This chapter was the challenging one as most of the first part of this chapter didn't require a lot of dialogue. It was a good challenge and I hope it reads well. I'm enjoying writing this. It's a little bit harder because this isn't linked to a comic like my last two stories, where I've deviated from the main comic story and then brought it back to the main storyline. Future chapters will be longer but I wanted to keep the first few short and snappy. Anyway, happy reading and FOL/FAV/REV (Constructive Criticism please). TR56

Suggested Music

1. Fog and Fire - Ramin Djawadi (From the Film 'The Great Wall')

2. Bold and Brave - Secession Studios

3. Music for Solving Dark Conspiracies - Secession Studio's

Chapter 4

The three-mile trek to Hukow was longer than Tintin anticipated. By the time he reached there, it was nearly four o'clock and he couldn't afford to waste any time. The streets were packed with its inhabitants and tourists. As he passed the tower he remembered what occurred the last time he was in Hukow. He'd just saved Chang from drowning in the river and they travelled to Hukow together. The mistake was accepting an offer for a photograph. He could still remember the pain from where the bullet had grazed him. He'd been lucky that the bullet had just grazed his arm. Mitsuhirato wouldn't settle for anything non-lethal this time, that much was true.

Tintin stuck to the edge of the street trying to remain as inconspicuous as possible but his appearance made that next to impossible. If Mitsuhirato's men arrived they would be able to recognise him immediately.

I need to get off the street, Tintin thought.

He dodged into a side street trying to remember the location of the safe house Jun had described. Only one address came to mind;12 Pingjang. Looking up he breathed with relief as he saw the street name above him. Now that he knew where he was he surged forward finding the safe house with ease. He thrust the key into the lock and once he heard the click he breathed in relief. He was safe for the time being. Mitsuhirato's men wouldn't be too far behind.

Desperate, he rushed through the rooms, exhaling in relief as he found a landline phone. It took a moment for Tintin to remember the number to the Chinese Secret Service. As he finally managed to type it in with shaking hands he continued to glance around his surroundings, terrified that Mitsuhirato's men were right behind him or lying in wait to catch him. As the tones rang he heard footsteps from outside. His heart thumped so hard he could feel it in his ears.

Come on. Hurry up, Tintin thought, moving his weight onto the balls of his feet, preparing himself to run if he had to.

As a female voice sounded from the phone his fears dissipated but the threat of being caught was still lingering in the back of his mind.

"I need to speak to the director. Yes, it's urgent"

As the main door slammed open it reverberated throughout the entire safe house. Tintin froze in terror. The phone almost slipped from his sweaty palms. The footsteps gained ground but he didn't have a choice. If they found him they would bring him back to Mitsuhirato and the unknown fate in Lung-Ti. Tintin abandoned the phone and ran for it. He sneaked his head round the door and quickly pulled back. A man with a gun was patrolling getting nearer with every step. Taking a deep breath he attempted to calm his shaking hands and sharp breathing. Tintin slowly bent down, silently taking a discarded pipe into his hand. Standing up straight against the door his finger gripped the pipe as tight as he dared. He couldn't control it so he lashed out the moment the gunman entered his vision. He fell to the floor with a thud but he couldn't relax yet. There would be more men. His movements were swift, moving to the edge of the corridor with ease, keeping close to the wall. As he moved to turn the corner a hail of bullets in his direction stopped him. He flung himself back against the wall, took a deep breath then ran into one of the rooms and jumped through the window.

Pulling himself onto his feet he pulled the glass from his bleeding skin and ran.

More bullets followed from behind but he didn't stop. Every time his limbs started to ache he thought about Mitsuhirato and the fear of what would await him if he fell back into their grasp. His lungs could barely draw breath as he pushed his legs to the limit but as he reached the edge of the town something sharp hit his shoulder. Unable to stop his aching legs he collapsed over his feet and fell straight down the steep bank. As he fell he scrambled for any kind of object to stop his fall but it was futile. Tintin disappeared into the shrubbery. The last thing he saw was a large rock, just before it collided with his head.

x

The Captain rested his head against the wall of the room. His anger had dissipated but he was still irritated that the director wasn't doing more to help Tintin. As Chang entered the room the captain stood up.

"Any luck Chang?"

Chang shook his head.

"Blistering in a thundering typhoon! We can't just leave him out there" The Captain exclaimed as Thomson entered the room.

"What's going on?" The Captain immediately asked.

"I shouldn't be telling you this but someone just made a call to headquarters from the safe house in Hukow"

Chang and the Captain immediately smiled.

I knew it, I just knew it. Tintin's alive.

"Tintin" Chang exclaimed. "That's got to be Tintin"

"Look whoever made the call didn't identify themselves but ..."

"But what?" Chang asked slowly.

"There were gunshots in the background"

Every once of happiness that had existed in the Captain's mind completely disappeared. The ache immediately returned. As did the urge to leave headquarters and go searching for his boy he cared for as a son.

"The Director is contacting any contacts and agents in the area to be on alert" Thomson replied quickly. "If Tintin is there we'll find him"

The Captain remained optimistic. Tintin always survived but the description of the Serpents that the Thompsons had given when they had arrived at the Secret Service headquarters made him doubt everything. All agents that had attempted to find them had never returned. Tintin was still determined despite the fact they had all heard the same information. All the Captain had wanted to do was to go on a long holiday to relax, especially after what had happened in San Theodoros. They deserved a holiday after that but instead, barely days after they returned Tintin got the call from the Chinese Secret Service.

He's out there all alone

If I could switch places with him I would do it without question

Thanks for reading. As always please feel free to FOL/FAV/REV.

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