He's referring to a crudely-constructed holding cell that's located on the second floor of the large warehouse. There are two more cells, one on each side of the cell that I'll be staying in, and several more cells down the hall. The sound of snoring coming from the cells suggests they're occupied. The cell has a single light bulb, dangling down from the ceiling on a chain, an old worn-out cot with a dirty sheet, a flat dirty pillow, and a thin moth-eaten blanket.

Several dead rats could've been lying on the floor—one looked to be half-eaten, to my disgust. It also has a dirty makeshift toilet bolted to the wall that smells horrible. The evil man undoes the ropes that were bound around my arms and legs, and shoves me into the smelly cell. I feel the urge to gag.

"Dr. Petrov should be by shortly to see you, little comrade. So, until then, be a good boy," the evil man warns, before slamming shut the cell door.

Feeling hopeless, I just tearfully lay back on the bed, scared of what kind of evil things this Dr. Petrov is going to do to me. Thankfully, my coat, gloves, and hat weren't taken away from me, since the cell feels cold…

Cartel's Secret Base

December 23, 1991-9:20 P.M.

(Harry's PoV:)

"Hey, Marv, it's twenty after nine. We'd better get going, if we want to make it back to the toy store in time, before it closes at eleven. We're running behind, as it is," I tell him, zipping up my coat.

"You think we can get a bite to eat on the way there?" Marv asks, tying his boots.

"Yeah, there's a food stand next to the toy store. We can grab a bite there," I reply, lighting a cigarette.

"You think we might see that cute blonde again?"

Marv's becoming love-struck. My anger flares, remembering how those McCallister brats used that blonde bitch to help them, as a means to escape from our clutches. We were so close to getting our payback, only to be denied, thanks to her.

"For both of ours sake and hers, it's best that we don't. I'm sorry, my friend. Maybe we'll score with some chicks in Reno, once we settle our business with the cartel andthe McCallisters," I explain, making sure I have my gun. Marv just sadly nods, as we leave our quarters.

"Hey, Harry, I'm curious: What kind of sick shit the cartel uses these holding cells for?" Marv asks, referring to the cells we're passing by. The horrid stench coming from them is making me gag.

"Maybe I could ask Hector to put you in one and you can find out for yourself, if you don't shut up," I snap at him.

"Maybe we could ask that little McCallister brat. I just saw him as a prisoner in one of the cells," Marv says.

"Ha ha. Very funny, Marv…" I shake my head, not amused at Marv's attempt to be a smartass.

"I'm not joking, Harry. If you'd just stop and peek in the cell we just passed by, you'll see I'm telling the truth,"

Rolling my eyes, I reply, "Alright, Marv. I'll play along with your childish game, just to get you to shut up," I head over to the cell Marv's referring to, and, to my shock, Marv was, indeed, telling the truth.

It's the McCallister brat, alright. I don't care about how or why the cartel has him. I see it as a perfect chance to get a little revenge of my own. I reach for my gun, while ignoring Marv's protests not to do this, as I say "hello" to the little pal…

(Kevin's PoV:)

I'm just lying here, on this unconformable cot, feeling hungry. I'm thinking about my family, as a way to pass the time from the boredom of being in this smelly jail cell… I wish I had my harmonica that Jeff gave me for my Birthday to pass the time. He just taught me how to play the song, Your Long White Fingers by The Gothic Arches. I'm thinking of how Jeff plays that song at the end of every exciting adventure we both find ourselves getting mixed up in.

"Hiya, pal. It seems like you're now the one behind bars. Too bad your sisters aren't there with you. It would've made my job killing all three of you much easier, but no worries… I'm going to find them after I finish you,"

I become sick to my stomach, knowing exactly who that disgusting Italian accent belongs to. It's that nasty bandit, Harry, and his goofball lackey, Marv. Harry has his gun poking through the wide bars, aimed straight at me. My fear level is spiking. I quickly leap off the bed and loudly scream for help, causing Marv to place his hands over his ears.

"Your screaming isn't going to save you, you little puss bucket," Harry growls, pulling the trigger.

The gun emits a deep, percussive thud and a flash. Suddenly, a voice inside my head, that sounds a lot like my Grandpa McCallister's, screams at me to duck. I do in the nick of time, as the bullet misses me by a hair's inch, making a hole in the wall. If I were any slower, I'd be dead.

'Is this nightmare ever going to end?!' I mentally scream at the Heavens, unsure of how I should be feeling right now.

To my surprise, I see Louis, the evil man who kidnapped me, suddenly tackle Harry to the ground, before he could shoot another bullet. Another armed goon quickly points a semi-automatic machine gun at Marv's head, while stomping out the lit cigarette that fell out of Harry's mouth. Two more people suddenly come into sight; one is an older bearded man, wearing a white lab coat. It has to be the doctor, who wants to see me. I'm shivering in fear.

The other person, to my horror, is that insane Concierge, Mr. Hector, who tried to kill my sisters and I, back at the hotel. Louis yanks Harry back to his feet, and Hector gets in his face, chewing him out, to my surprise. I don't want to know how Mr. Hector knows the bandits or why he's here… I feel like my sisters and I are totally screwed, if Harry, Marv, the doctor, Mr. Hector, and Louis are all in cahoots with each other.

Talk about an unholy group of people… It's like a gathering of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse from the Bible. Even worse, is that I can't warn my sisters about this new revelation and the serious danger they could be in…

(Hector's PoV:)

Feeling enraged about the stunt Lime and Merchants just pulled, I gaze right into the eyes of both men. I'm not hiding my anger. Petrov has just confiscated their guns and patted them down, while Louis and Yuri hold the two morons at gunpoint to keep them in line. Merchants looks like he just pissed himself in fear, while Lime returns the heated gaze I'm sending he and his partner. I promptly kick both Lime and Merchants right in their jewels, for all the stress they caused me today. The expression of pain on their faces and their screams of agony are beautiful.

"You dirty piece of shit…" Harry coughs. I can see the anger flare in Lime's eyes. He makes an attempt to attack me, but Louis clicking his gun forces Lime to wisely stand down.

"What I'm about to say to you two idiots, is going to be short and simple. First off, be thankful you're not dead… yet. Secondly, the McCallisters are no longer your concern," The look of anger on Lime's face, hearing that piece of news, makes me happy, because he knows I have him and his partner figuratively clamped by the balls I just kicked. "Your constant obsession over getting revenge, is distracting you from the job the cartel has assigned to you—which leads me to my final point: You still owe the cartel a debt, which will not be cleared, until you've successfully completed the heist of Duncan's Toy Chest. Be thankful I haven't changed my mind about paying you the money I promised you for doing the job. I'd also like to remind you that the penalty for failure to complete the task, is me personally gutting the both of you like a fish. I do believe the store closes in an hour and a half, so you'd better get a move on!" Lime sends me another heated glare, as Louis and Yuri march the two buffoons at gunpoint, out of my sight.

Once Lime and Merchants are out of sight, I ask Dr. Petrov, "Did you plant the experimental tracking devices, while you were patting them down, Petrov?"

Petrov nods. "I did,"

I reply, "Good. With those devices, we can monitor those idiots' every movement, and listen in to every conversation they have,"

"What about the boy, Hector? What are your plans for him?" Petrov asks, curiously, puffing on a cigar.

"Take the little menace to your lab. It's about time I got started executing my revenge against the McCallister Family," I reply, in Russian. Petrov just nods and makes his way toward the cell…

(Kevin's PoV:)

A part of me wishes those evil men would've killed Harry and Marv, considering all the horrible things they've done to my sisters and I. It would also assure that my sisters would have one less danger to worry about. I watch Louis and the other goon escort the bandits away at gunpoint, much to my relief.

My fear spikes again, when the doctor asks Hector about his plans for me, knowing it's nothing good. Hector replying in a language I don't understand, doesn't hold well for me. I fearfully watch the doctor unlock the cell door and enter the cell. I can see Hector creepily smirking from the outside.

"Alright, boy, move it!" the doctor barks, grabbing me by the collar of my jacket. He sticks a gun into my back, as I'm marched out of the cell and down the hall, towards my doom.

"Too bad your sisters aren't here to take part in the fun we're about to have, Kevin, but don't worry, they'll get their chance soon, once I find them," To my horror, Hector cackles…

END

This concludes Something Smells Rotten in the Big Apple Arc. Up next: There's Danger Ahead.