Chapter #8-
It had been three days since Nikolas ordered the tickets. On this particular day, those tickets arrived. Yet with each passing day the group continued to worry more. None of Jason's contacts from PC to California had gotten any word or tips of where Emily and her captor could be, which considering who Jason was, was still very hard to comprehend.
Throughout this time, Luke without success tried to investigate the ticket contact. To make things worse, his time had all about run out as today was the day he, Nikolas, and Jason were leaving for California. Elizabeth had called Jason to inform him of what was happening, and they were now all gathered at Kelly's to put detail into those plans once the guys got to California.
"Well Nik, you were correct in your suspicions. The ticket seller's name is indeed an alias. We just haven't figured out what his real name is…And unfortunately I can't keep searching right now, so it's up to you Lucky." Luke said.
"You got it; I'll do what I can here." Lucky replied.
"So what are you guys going to do when you get to California?" Elizabeth asked.
"Well, when we get to the party we have to identify ourselves to Em, but I can almost bet her captor is going to keep a keen eye out for anyone suspicious. If we make one mistake, our cover is blown and who knows what will happen." Nikolas said aloud, not even wanting to think of the consequences for Emily or them.
"I got it!" Lucky said with a snap of his fingers. "Code words, something that only Emily would know about."
"Good thinking Cowboy. Such as…?"
"Let's see…yeah its simple though but it might work", Lucky glanced over at Nikolas, "being as you're going, how about Nickel? It's common enough."
"Okay…Arizona? Phoenix?" Nikolas suggested.
"Not going to work." Jason piped up. With the exception of Luke and Lucky, everyone else wanted to know why. "That'll be too easy to tip off whoever has her. Whoever kidnapped her probably knows a lot about her, including she's originally from Arizona. We even mention the state, not to mention the capital city or anything that has association to her younger life that would be in the newspapers or her profile; our cover can be considered blown."
"Jason's right guys," Luke said.
"Hmm…'luck'? No pun intended." Liz said.
"And… 'Raul'! Foster and Annabelle's puppy," Lucky explained.
"Okay. So Phoenix and Arizona are out. What about 'rattlesnakes'?'" Nikolas suggested. That story was famous between Emily and Lucky.
"That'll work. There are tons of rattlesnakes in the west. It's too broad of a word for the captor to consider it suspicious. Besides a lot of people are afraid of snakes." Lucky said, excited that they were getting somewhere.
Then something hit him. "Dad, the Catacombs. Em always loved that place when we were younger."
"Not sure about that one Cowboy." Luke replied. "Though I would consider that only if necessary, for all we know he could have studied the landmarks. It might ring a bell with him, so it'd be best if we use that one wisely."
"Lucky, didn't you say that you had an ant farm when you and Em were younger?" Liz asked.
"Yes! Emily knew about that. Nice one Liz." Lucky replied enthusiastically.
Luke nodded and silence fell when everyone realized they had nothing else to add.
"So what is everyone going as?" Elizabeth considered, changing the topic. No one could remember anything else that would not give them away.
"I will be a Detective. Vlad Jr., here: Zorro! Jason, hmm…that's a hard one… any ideas?" Luke asked.
"I'm not too sure yet." Jason said, nervously. He hated costume parties with a passion, or any parties for that matter. He hadn't wanted to give it any thought whatsoever, despite the stakes.
"I got just the costume for you." Luke replied.
"And that would be?" Jason asked, not sure if he wanted to know or should have asked.
"How about a Roman soldier," Luke said with a grin.
Jason glared at him as if to say "you're kidding right?" He growled slightly.
As if Luke read his mind, he replied "Nope. Come on... what do you have to lose? It's for your sister." 'How about my integrity?' Jason silently thought. Well, he could lose his integrity, but that could always be built up again. No one was going to know who he was anyway.
"Fine, but only to help find my sister. Anyone who takes a picture or anything to remind me of this will regret it." Jason agreed reluctantly. 'This so better be worth it.' Jase thought. If they end empty handed he's going to burn any evidence of that night in his anger.
A bell rang as AJ opened the door and entered "Anything new?" AJ asked automatically.
"No, just sorting out costumes. How are you going to get in?" Lucky asked. AJ didn't get a ticket.
"I'd rather save my dignity and not reveal that." AJ said but clued them in as they glared. It was going to be hard enough to find Emily in that crowd, much less AJ. "I'm going to sneak in the back and act as a waiter. They won't be able to tell the difference." AJ said. The waiters were going to have to wear masks like everyone else anyway.
Place Unknown –
"Here," Emily's captor threw a garment bag at her. She frowned and looked at it. With curiosity she pulled down the zipper and found a gown and a bag full of other accessories.
"What is this?" Emily asked, even though this could be considered a stupid question. She knew what it was but didn't know its function.
"It's your costume for the party." He told her annoyed.
"We are still going? I thought you changed your mind?" Okay, so she was lying. Due to her distress, she had completely forgotten about it.
He didn't answer her, just turned away. "Get dressed for the party." Emily's captor demanded impatiently.
Emily looked back at the gown and remembered the letter she had also sent. How could she forget? Of course she had to go. Lucky, Jason, someone must have decoded her secret message. She only hoped they didn't get caught.
She looked back up at his neck, too scared to look at his face, noticing a tattoo on his neck. It was of a white skull and bones, with a black outline.
"What's that for?" Emily asked tentatively.
"What's 'what' for?" He swung around again.
"The tattoo on your neck," She answered.
"It's a tattoo. What teenager doesn't get a tattoo these days; I'm sure you have one." Her captor replied gruffly.
"Actually I don't. Nor am I interested in getting one." Emily said, glancing at the dress again. "And another thing…does this dress even fit me? Couldn't I have picked out a costume on my own?"
'Maybe that wasn't the smartest thing to say…' She thought to herself as his gaze turned from annoyed to almost threatening, even furious.
"You'll wear what I gave you, or else." He said shortly, giving her no options.
Emily's eyes widened in fear…'Okay, no more smart remarks' she told herself. Her eyes lowered. She noticed that he had yet to put on shoes or socks. "Hey…what's that? On you're ankle?" Yet another wrong question, but it was out of her mouth before she could stop it.
"Does it look like I or you for that matter have time to discuss what kind of body art I have? No! Now get dressed." He ordered her.
"But–"Emily insisted, she didn't know what she'd say though, but she needed as much information as she could get. She needed to get away and him away from her, preferably prison.
He avoided the issue and walked close to her. "Get ready!" He roared at her angrily and stormed off, slamming the door behind him. Emily trembled at his show of fury. So much for no more smart remarks, would she ever learn?
She took the dress out and made sure no wrinkles were made. It really was a pretty gown. She got up and placed it in front of her. It looked to be the right size at least. She slipped it on. A perfect fit…now this was getting creepy.
She sat on the bed and looked at the accessories. This was way too much of a coincidence, even for her. She looked around the room once again.
Then it all clicked.
She squirmed internally as she saw his ankle tattoo - numbers, as well as the skull & bones on his neck. It all made sense. The puzzle, it all fit together. The costume, the…Oh no…it couldn't be.
"But….he couldn't have…Oh no…now what do I do?" Emily quietly said, her eyes starting to fill with the tears she refused to let fall. She was in it worse than she ever imagined. She needed Lucky or Jason, anybody to find her, and fast.
Alexis' Apartment–
"Zander, I understand. But I must say its ill advised that you leave the state! You may have been cleared, but you may still be brought in for questioning for Sorel's trial." Alexis said, as she rubbed her temples in frustration. She looked at the young man across from her. With his jaw set and he himself determined, Alexis knew this might be a losing battle.
"Alexis, I owe Emily alright? She trusted me when no one else would; she believed my story and wanted to help me. She's the reason why I'm here a free man. She was there when I needed someone the most. She helped me out of a dark time. Its time I return the favor. I want to help her."
"So do I Zander, we all do. But Nikolas, Luke, and Jason are looking for Emily too."
"Your point being…."
"What if you search somehow from here? With Lucky and Liz…aren't they staying behind?" Alexis asked.
"Look, both Jason and Nikolas have contacts. As for Lucky and Liz, they may not hate me anymore, but that doesn't me they necessarily like me, nor will they let me just help them. I'm not saying Jason or Nikolas will let me help either. None of them trust me that much. Besides, I'm well capable of taking care of myself."
"Zander, that's the thing I'm worried about. Not to be judgmental or anything, but you don't think things through. You're rather impulsive. The way you were living before you met Emily or I was…"
"Troubling, I know Alexis. I made some huge mistakes, I admit it, but I'm only human and the important thing is that I learned from them."
"Have you? Zander, it might be a little too early for you to start out again. You need to think what you want to do, what you should do. You keep making rash decisions, doing things blindly, Zander…how do you know you are going to come back?
"What?" Zander asked incredulously. "Alexis, don't you think you are over doing the protection thing just a bit?"
"Come on Zander, think for a minute. Do you really think rushing in to help is wise? Why not find another way?"
"Alexis, be honest with me, does Emily have that much time?" Alexis stayed quiet, he was right on that.
"No one knows anything about her captor. If Emily stays out there any longer---I'm not even going to think of what could happen. I can't lose her Alexis…Look I may or may not come back, there's only one way to find out. I'm not going to stay here, sit and wait while almost everyone else is out looking!" Zander replied as he spun around and stepped closer to the door, threatening to leave.
"Zander–" Alexis stopped and sighed only to hang her head, knowing it was too late, and he wasn't going to listen to reason. She looked at Zander as he waited for her to say what she wanted to say. With a sigh, she spoke. "Okay, go if you must. Just be careful and don't do anything you'll regret. And for once, please think before you act, if not for your sake, but for Emily's."
Kelly's –
Lucky and Liz sat at Kelly's, once again back at the keys of a laptop, Lucky's this time.
"Uh, whoever this guy is, he's good at hiding his tracks. Weeks of searching and we still have nothing." Lucky said frustrated.
"Hmm…Have you tried this one?" Liz asked, pointing at a random website. She also had no idea what to do anymore, but that didn't mean she would give up. She needed Emily back. She was the only one girl friend she had.
"Couldn't hurt, we've tried virtually everything else." Lucky replied almost bitterly but mostly frustrated. He clicked on the link, nothing could surprise him at this point….okay, forget he said anything.
"I never knew something like this existed…" Lucky said in amazement.
"What is it?" Elizabeth asked.
"Automatic name changer," Lucky replied and decided to test out this site, typing in his own name. He got quite a result; a quite foreign one. "Whoa…"
"It says here that additional letters are added to your name, in addition it is already being scrambled in order for it to look more authentic." Liz read.
"Whoever said that 'the internet is a dangerous place' was right. Shall we?" Lucky asked.
"Go for it. I mean, what do we have to lose?" Liz figured.
A few moments later, the search results appeared.
It was bad news, VERY bad news…
A/N: For the record, neither of us knows if a site like that exists-just a good story idea. Don't get any ideas….;-) Please Review! –E.B.F.R. & Cleopatra1!