29/7/13

I have returned from my holidays! :) So I will now have more internet and so will probably be updating more!

As I have said on some of my other stories: my aunt died last week. So because of that updates will be irregular and I am just writing when the mood strikes me

Also I am writing a novel! I am currently doing the first draft so it will take a while to do but if any of you wanna help me out and read over things, give me advice, e.t.c then PM me or put it in your review on here!

Chapter 6

Combeferre darted up the stairs with his team hot on his heels. These men had come through everything with Combeferre and the two secret agents, and were almost as angry as Combeferre at what had happened to their family. Courfeyrac was Combeferre's second in command; they had met in Quinco and he instantly connected with Combeferre and Enjolras, becoming their best friend in the process of training. Bahorel was the military trained officer in their team; he was the one most likely to fight his way in and out of any situation the team was put in. In a way, he was the viciously protective brother to the whole team and had already claimed the woman who had done all this once Combeferre had finished with her...if she was still alive. Feuilly was one of the newest members to the team and Combeferre had taken him under his wing personally. He had been struggling through his training for SWAT but he was dedicated and passionate; Combeferre taught and tutored him and now he seemed to have life debt to his mentor. This did cover the ones Combeferre loved as well; he was furious about how Enjolras and Grantaire had been treated and would do something about it. Bossuet was next and he was Joly's partner; they were all a big family in this squad and Combeferre took care of them all like he would his real siblings. The final member was Eponine, a feisty girl Grantaire had brought with him when he was transferred to this squad. She was like his sister ever since he was young and reluctantly had turned down her chance to beat the living daylights out of his torturers. She was in charge of getting Grantaire out of there and making sure he was safe; a job she would have done anyway.

Bahorel kicked the door down and Combeferre stormed in with his gun raised. All protocol was abandoned; this was a vengeance mission. These people hurt Enjolras and they would pay through the nose. The rest of the team followed in their usual diamond formation. The whole room was cast in darkness and their lights were doing nothing to penetrate the shadow. Suddenly a floodlight flashed on and illuminated a certain spot on a raised podium in the room. Grantaire was locked in a metal box no bigger than the size of an average washing machine with a singular plastic window. He could sit in it but had to be hunched over slightly. Combeferre froze at the sight and Eponine growled. His hands were duct taped together behind his back and his feet taped together in front of him. Another strap sealed his mouth shut and terror shone through his eyes. Grantaire was incredibly claustrophobic, even going in a single shower terrified him. One mission he was locked in a cupboard under the stair with enough room to move around; even after that it took weeks for Enjolras to get him over it.

Another light sprung up in the corner and a phone rang. Combeferre cautiously walked towards it without taking his eyes off Grantaire. He picked it up and held it to his ear. "Agent C, how nice of you to join us," a female voice chuckled, it was Grantaire's captor. Combeferre opened his mouth to speak but was cut off before he got a word out. "Now you do not really have time to be arguing with me agent," she began and Combeferre instantly closed his mouth. "I am incredibly upset you have taken Agent E from me and have come to rescue R. I am long gone but have had to leave my prize behind. If I can't have the pretty boy then no one will," she snarled manically. "Starting now his little cage will begin to heat up. There is an unquenchable flame roaring underneath and so your only chance to save the boy is to get him out from the box. It will be a slow and painful death which he will be conscious all the way through. You get him out, you get to keep him. You don't, he dies. Have fun," she giggled and hung up.

Combeferre threw the phone across the room and it smashed against the wall. He could see the flames begin under the box but unfortunately, so could everyone else. "Boss? What's going on?" Feuilly questioned, incredibly concerned by the rising heat in the room.

"If we don't get Grantaire out of that box then he will burn alive," Combeferre stated bluntly. They did not have time for him to sugarcoat the situation and his team did not need mollycoddling. Eponine panicked and ran towards the box and her almost-brother. Thankfully Bahorel was thinking as quickly as she was and preempted her movements; he caught the small girl and pinned her still, no matter how much she struggled.

"How long have we got?" he asked, directing the question at anyone who could answer. Feuilly started hurriedly working it out as everyone emptied out their kit onto the floor. Bahorel had finally calmed Eponine down and she dove into helping out and added her kit to the pile. Combeferre glanced up to Grantaire and tried to silently reassure him; but the secret agent's eyes were screwed up and it was obvious he was trying to ward off a panic attack. His breath was laboured and his whole body trembled in pure terror.

"We've got about ten minutes and the backup will arrive in about quarter of an hour. We're on our own," Feuilly sighed morbidly but Combeferre suspected that would happen.
"Feuilly go with Bossuet to the apartment downstairs and bring up anything that might help. I think they have a welding iron in their somewhere. Tear the place apart!" he insisted.
"But boss we can't break into an apartment," Feuilly mumbled and was shocked with Combeferre threw him a key.
"It is his apartment!" Combeferre shouted pointing to Grantaire. The two men instantly darted off as Eponine and Combeferre hurriedly made a suit out of Kevlar and leather to protect Combeferre from the worst of the flames. Of course he was going to go; he was head of this team and the man in trouble was his brother in law. Feuilly and Bossuet ran up the stairs with an assortment of weapons, a crowbar and a laser cutter. Combeferre pounced on them, grabbing the laser, crowbar and a knife. He was ready to go.

Joining the box to the sides of the pedestal was just an average metal pole; Combeferre stood on it and took a deep breath. He could feel the Kevlar he was stood on heat up but thankfully it held strong, protecting his feet. He took a deep breath once again and began to shuffle. He didn't have as much time as he would have liked to edge over; the flames were roaring around the box and he could hear Grantaire's cries of agony through the gag and plastic. Tears were streaming down his face but he was soon entirely lost from vision. Combeferre fought through the smoke with a makeshift gas mask. He couldn't see anything but he could feel the flames licking at his feet. The box loomed ahead so Combeferre hurried along the pole as fast as he could. Grantaire's screams got louder and louder as the pain rose and rose; Combeferre could only imagine the torment he was going through. Finally he reached it and pulled out the laser; if he could cut one side then he could use the crow bar to pull it off. It was the only way it was going to work. He could feel his feet start to burn and the flames grabbed his legs in their fiery grips. He heard the meal clunk and watched it fall into the flame filled depths. Combeferre could see the burns and skin peeling off Grantaire's body but had to carry on anyway. He gently pulled the burning man out of the wreckage of his cage and almost ran across the pole. His makeshift armour couldn't take much more of this and if he fell then they both died. His feet thumped against solid floor once again but the smoke was obscuring everything. His handmade gas mask fell from his mouth as he ran down the stairs. The blasphemous smoke flooded into his lungs and coughs racked the agent's whole body. Grantaire was still crying out, his whole body trembled and coughs shook his weak form.

Combeferre collapsed out the door, landing with Grantaire on top of him. The smoke plumed out the door but was battled by the fresh air. Combeferre let out a choked noise of joy when he neared the sirens approaching their location. He could feel hands helping him and Grantaire being lifted off his chest but now he was safe, Combeferre let go of his battle to stay awake and drifted into the welcoming darkness.