DISCLAIMER: JUST BORROWING THEM. I PROMISE TO RETURN THEM SAFLEY...
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NOTE:
Thank you so much for all the lovely reviews, follows and likes that you have provided for this story so far - it really inspires me to keep writing when I see so many kind comments.
A big thank you to QuestRunner and StormySkies89 for your constant reviews - Really appreciate it.
Hope you like this chapter. Reviews as always are welcome.
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Brains speeches in this chapter are written normally - as I personally have difficulty reading it when it is written as spoken. So, please read/imagine any bits that Brains says - As he would speak them. Thank you.
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Chapter 11: Contact.
Jeff, Gordon and Alan stood staring at the now blank screen, Scott was still slumped on the floor, tears flooding down his face while John sat next to him, his arms wrapped tightly around his older brother.
"Mr Tracy?"
Jeff blinked his eyes as he finally relinquished his glare from the screen. "Err… Yes Brains?"
"Do you want me to set everything up and start waiting for the live link to be sent?"
"Yes… Yes brains, please… Err… Brains, can you… Can you do anything to find out where this link came from?"
"I will try Jeff… But I will be able to track the location of the live feed," Brains replied.
"Okay, set everything up and do what you can… And let us know as soon as the live feed is sent." Brains nodded and quickly went to work. "Boys, will you all be okay while I call the others and tell them what's happening?" Gordon nodded to his father, pulled Alan onto the chair, and wrapped a reassuring arm around him. "Scott… John?" Jeff inquired.
"Yes dad, make the calls. I've got Scott," John said, rubbing his hand soothingly on Scott's back.
"Okay, I'll be about 5 minutes," Jeff added leaving the room quickly. The boys sat in silence, as soon as Jeff returned he went and sat on the floor next to Scott, pulling him into a warm embrace. "Scott, look at me," Scott looked in his eyes. "This is not your fault. We all thought that Virgil was gone. If any of us had been there at the time, then we would have come to the same conclusion."
Scott shook his head, tears still running down his face. "I… I should have known… And the thing is, a part of me did. After the explosion, my heart kept telling me he was alive, but I didn't listen and then the dreams I've had… I've heard Virgil calling for me, begging me for help… And I ignored them… Believing them to be just nightmares… But what if it was Virgil calling for me to help him? And I didn't listen… And now he's been taken by the Hood… None of us know what's happened to him… What if the Hood's already killed him? What if we are too late?"
"Scott, listen to me," Jeff whispered reassuringly. "What does your heart and your gut say, right now?"
Scott went quiet and then wiped the tears from his face. "He's… He's alive!"
"Then, we will find him, and we will bring him home!"
Scott nodded, a determined look creeping onto his face as he wiped the remaining tears away and pulled himself onto the chair.
Brains hurried back in the room, while Jeff dropped on the chair between his four boys and wrapped his arms around them. "Everything is set up Jeff." Brains stammered.
"Thank you, Brains." Jeff replied pulling his sons closer.
The rest of the family soon gathered with them in the room, waiting for the transmission to be sent.
… …
Meanwhile:
Virgil blinked his eyes as he slowly came too, unconsciousness had once again claimed him, and the same incessant nightmare had stalked his dreams. As he slowly became aware of his surroundings, Virgil shivered realising that he was still gagged, kneeling on the floor with his feet and ankles chained behind him, and his hands were still lifted above his head and tied to some restraints that hung down from the ceiling. He lifted his head slowly, he could feel his head throbbing and feel his whole-body aching, he knew he needed to do something to get out of there, he knew his already weak body wouldn't last long to whatever torture the Hood had planned. Virgil looked up at the surroundings and suddenly became aware that he wasn't alone in the room. He could now see a computer set up behind the camera, a man, one Virgil had not yet seen was sitting behind it. He then noticed the Hood talking quietly to the other six men who had moved Virgil to his current position.
The Hood turned towards Virgil and noticed his prisoner was now awake. "Ah, Mr Tracy, how were the nightmares?" Noticing the chain hanging from Virgil's neck, the Hood yanked it off and examined it. "What's this then?" Opening it the Hood grinned at the picture inside. "Oh, how sweet… Your poor dead mother!" Virgil started pulling at the ropes in anger. The Hood let out a piercing laugh. "I think you really should save some of that energy for your torture. You really will need it!"
Chuckling to himself, the Hood turned away from Virgil and then made his way to the video camera. Virgil felt the energy he had just displayed drain from his body as he watched the Hood place the chain in his pocket. Yes, the chain had a picture of his mom in which meant the world to him, but it also contained his only hope for escape, his edible transmitter carefully hidden behind the photo of his mother.
After a few moments, the Hood turned and made his way back towards him, grabbing his hair and yanking his head up to look towards the camera. "Now, when the light there goes green your family will be able to see and hear everything I am about to do to you. Now, unfortunately we won't be able to see them, but we will be able to hear them plead for your precious life." The Hood sneered. "Now are you ready Mr Tracy, I really think it's time that we spoke to your family."
… …
Four hours had passed since they had started to scan for the link and still nothing had come through. Brains was sitting behind the computer. Scott was now pacing as he held a cup of coffee tightly in his hands. Gordon, Alan and John sat restlessly on the sofa staring at the screen. Jeff was sitting next to his mother, who had insisted on being there when she had heard the news. Penny and Tin-Tin stood next to Brains, while Kyrano and Parker continually topped up their drinks.
"What's taking so long? They should have contacted us by now!" Alan asked looking over at his father.
"They're obviously trying to psyche us out, wear us down for when they do finally contact us." Scott replied.
"We've got something coming in," Brains stammered.
They all stopped, looked up at the screen as it flickered on.
"Oh God!" Jeff cried out, clutching his stomach in shock at what he was seeing. The image of Virgil was being flashed live onto their screen. He was gagged, on his knees chained to the floor, his International Rescue top removed, and his arms were suspended above him and tied to some sort of restraints. He looked small, weak and was clearly already hurt badly. At that moment, another figure with his face covered walked in front of the camera and let out a deep laugh. "Hood!" Jeff shouted at the screen in anger.
"Ah, hello. Welcome Mr Tracy, I believe you are missing a son?"
