Story Notes: I'm happy that I am still writing this. By the time I've published this chapter, I will likely be working on the final chapters. I didn't want to call the two henchmen the blond man and the black-haired man, so I gave them both names. I used some of the events from the finished version. New single chapter What if Alternative stories will be coming soon with a big multi-chapter story.

Chapter Summary: Tintin is left with no alternative, but to walk to his death. Will Snowy manage to get the note to Haddock? Will Tintin succumb to an unavoidable fate?

Music Suggestions

1. Moresca - Franco Piersanti

2. Rivelazioni - Franco Piersanti

3. Day of the Dead - Hans Zimmer and Junkie XL

Chapter 3

A sharp prod to the shoulder woke Tintin up in an instant.

"Get up!"

Tintin quickly obeyed. His mind desperately tried to cling to any chance for escape. The dark-haired man motioned him towards a door. As he stepped through, the contents made him freeze.

Tintin couldn't even begin to describe the machine in front of his eyes. At best, it appeared to be a cement mixer with the nozzle pointed into a rectangular box. The rectangular box was open at one side, with Akass leaning against it without a care in the world. His jaw clenched as Akass began to speak to his henchman.

"Tom, prep the machine,"

As Akass turned to face him, his entire body started to shake uncontrollably.

"Good morning, my dear Tintin!" Akass exclaimed, holding his arms into the air much like a priest. "Allow me to show you to your final resting place. Jian, if you would.."

Jian pushed the gun into his back, giving him no other option but to walk towards the box.

This can't be the end ... I won't let this be how my life ends.

"Up there," Akass explained, pointing to the machine. "The loading hopper is full of polyester pellets. These flow into a large screw thread. This grinds up the pellets and heats them at the same time. This process leaves a soft paste, which will run into the mould and imprison you in a nice rectangular block. Mr Nash will later pour coloured polyurethane over this and sign it Cesar,"

By the time Akass finished, Tintin could barely stand. It took all of his focus not to collapse onto the floor. His chest physically hurt, as if someone had punched a stake right through his heart.

"Now, if you would kindly step into the mould, time is pressing,"

As Jian pushed him forward, Tintin squirmed, wrapping his hands around his rock hard stomach. He could barely breathe.

I need to play for time.. what do I do?

"But .. aren't you going to wait for Ramo Nash?" Tintin stuttered, struggling to retain his usual composure. "After all, I'll be trapped within his piece of art,"

"Oh, no! Mr Nash doesn't appreciate our methods!" Akass chuckled, pointing a gun straight at him.

His face turned into a sneer, a sneer that appeared frighteningly familiar.

Who are you?

"Now the formalities are over with, get in!"

I don't have a choice.

As his shoes clicked over the floor of the wooden box, he closed his eye's praying all of it was a dream. He kept his back turned, unwilling to meet his eye as tears escaped.

This can't be it ..,

I don't want to die like this ...

The slam of each nail hammering into the wood, only made his nails dig harder into his skin. He pushed himself up against one of the wooden walls, staring up at the opening at the top of the box.

Make it quick. Oh God, please make it quick.

As he tried to calm himself, a voice echoed from outside

"Don't worry, you won't be burnt alive," Akass joked. "The plastic will be at the same temperature as a warm bath, a bath in which you will drown,"

Clamping his eye's shut, he waited.

Suddenly the entire room plunged into silence.

Tintin slowly opened his eyes. He still couldn't control his heaving chest.

What's going on? What's happening, Tintin questioned as his ears frantically listened for any activity. Eventually, Akass' voice pierced the silence.

"Well! What are you waiting for?"

"Something's wrong, sir," Jian's voice replied.

"I thought you tested it! You fool!"

Tintin exhaled a long breath as slowly as he could, managing to stop himself from sliding onto the floor of the box. His heaving chest started to subside slightly, but as another terrifying thought rushed into him, it soon reignited.

What will he do to me now?

Will he shoot me?

It isn't over.

Tintin stood and waited as the men removed the side of the box. Akass glared at him as he entered the space.

"Time for plan B,"

Without warning, Akass brought the end of the gun down hard on his head. He didn't get a chance to register the pain. His world fell into darkness, leaving him at the mercy of Endaddine Akass.

x

Antonin's eye's adjusted as bright sunshine hit his eyes, but the banging on the door was enough to wake him from his long-needed rest. He pulled himself out of bed, rubbing his eyes. He resisted the urge to curse at the person on the other side of the door. Quickly glanced at his watch, he groaned in frustration.

7 am! This better be good!

"Alright, calm down! I'm coming," Antonin shouted, swiftly pulling on his dressing gown.

He pulled the door open, ready to give whoever it was a piece of his mind.

As he clasped his eye's on Pierre, he sighed.

"Pierre, what are you doing?" Antonin exclaimed as Pierre pushed his way into the room. "It's 7 am!"

"I'm sorry, Antonin, but this is extremely important! It couldn't wait!" Pierre replied urgently, not quite managing to speak his words consistently. He took a deep breath before continuing. "Look, I enquired into Endaddine Akass, and I found this!"

Antonin took the notes in Pierre's hand and immediately started to scan them.

"I got this from Adrianna," Pierre continued. "Endaddine is under investigation by our agency. There's evidence Endaddine is a front, a false facade to hide his true identity, Next page,"

As Antonin's eye's absorbed the name upon the page, he had to fight hard to stop his legs from disappearing beneath him. He couldn't take it in.

No ... Not him. This can't be! It's impossible!

The papers violently shook in his trembling hands.

"That's impossible, he is dead!"Antonin exclaimed, trying to fight his breaking voice.

Pierre shook his head.

Antonin's face fell as he recalled what Tintin said to him yesterday.

Oh god!

"Tintin ... he's had dangerous encounters with his man. Oh god, he's walked straight into the lion's den," Antonin exclaimed. Pacing over to the bed, he immediately began to pull his clothes on.

We need to go, Now!

"Join me downstairs in 5 minutes! And call for backup!" Antonin demanded.

I hope I'm not too late, Antonin whispered, wiping his tears away.

x

Haddock woke to a knock on his door to inform him of the breakfast arrangements. After getting himself dressed, he headed to Tintin's room, knocking softly on the door.

"Tintin, they're serving up breakfast,"

Nothing.

Blistering Barnacles, you pick your times to sleep in.

Pressing his ear closer to the door, he listened intently for sounds of movement.

It seemed quiet, too quiet.

He couldn't even tell if Snowy was in the room.

"Tintin?" Haddock called as he knocked on the door again.

Nothing reacted. He couldn't even register Tintin's breathing.

A chill ran down Haddock' back as he slowly pressed the door open.

"What the .."

The sheets lay gently folded at the bottom of the bed, but the room was empty.

No Tintin, No Snowy.

Haddock moved to the open window then a voice echoed into the room.

"Captain Haddock?"

Haddock turned to find the Emir standing at the door.

"What's wrong?"

"Tintin's gone. Have you seen him?" Haddock exclaimed.

"He's not downstairs... I haven't seen him,"

Haddock gulped, trying to pull moisture into his increasingly dry throat.

Where are you, Tintin? Haddock thought.

Closing his eyes he recalled the last conversation and tried to think like him.

What would you do? I know you too well. We came up to find Akass...

As the sound of disturbed gravel pushed through his ears, Haddock's mind pulled him back into reality. He rushed down the stairs and back through the area they had all convened in last night to find a familiar face stepping out of a car.

"Antonin! What in the world .."

Haddock didn't hesitate to open the doors, but he didn't get a chance to speak.

"Where's Tintin?"

Haddock couldn't find his words.

"Haddock?"

"I don't know," Haddock stuttered. "I've just checked his room. I can't find him. Antonin, what's wrong?"

"He's in danger," Antonin exclaimed, his voice catching slightly. "Where's Akass?"

"He's not here," Haddock explained. "Bianca said he's in Rome for a few days,"

Haddock watched Antonin exhale shakily and bite his lip.

This is about Akass.

Blistering Barnacles, what is going on here!

Haddock and Antonin looked to the Emir as he strode out of the door.

"Captain Haddock, I've checked the entire Villa. Tintin's not here,"

Antonin immediately turned, pushing his hand across his mouth to silence his trembling chin. His eyes watered as he breathed shakily.

If Antonin is this rattled, this has to be very serious, Haddock concluded.

As Haddock tried to conceive any possible events, the Emir motioned to a space between two cars.

"Haddock! There's a car missing!"

"Whose is it?" Haddock asked.

"I think it's one of Akass',"

"Antonin, what is going on?" Haddock asked as Antonin turned to face him.

"Akass is not who he says he is," Antonin replied, a slight growl evident in his voice.

"What.." Haddock stuttered. "What do you mean?"

"He's a criminal. He's been hiding behind a false facade. We need to find Tintin,"

"Wait .. ssh" Haddock exclaimed, as a series of low whimpers cut through the conversation.

Antonin narrowed his eyes then blinked, meticulously scanning the immediate area as even more whimpers pushed through the air.

"Did you hear that?" Antonin asked.

A bark pierced the hot air, pulling them towards the metal bins behind the wall.

They quickly moved to the wall as a series of barks followed, getting louder as they reached their destination. Antonin pulled off the bin lid, and a series of content yaps filled the air.

"Snowy!" Haddock exclaimed, pulling the white fox terrier into his arms. His attention quickly averted to the note clamped in Snowy's mouth. He gave up the piece of paper. Haddock unfolded it to find Tintin's familiar scrawl across the paper.

Haddock, need help, trapped in the cellar, Akass wants to kill me, call my father, call the police!

Thundering Typhoons!

x

Haddock followed Antonin and his college down into the basement carefully. With every step, the image of Tintin dead on the floor filled his eyes.

Please .. no .. please, Haddock pleaded. He couldn't bear the thought of finding Tintin like that. He couldn't imagine how Antonin would react.

Please no, he didn't want to face that.

Not today.

As they entered a room dominated by a huge machine, He concluded that no one could be there. Too quiet.

"There's no one here, Antonin," The other agent exclaimed.

"Blistering... What's that?" Haddock asked, motioning to the machine dominating the remainder of the room. He couldn't find any words to describe the monstrosity.

"I'm not sure I want to know,"

Haddock froze as he gazed down the floor to see a red substance adhering to the floor.

Blood.

"Antonin .."

As Antonin gazed at the spot, he too froze, and his chin once again started to tremble.

"Antonin, Who is Akass?" Haddock asked softly. Deep down, he didn't want to know the answer, but Antonin's behaviour made him conclude that it wasn't just someone dangerous. It was someone they all knew.

As Antonin's lips moved with the true identity of Akass, it became lost in a haze. His lips morphed into the name soundlessly. Haddock froze.

No. Not him, It can't be him!