Part 8 Baby Blues
Author's Note: It's taken a short time to for me to revise this despite my school and work schedule and I'd really like some specific feedback about my series. I've revised but I haven't really changed much of my story, but I would still like to know, is it better then the first?
I've included so many characters in this story and the last chapter was so huge, I thought I would allow some downtime and deal with the different points of view of other characters directly involved. Hope you enjoy my probing of their minds!
Broots was frantic. He had hung onto every word that been exchanged between Miss Parker and Raines. He had been careful to be silent, too afraid to say a word, with one hand clasped over his daughter's mouth, and the other hand flying across the keyboard. He felt ashamed as he sat in his mid-size sedan. He felt like he was violating her trust, being an unwilling witness to Miss Parker's own personal destruction. Looking into his own daughter's eyes he instantly regretted bringing her along. Tears clung to her eyelashes, as she bit her bottom lip. She tried to look brave as his gaze met hers, but the woeful look in her eyes betrayed her. Broots tried his best to reassure his daughter with a smile but he wasn't fooling her. How could he, Debbie was wise beyond her years, uprooted from her own childhood in very much the same way that Miss Parker had been.
Suffering a loss no child should ever have to endure.
Broots knew that Miss Parker had been headed to the woods, and he would be of no use to her once she got there. He couldn't leave the refuge of the car, even if he could, what would he do to save her now?
"Broots." He could hear her strangled voice, her breathing growing heavier.
"Get me out of here."
His hands shaking and his head resting on the steering wheel, Broots muttered in frustration.
"If only I could."
The heavy silence was interrupted by Debbie's scream. There was a loud knock on the window. It was Jarod, looking strangely haggard, with dark circles under his eyes. He was leaning over the car window with his usual intense stare. Broots shut the laptop quickly, so quickly that he ended up smashing one of his fingers.
"Where is she?" Broots could hear the question faintly through the glass. He hurriedly rolled down the window.
"J-Jarod, s-she's i-in." Broots stammered. His hands had already flown up to protect his face. His finger hurt like hell and Jarod looked like he was going to unravel on him at any minute.
"WHERE IS SHE? I NEED TO KNOW NOW."
"The woods." Broots finally managed out meekly.
Jarod's face became twisted with fear, but it was only brief.
"Get out."
"W-what?"
"Get yourself and Debbie out of here.now."
With that said, Jarod broke into a run, heading directly towards the woods. Broots and Debbie looked after but only for a moment. A father needed no more encouragement to steer his daughter away from danger. For the first time in his life, Broots sped down the road in reckless abandon.
**************************************** Sydney had hoped that the name "Veritas" would never be mentioned again. He wasn't so lucky. He had rushed into his office that very night, searching the centre mainframe, but to no avail. All trace of Veritas had been wiped away, save for his very own memory. He had first heard this project being mentioned by none other then Catherine Parker herself. Then Father Giuseppe mentioned it to Catherine's daughter. Any project tied with Raines was one of up to no good. His former colleague and former friend had spent the latter half of his years exploiting little boys. He had tortured Jarod, robbing him of precious memories, stolen Ethan, better known as Mirage to centre operatives, isolating him and duping him into attempting to bomb a hotel full of dignitaries. Kyle has suffered unspeakable abuse under his care. By the time Kyle had escaped, his mind didn't know right from wrong or up from down. Raines was capable of, and had done far worse. He knew just who the little boy was being held prisoner by Raines. Just imagining what was possible was enough to make his stomach turn.
He could only wish that he hadn't been such a lousy shot.
But that was just the tip of the iceberg. He didn't know just what the Veritas Project entailed, save for it's mission. And that was to ensure the prophecy of the scrolls. That prophecy, whatever it was, scared him to death.
He was relieved when the alarm system went off. He had rushed outside, in anticipation of seeing Miss Parker again. He had been sick in worry, not having heard from her in such a long time.
But he didn't expect to see Veritas hoisted on her very hip.
She looked so beautiful, in obvious agitation, newly dyed hair cascading around her face. The words had already spilled out of his mouth before he had a chance to think clearly, but she never had the chance to respond. Maybe she didn't hear the soft pop, but he did. And he would never forget the look in her eyes as she fell to the ground.
She had begged him to take boy then, she had demanded it. How could he leave her, he loved her, how could he save her? But the swarm was on the way. He could see them now, eyes fixed on him, guns waving in the air.
"Run." She whispered, her eyes rolling back into her skull.
He was already on his way.
********************************************
Just the very thought of Miss Parker traipsing around the woods in heels brought a smile to Jarod' face. But it didn't last very long. His chest tightened as he ran, and he sure that it just wasn't because he was simply tired. He had a feeling.
And that feeling was telling his heart and his mind to run like he never had before.
He hadn't expected her with blonde hair, but he liked the way it softened her features. He had just stopped to take a needed rest, leaning against a tree. She was some thirty yards away, a small child on her hip, as she talked to Sydney.
"Could this be the child whom I've come for?" Jarod asked aloud, as he began to walk towards them.
The moment was too brief. Out of the corner of his eyes, he saw the barrel of a silencer rise up. He was too late. And he watched the woman of his dreams crumple to the ground. Sydney already had the boy in his arms. Were it not for strong arms that held him back, Jarod would have already been at her side. He would of moved heaven and earth just to be at her side.
"You were supposed to wait for my call." Jarod cried, struggling to loosen his brother's unwavering grip.
Ethan held steady, which was impressive for a man of his size. Jarod was stronger, bigger and out of control.
"Let me go!" Jarod snarled, still struggling to free himself.
Ethan grabbed his brother's face and pulled it down towards him.
"Don't ruin the only chance we have to save her by getting yourself captured."
Ethan loosened his grip. Jarod slumped against the tree. He struck at it, as he cried out once more in pain and frustration. His brother was right.
"Let's get Sydney and the boy out of here."
Jarod glanced over, wincing as he watched the swarm of black suits already upon her. They were already carrying her off. Ethan pulled on his shoulder. Jarod relented and started to back away from the tree.
"Trust me Jarod. She'll be ok."
"How do you know? How do you know that she'll even live? "
"She has someone to live for."
********************************************
The boy had awoken once everyone had gotten into the car. Jarod was sitting in the passenger side, stealing a selfish glance into the back. Sydney had the boy seated in his lap, and the child's eyes were completely transfixed upon Jarod. Jarod could not ignore the intensity of the child's stare realizing with each passing moment just how familiar these child's eyes were. He saw himself in their reflection and was absolutely haunted by what else he saw.
He had Marianne's eyes.
*********************************
She could only hear voices at first. Then she started to feel pain. She tried to move her arms. Tied down.
Is this hell?
Marianne did not have to wait long before her question was answered. Her eyes jerked open, just in time to realize that she was being wheeled down to the very last place she'd ever thought she'd end up.
The centre renewal wing.
tbc So is it better? Let me know!
Author's Note: It's taken a short time to for me to revise this despite my school and work schedule and I'd really like some specific feedback about my series. I've revised but I haven't really changed much of my story, but I would still like to know, is it better then the first?
I've included so many characters in this story and the last chapter was so huge, I thought I would allow some downtime and deal with the different points of view of other characters directly involved. Hope you enjoy my probing of their minds!
Broots was frantic. He had hung onto every word that been exchanged between Miss Parker and Raines. He had been careful to be silent, too afraid to say a word, with one hand clasped over his daughter's mouth, and the other hand flying across the keyboard. He felt ashamed as he sat in his mid-size sedan. He felt like he was violating her trust, being an unwilling witness to Miss Parker's own personal destruction. Looking into his own daughter's eyes he instantly regretted bringing her along. Tears clung to her eyelashes, as she bit her bottom lip. She tried to look brave as his gaze met hers, but the woeful look in her eyes betrayed her. Broots tried his best to reassure his daughter with a smile but he wasn't fooling her. How could he, Debbie was wise beyond her years, uprooted from her own childhood in very much the same way that Miss Parker had been.
Suffering a loss no child should ever have to endure.
Broots knew that Miss Parker had been headed to the woods, and he would be of no use to her once she got there. He couldn't leave the refuge of the car, even if he could, what would he do to save her now?
"Broots." He could hear her strangled voice, her breathing growing heavier.
"Get me out of here."
His hands shaking and his head resting on the steering wheel, Broots muttered in frustration.
"If only I could."
The heavy silence was interrupted by Debbie's scream. There was a loud knock on the window. It was Jarod, looking strangely haggard, with dark circles under his eyes. He was leaning over the car window with his usual intense stare. Broots shut the laptop quickly, so quickly that he ended up smashing one of his fingers.
"Where is she?" Broots could hear the question faintly through the glass. He hurriedly rolled down the window.
"J-Jarod, s-she's i-in." Broots stammered. His hands had already flown up to protect his face. His finger hurt like hell and Jarod looked like he was going to unravel on him at any minute.
"WHERE IS SHE? I NEED TO KNOW NOW."
"The woods." Broots finally managed out meekly.
Jarod's face became twisted with fear, but it was only brief.
"Get out."
"W-what?"
"Get yourself and Debbie out of here.now."
With that said, Jarod broke into a run, heading directly towards the woods. Broots and Debbie looked after but only for a moment. A father needed no more encouragement to steer his daughter away from danger. For the first time in his life, Broots sped down the road in reckless abandon.
**************************************** Sydney had hoped that the name "Veritas" would never be mentioned again. He wasn't so lucky. He had rushed into his office that very night, searching the centre mainframe, but to no avail. All trace of Veritas had been wiped away, save for his very own memory. He had first heard this project being mentioned by none other then Catherine Parker herself. Then Father Giuseppe mentioned it to Catherine's daughter. Any project tied with Raines was one of up to no good. His former colleague and former friend had spent the latter half of his years exploiting little boys. He had tortured Jarod, robbing him of precious memories, stolen Ethan, better known as Mirage to centre operatives, isolating him and duping him into attempting to bomb a hotel full of dignitaries. Kyle has suffered unspeakable abuse under his care. By the time Kyle had escaped, his mind didn't know right from wrong or up from down. Raines was capable of, and had done far worse. He knew just who the little boy was being held prisoner by Raines. Just imagining what was possible was enough to make his stomach turn.
He could only wish that he hadn't been such a lousy shot.
But that was just the tip of the iceberg. He didn't know just what the Veritas Project entailed, save for it's mission. And that was to ensure the prophecy of the scrolls. That prophecy, whatever it was, scared him to death.
He was relieved when the alarm system went off. He had rushed outside, in anticipation of seeing Miss Parker again. He had been sick in worry, not having heard from her in such a long time.
But he didn't expect to see Veritas hoisted on her very hip.
She looked so beautiful, in obvious agitation, newly dyed hair cascading around her face. The words had already spilled out of his mouth before he had a chance to think clearly, but she never had the chance to respond. Maybe she didn't hear the soft pop, but he did. And he would never forget the look in her eyes as she fell to the ground.
She had begged him to take boy then, she had demanded it. How could he leave her, he loved her, how could he save her? But the swarm was on the way. He could see them now, eyes fixed on him, guns waving in the air.
"Run." She whispered, her eyes rolling back into her skull.
He was already on his way.
********************************************
Just the very thought of Miss Parker traipsing around the woods in heels brought a smile to Jarod' face. But it didn't last very long. His chest tightened as he ran, and he sure that it just wasn't because he was simply tired. He had a feeling.
And that feeling was telling his heart and his mind to run like he never had before.
He hadn't expected her with blonde hair, but he liked the way it softened her features. He had just stopped to take a needed rest, leaning against a tree. She was some thirty yards away, a small child on her hip, as she talked to Sydney.
"Could this be the child whom I've come for?" Jarod asked aloud, as he began to walk towards them.
The moment was too brief. Out of the corner of his eyes, he saw the barrel of a silencer rise up. He was too late. And he watched the woman of his dreams crumple to the ground. Sydney already had the boy in his arms. Were it not for strong arms that held him back, Jarod would have already been at her side. He would of moved heaven and earth just to be at her side.
"You were supposed to wait for my call." Jarod cried, struggling to loosen his brother's unwavering grip.
Ethan held steady, which was impressive for a man of his size. Jarod was stronger, bigger and out of control.
"Let me go!" Jarod snarled, still struggling to free himself.
Ethan grabbed his brother's face and pulled it down towards him.
"Don't ruin the only chance we have to save her by getting yourself captured."
Ethan loosened his grip. Jarod slumped against the tree. He struck at it, as he cried out once more in pain and frustration. His brother was right.
"Let's get Sydney and the boy out of here."
Jarod glanced over, wincing as he watched the swarm of black suits already upon her. They were already carrying her off. Ethan pulled on his shoulder. Jarod relented and started to back away from the tree.
"Trust me Jarod. She'll be ok."
"How do you know? How do you know that she'll even live? "
"She has someone to live for."
********************************************
The boy had awoken once everyone had gotten into the car. Jarod was sitting in the passenger side, stealing a selfish glance into the back. Sydney had the boy seated in his lap, and the child's eyes were completely transfixed upon Jarod. Jarod could not ignore the intensity of the child's stare realizing with each passing moment just how familiar these child's eyes were. He saw himself in their reflection and was absolutely haunted by what else he saw.
He had Marianne's eyes.
*********************************
She could only hear voices at first. Then she started to feel pain. She tried to move her arms. Tied down.
Is this hell?
Marianne did not have to wait long before her question was answered. Her eyes jerked open, just in time to realize that she was being wheeled down to the very last place she'd ever thought she'd end up.
The centre renewal wing.
tbc So is it better? Let me know!