"I need back up now!"
In the van, Mulder was listening with growing concern.
"Agent Scully?" She didn't reply.
"Agent Scully?" Then they heard her scream. Quick as a flash, Mulder ripped off his headset and burst out of the van.
"Mulder!" Skinner ran after him. Mulder kept running, dodging people as he went. He made a sharp right, following the same course as Scully had a few minutes previously. Skinner caught up with him and grabbed his shoulder, forcing him to stop. Mulder struggled against the older man.
"I have to get to her." He easily broke free of Skinner's grasp and continued running. He saw a group of agents up ahead and sped up until he reached them. They were with the girl who was crying and being ushered away by Agent Galvin, wrapped in a blanket.
"Where's Agent Scully?" he demanded.
Agent Stone shrugged. "We don't know. The scream came from up ahead but-" Mulder cut her off before she could finish her sentence.
"Why the hell weren't you here? You were meant to be backing her up! You should've got here quicker." Before she could reply Mulder ran off. After a short while Mulder saw another group of agents. He came to a stop beside them, his breathing quick and shallow.
"Where is she? Where's Agent Scully?" Agent Sawyers stepped forward.
"We came as quickly as we could, but by the time we got here Agent Scully was gone. There was some blood that we're sending off for analysis. We also found this. It's addressed to you." The agent held out a white envelope.
Mulder took it and ripped it open. Inside was a note, written in poison pen. It read, "She'll pay for what you did." Inside Mulder's mind, something clicked. The person that had been sending him the notes and photos was the same guy they were investigating. What was his name? Evan Chandler. He must've known that they were going to be here today. The whole kidnapping thing had been a scam to bring him to our attention. All so he could take Scully. No, wait. It was something he had done. He had taken Scully to get to him. But why? Skinner's voice broke through his reverie.
"Agent Mulder. Agent Mercer found this hanging from a tree." Skinner held out his hand. In it was Scully's necklace. Mulder took it from him and slipped it into his pocket. "Her mother needs to be notified. We may have a ransom situation here." Mulder shook his head.
"He won't want a ransom. He's doing all this to get at me."
"What are you talking about?"
"This was found at the scene. It was addressed to me." He handed the note to Skinner who took it and read it. Mulder continued talking. "I've received three other notes in the past week. They had photos of Scully with them." Mulder felt in his inside pocket and pulled out the other envelopes. The unopened one he'd received a few days ago fell out and landed silently on the ground. "Make that four," he added as he stooped to pick it up.
He ripped it open and pulled out the contents. Another note. This one read, "It is almost time." Mulder flipped to the photos. One showed Scully out running. It was a hot day; she was only wearing shorts and a white t-shirt. In the second she was in her bathroom clad only in a towel. Her hair was damp, suggesting she'd just gotten out of the shower. Mulder felt a sick feeling like lead in the pit of his stomach. He handed the newest photos over to Skinner, who regarded them.
"Why didn't you inform me of this as soon as you received the first one?" He shrugged.
"I thought I could protect her," he replied quietly. " I couldn't, and now she's been taken and it's all my fault."
"Which is all the more reason for you to work with us to find her. We need to inform the Deputy Director about this. Then you can try and figure out where Chandler knows you and why he wants to make you pay."
"I'll get to work on that Sir," he replied, turning to leave.
"Mulder," Skinner called after him. "We will find her. And we'll find her alive." Mulder just walked sadly away.
It had been easy enough. He wished he hadn't had to knock her out though; that hadn't been part of the plan. But then again, he hadn't planned on her putting up that much of a fight. She was still unconscious now as he watched her. A thin trickle of dried blood ran from her hairline. He had tied her to a chair and gagged her with masking tape, just incase she decided to kick up a fuss when she came to.
She still looked beautiful, eyes closed, completely oblivious to her current surroundings. With a smile, he raised his Nikon to his eyes and snapped a picture of her. Yes, that would be a good one to send to the arrogant prick. He hoped he was suffering now. Even if it was just half as much as he'd made him suffer, that would still be good. He sat, still watching her, waiting for her to wake up. That was when the real fun would start.