Chapter Eleven

Homecoming

itsmeocean@hotmail.com

The forest bordering haphazardly on the fringe of Bayport was quiet save the sonorous orchestra of insects, the scurrying movements of quick, small animals and the hurried footsteps aided by adrenaline to save his little girl. It was humid and hot with the dense vapors misting up Joe's sight, such that at times, his vision tottered and it seemed like he was walking in the dancing image of a mirage- a nightmarish mirage.

My venom of the most lethal kind will course through your veins. Through Hallie, you'll feel the paralysis of your soul and as you struggle for breath, you'll only inhale fire.

They had taken an hour to drive to the forest and another half-an-hour to hike through the gathering trees to reach the spot. Joe was never more aware of time passing by him than now- time was the nemesis that he knew he was fighting against in vain. If only he could conquer time, he would make it take him back to the past so he could prevent this tragedy from ever happening.

Now, all he could hope for was that he was racing almost neck to neck with the timing of the kidnapper- that he would catch the fiend before he decided to end Hallie's life.

The downpour had stopped but the ground was still soggy and the aftermath of the rain just made the dense forest air thicker. As they ventured deeper into the forest towards the water hole where the cabin was hiding behind a short distance away, the forest grew denser and darker even. If the brothers had not been familiar with the trail, the trees,- all stretching themselves thin and tall to capture as much life-giving sunlight as they could- looking alike in all directions, would have sent them into a terrible state of disorientation. Seven years he had left and plenty had changed in Bayport but the forest remained the same. Joe could hike the trail without his sight.

However, right now, he was not so sure. There was a sense of urgency clutching at his chest and the huddling trees only caused him more claustrophobia. He needed his open space and he knew Hallie did so too. He was going to bring her back out into freedom finally.

You'll feel my hatred and hear my two-forked tongue slithering in your mind every tedious night of your life for you're one of them!

Finally. She was missing for much too long. It only took a split second to end someone's life- to extinguish a flame from a vast spread of candles. And the gust of wind that snuffed out the flame it was aiming at would not just devour that one, flickering light. It would douse out the lives of many other flames surrounding it as well.

"Goodbye, daddy."

Joe shook the malevolent voice away from his mind. Frank, ahead of him and his father, pointed the way forward. They had passed the water hole. Slightly beyond, the decrepit cabin was peeking out from behind a cluster of trees and shrubs. It was a dilapidated, sorry sight and Joe was almost worried that it would crumble under the pressure of the several anxious hearts present and crush Hallie under its falling planks.

The squad team was already in front of all of them. Bayport's finest took position, a disciplined sea of blue, ready to fire at any sign of danger. A helicopter hovered above them; the rotating shadows from its blades sliced through the cabin, causing it to flash before their eyes like a legendary haunted house.

Chief Collig took the loud hailer from one of his men. "Has he come out yet?"

"No… there's no sign of anything or anyone." The officer shrugged with some puzzlement. Joe calmed himself down as his heart pounded rapidly with remembrance of Elle's analysis.

 No, it seemed like there was no one because the hut looked so forlorn- yes, that must be it. Hallie must be inside.

The veteran police narrowed his eyes contemplatively, probably recalling what Elle had said, just like Joe had. Joe could almost hear the Chief's silent thoughts which were mirrored from his own mind. What if the man was just playing with them like a cat taunting a mouse? Strumming the leading chords of the song that they were forced to sing along? Joe could not let it come true- he would die first and take the villain along with him.

"WE ARE NOT GOING TO HURT YOU. COME OUT NOW WITH THE GIRL. WE PROMISE TO BE LENIENT. LET THE GIRL GO. WE HAVE YOU SURROUNDED, THERE'S NO WHERE YOU CAN RUN TO."

No one came out. The cabin stood there still, mocking at them contemptuously.

Joe could not stand the wait anymore. That was all they ever do against psychopaths- wait and wait until someone could ravel the warped logic and motives dictating the actions of those madmen bent on destruction.  He left his brother's side and crept away towards a small, hidden trail near where they were. The trail, better hidden than the first one they followed, would take him to the back of the cabin. Joe had noticed that the policemen did not circle the back, most probably because they knew there was no back exit.

Frank spotted him right after the sounds made when the some dried leaves and twigs crunched under Joe's feet.

"What do you think you're doing? You're jeopardizing the mission!" His brother hissed, stealthily slipping up behind him with fierce, glaring eyes.

"Yah. We can wait outside until he comes up holding Hallie's decapitated head by the hair. Is that what you want, Frank?" Joe retorted harshly, unfazed by Frank's stern caution.

Frank shook his head, his gaze softening.  "You watch too much B-grade horror movies, Joe. And now, I have to watch your back, like usual."

"I know I can count on you. We go round the back… here, this way. The squad team cannot see us… they are all training their eyes on the front of the cabin." Joe pushed some branches away to reveal the obscure trail. "It'll bring us to the back of the cabin."

"I know. Lead on, kiddo."

It was a roundabout way but it served its purpose. Joe figured that the man would be looking towards the direction of Chief's voice. A pair of half-unhinged window shutters provided a small gap for Joe to peer into and he stealthily crept up to it and peeked into the cabin.

It was dustily dark inside and most of its pitiful amount of light was streamed in from a hole in the roof, illuminating the conical dance of dust specks. However, Joe eyes could see through the dimmed space well enough and his sight ascertained what the morbid part of him was already expecting.

"No… no… NO!!!!"

"Joe, what's wrong?" Frank grabbed him by the shoulders and spun him around; deep brown eyes that darkened into frantic black orbs searched his own for the answer. His cries had alerted the police as well and many of them were already shuffling closer to the cabin.

"It's empty! The cabin's empty! There's a chair… some rope… but it's empty! FRANK! HALLIE'S NOT HERE! NOT HERE!"

"Joe… calm down!"

"HALLIE!" Anxiety surged through him like a shock of massive electrical currents. He punched the shutters and they crumbled like dust to the ground. Hefting himself over the window to the inside, his feet touched the damped wooden planks as a few policemen kicked open the front door in response to the commotion.

On the chair was a sign with a big, smiley face poster, splashed with the word "Gotcha" in huge, red letterings across. Frustration and a strange sense of betrayal gripped his chest and he grabbed the poster, ripping it to unrecognizable pieces.

"Damn you! Damn your stupid games! Whoever you are, GO TO HELL!"

"Joe!"

"DAMN YOU!" Losing all control, Joe picked up the chair and smashed it to smithereens onto the ground. "PICKING ON MY DAUGHTER! COME AND PICK ON ME IF YOU DARE!"

"JOE!" Frank tried to lock his arms behind him but he roughly pushed his brother's grip away, sending Frank stumbling back. Before the police could restrain him, Joe pushed past them and dashed out of the front door.

"I HATE YOU!"

Had the policemen inside not given the signal that the abductor was not in, he could be mistaken as the villain and get shot. "COME GET ME! COWARD! LEAVE HALLIE ALONE! COME GET ME! KILL ME IF YOU WANT!"

He screamed futilely into the silence of the forest, scaring the human beings and the scuttling small animals. But the message would never reach the ears of the monster he so wanted to kick in the face then. The message would never be heard by the one who was supposed to be cowering in fear at the wrath of an angered father.

"COME GET ME! I'M STANDING RIGHT HERE! RIGHT HERE!" Joe stood still, lost to his own mania, ignoring the gathering footsteps around him. He ripped off his shirt and stretched out his hands as a defiant challenge to whatever evil out there in exchange for his daughter's life as he stared right up into the burning sun, scrounging his eyes in aggravation.

"COME FOR ME IF YOU DARE!" He pounded his left breast. "SHOOT ME RIGHT HERE IF YOU CAN!"

"Joe… calm down…" Frank voice sounded distant- like the voice of sanity that was so far away.

"LEAVE HALLIE ALONE!" Joe yelled hoarsely, his strength ebbing away with each agonizing burst of frenzied anger and anxiety. The lining of his throat grew thinner with each raw shout and now, Joe's screams came out in raspy, angry sputters. "Just… leave Hallie alone!"

Someone grabbed him from behind. His brother? Joe was only aware of the overcast treetops laughing at his useless efforts. Sinking down to his knees, he buried his face in his hands.

All that could be heard were some clucking of tongues, barking commands into the cackling walkie-talkies and the low, hushed conversations expressing concern and lost hope- articulating the useless pities. And one sound, though the softest, was the most piercing and heartbreaking.

The loudest sound not in volume but in dire spirits- a father's moan that rose from the pits of despair for a daughter who was still lost to him.

Goodbye Daddy!

"Leave Hallie alone..."