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Chapter 18.

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'Okey dokey'

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"Yes. And it is only up to you how he will die." Guardian took quick glance at his hand watch and then urged impatiently.

"Come on, decide." Guardian urged impatiently.

Tom listened to the talk with highest intention forgetting about pain and weakness. It was strange feeling to have his own life entrusted in somebody else's hands. Even if it were his best friends'. It was still someway… unreal. But kneeling on the lumpy floor pinned between two guys with arms spread wide on his sides he felt deep gratitude and pride that it was Doug Penhall who he could consider as best friend. Not everyone would be able to sacrifice his life for another person and Hanson appreciated it with all his heart, he knew he never will be able to show him how much it meant for him. But there again Tom realized quickly, probably much earlier than Doug did, that Guardian was playing with them and no heroic declarations would change his true intentions.

The silence which followed Guardians words was ringing in Hanson's ears. Now it was the moment that he knew Doug had finally and undeniably lost the battle and Tom's nemesis became tangible.

"So that's what you've chosen." He could hear as Guardian finally spoke and then walked up to Tom. "I thought you will be better friend. Jimmy raise his shirt."

Although Tom knew this will happen he couldn't help panic rising in his body. With this order all hopes to avoid his fate melted away. Doug couldn't safe him. Hanson tried to struggle with holding him hands but exhaustion and fear drained him completely. When he felt cold air touched his bruised and aching back after somebody raised his shirt he shot last scared glance towards his friend. Their eyes met for a moment and Tom didn't hear but could read from the movement of his friends' lips full of sorrow and guilt short:

"I am so sorry, Tom."

There was nothing said any more, although Tom wanted to tell Doug it wasn't his fault and he didn't blame him but he truly didn't trust his voice. His throat was squeezed painfully and after he was pushed forward and lost sight of his friend there was only fear left in his head. He missed whatever Guardian had said because his heart was pounding so strong and aloud he was almost deafened.

When the first blow came Tom hardly stifled cry of pain as his body convulsed sharply at the cruel tearing touch. He started shiver all over. During last days he received big dosage of pain, and he thought nothing would surprise him anymore, but now pain in his back wasn't comparable with anything he ever experienced or imagined that it would ever be possible to feel it so intensive. It felt as if somebody was going to tear off his skin from his back alive. He clenched his teeth tightly and squeezed eyes. It was unbearable.

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Doug, pinned mercilessly to the bars, observed with horror the falling whip and jerked violently at the sound it produced when it connected with bare flesh. He knew instantly that the scene playing before his eyes and the sound will hunt him to the end of his life. Maybe there wasn't chance to help Tom any more but he wasn't going to observe the execution quietly. He tugged the restraints more violently and shouted:

"Stop it! Stop it or I will kill you, you son of a bitch!"

"Is that so?" Guardian asked.

"And I will care you will die slowly. You've got my word!"

"You talk a lot, but it's not what I wanted to hear. You are not helping your friend with this." The older man said with angry voice and before Doug could react or say something he lashed Tom's back once again this time earning loud groan of pain from the younger man. "Don't blame me. It's all your fault he has to suffer so much."

Rage overwhelmed Penhall with those words. But instead of being blinded and deafened by it, he felt his mind becoming clear and cold. If Guardian wanted hear what he knows he will give him it. He will lie. At least he is intelligent enough to think of some story basing on his knowledge and imagination. He was doing the same every day going undercover to schools or gangs. This was the only way to keep Tom alive until Fuller arrives. It should be soon, he hoped. But before he opened his mouth to acknowledge Guardian about his decision the door to the cell opened abruptly and another blac-cloacked man entered the room and approached close to his chief and whispered something to him. Whatever the news were it had to be not very good because Guardian shouted surprised "What? How it was possible? Did you catch him?"

"No." The other sect member answered shaking his head. "I am sorry."

Hearing this Guardian threw his arms forward in a gesture of frustration and then turned towards Doug.

"You said you came here alone!"

"I did."

"My people say there is some another cop nosing around."

Doug raised his brows up surprised. A cop? What about the buck up he was expecting. There were supposed to come dozens of cops to Tom's aid, not only one. But then he recovered quickly. He had to convince Guardian there are more of them.

"I came here alone, but it doesn't mean I didn't tell anybody about my whereabouts. It's not only me who wants to catch you."

To support his words in that instant run into the room another man and not caring about keeping out appearances he shouted:

"Sirens! There are cops closing to the village!" Guardian stood for a moment petrified. His entire world was slipping away from his control so quickly he couldn't grasp how it happened. Where did he make mistake? He was working so hard to achieve his position in the drug world, today ceremony was supposed to crown his efforts. He invited so many important personages. Almost all of them should be here up till now. Shit! They have to get them out of this place. Realizing that Guardian turned towards Jimmy and shouted:

"Leave! Now! Get everybody out of here!"

"What about them?" Jimmy asked throwing Tom on the floor none too gently. Guardian looked at Doug and said with very malicious tone:

"The upper part of building is all wooden. Take canisters with petrol and burn it!" And then he left the room quickly followed by his people.

In an instant the two cops remained alone. But to Doug's dismay they got literally out from the frying pan into the fire. And the fire will spread quickly and although they are in stony room they will choke to death quickly. Nobody will be able to get to them on time through fire feeded by wood and petrol. Even if rescuers knew where to look for them. They had to get out of here quickly. Penhall raised his head and watched his leather straps. He twitched his wrists painfully several times in different directions, but they didn't brake nor loose.

"Fuck!" Penhall cursed aloud and looked at Tom lying on the floor spread on his stomach not too far from him. His back was all in blood which was flowing freely from the wounds forming around him red puddle. He was visibly trembling but fortunately still conscious.

"Tommy?" Doug asked gently, though it didn't meet with any response from his friend. Tom was loosing too much blood and probably he was in shock. It wasn't good. Doug hated to force him to act, but it was the only chance for them to survive.

"Tommy!" He repeated this time with much more force in his voice. "Tom! Wake up!" At last there was slight stirring from the younger man, his eyes became more focused, but still he didn't look up.

"Tom, I need you to stand up and undo my straps." He said forcibly and then looked towards the door. There was small amount of smoke getting inside the room through the small space under it. "Tom! Come on, you have to move! Otherwise we are stuck here to death." Several seconds passed in full of tension silence until Tom gathered himself and moved his hand to support himself and raised his head with visible effort. "Yes! That's it. Come on!"

Tom was trembling badly during all his way up and breathing with exertion, but finally he managed to get on his feet and make one uncertain step towards Doug. But as soon as he put all weight on his injured right leg he stumbled and fell forwards. Fortunately the bars were scarcely one step from him, so that he landed heavily on them and not on the floor. He groaned with pain and reached his hand towards bars in order to prevent his body to slide down.

"Yes! That's my boy!" Doug praised his friend relieved he managed to stay on his feet. "Now move!" He urged. In short time the room filled with smoke; soon it will be impossible to breath. "That's it, Tommy next step." Tom whimpered slightly and his shoulders were shivering. Doug realized that he was crying, though no tears were leaving his eyes. Penhall felt bad forcing Tom to such effort which only caused him more pain. The younger man paled noticeably but with natural stubbornness he fought mutely for every next step. Weak and in pain as he was he also was aware of their desperate situation.

"Yes! That's it Tommy. Keep moving." Doug continued encouraging his friend. With pain tearing his soul he ignored his friends visible suffer. There was no choice. "Now loose the straps."

Tom raised obediently his arms, but in half way they dropped limply and Tom himself swayed dangerously. The movement caused that his new wounds on his back stretched and infuriated pain to almost unbearable level. He stifled cry and leaned on bars powerlessly focusing himself on his legs. He fought to stay upright. The dizziness overwhelmed him. Next to him he heard Doug, talking constantly and soothing.

"It's okay, Tom. Take it easy. Relax."

"Doug?" Tom whispered with effort.

"Yes, Tom?" The man asked surprised and simultaneously relieved that his friend spoke finally.

"Shut up."

Doug grinned widely at the comment and this time mutely observed his friends efforts. With next try Tom managed to reach his hands up and with great effort forced stiff and swollen fingers to manipulate to open the restraints. Doug worried because it took very much time and wondered if Tom succeeds. He was breathing with such effort. The smoke almost reached them.

Then he felt suddenly his hand being unbound, and already he wanted to give cry of triumph when he felt Tom's body slide down. He reached for him immediately and wrapped his free arm around blood soaked waist, trying in the same time not to jar his back.

"Don't give up, Tom. Stay awake!" He pleaded. Tom was breathing shallowly and with visible effort fighting to stay conscious but finally he managed to stand on his feet on his own leaning against Doug with all his weight. "That's it. Now hook your arm around my neck."

In that position, chest to chest, Doug could watch his friend closely. From first moment he saw Tom there was something about him that bothered him but initially he didn't know what it was. And it wasn't about his condition. But when the nearness between them brought Tom's scent of shaving cream and soap Doug's mind made abrupt somersault at the realization. Dressed in different clothes, shaved and washed… What happened here? Did Guardian…? Doug felt bile rising dangerously in his stomach at the thought. It couldn't happen to Tom. It was just imaginable. Although they were running out of time, Doug had to know.

"Tommy?" He asked gently and after his friend acknowledged him by quiet mutter he continued. "What…?" How the hell ask for something like that? "How it happened that you have that white clothes on and I can smell soap? Did Guardian… you know… did he…"

Although Hanson was barely conscious he guessed immediately from Doug's strange and uneasy tone what he was asking about. And Tom didn't want to talk about it nor remember, he refused thinking about that. He strengthened his grip on the bigger man's neck and pressed his face to his chest. He didn't want Doug to look at him.

"Please, don't…" Tom pleaded and inhaled heavily feeling he lacked more and more oxygen. The air was already filled with smoke from fire and he coughed weakly what only initiated next more serious and painful attack of coughs.

Doug didn't waste time any more and immediately, with Tom fighting for breath and almost drooping with all his weight from his neck, worked over his second restrained hand. Soon he was all free. With both arms now he supported Tom and eased him gently on the floor in half sitting position so that only his left arm was leaning against the bars. Hanson calmed now and closed his eyes exhausted.

"Hey, Tom! Don't sleep!" Doug warned and squeezed his arm until Tom opened eyes again. "You can't sleep."

"Okey-dokey." He breathed deathly tired.

"Good." Slightly relieved Doug stood up and went to the door to check if they could use that way out. The air became thick with smoke now, and the man coughed several times on his way. He reached his hand to grab the handle but sudden pain caused him instantly to draw it away.

"Bloody hell!" He cursed and watched his now aching and burned palm. Not wasting any more time he ignored it and went immediately towards bars to check another exit, but on his way he spotted Tom closed his eyes again. He rushed to his side noticing in the same time some strange noise on the other side of the bars. He looked that way and surprised saw Dennis emerging from the staircase.

"Dennis! What took you so long?" Doug asked turning his attention back to Tom. The younger man was breathing very slowly as if in deep sleep. "Shit!" he shouted and patted his cheek slightly. "Tom wake up!"

"What's going on?" Dennis asked looking through parting them bars at Tom's bruised face with anxiety. He noticed with horror his back was all in blood.

"Get us out, man!" Doug ordered panicked. "Tom needs help!" Booker not waiting for another invitation took out from his bag wallet with skeleton keys and moved to the bars gate.

"Damn you Tom! Wake up!" Doug continued waking his friend. This time he hit him a lot stronger what was praised with Hanson's first surprised and then accusing stare.

"You hit me." Tom whispered to Penhall angrily.

"And I will do this one more time if you close your eyes again." Penhall warned, worry clearly audible in his voice.

"Fuck!" Dennis shouted from his place. He manipulated by the padlock once again and then hit it with fury. "The padlock is disabled." He acknowledged Doug looking at him and then thought of something. "I will shoot into this."

"No. You could kill somebody with ricochet." Penhall opposed. "Just break it with the gun. Lever it up."

"Will do." Booker agreed and hurried to struggle with it as said.

Doug on this time watched Tom carefully. His breathing was labored and with every next intake weaker. He was losing his battle.

"Tom fight!" He demanded and took his friend into his strong arms. "Breath!" Doug rested his partners head on his chest and breathed deeply trying not to cough when the irritating smoke made its way through his throat. "See? Breath with me. In… and out. In… and out! Dennis!"

"I'm trying!"

"In… and out, Tommy. Tom?" Doug looked at Hanson's peaceful face suddenly alarmed. There was no sign of breathing anymore. He checked him closely. "Tom! Don't you dare dying on me! Dennis hurry up!" He shouted and immediately breathed air into his friends' lungs.

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