Brian watched all the activity around him and mentally congratulated himself on being able to blend in with the concerned bystanders.
The police had arrived and were interviewing all the people still there and searching the grounds. It was getting late and most of the visitors and employees were getting restless, wanting to go home.
Brian was feeling restless as well. But for different reasons. He hadn't originally planned to take the princess and prince this evening, but when he saw them, he couldn't help himself. He had taken the princess from the bathroom, knocking her out and hiding her in the kitchen until Beth, the last waitress, left. He then took a bag of garbage out to his truck. He didn't leave the princess in the bag, of course, he had her wrists and ankles tied, her eyes covered and her mouth gagged, lying in the covered bed of his truck.
As for the prince, well, that had been a stroke of luck. When they were alone in the locker room, he had suggested they split up, he would take the lockers and Erik could start at the showers, they would meet in the middle. Brian then found a golf club, knocked out the prince and dragged him to the truck with the princess. It had been dark and everyone else was so preoccupied, that no one noticed him. Brian knew this club inside and out, he knew where to go and how to get there. Now the prince was lying beside the princess, also tied up, blindfolded, and gagged.
He wasn't sure how long they would stay unconscious, so he was anxious to get them back to his apartment. He had plans, there were things he needed to do. And he couldn't wait.
He had been one of the first people interviewed and was now just waiting around. Spotting the officer in charge, Brian made his way over to him.
"Excuse me."
The officer turned to him, "Yes, what is it?"
"I've been interviewed already and I was wondering if I could go. My mother is ill and I need to check on her, make sure she takes her medicine before she goes to bed."
Hesitating, the officer looked him up and down, "Did you give your name and contact information to the officer who interviewed you?"
"Yes sir, my name is Brian Sebold and Officer Roberts was the one who interviewed me."
"All right, Mr. Sebold. If we have any other questions we will contact you and if you can think of anything, please call immediately, ask for Detective Elliott."
"Yes sir. I just…" Brian stopped and bit his lip. "I just hope you can find them soon. I waited on them earlier this evening and they seemed like such nice people."
Detective Elliott nodded, "Thank you for your cooperation."
Tristan stood beside Sky, not sure what to do or what to think. How could this happen? How could they just disappear? It was Erik that made him worry the most. Cady was small and easily over powered, but Erik was a tall, strong man. It had to be more than one person who did this.
Sky stood beside him, unconsciously chewing her nails, her eyes darting around the room.
Allura was on the phone calling Sven and Romelle to let them know what had happened. Keith was standing with Det. Elliott, the officer in charge of the investigation. It was getting late and they were starting to allow people to leave. Det. Elliott handed his card out to everyone who left.
Tristan checked his watch again. Almost an hour had passed and he was getting angrier by the moment. Too much time was passing. They had to do something. They couldn't just stand here.
While they had waited for the police to arrive, Keith had tried calling both their communicators, but, of course, there had been no response. Tristan unclipped his communicator from his belt and studied it. A thought suddenly occurred to him and he fought the urge to slap his forehead with the heel of his palm.
He hurried over to where the commander stood, but quickly learned that Keith had already thought of that, he was in the process of making plans.
"It's all connected to the system at the Castle of Lions, we'll have to contact Pidge and see if the signal can reach," Keith was explaining to Det. Elliott. "I am going to contact my men, it will take a few moments. I need you to find a computer with the fastest connection available."
Det. Elliott nodded and went to speak with Harris.
Tristan stood beside Keith and listened to him as he spoke with Pidge. It was a frustratingly slow process with the delay between the planets.
"I figured you would be calling," Pidge said. "Hunk and I have been working on strengthening the signal to Terra."
"They are securing a high speed connection on a computer here," Keith told him.
"Let me know when you're set up and we'll try and connect."
Keith turned to the young man standing beside him, "Tristan, can you go see what is going on with the computer."
He nodded and ran over to where Det. Elliott was talking with Harris, "Have you found a computer yet?"
"Our best bet would be in the manager's office," Harris said. "I sent someone to find a key."
"What's the hold up?" Tristan snapped. "Don't you realize what's going on? Two people are missing! They could be dead! And you're standing here talking about getting in to an office?" He stopped when a hand gently grasped his arm.
"Tristan, you need to stay calm," Allura said carefully. "We're all worried, but getting upset and losing your cool won't help."
"Sir, here's the key, I tried calling Mr. Weber, but there was no answer," a young man said breathlessly, holding up a key ring with a single key on it.
"That's all right, Ray, I'm sure he won't mind that we used his computer when we explain why," Harris said. "Follow me, please."
Allura waved to Keith and he, Sky, Josie, and Vince joined them as they jogged down the hall and to the door marked Office. Keith sat in front of the computer and set his communicator on the desk. Pidge talked him through signing on and connecting with the Castle of Lions. Digging through the desk drawers, Keith found a spare USB cord and connected his communicator to the computer. Tristan paced the floor while Allura stood over Keith's shoulder. Sky stood quietly by the door, chewing on her fingernails.
"It will take a moment," Pidge said. "We have to receive the signal from Terra and then send it back."
"There's no way to cut out Arus and connect the communicator straight to this computer?" Allura asked.
"Sorry, Allura," he shook his head. "This is the only way right now. We're going to try Cady's first."
Keith sat back and clutched the arms of his chair until his knuckles turned white. Allura twisted her hands and waited. Tristan counted the seconds on his watch. It took nearly ten minutes, but there was finally a distinct beeping sound.
"I'm sending the coordinates to the computer and then to your communicator," Pidge said excitedly. "It's very close to where you are!"
Keith jumped to his feet, clutching his communicator, "Tristan, Elliott, come with me, everyone else stay here."
"But…" Sky spoke up.
Allura took her arm, "If he needs us, he'll call."
Sky bit her lip and nodded.
Following the coordinates, the three men ran through the building, pass the main dining room, pro shop, men's locker room, and to the kitchen. The door was locked, but Tristan wasn't going to be stopped. Motioning for the others to stand back, he braced himself, and ran forward, kicking as hard as he could, breaking the door open and leaving it hanging on one hinge.
The kitchen was dark and empty. The light from the hallway reflected of the gleaming, chrome surfaces. Elliott flipped the switch by the door and the room turned blindingly bright.
"Cady!" Tristan called out. He knew there wouldn't be an answer, but he had to try.
Keith moved through the room, past the oversized refrigerator, the grill and stovetops. His shoes echoed eerily off the tile floor as he jogged across it. The quiet surrounding him made the thundering of his heart sound even louder in his ears.
"Through here," he said, pointing to a door.
"What is it?" Tristan asked. "A pantry?"
"Only one way to find out," Elliott said. He tried the door, but it was locked.
Tristan trying kicking it in as he had done before, but the vibrations shook his leg and had him worried for a split second that he may have sprained his ankle.
"Call Sky on your communicator," Keith instructed. "Have her ask Harris where this door leads."
Sky jumped when her communicator buzzed. She fumbled slightly unclipping it from her skirt, "C-Collier."
"Sky, ask Harris where the door in the back of the kitchen leads to," Tristan said. "It's by the dishwasher."
Harris was standing nearby and heard the question, "It's a backdoor. It opens by the dumpster, there is a key in the cupboard above the dishwasher."
Sky repeated what he said and the connection ended abruptly when Tristan snapped his communicator shut.
Elliott found the key and they opened the door. The dumpster was just outside the door to the right and partially hidden by a short wall. Beyond that was a parking lot. The three men hesitated in front of the dumpster, afraid of what they might find inside. Knowing that this was not something the girl's father or boyfriend should have to do, Elliott flipped open the dumpster and peered inside.
Tristan walked around the side, his heart thundering, afraid to look, but knowing he had to.
"Shit!" Keith exclaimed.
Tristan and Elliott both turned to see Keith crouching beside the dumpster. He leaned over and reached beneath the giant metal trash container and pulled out Cady's small black purse. Flipping it open, he found her communicator inside.
"Well, at least we know she came this way," Elliott said.
"Th-there's…nothing…" Tristan stammered, pointing to the dumpster.
The officer shook his head, "It must have just been emptied earlier today. There is some garbage in there, but it is just garbage."
"Let's try Erik's communicator," Keith said, leading them back inside and to the office.
Cady woke slowly, feeling groggy and cold, her head throbbing. Her face itched and her shoulders hurt. She blinked, trying to remember what had happened and where she was.
Her mouth was forced closed and she quickly realized that it was taped shut with a thick swatch of duct tape. One eye was covered, but she was able to push the blindfold the rest of the way off by rubbing her face against the rough carpet. She blinked as her eyes grew accustomed to the dim lighting. It was a small room and the floor was hard, covered by a thin, rough carpet. Above her was a table and two chairs, there was also a bed, a dresser, and various other shapes she couldn't identify in the darkness.
Cady stiffened slightly as she heard the distinct sound of breathing. She couldn't see anyone else, but she could hear them. Knowing that whatever she was imagining was much worse that what actually was, Cady slowly, painfully rolled over. Her wrists were tied tightly behind her back, pulling on her shoulders and making movement difficult.
About two feet away, was another person. Also lying on the floor, this person was tied at the wrists and ankles, just as Cady was, but she could tell he was secured more tightly with ropes around his knees and chest, securing his legs and arms even tighter. His mouth was taped as well and the blindfold was still covering his eyes.
She shimmied a little closer and gasped when she realized it was Erik.
He was lying motionless, his breathing slow and even.
She tried to call out to him, but it came out as a muffled, "Mmpfh."
His head moved toward the noise.
Whimpering, she tried again, "Mmpfh!"
Erik began to struggle against his restraints, unable to move. He rubbed his head against the carpet until one eye was uncovered. He blinked and looked around, his eye settling on the shadowed woman lying nearby. With a heavy sigh, he realized it was Cady.
What the hell happened? He thought, his head pounding, his body sore. Where are we?
Cady whimpered.
Erik rubbed his head against the carpet again and pushed the blindfold up into his hair. He looked around their sparse surroundings while he twisted his wrists, trying to free his hands.
There was a sound outside and a key scrapped against the lock.
Cady whimpered again.
Erik looked at her and winked, hoping she would take it as a sign of reassurance.
The door opened.
Cady squeezed her eyes shut and braced herself.
Erik kept his eyes open and watched as Brian entered the room, shut and locked the door, and turned on the light atop the table. The room was dank and small. The furniture old and decrepit.
"I see you're awake," Brian said, looking down at Erik. "I had hoped to have more time, but I know they're looking for you. With the others, no one knew they were missing until they were found. This does complicate things, you know?"
Erik watched as Brian stepped over Cady and took down a box off a shelf on the wall.
Opening the box, Brian sat on the floor between them. He pulled out a spool of white ribbon and a pair of scissors. Working methodically, he cut two lengths of ribbon, taking one he turned to Cady. As soon as his fingers touched her hair, her eyes flew open and watched him, terrified. "Don't worry," he said soothingly. "I just want a little souvenir." He tied a lock of her hair with the ribbon and snipped it off. Holding up the golden curl, he smiled and brought it to his nose to smell it before laying it in the box along with nearly half a dozen other locks of hair. He then turned to Erik and did the same.
"When all this is over," Brian explained as he replaced the box on the shelf. "They will be able to take my souvenirs and trace them back to everyone I killed." He took a thick book down from the shelf. "When people hear my name, they will remember that I killed seven people and two of them were actual royalty." He giggled softly as he sat between them, opening the book on his lap. "I've been going over and over this book, trying to find the perfect fairy tale for each of you. There are so many stories of princesses and princes, I just couldn't decide. But then it hit me. I was looking in the wrong place. You will be the story that isn't about royalty, you will be my Hansel and Gretal!" He declared excitedly.
Cady squeezed her eyes shut as tears welled.
"Oh, oh don't cry," Brian gently stroked her cheek.
She jerked back, her eyes flying open.
Erik fought against his restraints, his yelling muffled against the tape across his mouth.
"You'll be famous too," Brian said softly, ignoring Erik. "You're name will go on for years, decades. Everyone will remember you for your beauty and your tragic ending. It will be like a movie or a storybook."
Cady shook her head, tears falling freely from her eyes. This could not be happening. Everything was going right in her life. She was happy, she was with the man she loved, she was working hard for her future, everything was right. But now this? No. It can't be. She could not die this way. After everything her family had gone through, after everything her parents had gone through to be together and to have their family, her life could not end this way.
Brian grew tired of Erik's struggles and muffled shouts. With a heavy sigh, he turned to the young prince and drew back his large fist, slamming it into the side of Erik's head. He fell silent and still.
Cady screamed against her gag. With wide, wet eyes she slithered back, trying to get away from Brian.
"Don't worry, Gretal," Brian assured her. "I won't hurt your face. You will be just as pretty in death as you are in life." He stood and laid the book on the table where he carefully tore out a page. "I have it all planned out. I even took some bread and tore it into breadcrumbs to lay around you when I am done. It will lead the police to you just like the breadcrumbs were going to lead Hansel and Gretal home. Isn't that a clever idea?"
Cady shook her head. If only she wasn't gagged, she could talk to him, try to reason with him. She slid her gaze to Erik and felt her breath catch in her chest. He wasn't moving.
A low vibrating hum caught Brian's attention. He looked around, "What's that?"
Cady stared back at him. She knew what it was. Erik had set his communicator on vibrate and it was going off, the vibrations muffled against the carpet. She shrugged.
Brian knelt beside Erik and pushed him onto his back, finding the communicator clipped to his belt. "Damn! Damn! Damn!" He shouted snatching it with his hand. He carried it to the table and picked up a huge knife, repeatedly stabbing the communicator angrily. "No! No! No!"
Cady felt her entire body tremble. The power and anger Brian was demonstrating sent fear through her veins, turning her blood to ice. She glanced over at Erik again and saw his eyes flutter open. His left eye was starting to swell as a bruise began to form. He winked at her, once again trying to signal to her that it was going to be all right. Erik slowly moved closer to her.
Brain turned to them, "I guess that means they're getting closer, huh? I guess this means I had better get moving."
Cady's eyes widened as he knelt beside her, the knife in one hand and a towel in the other. He touched her gently with his fingers, stroking her cheek, her neck, her chest. His hand raced over her body as she trembled and cried silently.
"If only I had more time," he sighed quietly, laying the towel over her face. "I said I wouldn't mess up your face, and I won't."
Keith felt his heart race with anticipation as Pidge uploaded the coordinates to where Erik's homing device was emitting its signal.
"Keith?"
"What Pidge?"
"I have all the coordinates, but his communicator has stopped transmitting."
"What do you mean?"
Pidge sighed with frustration, "His communicator is no longer transmitting. It's…it's dead."
Sky let out a small cry before clamping both hands over her mouth.
Allura slid an arm around her shoulders, "It might have been turned off, or dropped, we can't think the worst, honey."
She nodded.
"Okay, I have it," Keith said. "Thanks, Pidge, but stay by the computer in case we need you again."
"Will do, sir."
Keith turned to Det. Elliott and the two men went over the coordinates.
"This isn't far from here, it's a low income housing development." Elliott told him. "It's about five minutes away, I'll get my men on it now."
"We're coming too," Keith said.
"Let's go," Elliott motioned to his men in the room as he pulled his walkie-talkie off his belt. He barked out orders, calling for backup as they all ran from the office and out to the waiting patrol cars.
Cady squeezed her eyes shut and braced herself for what she knew would the end. She thought of her family, her brothers and sisters. A quiet cry came from deep within her throat as she thought of Nicky. The last time she had seen him had been almost a month earlier, the night before they left Arus. He cried and hugged her tight, telling her he'd miss her and she promised to bring him back a really cool present. She thought of the twins and their troublemaking. Declan would be the next in line for the throne now. She thought of her sisters and everything she would miss in their growing up. She thought of her parents and what this would do to them. And lastly, she thought of Tristan. It was his face she concentrated on, his smile, that dimple. Tears slid from her eyes and into her hair, but she found some solace in his visage.
Cady felt the prick of the knife on her throat. She swallowed, her view obscured by the towel placed over her face.
There was a grunt and Brian fell against her. She could hear him swear and then leave her. What Cady heard was made worse by what she imagined. Brian grunted as she heard Erik scream in his throat and then moan quietly and repeatedly. All of that was interspersed with a sound that she knew was flesh being torn by a knife.
The bile rose in her throat and dizziness washed over her. She was so distraught and nauseated, Cady didn't hear the sirens as they approached. The footsteps as they stormed up the stairs and the pounding on the door.
"Police! Open this door now!" A voice shouted through the door.
Brian swore again, "Too soon, dammit! It's too damn soon!"
Cady struggled and tried to scream.
Wood splintered and the door burst open.
"Drop the knife!"
"No!"
"Drop it! Now!"
Cady sobbed as gunshots rang around her.
"Get the paramedics in here now! Oh, shit, man, this is bad!"
"Is there a pulse?"
"He's breathing."
There were more shouts and the garbled communications through walkie-talkies.
The towel was carefully lifted from her face and Cady blinked at the light. The face of a young officer filled her line of vision.
"Your highness?"
She nodded, tears pouring from her eyes.
"She's conscious," he shouted over his shoulder.
"Get her out of here!" Someone replied. "Don't let her see."
"Close your eyes, honey," the officer said gently. "Trust me. I'm going to take you outside where your family is and then we'll take you to the hospital. You're safe now."
Cady closed her eyes, feeling suddenly very tired.
She was carried out to the hallway where she was placed on a gurney. The tape was carefully pulled off and her restraints cut away. Cady immediately gasped in deep breaths, she sat up and rubbed her eyes.
"Erik!" She sobbed, her throat dry. "Where's Erik?"
A paramedic pushed back on her shoulders and laid a blanket over her, "Calm down, dear, we'll get you out of here."
Cady fought against her, "Where's Erik?"
"Your parents are waiting for you, dear, stay calm, we're getting you out of here."
Cady sat up and looked around. They were in the dim hallway of an apartment building, police and medics all around. A couple of doorways were cracked open, eyes peering out to see what was going on. She looked behind her and saw another gurney but there were too many paramedics and police, she couldn't tell who was on it.
Cold air slammed into her as they burst from the building. Street lamps, police sirens, and the lights from two ambulances flooded the area.
"Cady!"
The princess pushed aside the blanket and hopped down, stumbling and running away from the paramedic, toward her parents. Keith caught her and hugged her tightly. He kissed the top of her head, feeling tears prick his eyes as he held his eldest, safe and sound, in his arms.
"Oh honey," Allura gasped, pulling her daughter to her. "How are you? Oh, dear, oh, are you hurt? Oh sweetie, you're bleeding!" Tears ran down Allura's cheeks as she looked her daughter up and down.
"Mom," Cady cried. "I don't know what happened to Erik! They won't tell me."
Keith rubbed her back, "Shh, calm down sweetie. Go get checked out. I'll find out about Erik, okay?"
She turned and grabbed his arms, "He saved me, Dad. B-Brian was going to kill me, but Erik, he did something…he made him stop. He saved me!"
Keith hugged her tightly and dropped a kiss on her forehead, "Go, sweetie, go with your mother. I'll meet you at the hospital."
"Cady!" Tristan and Sky pushed through the surrounding crowd of police and onlookers.
She turned and launched herself at him. Tristan caught her in his arms and hugged her so tightly, she swore she could feel a couple of ribs crack.
"Oh baby," he breathed. "Oh God, oh Cady, are you okay?"
She nodded and pulled back to look at him. Too overcome to speak, she hugged him again, pressing her face into his shoulder, so glad to be with him, to be away from Brian.
"Cady?" Sky's voice was low and shaking.
She pulled herself from Tristan's embrace and turned to her friend. Without a word, she pulled Sky into a tight hug. "I don't know," Cady whispered. "I couldn't see him. He saved me Sky, he saved my life and they wouldn't let me see him."
The two young women stood, hugging and crying in the midst of the organized chaos around them.
"Allura," Keith ran over. "Get Cady to the hospital, I'll meet you there."
"Please, Uncle Keith," Sky pleaded.
He took her by the shoulders, "I am going to ride with Erik to the hospital. I'll see you there."
"I want to go with him."
"No, Schuyler, stay with Allura."
Before she could say another word, Keith released her and gave Cady a quick kiss on the cheek before running to the nearest ambulance. Sky watched him and saw the stretcher just as they were loading it into the back. She gasped and clasped one hand over her mouth, the other hand went to her stomach, as though warding off a pain. She gasped and sobbed, Tristan caught her before she fell to her knees.
"Come on," Allura wrapped an arm around Cady's waist. "Let's go to the hospital, they'll fill us in there."
Tristan helped Sky into the police van. She shook and cried, unable to speak.
Allura sat beside her and wrapped her arms around her, "He'll be fine, Sky, I'm sure of it."
Gasping for breath, Sky shook her head.
Tristan helped Cady buckle her seatbelt as the van took off, sirens blaring. "Sky, Keith is going to make sure…"
"No!" She screamed, clutching her head in both hands, rocking in her seat.
"Schuyler!" Allura took her shoulders. "Calm down, sweetheart, breathe, honey, breathe. You'll pass out. Calm down, honey."
Cady laid her hand on Sky's shoulder and whispered, "What did you see?"
"His face was gone," she sobbed, burying her face in her hands as Allura hugged her.
