Chapter Four
He saw the yellowish-gray gas exit the gun in a wave. It was thick; cutting off his air supply as in engulfed his head. He coughed then breathed deep, trying to find the rush of cool oxygen and only finding more gas. He panicked and began to hyperventilate, pulling more of the gelatinous mist into his nose and mouth. Finally it thinned. His nose tingled. His eyes were watery and irritated. He blinked them clear to find the strange looking man standing calmly in front of him.
"Tell me, Sir," the tall man said, "What is it you fear?"
"My God," Nick Barber said. The water in his living room was ankle deep and rising. It was pooling around his legs and rising slowly but steadily. "Where did all this water come from? Did a pipe burst?"
The tall man looked back at another man who was standing in the foyer holding a strange mask over his face. "He either doesn't have flood insurance or he's afraid of drowning." The man with the mask shrugged as if to say 'what the hell do I care'. The tall man turned back to Nick and said, "You have information I need."
"What information," Nick asked. The water had risen to the man's calves. Soon it would lap over the edge of the couch. He heard whimpering beside him and suddenly remembered his wife, Laura. He turned to her. She was staring at him, shaking her head side to side.
"No, no, no," she said. "What's wrong with you? When did you get sick?"
"Disease," the tall man said. "Always a fun topic. Now let's get down to business. Where is the girl? Where did they take her?"
Nick wanted to jump up, tell these men to leave his house before he called the police. Better yet, kick their asses and toss them out himself. But he was afraid to move, afraid if he moved the water would rise faster and he wouldn't be able to get out in time. Afraid of…
Nick closed his eyes and shook his head hard. Thirty years in the Special Forces had taught him a thing or two about brainwashing. He thought about what this guy was doing to Laura and it pissed him off. Anger, he knew, could often override fear. His head was clearing. The water started to take on a shimmering, mystical quality. He knew it wasn't real, but he still couldn't move.
"Get out of my house," he said through clenched teeth. "Whatever you want, you're not going to get it here."
"Fascinating," the tall man said. "You're already shaking off the affects of the gas. You must be extremely strong willed. I wish I had time to study you, find out how much it would take to make you succumb fully, but alas, I don't have the time. I've been given a strict timetable and it's quickly running out. Now, Sir, I'll ask you once again, where is the girl, Helena?"
"Go to hell," Nick spat.
The tall man smiled.
"As much as I hate giving the police a clear-cut murder to investigate, I'm afraid you're leaving me no choice." The tall man pulled a pistol and pointed it at Laura. Nick saw that she'd passed out. "Where is the girl?"
"I don't know," Nick said, fear creeping back into his voice. "All I know is Detective Reece came by to get her. He said he was taking her to a new foster home. He didn't tell us where. Don't hurt her. That's all I know."
"Detective Reece. Very good, Mr. Barber."
Suddenly, Nick sprang from the couch. The tall man stumbled backwards a few steps. The man with the mask ran forward to intercept him, but the tall man was faster. He raised his gas gun and pulled the trigger. The barrel was only a few inches from Nick's face and the escaping cloud was almost solid when it hit him. He staggered backwards, gasping for breath. The tall man stood over him and released a second burst. Then a third and a forth. He saw the look of fear and anger on the tall man's face through the haze, but he couldn't get up, couldn't breathe. His heart was beating faster.
Before he lost consciousness, he saw the tall man point the large barreled gun at his wife on the couch.