=Normal POV=
{Thursday, June 16, 2022-8:30 pm}
(Dragon Hunter; Abandoned Warehouse)
Two full days that Hiccup had been kept a prisoner in the underground basement of the warehouse. Hiccup remained chained unless he was working, and forced to at that. If Hiccup refused, he was beaten for five minutes. Every time he said no; he would get hurt. And there were no restrictions on what they did as long as no one killed him. Johann and Krogan always watched closely to whatever was happening, and occasionally; they would jump in to add a few punches and kicks. The other punishments besides the basics were a few belt whippings or no food at the upcoming meal. Hiccup's bathroom usage was kept to a bucket in the corner, and he would have to dump out and clean it among any other chores he was given. Tons of workers were in and out of this warehouse all day and all night. Hiccup usually had to act like a slave and do whatever they said.
Hiccup's workload didn't have a start or end; it was whatever someone said. Hiccup had to clean the stables, kitchen, bathrooms, storage areas, even cook or get drinks. Hiccup's hands remained chained to the walls while in the cellar, but when he was working; there would be ropes binding his wrists together and he had to do everything with his wrists like this. Thankfully, Hiccup adapted rather quickly, but there were times he refused and would get his ass beat for such. The beatings did also happen because people just felt like getting back at him for previous battles when he was protecting Astrid over that last five or six months. Hiccup was sick too; the migraines made it hard for him to do much or anything; they would fade at night but usually come back by mid-morning. On top of that; Hiccup was dealing with a stomachache, sore body, and nausea. Sometimes he would throw up, and others; the feeling was just there.
Hiccup knew they were watching him with cameras, so they knew he was sick and made him do more. And Hiccup knew he had no privacy when using the bathroom either. Hiccup, most of the time, would try to hold it as long as he could, but eventually; he had no choice but to give in and use the bucket. Literally, no matter where he was or what time; if he had to go, they would take him back into the cellar to relieve himself. The food portions, when he was allowed to eat were something for the size of a five-year-old. Sometime; he wouldn't get to eat at all, or they would just give him something ridiculously small like a granola bar. It sucked; the entire situation was awful, but what more could he do. Escape attempts had all failed, and he'd get hurt more too. The farthest Hiccup made it was outside the warehouse and yell for help before getting tackled down, then beat up for pulling such a stunt.
Hiccup was actually getting a bit nervous that he hadn't been found yet. Tomorrow morning, Drago will have returned, and there was no telling when the man would come to kill him.
"Get back to work, boy!" Johann ordered, cracking the leather belt against Hiccup's back.
"Dude, I stopped for literally a second," Hiccup sassed. Johann backed-handed him as Hiccup spit out a little blood.
"Shut up," Johann demanded as he raised the belt again.
"Okay, okay! Fucking Gods…Lay off. I'm working…" Hiccup glared but got back to work regardless. Time is almost up, guys…Go to plan B… Hiccup thought, hoping Viggo and Ryker were following his instructions to go seek more help if they were unable to get to him.
. . .
(Town of Dragon Hunter; Grimborn Apartment)
"Ryker, we've gone as far as we can go!" Viggo yelled at his older brother. "We've spent two days following leads, and all we've learned is what we already know. Hiccup was kidnapped, Johann is involved, and if we don't find Hiccup by tomorrow morning; he'll be killed," he added softer.
"Viggo, you don't get the risk we take," Ryker reminded.
"I know what is at stake, brother, but so is Hiccup's life if we don't get some real help in locating him. All we have is word of mouth from eavesdropping on others. And we can't simply go ask Krogan or Johann; they'll know something is up. ABI and Archia Isle police can help, Ryker. We have no choice and no time…It's time to resort to plan B, as instructed," Viggo stated.
"And how can we prove we're not working for Drago? They'll think we had a hand in it," Ryker growled.
"It's a chance we take; I'm sure Hiccup can clear things up when he's rescued, but for now…His life is in danger, and he's counting on us. We mustn't let him down," Viggo put a hand on Ryker's shoulder. "Everything will be fine,"
"I trust you, brother. Where do we start?" Ryker sighed, defeated.
"If I'm not mistaken; a temporary base of operations was set up at Hiccup's home. Everyone will be there, and that's where we need to go," Viggo said as Ryker nodded. The two brothers grabbed whatever they might need to assist; then exited on Frelser, Viggo's Monstrous Nightmare to get to Berk.
. . .
=Astrid's POV=
{9 pm}
(Berk; Haddock Manor)
Hiccup has been gone two full days, and every day I begin to lose a little faith that he'll be found alive. I can't help it; I know Hiccup said that no matter what; he would come back, but this was hard to keep that belief knowing Drago put a hit out on Hiccup to be killed or captured, then killed by Drago himself. What was I supposed to believe here? There has been nothing to tell us if he's okay or where he is. I'd settle for just knowing if he's okay, but it's tearing me apart to wonder if he's been killed already and buried in some shallow grave. School hasn't been the same without Hiccup, and these graduation preparations only make me and my friends miserable because we should have been with Hiccup knowing he was a target. That's all Hiccup did for me, went with me everywhere when I was the person they wanted, and Hiccup was left open to be attacked or taken. All of us felt horrible; Hiccup was sick on Tuesday with a migraine to boot. We should have had his back, and instead…We all let him down when he needed us the most.
Currently, my friends were over as they did every night now and would do until something developed in this case.
"It's getting late…" Ruffnut said.
"We should be leaving soon," Nadia agreed.
"Why don't we head downstairs to say goodbye and goodnight?" Dagur offered.
"I'll walk you down," I said sadly as I got off of Hiccup's bed and moved with them out of the room and downstairs. We went to the Great Room where Stoick and Valka were, Gobber too.
"Heading out for the night lads and lasses?" Gobber asked upon seeing us.
"Well, Adelaide, me, and Fishlegs are staying," Snotlout shrugged.
"The rest of us think it's time to head home," Heather informed softly.
"Get home safely," Stoick informed.
"Chief! Come here, quick. We got something!" someone yelled. My heart began to pound in my chest as everyone's eyes widened and hurried into the Ballroom, where more police and ABI work was happening. Spitelout, Alvin and Hoark hurried in as we all decided that going home didn't matter anymore. Two full days, and finally, something seemed to be happening. I led the group behind Stoick, Valka, and Gobber as there was a lot of people present in this room suddenly.
"What have we got?" Alvin asked.
"These two were let in by the head of staff after claiming they have information about the case," informed an officer.
"What do you know about my son's kidnapping!" Valka demanded as she broke through the rest.
"Valka," Spitelout warned as Stoick and Gobber pulled the frantic woman back.
"First of all, who are you two?" Hoark inquired.
"I am Viggo Grimborn, and this is my older brother, Ryker. Please, we've only come to offer as much aid as possible in locating Hiccup Haddock," Viggo introduced.
"Viggo and Ryker Grimborn. Residence in the town of Dragon Hunter and share an apartment. Viggo and Ryker have daughters as well. Viggo, father of Katja Oliversen-Grimborn who resides in Hysteria with her mother, Kelda, and uncle, Brendan. And Ryker, father of Ver-," I saw Camicazi gasp a bit.
"Oh, my Gods! I know you!" Camicazi announced. "You're Verena's father!" she added. "Verena a few years younger than us; she attends Bog-Burglar Academy and lives on campus there, but used to stay at the house with my mom and me because my mother is her legal Godmother after Hertha Vollan passed away in childbirth! Verena is basically my step-sister…"
"So good to see you again, Camicazi. How is your mother?" Ryker inquired gently.
"This is not the time," Hoark glared. "Agent Ovesen, continue please?" he glanced.
"Yes, sir. What Miss. Boggs said is the truth regarding Ryker Grimborn's daughter. And…Both of them, are employed by Drago Bludvist as Dragon Hunters, sir," the man, Agent Ovesen, trailed off.
"Arrest them!" Hoark demanded.
"No, please. You misunderstand…" Viggo tried as officers began to close in. I recognized this man's voice, but couldn't pinpoint where from.
"We work for Hiccup!" Ryker insisted. As soon as he said that; I pushed my way through and saw the brothers standing there. These were the two who told me that I was safe because they worked for Hiccup! I panted as I hurried forward in front of them.
"Wait! No, stop! Agent Haggard, don't arrest them!" I urged.
"Miss. Hofferson, do not interfere. They work for the man who ordered your boyfriend to be-," Hoark started, but I glared.
"It's just a cover!" I yelled out, silencing the room.
"Excuse me?" Hoark stared.
"It's just…A cover that it says they work for Drago Bludvist…" I tried to catch my breath. "They are telling the truth; they work for Hiccup…"
"And you're certain of this fact?" Spitelout stepped up now. I nodded my head.
"The day I was taken into the forest, so Johann could trade my freedom for the Dragon Eye…These two were the brothers who told Johann not to hurt me because it wasn't the plan…Viggo and Ryker informed me that they work for Hiccup, and he ordered them to keep me safe in the event Hiccup was not around to protect me…," I explained.
"Can you prove Hiccup knows them?" Hoark sighed.
"Give me Hiccup's phone…" I held my hand out. Hoark nodded to his workers as Hiccup's phone was given to me. I scrolled the contacts until I found the one that made sense. VG. It had to stand for Viggo Grimborn, and that was the caller the night of the Prom when Hiccup and I were almost shot. I pressed the contact as moments later, Viggo's cell phone was ringing. "May I?" I asked. Viggo handed it to me as I showed Hoark the screen revealing the contact ID of Hiccup Haddock. "And Ryker is in Hiccup's phone as RG," I informed. "They work for Hiccup…So please don't arrest them because they are here to help,"
"I retract my orders, do not arrest them," Hoark stated firmly as the officers backed off.
"Thank you, Miss. Hofferson," Viggo offered a bow once I gave him his phone back.
"You're welcome…And you can repay me by telling us where Hiccup is," I said.
"Unfortunately, we do not know. The information hasn't been made public to Drago's organization," Ryker enlightened as I sighed heavily.
"If you have nothing to offer; then why come," Stoick asked.
"Following orders of Hiccup," Viggo remarked.
"You've made contact!? Is my baby boy okay?!" Valka asked quickly.
"Alright, everyone needs to back off and let the officers and my team handle this!" Hoark said sternly. "You said you've come to help, but are on Hiccup's orders to do so. Have you made contact with him in the last two days?"
"Hiccup messaged me on Tuesday at 3:40 pm from the cell phone belonging to Johann Traytor. I tried to message and call back, but to no avail I'm afraid. I was given an automated reply that the phone was no longer in service. I'm led to believe Hiccup managed to get one message through, then destroyed the device to keep Johann or anyone else around him from discovering who he was contacting," Viggo explained.
"And why would he contact you over his family?" Gobber questioned.
"As we said; we work for Hiccup, and we've been undercover on his instructions in Drago's operations since January," Ryker informed. "Our job was to discover Drago's connection to the deaths of Colden and Alva Hofferson, and why he was after the remaining survivor,"
"And Hiccup ordered all this?" I looked at them.
"Yes, Ma'am," Viggo replied.
"This is something I would like to know more about. However, my concern is Hiccup. How much can you tell us about the kidnapping? And what did Hiccup's message to you say?" Spitelout pushed now. Viggo brought up the message and handed his phone to Hoark to let him see.
"I understand the first bit, but why the second?" Alvin looked at the brothers.
"The hit out on Hiccup was to either kill or bring in to be killed," Ryker said.
"Yes, we know…But why does it say find him before Friday, that's tomorrow," Hoark asked.
"We're unsure of the location, but Drago left the Archipelago on business on Monday. As far as we know; he returns Friday. I assume that's what the message Hiccup was trying to convey is," Viggo stated. "Drago must be coming back Friday, and will kill Hiccup then, so for now; Hiccup is just being held prisoner,"
"And the second part, about resorting to Plan B?" Spitelout pushed more.
"Plan B is we come to you," Ryker mentioned.
"At the start of this infiltration and reconnaissance job, Hiccup stated that on the off chance something goes wrong and he is kidnapped in a situation he couldn't make contact, escape on his own, or we're unable to find him ourselves; we come to the police and offer whatever we can to assist their efforts," Viggo enlightened calmly.
"So he's okay? He's alive?" I asked quickly, my hope being restored.
"I'm sure he's not being treated like a king wherever he is, but I can say without that he's still alive…For now," Ryker reminded.
"What my brother means is that time is of the essence as tomorrow is Friday, and we're unsure of when Drago will be returning to finish Hiccup off. We've come because our undercover position in the organization hasn't allowed us to learn much about the status of Hiccup's kidnapping, and time is running out, so we've come to you combine our efforts to locate him," Viggo explained.
"We normally don't do this, but time is not on our side. We need to find Hiccup now, so give us whatever you can," Hoark looked at them.
"Krogan Hunters and Johann Traytor have to be with him; they are Drago's righthand men when he isn't around. Drago has training locations all over the Archipelago, but those are the ones on the books and legally run if it can be said that way," Ryker started.
"Yes, we've had trouble busting him because of those facts, and we have him for a lot of things; we just need Hiccup as the eyewitness to it all since he's apparently been directly inside everything," Spitelout muttered.
"So what can you give us that may narrow down a possible location?" Gobber stepped up.
"Drago has warehouses to conduct his under the radar business; these sit on the borders of the Archipelago walls in all four directions," Viggo grabbed a few push pins and placed them North, East, South, and West on the map sitting on the corkboard. "We don't know precisely where they are located, but we know that Krogan was last seen heading North to the Town of Dragon Hunter on his Singetail,"
"Then that's where we'll look," Hoark said snapping his fingers.
"Or…" Ryker stopped them. "You could let us find out for sure so we don't waste time with a search where they could possibly spot you and move the boss," he suggested.
"How do you intend to do that?" I asked.
"Simple. I have Krogan's number," Viggo folded his arms over his chest. "Let one of us call and talk to him,"
"How do we know you won't-," Hoark began.
"Hoark, no time to question their loyalty! If we don't find Hiccup by tomorrow; he'll be killed. I'm not losing the chance we have to get a location and storm the place, or that Drago finds out we're too close, and he orders for Hiccup just to be taken out," Spitelout glared, then looked at Viggo and Ryker. "Do it, but I want to hear everything,"
"Done," Ryker nodded.
"Everyone else, complete silence," Spitelout ordered.
"This is my investigation," Hoark huffed.
"And it's my nephew's life, Hoark. We can catch Drago and his organization any day, but Hiccup's time is running short. Saving him matters more than catching the bad guys," Spitelout retorted. Hoark had nothing to say as he gave in and nodded. Viggo lifted his phone and dialed Krogan, setting in on speakerphone.
"What?" came Krogan's voice. "I'm a little busy, Grimborn,"
"We haven't had any jobs in a week. My brother and I do have bills and children to take care of," Viggo remarked.
"The biggest job was dealt with already," Krogan replied.
"And that would be?" Viggo inquired. In the background; the sound of someone yelling at someone else was heard.
"Give it up, kid. We're just gonna keep kicking your ass until tomorrow night when the boss comes to finish you off himself,"
There was coughing. "No," That was Hiccup's voice!
"Just do what you're told, wouldn't that be easier?"
"Who said…I liked to do things easy…" Hiccup panted.
"If I didn't know any better; I'd say you like the abuse,"
"Nah. I've just had worse training sessions with my Godfather. This is nothing…" Hiccup chuckled weakly.
"Oh, really?" the voice asked as a loud whip sound was hard. "Got nothing to say now, do you?"
"Got plenty," Hiccup retorted.
"Give up; no one is coming for you," a voice informed.
"I beg to differ. Give me all you got, but I won't break, and I won't give in. Beat me, whip me, burn me…I don't care what you do, but I swear that I will not die here. Someone will come, or I will find a way to escape. So how about you go fuck yourself?" Hiccup scoffed.
"Will you shut him up!" Krogan ordered.
"Having a hard time making your prisoner follow orders?" Ryker snickered.
"Zip it, Grimborn," came Johann's voice. "And you four, knock that brat out. I don't care how you do it…"
I felt my heart clench up as I heard a series of punching and kicking; Hiccup was getting his ass kicked. "Gods, he is annoying," Krogan remarked.
"Why you little-," someone howled in pain.
"For Odin's sake; the boy is only eighteen and chained up by his arms to a wall! Can the four of you not handle him?!" Johann asked.
"None of you can stand against me…One way or the other; I will walk away from this. Come on, you've had me two days, and I've managed to break free and get out at least twice. Face it; I'm too clever for you idiots," Hiccup laughed a bit.
"Would you please shut the fuck up!?" one begged.
"Sure, as soon as you let me the fuck go," Hiccup replied.
"Not a chance, boy. Now, stop causing such a fuss and be a good prisoner slave. If you can't listen, maybe I should go after your pretty little blond-haired girl or that adorable baby girl of yours? I bet you'll do anything for them," a male snickered.
There was a short silence. I bit my bottom lip as Ryker and Viggo looked at me curiously. "Touch anyone of my family, friends, my girlfriend or my daughter and I fucking promise you that no amount of chains, rope, or anything else you try to take me down with will stop me from gruesomely murdering you in cold blood with a goddamn smile on my face," Hiccup warned in a flat, cold, voice. I'd never heard it before and I could only imagine the look on his face when he said it.
"You wouldn't dare; you'll go to prison," the man challenged, but there was fear in his voice.
"Won't I? Test the theory and find out. I fucking dare you. Who is gonna stop me? The police? The ABI? No, my friend. A moment of extreme distress can easily be turned into an insanity plea. I go away to a psych hospital for a few weeks, but then I'm out; free and clear to continue living my life as if nothing happened," Hiccup informed cooly.
"You got nothing, kid. You're stuck here, and you aren't strong enough to do anything to stop me from going after them," the man remarked. Seconds after he said it, there was a loud sound of something getting hit hard.
"Ow!" a voice growled. There was a loud thud and grunt.
"Not strong enough? That's what you said, right? Chained and beaten up, but I still put you on your ass. Maybe next time you shouldn't have your face so close to mine," Hiccup said casually.
"He knocked him out cold," one complained. "I did not sign up to get my ass beat by a sarcastic teenager. I'm out of here,"
"Same here," another remarked.
"Get back here and deal with him!" Johann ordered. "He's just a chained up, sick, and defenseless kid!"
"Defenseless?! He knocked out our friend by headbutting him once; then kicking his feet out from under him all while chained! You wanna come over here and take care of him, be my friggin guest!" one of the men sassed.
"With pleasure," Johann said. Instantly the sound of chains jingling was heard; then someone gasping for air and coughing; it was Hiccup, and it sounded like he was being choked.
"Johann, stop. Johann! Johann, enough; you'll kill him!" Krogan said quickly. Everything went quiet. "What the fuck is wrong with you!" Krogan demanded. At that moment, I felt my heart stop. Was Hiccup dead? "You're goddamn lucky that he's still breathing. Everyone out of the cellar! And you, Johann. I don't care how annoying or disobedient the little shit gets; no killing. I know how easy it would be, and believe me; I'd love to shoot him between the eyes or watch the life drain from his eyes as I choke the life out of him…But Drago will have both our heads," Krogan warned.
"So…? Any work for us?" Ryker inquired now.
"Johann and I have to pick Drago up tonight; we lost our guards for the overnight shift to watch the boy. You two can handle him, can't you?" Krogan asked.
"I'm sure he won't be a problem for us, and if he is; we know how to deal with it," Ryker huffed.
"Good. He stays chained up all night, no food or water. That's his punishment for disobeying work orders. Come any time. Town of Dragon Hunter. Dock A-2, warehouse number five," Johann informed.
"We'll be there in an hour," Viggo said. The call ended after that as he looked at Spitelout, Hoark, and Alvin. "We got him," I figured Viggo and Ryker probably could have done this all on their own, but perhaps they needed the extra manpower to get Hiccup out without anyone getting hurt. I couldn't even begin to describe my emotions right now; they found Hiccup at last.
