/If there are mistakes in this, please let me know-constructive criticism is great, and going back to chapter 2 made me make it a helluva lot better than it was first time round, and shinier! So if there is anything you feel needs explanation or something, let me know. You guys do rule, and you're spiffaliciously good at making me happy. YAY REVIEWERS!
Oh, and if you've not re-read chapter 2, please do./
Ingrid felt the weakest she'd ever felt.
She was tired, but restless, afraid, unsure. Her outlook was bleaker than it ever had been. A small fire of hope burned in her, but every moment it became weaker. Time was dragging, she didn't even know how long she'd been there. It felt like an eternity.
It was so difficult not to scream at Parnasuss, to ask him why her, why now, why why why. But somewhere she knew-he'd sworn revenge, and this was it. He was twisted, mre twisted than she'd ever known. She smiled grimly-maybe she should've guessed when she saw the lengths he'd gone to in order to keep his title as smartest kid. Especially the dress. She wrinkled her nose-it wasn't clear why he'd worn earrings, especially since she wasn't known for wearing them-at least, not then.
She would've moved her hand to feel the studs she was wearing, but there were a number of reasons why she didn't. For a start her wrists were bound together (in addition to this she was tied around her waist to the chair with a guard watching her every move, as well as around her feet) Also, her face was so pummelled that it hurt to touch it, even brushing it with her sleeve would be agony-it had elevated to a dull ache at this point.
Not for the first time she wondered about the Safety Patrol. Part of her knew that by allowing them to get involved she'd put them in danger, but a stronger, larger part of her more motivated toward survival told her that they were the only ones that could help. They were her only chance, the only ones Parnassus would involve. Admittedly, he'd only involved Fillmore as far as he knew, but it was obvious that the Patrol would be involved.
Fillmore would know that he couldn't do it alone. He had to know.
It was hurting to think. Her eyes were feeling heavy. She felt so tired, but she couldn't let her guard down, couldn't do that.
"Ingrid...Ingrid." Parnassus stroked her cheek, she winced. Part of it was the bruises, part of it was his touch. "You're so tired, why don't you go to sleep?"
"No. No way." She whispered. She didn't trust Parnassus as far as she could throw him (which right now wasn't far) and she worried about what he might do. A shudder ran through her.
"Oh, Ingrid. I wouldn't do that." He chuckled softly. "I don't want you in that way. Unless..." He smirked. "You want me?"
She tried to get the energy to spit in his face, but she was too weak, too tired. "Never in a million years."
Parnassus shook his head. "Wrong answer, Ingrid. You're not as bright as it may seem." He placed a hand around her wrist and squeezed for every word. "Never-antagonise-your-captor."
She winced. He'd dug his nails into her palm on that last word. She wasn't sure if he'd drawn blood, she doubted it, part of her knew he hadn't, part of her feared that he had.
"Go on, Ingrid. Fall asleep. I promise you'll be alright."
"How do I know...you'll keep that promise?" She fought a yawn, but her eyelids were drooping, there was so much pain, she needed rest, so much had happened, she was afraid, for the first time in a long time she was afraid, she hated this feeling, but sleep, sleep, sleep had to be alright, sleep had to be safe.
"That's not for you to worry about, my pet." He dropped a kiss on the top of the sleeping girl's head. A look of pain crossed her face. He scowled. "You deserve it. You ruined my future, you ruined my plan, you betrayed me."
Parnassus moved away from her, sat on the overstuffed sofa that faced her. The low lights of the basement made her look almost ok, but the binds were clear enough. "You wanted to leave, Ingrid. Why didn't you stay with that? The minute you and Fillmore-" He spat the name. "-ruined my plan, you ruined my life. Everything went downhill. I wasn't number one, why bother? I blamed myself, my work suffered. But now I know...you were to blame. You ruined my life. And I'm going to make you pay."
He stood up, he paced around her. "The money will be a nice start when I need to leave, of course, it's not essential. I won't be able to stay in a town where I'm a known kidnapper...and who knows what else I'll be by then. Things will change here. I'll be number one, Ingrid. I'll be departed, too." He smirked.
"And Fillmore will be the one to blame."
- - -
Lenora wasn't the easiest person to work with. She was, at heart, a dancing diva, and when she demanded something (she did not ask. She demanded.) she wanted it there and then.
"Where's that damn coffee? Come on, I haven't got all day!" She snarled.
"How the HELL does she do negotitiations?" Tehama asked in disbelief.
"She changes completely when need be. She's very volatile." Vallejo explained.
"That I can believe." Anza muttered, watching the delicate way she was addressing Fillmore in the kitchen. "How is she like Ingrid, anyway?"
"You know how when Ingrid is on task she's determined?"
"Yeah..."
"Lenora's worse."
Tehama and Anza exchanged glances. "I think I fear her." O'Farrell whimpered. She appeared to think he was her personal assistant. According to Vallejo, that meant she liked him. O'Farrell wasn't sure that he wanted to be liked.
"So what makes you think we'll like her?" Anza asked bitterly.
"When she's not on the job, she's actually a lot of fun to be around." Vallejo smirked. "Oh, we had fun at camp..."
Tehama raised her eyebrows. "You and Lenora..."
Vallejo looked shocked to his core. "No way! Lenora and I...Never! Ewww! Sure, she's fun, but can you imagine how high maintenance she'd be?!"
Lenora entered the room, drinking her coffee and sitting on the arm of Vallejo's chair. "Talking about me? Good stuff I hope." She purred.
"You know it..." Vallejo laughed nervously, giving the others a 'NEVER. NEVER. NEVER.' look.
"Anyway. Down to business. Cornelius has told me all about Ingrid, and Brad. It strikes me that these demands aren't all he's after. There's gonna be more, and it's gonna be big. This guy isn't about money, he's about power."Lenora sipped her coffee. "There's more to this than his current demands."
"What do you think he'll do to Ingrid?" Tehama asked.
Lenora stood up. "Good question Karen. I'm not completely sure. You guys have spent the best part of middle and high school with him-what do you think?"
Anza stroked his chin. "His grades were slipping-he always had to stay behind after Calculus class to talk to Mr H. But he was always the smartest kid in school-"
"Before Ingrid." Fillmore cut in.
"And even though he framed Ingrid, he stayed on the right side of the law. Though his grades still slipped...I don't get it. If it were me, I'd be motivated to do even better." Anza frowned.
"Joseph, the whole point is that he's not you... It's possible he retreated into himself, gave up. Self blame." Lenora twirled her hair around her fingers. "I've spoken to Frank Bishop over the phone, he was the one that came up with that-and as you know, he's the best. Right now we need to analyze the tape to work out where it's coming from. Danny, be a dear and get me some more coffee. Horatio, grab the tape."
Anza smirked a little. "Horatio..."
Lenora fixed him with a look. "I like the name Horatio, Joseph. I'd appreciate it if you go and buy some bagels or something. I don't think anyone is in the mood to cook, and it's going to be a long day."
Anza nodded. "OK..." He paused. "You realise you're like the mother I never talk about?"
"In some Freudian way, I'm everyone's mother. Straighten that shirt and go!" Lenora snapped, but with a strangely maternal look. Anza shook his head, but still left. Lenora smiled broadly. "I love being maternal. You all like bagels, don't you?"
They nodded.
"Marvellous." She went into the kitchen.
"You didn't mention that she takes control of everything..." Tehama commented drily.
"There were a lot of things I didn't mention." Vallejo said darkly. "But what can you do? She's good at her job. Been on her school's Safety Patrol longer than I have. She knows her stuff."
"Anyone want a hot chocolate? I know you love them Horatio..."
"She's good." Vallejo repeated it in an assuring way, though he did sound like he was assuring himself, too. "She's just..."
"Moody? Slightly insane? Bipolar?" O'Farrell asked, sitting down on the floor. "Leaping from extreme to extreme?"
"I wouldn't call them extremes... She's just... ever changing. Interesting. Exciting."
"Volatile." Tehama reasoned.
"...yeah, fine, volatile."
/So there she is! Lenora. Does she seem Mary-Sue ish? I don't think she is, but...well, another opinion never helps, does it?
I am trying to work out how the day will be saved. : ponders : I shall just need to watch Without A Trace a few times to work stuff out, lol. In all seriousness, if you have any ideas, pleeeeeeeease e mail me with them to help out. Else it'll end up being "AHA! PARNASSUS! NOW I KILL YOU! POW! Ingrid! Let me pick you up and run out of here! HUZZAH!" Or something of equal coherance and fun.
Anyways. I don't own any of them aside from Lenora. (I read on a website that there was the theory that vallejo's first name was Horatio, like his VA, so I'm not counting that as something I own.) Please review and such. I'm not sure that this chapter is as good as the others, but I was thinking on my feet more for this one. However, I do like the part where we see Ingrid.
It wll, once again, be a little while before the next update. I need to brood over my ideas. And steal some of everyone else's... I kid, I kid.
Take care and review and stuffs!
Sylvi Storm/