CHAPTER FIVE – Evil Dwells
Alan's first thought was that he was dreaming. Blurred images flashed in front of his eyes.
'Where am I?' he thought confused.
Then the images started to come back into focus. He could see….red, yes! definitely red, and a large shape. He could hear a faint humming sound, like the sound of machinery in the distance. Concentrating harder on the image he could just make out a face, he was looking up at this face. Then suddenly the feeling of fear crept into his mind, but fear of what? He couldn't put his finger on it.
Then, in an instant the image in front of him became as clear as day and looking up in shocked realization Alan knew what he was seeing. It was the Hood!
Looking down in his mind Alan could now see where the sound was coming from as the sharp teeth of the Mole spun inches below his feet. It was the same recurring dream he had been having for months, but each time it was different.
Alan looked back up in shear panic to see the Hood laughing maliciously down at him, attempting to pries Alan from the bar, which he gripped tightly, hanging over the edge of the walkway.
'This isn't real….you can't be real!' Alan screamed in his mind.
The Hood stopped laughing and snarled. 'You can't escape this time Alan', the snarl turned into a triumphant grin.
'This isn't real, this is just a dream, just a nightmare' Alan cried shaking his head.
The Hood glared down at him, 'I will always be in your mind Alan, and I WILL have my revenge…..soon!'
Looking up Alan could see the Hood's eyes turn red and before he even had time to react his hands slid from the bar of their own accord. Alan screamed in horror as he could see himself falling towards the Mole.
"Alan wake up!"
Alan suddenly felt something shaking him by the shoulders and panicking he tried to fight free of the hold.
"Calm down Alan you're safe."
Alan slowly slipped back into consciousness and realized that it was a person holding him. Still fighting he slowly opened his eyes and was met with the concerned faces of his family. Looking frantically around he realized that he was in Thunderbird Two's med bay and Virgil, Gordon, Scott and his father were all looking down at him.
"Alan, look at me."
Looking back to the people above him he saw that his dad had his hands on his shoulders.
"Alan are you ok?" Jeff asked letting go of him.
Without answering his father Alan tried to sit up but was stopped by Jeff who held him back down.
"Don't even think about it, you've got a concussion son." Jeff ordered his son.
"What happened?" Alan breathed looking up slightly stunned.
"One of the kids said you got hit on the head in the school, when we all made it outside you collapsed. You've got a nasty gash on your head" Scott answered kneeling down next to the cot Alan was currently lying on.
Alan looked at him in confusion, "Yeah…..yeah, I remember now. Man that hurt." Alan said as touched his bandaged head grimacing as it began to throb.
"I'll bet it did. Not everyday the ceiling comes down on top of you." Virgil said smiling.
"Hey Alan who were you yelling at?" Gordon asked peering over Scott's shoulder.
"Uh?…Oh nothing, it was just a nightmare." Alan muttered trying to convince himself as he did so.
"Must have been a real shocker because you were all over the place!" Gordon grinned.
Alan closed his eyes, the dream still fresh in his mind, "It was just a bad dream that's all".
"Ok that's enough questions for now, we have to get moving" Jeff said as he stood up.
"Scott get back to Thunderbird One, Virgil, Gordon go get Thunderbird Two ready take off and inform John that the rescue is complete and that we're heading home".
They each nodded and left the med bay.
"Alan I want you to remain in the med bay for the journey. We'll come and get you once we land." Jeff looked at his son noting how tired he looked.
Alan paused before answering, "Ok Dad".
Jeff smiled warmly at his son, then left to join the others in the cockpit closing the door behind him.
Only when Jeff was on his way back up to the cockpit did he let his true worry show. Being a father he had to put on a strong front for the sake of his sons and although they were all adults themselves, apart from Alan, he still felt he had to give them that presence of stability.
Jeff could tell that Scott, Gordon and Virgil were worried about their younger brother. Although Alan had been behaving differently ever since the Hood invaded Tracy Island it was when he came home earlier that year for the summer that he had started to distance himself from everyone. Jeff sighed inwardly and vowed to himself that he would find out what was troubling Alan.
Once Jeff reached the cockpit Virgil and Gordon were ready to take off.
"Well boys, lets go" and with that Thunderbirds One and Two lifted off and set course for home.
Meanwhile about 400 miles away, nestled deep within the English countryside, a top security prison stood out in the darkness of night its floodlights moving about the ground.
Inside on level three, cell 49, a dark figure sat crossed legged on his cot silhouetted by the moonlight seeping in through the bared window.
Opening his eyes the Hood smiled as he came out of his meditation.
'Everything is going according to plan' standing he walked to the window. The bars cast shadows across the Hoods face.
'Soon I will be free from my prison. Then I can repay the Thunderbirds for this outrage' the Hoods lip curled as he thought of how the Tracy's had escaped death from Thunderbird Five and ruined his plans.
'They will not escape their fate a second time…..I guarantee it!'
'Alan will make sure of that!'
The Hood smiled maliciously as he ran over his well thought out plan for revenge in is mind. When he was sentenced to prison the Hood had already begun work on his escape.
No one knew of his abilities so getting what he wanted was not a problem. Not even the courageous Jeff Tracy had been observant enough to notice his true power. The fool!
His original minions, Mullion and Transom, had already successfully gained freedom during their journey in a police van from court. The Hood had masterminded their escape by using some of his many thugs (the Hood had a very healthy Swiss bank account thanks to his old illegal diamond mining business) on the outside to hijack the van and aid their escape. They, in turn, were currently awaiting orders for the Hoods escape.
Reminiscing about his days back with his brother in the diamond mines the Hood was reminded again of his failed bank robbery.
'That girl is most unique. Its shocking to think that my weakling brother could have such a strong daughter' the Hood pondered rubbing his chin.
'I will have to deal with my little niece at a later time'. The Hood knew that her powers were far weaker than his own, but still, she posed a threat that he could not allow.
"Tomorrow I will be free and I will make Jeff's whole family pay," the Hood snarled quietly, his eyes reddening as he muttered his promise to the night.
TBC
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Again sorry it's been a while but chapters will come.