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Chapter 16.

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'You underestimate us'

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Doug got to Kaneville in a record speed he ever believed it was possible to achieve. Besides, there was nobody in his car who could make him to take his foot from the accelerator and slow down to some more safe speed. Not that he would listen, though. The village was not far from the city in straight line, but traffic jams and then web of small roads leading to the place lengthened the way almost three times. That's why the young police officer didn't want to waste time for driving according to traffic regulations. To his satisfaction it took him twenty five minutes to get to the place. He didn't lose his way not even once.

Now he was driving main street of the small village. Small as it was, it was looking unnatural lifeless, as if abandoned. He passed centre of the village which consisted of several houses, closed grocery's shop, small building belonging to the school, fire station and new wooden church which he knew wasn't his destination. Father Dominic said Holy Family Chapel was further more behind village hidden deep in the woods.

When Penhall left last building behind, he stopped the car and got out. The police officer decided to get to the chapel by foot. He entered narrow savaged path and sunk into trees. Soon he broke stubbornly through the bushes and small trees until finally he noticed small wooden chapel-like building. He felt his heart pumping blood more and more rapidly from excitement. But simultaneously he was afraid what he will find inside. If Tom will be really there, if he will be still alive…

Doug didn't have precise plan what to do. Truth was he didn't care about planning. Concern about his friend made him impatient and only one thing he wanted was to get inside the building as unnoticed as possible, find Tom and get him out. No matter how many of Guardian people he will have to harm on his way. For his tired mind it was simple and impossible to fail.

The young man rubbed his numb hands trying to warm them a bit and force some more life to them. Then he took off his gun and started to close to the building meandering between parked cars and trees until he got near the church. From his safe hiding place he carefully combed the area with his eyes. Soon he noticed two people dressed in black cloaks walking around the building. Surely their task was to guard the area, but they were engaged in talk more than in guarding so Doug ignored them. He just waited until they passed by and disappeared behind corner of the building and then he moved towards side entrance. He tried the knob and let himself small smile when he found the door was open. Full of excitement and ready to explore insides looking for any clue of Tom he forgot about checking his surroundings for any possible dangers and unexpected members of the sect. It was a mistake he paid for being unexpectedly and brutally hit into his head with something hard. With full astonishment and wide opened eyes he observed as the stony floor rushed to meet him and with strong blow took his consciousness away.

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"Shit! Shit! Shit!" Doug coursed himself mercilessly inside his head as he was dragged brutally by two cloaked men inside some big chamber-like room. Now when he looked back at his doings his stupidity and carelessness was amazing him. He refused to think about his impulsive and thoughtless rush to Tom's aid. He left it for later when, if he survives, he will have to explain himself to certainly extremely pissed Captain Fuller. But letting those bastards being caught so easily as if he was a novice cop was unbearable, it hurt his pride.

He was still a bit groggy and dizzy after somebody used his head as a ball, but in spite of that he managed to hamper their progress fumbling and trying to get away. Though when he caught a sight of the room they were in he calmed himself amazed. It was lightened only by countless amounts of candles of different size and shape giving off stuffy and acrid smoke. There were ugly and scrungy satanistic decoratives on the black wooden walls and big stony table standing in the middle of the room. Dead bodies of different small animals, complicated signs painted on the walls and floor and scared skinny cats walking wildly around inside their cages made Doug feel chill running down his back. People here were preparing for really bloody and devilish show. And for Doug's mind whoever decorated that place wasn't normal.

He wondered what kind of psycho they messed this time with. This wasn't just some rebellious teens having problems with drugs or hormones. It was something much more serious. And dangerous as well. Every next step showing new thrilling pictures of the room made him curse angrily his stupidity again. The idea of coming here alone and unprepared seemed now completely brainless. He should have listened to Dennis, after all he wasn't as hot-tempered as Doug, especially when it concerned Tom's life.

Doug looked around. In the dim candle-light he noticed suddenly he was watched by pale and cold, dirt stained eyes belonging to a dozen or so sculptures of angels. Many of them were almost human size, some lacked wing or hand, or any other part of their body. All of them looked scary, as if taken from the worst horror imaginable. Being in that place for only a while made Doug thought that if he was left here for a bit longer he would go insane from only being there and breathing that heavy full of evil air. He didn't wonder now about Michael's strange behavior in the hospital.

When they left the chamber Doug let himself to exhale with relieve and breathe deeper, because in the former room he tried to take only shallow gasps of air afraid the candles were given narcotic smoke, judging from the smell. In spite of his tries though, he felt a bit intoxicated and disabled. That was why the rest of their way down the stairs and along corridor Doug let to drag him without causing any more disturbances.

Finally they reached their destination place. Doug observed as the solid wooden door were opened and then before he could react he was pushed through it inside the room and he flew towards another close contact with the floor.

"Bind him to the bars!" Penhall could hear somebody's command. He turned his head towards the owner of the voice but his vision was covered by two approaching figures that bent down to catch his arms and raised him up. Once again he was dragged brutally and thrown against rough bars, the action causing his anger raise up. He never tolerated when somebody pulled or pushed him not to mention treat him as if he was punch bag. Ignoring pounding pain in his head he threw himself towards the nearer man and with one blow sent him unconscious on the floor. Then immediately he turned to his companion and embraced him squeezing his chest forcefully and making impossible for him to move and breath. As his victim stopped tossing Doug let the unconscious form fall down and join his friend on the floor.

Penhall looked around searching for another fool daring to fight with him, but he froze when his gaze fell on black hole of a gun stuck between his eyes. Well built and strong as he was he new it was impossible to win with bullet shot towards his head. So he gave up and breathing deeply with rage he raised his arms looking with anger at the hooded person in front of him.

"Brothers!" The stranger ordered to two newcomers who already appeared in the room, alarmed by the noise. "Bind him to the bars. And take those two" he pointed at two forms lying still on the floor "upstairs."

Looking at the gun aimed still to his head Doug let them to be pushed forcefully against bars. He groaned aloud from pain as he felt metal sticks pinched into his spine. Then immediately his arms were raised up and tied with leather straps above his head to the iron bars. There was nothing to do to help his situation now, he just cared to put his wrists unnoticeably in such position the bounds weren't very strong. He hoped when work with them long enough he could free himself finally. But at the moment he had another, more current concern - he turned his attention towards the tall and hooded man approaching him.

"Who are you?" The last one demanded with cold voice. There was something unpleasant around that person, cruel and rotten. Something which initially made Doug scared and wish to run away. "And what are you looking here for?"

Doug turned his gaze on the man and carefully watched the black hollow in the hood where deeper, back in darkness was hidden face of a man who he believed all Chapel was hunting so desperately last week. Guardian. He wished he could catch his neck and squeeze it forcefully until he choke to death for any harm he knew Guardian had made to Tom and what he didn't know jet as well. But all his full of hatred thoughts were brutally interrupted by strong blow to his stomach knocking out his breath from the lungs.

"Are you from FBI?" Guardian asked next question as he raised Doug's head up by hair. Suddenly the police officer felt Guardians hands moving around his wide chest, sides and checking pockets in the jacket and trousers. There was no sense to lie.

"Nno…" Doug answered with a muffled voice. "I… I am a police officer."

"Another cop!" The older man hissed, finding in the same time gun hidden on Doug's back, behind belt and police officer badge. "It is getting tiring, really." He watched carefully the badge and then turned his gaze back to the cop and observed him with interest. "I suppose you were looking for your partner, officer Penhall, isn't it?"

"I was looking for you." Penhall's heart was tearing away to ask about Tom, but somehow he felt it wouldn't be wise to show how much he cared for him.

"Alone? That was really foolish on you."

"Yeah, well…" Doug thought sighing on his stupidity again. He new his friends will come after them sooner or later. Hopefully they are heading towards the village now. But that was the information he wasn't going to share with Guardian. Let's let him think he came here alone.

"You don't know me." He said instead shamelessly. "I am going to get out from here with my partner. And I will send you to jail."

Guardian started to laugh aloud at that statement really amused. "I don't think so. I learned last time that cops are really stupid folks. They have bad habit of rash actions and working alone."

"You underestimate us." Doug answered but he thought with self-criticism that taking him as an example he had to agree with Guardian.

"Hmmm… I've heard this phrase before." The hooded man said it thoughtfully. He turned himself back and walked to the other side of the cell. It was only then that Doug noticed huddled in the corner emaciated form of his friend. Frightening skinny, sitting in strange unnatural position and dressed in white cotton tunic and trousers he was almost unrecognizable.

"Oh my God Tommy." He whispered terrified making a quick step forward but his progress was immediately interrupted by pain in his raised and now unnaturally stretched arms. He cursed under his breath at the restraints preventing him to run to his friends' side and moved himself back turning his attention towards Tom again.

The next more careful look at him showed in how bad condition he was. Not sheltered parts of his body were covered with uncountable bruises, cuts and abrasions implying that most likely rest of the body weren't spared of it as well. Especially taking into account that the white fabric of his new clothes was in many places covered with blood. Tom was sitting uncomfortably, slightly bent on his left side with right leg painfully straightened forward. He was embracing himself around chest; Doug didn't know if against the chill or pain, but he suspected most likely against both of them. The sorry state of Tom caused great anger in Doug, but the view of his best friend being chained like an animal by his neck with an iron hoop made him extremely furious. Tom had his head stiffly raised, it was obvious the hoop was painful and too tight for him to move. The sharp edges cut the soft skin on his neck and caused blood flowing down coloring neckline of his tunic in red. Doug tugged wildly his own restrains. It worried him that although many people were making fuss around, Tom didn't seem to notice them. His bruised face was expressionless and eyes were still and directed dully ahead into some undefined point of the room. Whatever had happened to him it was terrible enough to leave him in a state of mental numbness. Doug started to fight with the binds even stronger twisting his hands painfully. He wanted to come to Tom and ease him, to take him away from that damned place somewhere where he would be safe.

But obviously it wasn't end of his misery. Guardian seemed to have something in his mind. He closed to Tom and crouched next to him reaching out his hand towards his face. It was the movement which caused the younger man to knock out from his numbness and flinch away from his tormentor with groan of pain this movement caused.

"My stubborn Tommy." Guardian said ignoring disgust on his prisoners face. "Look who visited you." He caught his hair and brutally forced his head towards Doug. It took Hanson some time to focus his gaze on him and see who he was but finally pain and suffer in his eyes were partially replaced by recognition.

"Doug?" He asked weakly, his voice strangled.

"Hey Tommy!" Doug answered gently relieved that his friend recognized him at last. "I am going to take you out of here, Tom." He promised. He wasn't even sure if it was possible, but for his own sake he needed to give Tom something to comfort him. He felt wave of guilt flooding his mind about not finding him earlier. He asked himself how it happened that it took them to get to Tom so late, after almost a week. Doug couldn't imagine Tom being kept in that horrible cold place for so long, tormented by Guardian and left by his friends without hope. He shivered at that thoughts and looked at the older man.

"Well. That's funny." Guardian commented Doug's statement with faint smile. Then he reached again towards Tom and started manipulating around his neck. The cop flinched at that touch but after he felt the hoop taken away he became still again.

"You see, Doug." He continued "Tom can't go anywhere. We have a ceremony in a while and Tommy is honored to be my special guest."

"Honored?" Doug spat out. "Don't be ridiculous. You are going to kill him!"

"No. Not kill. Sacrifice."

"He is police officer, and you are going to be in great trouble when you kill him."

"No, I don't think so." Guardian ignored his statement and then remembered something. "Ahh… When we are talking about police…" he approached Doug. "I need some more informations about your doings. As you can see our dear Tommy was a bit… defiant during our session. But you came here so free willingly, so I hope with the same willingness you will share your knowledge with me."

"Informations? Knowledge? About what?"

"About how much you and FBI know about me and what is most important for me where and who exactly is squealer."

"You chose wrong person, Guardian. I don't know anything about it."

"Well…" the older man exhaled with frustration. "I even expected, you will say so." He turned towards two hooded men standing by the door. "Jimmy! Bring me the case."

The called man moved quickly from his place and handed Guardian slim black case which he was holding in his hands.

"I never used it before." Guardian explained referring to content of the case. "But I think it is high time to see how effective it works with forcing people to speak."

Penhall didn't know what to think, when he observed Guardian holding the case with affection as if it was his favorite cat. He felt a bit unreal being here and talking with that man. Though there was fear rising inside him, he had some unclear premonition about something bad happen. That bad was hidden inside that mysterious box in Guardians hands. And when finally the older man opened the case and Doug cast look inside pure horror and dread hit him with such an intensity that he had to fight sudden wave nausea.

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