The world kept being dark for a bit longer, as the next thing he knew was waking up blindfolded and gagged and with his hands tied behind his back pulling uncomfortably at all the damage that has been inflicted to his body.
He knew he could easily undo the knot in the rope that was biting his wrists, even if for the sole reason than feeling a little less helpless, but his knuckles were still rough from the fight, his body ached, and, most importantly, he failed is children. He had no right to make that extra effort to free his hands, to be able to protect himself. He deserved whatever was going to happen to him.
Cooper's scream kept echoing in his mind over the roaming silence of whatever place he was in, and fill the time over and over again.
Where were Coop and Lila now? What have they done to them? Where they still alive or someone would come in showing their bodies? He knew that death was not even the worse scenario.
A sound from the outside made his training kick in, telling him that was enough self-loathing, telling him he had to keep his mind in the game. He pushed himself to pay attention to his surroundings. Footsteps were approaching.
The space was large enough to allow for the steps to echo around, the sound was neat, no metal, maybe concrete or wooden. No, he second guessed his thoughts, wooden spaces are usually warmer. He tracked rhythm and directions as they were getting closer, the footsteps belonged to three persons and one of them was much lighter than the others. Now they were close by, five meters at most. One heavier step of the lighter person and something like a whimper or a sigh. Maybe it was another prisoner stumbling in front of his cell. His heart started to race in anticipation, and his mind drew all possible scenarios.
« Like father, like son», he heard a man complaining. He had a heavy Louisiana accent. The sentence put him on high alert. He held his breath and started undoing the ropes holding his hands, cursing himself for all the time he wasted deprecating himself earlier. Hope was speeding up his heartbeat until it was almost a ringing in his ears.
A distinct clang gave away a metal lock very close to him, less than three meters now, probably the door to the cell he was in. The clang was followed by a light thud as a small body hit the ground. A similar clang confirmed that the cell lock was in place again, but by then it didn't matter because a familiar scent had caught him. He freed his hands and he removed the blindfold to see his son.
Those son-of-a-bitches had made no exception for him even if he was just a kid.
Four red marks in the shape of a hand disappeared below a blindfold. His hands were tied behind his back. His mouth was gagged and some blood was caking his chin.
Cooper.
He didn't have enough air in his lung to call his name.
He ran closer and saw Cooper flinch in fear, the kid managed to sit down somehow and tried to slide as far as possible.
Hell. What have they done to him? He was going to kill them all.
«Cooper. Cooper, it's me. I'm getting closer. It's gonna be fine, okay?» he said as he lowered on the floor himself once again.
Some word choked against the kid gag, maybe «Dad».
Clint closed him in his arm, the boy head resting against his chest and he felt him relax a little.
«It's me. » he repeated as he rocked the kid back and forth and he felt the blindfold getting wet with tears.
Clint kept a hand on Cooper's back while with the other he started undoing the blindfold, then the gag.
«I am sorry. I didn't want to dad. I am sorry» the kid babbled out more scared than he should have been. Clint stopped midway trying to undo the binding of his hands.
«What happened? »
«I didn't want to. I tried my best, they were too fast and too strong, and I was scared. I did not realise the edge was that close. I didn't want dad. I am sorry. » The kid blurted out at once, starting to sob as soon as he finished.
The edge was that close.
Lila.
A new surge of panic shook Clint making him shiver to the bones and cutting his air lose, but Cooper needed him.
«It's not your fault. I am here now ok? Anything that happened I'm sure it's not your fault. »
Clint finished unbinding his son's hands and then hugged him tightly to stop his own body from trembling.
«The edge was so close... and they wanted Lila... and I couldn't let them. I was scared he tried to grab me and he fell. His screams…» Sobs shake the young boy once again.
HE fell. HIS screams. Clint felt like he suddenly found oxygen once again and released a little the hold on his son and start caressing his hair.
«It's okay Coop. It's not your fault. I'm here okay, I got you now. What happened? Is Lila ok? »
«She was getting tired. We found some space between the rocks. I gave her the phone and I run as fast as I could, as far as possible from her. »
The boy started crying again and Clint was torn between comforting him and prompt his tale to know the fate of his daughter. Luckily Cooper was stronger than Clint could imagine and, shortly after, he went on with his tale on his own.
«They were too fast, almost as fast as you are. The caught up with me. »
«He tried to grab me or to push. I turned as you taught me and push. I didn't want to. The cliff was so close, oh my God I never wanted to...dad I'm sorry» he stopped midsentence a stronger sob escaping his lips. There was no need to finish it, he already knew the ending: He fell.
There was no word to erase what had just happened. He just looked him in the eye and try to convey the message.
«It's not your fault, Cooper. You were defending yourself and your sister. You did what you had to do. It's not your fault. I know you didn't want it. »
The boy started crying even more and Clint tighten up the embrace once more, pushing the boy head against his chest protectively, he kept repeating what he just said, try to offer the kid as little comfort as he could. Hoping that some part of it would make it through the curtain of guilt and sorrow.
Once again, it didn't take long before Coop went on telling the facts.
«One of the others got me. They wanted Lila, but I couldn't. -Clint's hand went instictively to Cooper's marked cheek anticipating the next part of the tale. - He hit me, he said he was going to kill me. I didn't want to tell them where Lila was. Then the quinjet arrived and those guys grabbed me and we ran away, I wanted to escape I wanted to push them out, but the cliff was still so close. »
«Oh Cooper, I am so proud of you. »
«I can still hear his screams, dad. »