"Dinner Ezekiel."
The Black Crow's haunting voice was like an echo in the dark. Zeke's ears rang with the sound as he held his head up. It was still pitch black, and he couldn't tell where the voice was coming from. He didn't know how long it had been, but he was exhausted.
Memories flooded his mind of when this happened with Jared. He remembered sitting there, taking punch after punch. Not able to scream or escape. His hands bound at his sides, not able to fight back after each insult.
He never trusted Jared after that. Even though he was undercover, something still felt off.
The Black Crow slid a plate of something across the floor and over to Zeke, causing him to flinch.
"What's this?" He asked. His voice was equivalent to the sound of a car driving over a gravel covered path. Rough, hoarse and broken.
"I have to feed you before I kill you." The Black Crow replied. "I'm not a psychopath."
Zeke didn't answer, because the truth behind that statement was clear.
Suddenly there was silence, and in that emptiness Zeke could feel him. It was as if he was in his body, and not his mind. He felt him walking away. But he couldn't let him leave without getting some answers.
"Hey!" Zeke yelled, feeling himself return. "Is Eagan ok? I haven't heard him speak since I woke up."
The Black Crow was still. Even without words his spirit was clear. His sentiment was strong. He laughed, causing Zeke's stomach to turn. An uneasy feeling developed deep inside of him. This wasn't good.
"Oh, that guy?" He said with a gesture in Eagan's direction. "He's fine, just drugged." His voice almost sounded perky… Happy even. "Really, really drugged."
Zeke panicked. Even though he felt sober, he knew he was hurt... And bad. So he wasn't sure if it was his brain numbing the pain, or his body's response to something it shouldn't have ingested. "You didn't-"
"- No I didn't drug you Ezekiel." He was reassuring him. But why? "I know you're an addict."
Zeke wanted to cry, maybe even scream again, but he knew he had to save his energy. This scum bag wasn't worth losing all sense over.
"Not anymore." Zeke breathed, careful not to show too much vulnerability. He couldn't let on that he was angry… not again. But all The Black Crow did was scoff. Again with the taunting. And Zeke thought Eagan was bad.
He felt The Black Crow grow shorter in his stance, shrinking down to his level. Zeke didn't know what the purpose was. To intimidate him and show off some grit? He wasn't sure. Leverage? Maybe. But once The Black Crow muttered these next few words, Zeke realized the exact reason why. "Once an addict, always an addict."
Zeke's rebuttal was instant. Barely a second passing by before opening his mouth again. "Not when you have something to stay clean for."
The Black Crow softened at his comment. For the first time, Zeke felt him become vulnerable. But that feeling was gone in an instant, as he stood up taller. Now he was no longer at Zeke's level. His stance changed, like a bird getting ready to fly. Opening it's wings and springing at something that was dead on the ground.
"Huh. You really think Michaela Stone loves you more than her ex fiance?"
Zeke furrowed his brow. "What are you talking about?"
"Her only marrying you because you were dying of course."
How did The Black Crow know this? Zeke's mind went in a million different directions. Who was this person?
He saw Zeke's anger penetrate through the darkness. "Oh, don't be upset, Ezekiel." But it was too late. He was seething. His blood boiled. His insecurities were now raw and exposed. His heart felt like it was bleeding all over the floor for everyone to see.
He never actually voiced those feelings to anyone but Beverly. And even then, she was feeling his emotions. He wasn't actually talking about them.
"You won't have to worry about her anymore." The Black Crow spoke. Zeke's tears falling softly, like drips of water down an almost empty spigot. "Soon, you'll both be dead."
Zeke screamed with all the power in his lungs, slamming his body in the chair, and thrashing back and forth like a shark in a frenzy. "Don't you dare touch her!"
But The Black Crow ignored his comment. "See you in the morning, Ezekiel." And with that he was gone.
He closed his eyes, hearing his footsteps fade. But immediately he shot them back open when he heard Eagan groan.
"Zeke." Eagan said with a cough. "Where are we?"
He felt himself relax, relief filling his body. "Oh my god Eagan!" He yelled. "Are you ok?!" Eagan began coughing again, attempting to reply, but only managing to slur out some gibberish. The drugs were only just starting to wear off, so he knew he had a long way to go before they were out of his system. This is the worst place to detox, Zeke thought.
Finally he was able to let out a coherent sentence. "We have to- get out."
"No need!" Eagan was interrupted with a familiar voice. Well, familiar to Zeke. But why was he back again? They were face to face with the Black Crow now, his body creeping up in front of them like a snake. They didn't even hear him breathe.
"Michaela is coming." He said in a sing-songy voice. Like a demonic rhyme from a possessed Jack-in-the-box. "I asked her to meet me here tomorrow."
Zeke faced him in shock. Why was he letting him go back to his wife? Why was he bringing her here?
"Don't get too excited." He began, beckoning Zeke to slide to the edge of his chair in suspense.
"I'm bringing her here I can kill you both of course."
Zeke wanted to jump out and strangle him. To pull the hood back and beat him senseless. To make him wish he was the one who would die.
"Why kill one without the other? First you, then your precious bride. A two for one special!" The Black Crow laughed. His voice a haunting echo in an empty room. "Once she sees you gone, it'll be easy to get her too."
Zeke stared at the surroundings he didn't recognize. It was empty, dark. The light barely able to seep through the singular window in the corner. The thought of losing the love of his life gripping at his chest, threatening to spill over and take his soul in the process.
"She'll stop you." He replied. Feeling defeated and broken, he pushed forwards, holding onto faith. Mick was gonna get there, and she was gonna save him. He knew it. He felt it.
"Here. I'll take off the chains for your last night." The Black Crow was sincere, his tone condescending… yet kind.
He threw Zeke onto the ground, the impact forcing what little air there was in his lungs to escape. The food at his feet went flying in the opposite direction as his feet hit the floor.
The Black Crows crooked smile was the last thing Zeke caught sight of before he disappeared back into the darkness. "Sleep tight."
"Mick!" Ben yelled as he trecked behind her. Her stride was fast, almost a jog. "Mick!" But she didn't turn back as if she wasn't even there to begin with. She was lost in her thoughts, the other world in her mind. He kept walking. Him and Drea following behind as fast as they could, but Mick's pace was only gaining momentum. He yelled again. This time, he and Drea stopped, Mick still walking ahead. "Mick!"
"What?!" She replied, stopping in her tracks and whipping herself around.
"This is insane!" He yelled as he threw his hands in the air.
He always did that when he was upset. Mick couldn't help but notice the mannerism, as it was something he shared with their dad... and it was something that kind of annoyed her.
Drea finally caught up to Ben, as she was lagging behind just moments before. She stood by his side, trying to catch her breath. "We don't have any backup Michaela."
Ben looked over at her, then back to his sister. "What are we even gonna do when we get there? We don't have a plan!"
"Kill The Black Crow." Michaela replied. There was no hesitation in her voice.. And that worried them.
"You really wanna live with someone else's blood on your hands?" Ben asked, not realizing the weight of what he just asked. Mick bit her lip, anger bubbling out of her.
"I already am." Ben let his head sink, remorse and regret filling his eyes. "Evie died. Remember?"
Ben kept his head down, his eyes scanning his surroundings as he searched for an answer. He brought his gaze back up to her a few moments later, taking a wider stance as he tried finangle his way around his vocabulary. He had no idea how to respond. "Mick I'm so-"
"So... what Ben? She stepped closer to him, the darkness looming behind her like a cloud. She couldn't control herself anymore. Her emotions were flooding out, and once she started, she couldn't stop. "Sorry that my best friend died in my car?" She asked, a tear falling down her face.
Even after these last couple of years, she couldn't talk about Evie without feeling a lump in her throat.
She was everything to her.
And she lost that everything when she killed her.
But Zeke… finding Zeke brought that back. He brought back the life in her eyes. The spark that thrilled her into actually living. He gave her back that giddy, childlike faith… and a joy she never thought she'd have again.
Ben felt nothing but sorry for his little sister. She didn't deserve all of this loss. Any of it for that matter.
Mick went on in the conversation, pushing through the anger and sadness as her mind went to Zeke. This is what she was doing this for. "You know... tragedy after tragedy keeps happening, and all I want to do is be happy with my husband." She had hit her breaking point. The tears that had been building practically choking her, and stopping her from being able to speak.
Ben walked to her, wrapping her in his arms. Drea following suit. "I know." He whispered into her ear as she cried. Her arms hugged him tighter after each breath she took. "I know."
But something inside of him changed as he lifted her head. He cupped her face, wiping a falling tear. "So let's go save him."
Mick let go, her face searching his. "What?" She asked. And in that moment she finally felt heard by Ben.
She finally felt seen.
No longer having to hold him back from going too far. No longer feeling like she had to fix it all herself. He was listening. Really listening.
"You're right." He apologized. "If it was Grace being held like that, I would've already raided the place." Drea nodded at his comment with a slight smile. "He's right you know."
Mick nodded back at her, a new found pride filling her body. "Ok." She exhaled, grabbing onto Drea's hand. "Let's go get my husband."
They ran through the night like predators chasing their prey. The fight to save Zeke propelling them forward. Once they made it, they didn't even take a second to catch their breath. They stared at the warehouse door, prepping themselves for what was to come next.
It was some sort of loft space, industrial rather than wooden. It was big. A place none of them recognized.
"What is this place?" Drea asked, voicing everyone's question. She's seen a lot in her career, but something about this was different. Well, anything with 828 involved was different. Ben took a deep inhale, not knowing either. "Perfect rendezvous place for a kidnapping." He replied somewhat sarcastically.
Mick gave him a look, walking in front of him and standing in line with Drea.
Drea lifted her head to look over at her, grabbing her gun and placing it strategically in her hands. "You ready?"
Mick took her gun out of it's holster, letting it sink into her hands as well. Whenever she held it... she felt confident… safe. She cocked it sharply, looking back over at hr friend. Her eyes practically answering for her.
"I've been ready."
That was when she kicked down the door.
Hey guys! So sorry for the delay on this chapter. I would've had it out sooner, but life has been crazy! If you didn't know, I'm making a big move in a few weeks, and have SO much to get done. But luckily I have the time to write... as it's the only thing keeping me sane at the moment LOL.
In other news, you guys are gonna find out who The Black Crow is NEXT CHAPTER! Please leave me your final guesses! Find me on Twitter (Mendozas_Closet if you didn't already know!) and spam me! LOL. As always, let me know what you thought of this chapter, and your predicitons on what's to come!
Get ready for chapter 11!
Love you all!
The Color Gray
