Static.
That's what Grace could hear.
No clear words or sounds. Just continuous noise, like you would hear on an old tv.
And she was moving, swaying, like she was on a boat.
The sound was growing louder. Surrounding her.
Grace tried to open her eyes. She groaned against the surface she rested on.
"Ah, so the teacher awakes." A voice said from above. He had a thick Russian accent.
"What happened?" She mumbled. Her eyes opened but all she saw was darkness. "Where am I?"
"All will be explained soon."
"Why can't I see?" She could feel something covering her head.
"Because he doesn't want you to. Not yet."
"Who are you talking about? Who are you?" She groaned as whatever she was lying on moved.
"All will be explained in time, kotyonok."
Her ears pricked at that word.
"Whatever you just called me, don't do it again." She warned.
"Anything you say, kotik." She could hear the smirk in his voice.
"My name is Grace."
"We know that already, darling Grace. And much more."
She frowned slightly in concern. What did he mean by that?
As she was about to ask another question, the man seemed to walk through a door.
The sound she heard before now sounded like a crashing waterfall falling all around her.
The man, who she now understood was carrying her, called out in another language to someone over the noise.
"This is where we part ways, kotik. I am sorry you never got to enjoy your pizza." And with that he unceremoniously dropped her into a chair.
She landed with a yelp. Still not being able to see what was going on and unable to hear anything over the constant noise, Grace tried to push herself to stand, but found herself pushed back down by someone much stronger than her. She tried to move her arms, but her hands seemed to be fused together with some tape.
Her breathing began to quicken.
"Hello? What's going on?" She called out.
Grace jumped when she heard what sounded like someone else screaming against a gag. It was muffled, but loud enough for her to think they were close.
"Do you doubt us now?" A robotic sounding voice startled her.
The screaming man grunted as if he'd been punched.
"Forgive me, I forgot we impaired you. Remove his gag."
"Grace, I'm sorry. I'm so sor-" She heard the man grunt again.
At that Grace startled.
Grace would know the voice of her brother anywhere.
Patrick was here? Why? What on earth was happening?
"I'm afraid it is too late for forgiveness." The robotic voice spoke.
"Patrick, what's going on?" She called out.
Suddenly, whatever was blocking her sight was removed from her head.
She squinted at the artificial lighting that burned her eyes.
As she took in her surroundings, her eyes landed on her brother.
He was in the same clothes he was wearing when they met at the café on Tuesday.
He looked broken and beaten. His left eye was closed and looked swollen. His lip was busted, and his nose was stained with dried blood. His body looked limp. He was being held up by two men in military style gear.
"What happened to you? Where are we?"
"He is home. And you, my dear, are my guest." The robotic voice spoke.
She finally allowed her eyes to drift to the imposing figure standing a few feet from her brother.
A gasp caught in her throat.
He was tall and broad in stature. This man was built of formidable muscle and strength that towered above all in the area. Grace wasn't sure if she should call him a man thanks to the contraption surrounding his face. She was reminded of a spider.
There was a strange hissing sound in the air, and it took her a moment to gauge that it was coming from the man's mask.
His heavy combat gear made him look like he was ready for a war.
All the other men looked like soldiers and her brother looked like a prisoner.
What did that make her?
His steely eyes dived into her soul. She couldn't breathe as their eyes met.
"Who are you?" She asked.
"My name is not important. You have much bigger worries that should be at the forefront of your mind."
"Why am I here? Why do you have my brother?" She was growing frantic. She wanted to go home. She wanted to get herself and her brother out of here.
Maybe she should have taken his phone call about leaving Gotham more seriously.
The giant man ignored her questions and turned back to her brother.
"Now do you understand the consequences of your actions, Mr Fitzgerald?"
"Yes, I'm sorry. P-please just don't hurt her. She didn't have any part in this."
"But that is no longer the case. You called her this afternoon and tried to warn her about our operation." Grace could hear the accusation in the man's voice.
"No, I didn't say anything about you. I just wanted her to get out of the city. To be safe."
"And how has that worked out for her?"
He left the question to hang in the air.
Grace tried to wriggle herself free from the duct tape holding her wrists in place.
"Stay still." A harsh voice whispered behind her.
She turned her neck to the side to see a smaller man with a red scarf, holding the largest gun she'd ever seen.
It was enough to get her to stop.
"What do you want from me?" Patrick finally uttered.
"You already know the answer to your question."
"I already fixed your security bugs and gave you back the money."
"Money? What money?" She tried to get Patrick's attention around the masked man. The man with the gun kicked her chair. He gave her another look to be quiet.
"The money your brother stole from us."
Patrick stole from them? Why would he do something that stupid?
"I will do anything you want, just don't hurt my sister." He begged.
The man looked as if he was considering Patrick's offer. He turned to look at Grace and it took all her strength not to look away.
"Do you swear?" He looked back at Patrick.
Patrick audibly swallowed. "I swear."
"Good. That's settled." He tilted his head slightly. The two men holding her brother let him go and he fell to the floor. Grace yelped as he landed on his side with a loud thud. "You officially work for me now."
"And you'll let her go?" Patrick asked with hope in his good eye.
"That was not part of the deal, Mr Fitzgerald. Your only request was that she was not to be harmed." She could hear the smirk in his voice as the hope died in her brother's eye.
"But she's a teacher. They'll notice she's gone when she doesn't turn up for work."
"Oh really?" He mocked. "Then isn't it fortunate that your sister booked a flight to Shannon Airport, departing tonight. And luckily, she had the foresight to email her colleagues to let them know she would be unreachable over the mid-term."
Patrick looked ashen at that. His eyes looked over to Grace who nodded guiltily. Patrick sighed dejectedly. His plan to save her failed.
"It seems the luck of the Irish has run out. Your little scheme did not work."
With those words she was unceremoniously lifted and thrown over someone's broad shoulders.
She yelped in disorientation.
"Patrick!" She called in desperation.
"Grace! Grace! Where is he taking her?" She heard Patrick yell as she moved further away.
"That is no longer your concern. Now get back to work." The masked man ordered. "You will need to earn my trust once more. Or your sister will suffer."
"Where are you taking me?" She asked the person carrying her.
They seemed to be heading further underground.
The man ignored her.
They were away from the sound of rushing water.
A corridor with a low lighting greeted her when she lifted her head with what little strength she had.
He stopped walking and she heard him open a rusty-sounding door. The room was dark, but the man seemed to know where he was going.
He dumped her on a rigid surface.
"Enjoy your stay. Watch out for the rats." The voice laughed as he cut open the tape.
Her head whipped up at that.
But before she could see his face, the door slammed, leaving her in darkness.