AN: Well, here we are with chapter nine! I hate to say it, but we're close to the end... but we still have those prequels to look forward to. And really, I haven't been getting reviews lately. If you guys want to tell me something or ask about the prequels, then all ya gotta do is review, and I'll respond! Also, there's going to be a small amount of cussin', just to let ya know. Alright, here is chapter nine for you all.
"Where is he?" The man barks again, holding the door open with one arm, and I'm desperately trying to close it. I can hear Link whimpering from where he's hidden. He needs to be quiet, or he'll be found. He needs to be quiet, or something terrible is going to happen.
I've got it all figured out now. That weird feeling while I was outside… Lyle was watching me. I am just disgusted by the thought.
Meanwhile, the rain is pouring down outside, getting into the shop as well.
"I don't know who you're talking about," I reply, stepping forward. This guy may be armed, but I don't care. I'm scared yes, but-
"Of course you do, Linebeck." His words slither around again, my name being spoken like it was trash. "Now tell me. Where is he?" His fist clenches, and an evil little smirk crosses his face. I want to push him out the door and lock it. I know I can't. I know I won't. I can't, I won't.
"I told you, I don't know!" I raise my voice, but he can tell it's probably quivering.
"You sound scared. Are you lying to me?" I want him out of here.
"Get out." I try to narrow my eyes, to make him step back. It doesn't work though, judging by the way he pushes me away.
"Heh heh. Deep down, you're just a coward, aren't you? Tell me where he is, and I won't have to use anything against you. And trust me; it'll hurt if I do." Something silver is shining from the pocket of his coat, and I can't figure out what it could be. A knife? …The pistol?
"I won't tell you anything. Get out." I hold my place, not moving from my spot, even when he pulls out the pistol. I don't move when he walks in, trying to figure out where Link's little sounds are coming from.
"I know you're in here… come on out…" The man urges teasingly. "Come on…" For the love of the Gods… be quiet…
"Shut up."
He jerks his head over to look at me, a smirk still on his face. I want to drive him down so hard into the ground right now. I know I can't, he's armed, and what'll happen then? I'll get shot, and he'll take Link back with him. All I can do is stall the inevitable.
"What did you say?"
"I said, shut it."
"You're really testing the water now, aren't you? Look, I'll be on my way if you just tell me where he is." He places a hand on my shoulder, getting his curled lips closer to my ear as he whispers, "You don't really like him, do you? Have you grown… attached?"
I don't reply, and only continue to look forward. Lyle pushes me off some as he paces around the room, laughing a bit.
"You did, didn't you? Ha! Must've took a while to get the thing to talk, huh?" The thing?-!
"He isn't a thing. He's a little kid that you defiled with your own greed!" I ball up my fists, not realizing that my teeth are gritting together. Rage plays a key role on the stage that is my face, with Lyle being the groundling that laughs.
"Little kid? He sure doesn't act like one, the way he rakes in the money for us. So if you would excuse me, I'd like to take him back." That's it. I'm tired of this man and his retched way of thinking. I haven't felt like this in a long time, both full of fear and rage.
"I'm not letting that happen." I step forward to him, wishing I had something to protect myself with.
"I don't expect you to." He aims the pistol at me, the silver weapon glinting in the light. "Now go get him."
"It doesn't have to come to this, really. Put down your weapon and nobody gets hurt," I stutter, inching back a bit.
"The only person who's going to get hurt is you if you don't give me what I want." He sounds like a child, begging for something he saw in a store window. But his tone is threatening.
"And let you abuse him again? Let you sell him off to some stranger so you can keep up with your sad excuse for a life?"
I don't get answer from him as he looks over to the bedroom. I can hear Link's soft pitter-patter. Oh, why won't he sit still?-!
To my horror, the door opens to show a tiny Link in the doorway, eyes and face red from crying. Why did he open the door?-! Why?-!
Lyle's smirk just gets bigger, and I feel sick to my stomach.
"Ah… there you are. Come, we need to get going." For a minute, he sounded like me, the way he spoke to Link. He holds out a hand, pistol still aimed at me.
"N-no. I'm staying here." He steps back, most likely thinking coming out of the bedroom was a bad idea.
"Wrong answer. Come." Lyle holds the pistol up some, signifying the threat of attack some more.
"No. You can't m-make me." His eyes dart around, landing on me for a few moments. I can't help him. I feel totally helpless. It sickens me.
Lyle quickly loads the gun and points it at the ground. He pulls the silver trigger, a blast of light coming from it as well as smoke. The scent of gunpowder fills the air. The sound of it pierces into the sounds of the rain and thunder. It makes us both hold our hands to our ears, Link already crying out again.
"See that? That'll be you next if you don't comply." I think he's referring to us both at the moment.
"I'm not going back to be your little money making slave!" Link tries to move away, but gets caught by Lyle's surveying eyes.
"You little shit. I'll shoot if you don't get over here." That's it.
"Hey! You don't have the right to call him that!" I shout out, making Lyle give his attention to me. Link sees this and starts to run for the backroom, but another gunshot makes him stop cold in his tracks. Two shots down. How many to go?
"And you don't have the right to keep him here. He's still mine!" He's getting hysterical, pointing the gun at me now. Something gets caught in my throat, and I have no idea what it could be.
"You don't own him. Leave us alone."
"Neither do you. Then again, I have his papers, and you have… nothing. So... give him to me?"
"No, I'm not letting you have Link!" His name slipped out. Oh no, oh Gods his name-
"…So he told you his name, eh? I found it to be quite stupid, being named after an idiotic Hero boy who thought he was tough. Beggars can't be choosers, I suppose." You can't insult the dead like that, no matter who you are.
"Shut it and leave. Go elsewhere and never come back."
With my words, he comes in close, and we're face to face, the only sound being Link's whimpers again. His eyes are full of something I don't quite understand. It isn't full on madness, but there's something there that makes me wonder if he's truly mad. Could he still hold some of his former self? Perhaps not.
"Give him back. Your session is over."
"What session?" My words are hot, like his. Full of intensity and rage, like his.
"The one you paid for," He replies, and in an instant everything goes from bad to worse when he pushes me down to the ground, holding me there with a foot when I try to get back up.
"I never bought anything like that from you, you lying bas-" Before I can finish my sentence, he kicks me hard in the stomach, and I double over in pain. The world starts flashing before me, the pain is terrible. Link is hollering in the back-round, and I don't blame the poor thing. This is all my fault anyway.
"What was that? I didn't catch it." His smirk becomes wider still, to the point it fills his face.
"I said you're a ly-" He kicks me again, harder still, enjoying Link's gasps as he does so. After a while of asking me questions that get only half answers, he just starts kicking me for his own sick enjoyment. I bite my tongue as he kicks, and I can taste crimson. It's getting hard to breathe now… is this where I'm going to die? By the hands that ruined a child's life?
"Stop it! Stop it!" The boy wails, hands over his eyes.
After a while, I start to fall into blackness. Through the kicking, the screaming, somehow I'm thinking straight. Finally, he stops kicking and goes for Link, his little trophy for besting me like this. He starts wailing when Lyle starts to drag him by the hand to the front door, and all I can do is watch him, my hand reaching out as if I could somehow get him back to the safety that no longer exists here.
"Let me go! Let me… go!" Link screams out, thrashing about. "P-papa! Help! C'mon, get up!"
"H-hold on…"
I can't do anything for him. I can only lie here, covering my stomach as I try to stand, to give chase, but I fall back down in a pathetic heap. Out they go, the child's shrieks being silenced by more yelling and threats.
I feel my eyelids close. My breathing becomes shallow. The clock is ticking, the time being told as somewhere near… eleven? It's hard to tell… everything fades into black.
I come to what I think could either be minutes or hours later. I'm not sure. Looking around, I spot two holes in the wooden floor from the gunshots, papers thrown about everywhere. The front door is wide open, rain already soaking the mat in front of it.
My stomach feels like it's about to burst. There's blood on me, I can taste it on the corner of my mouth. I can't stand. It hurts too much to move.
I can't lie here, knowing that Link is… I can't even bring myself to think about it. I failed. I couldn't protect him… I messed up so badly…
I try to get up again, positioning myself on my knees, hands over my stomach. I lick my lips, the cool metallic taste making me shiver. I could've done something, I shouldn't have opened the door. I should've trusted my feelings earlier. Looks like I messed that up too, huh?
I crawl to the couch, standing myself up on it. I need to get out of here, quickly.
There's another sound nearing the door, a female out of breath. It can't be, the letter was only sent an hour ago, right?
In runs in a soaking wet Rae, her umbrella torn up by something I don't know. This is a terrible time, it really is.
She sees me hunched over the couch, and lets out a tiny gasp before she speaks up.
"L-Linebeck, what on Earth happened here?-! Where's Ka- I mean… Link?-!" Looks like she's read the letter already…
"It's… kinda hard to explain. He's been taken… back…" I force out.
"By who? Taken by who?" Rae runs to me, holding me up with her free hand. "Why is there blood on your lips?" She's extremely scared; I can see it in her eyes.
"Remember the man at the orphanage? That's Lyle… he came here, kicked me down, threatened us and ran off with the boy."
"Oh Gods no… why? Why did he come here?" Great, now tears are coming through on her. I haven't seen my sister cry in years, and I want to keep it that way.
"Honestly, I don't know. Something about a session." I have an idea of what he was talking about, but it could mean something totally different judging by the guy.
She frowns, pursing her lips together in thought. "Session?"
"It was the only way. Alright, enough talking. We need to get a move on," I suggest, standing up but falling back down into my sister's arm. This is going to take a while. I need to get to him, now!
"You're right. But you're beaten up pretty badly, as much as I hate to say this, you need to stay here." Rae holds my arm tighter as she speaks, trying to sound confident when I know she's afraid. "I'll go instead."
"Are you crazy? I'm not letting you do that! You'll get killed, remember the pistol?" I retort, trying to stand again. I can finally stand on my two legs without the feeling of crashing down, that's good. But walking?
"Well, so will you if you go it alone! Besides, you need to lie down, you don't look so good." She tries to put me down, but I fight back, making her give up and just letting me stand.
"No. I'm going after him, who knows what that man could be doing to him at the moment?" Thinking about that makes me shudder.
"Well… don't keel over on me." Rae starts to guide me to the door as quickly as she can, seeing the mat soaking wet. I'm glad she's not wearing a dress for once. She can move much faster in her crimson tunic.
"Wait, you're going too?" I ask, looking up to her. She pushes some hair out of my eyes before replying with something that kinda makes me feel a bit better.
"Course I am. Can't let a psychopath hurt my big bro and his son, right?" Son? Where did that come from?
"You're so stubborn, sister. You really are."
"And I like that fact about myself. Anyway… we need to hurry, and quick!" Rae goes for my umbrella, dropping her old and torn one on the wet floor.
Once out of the place, she shuts the door behind us and drags me off into the cold rain, now only just a light shower. How long have I been out, anyway?
Going down the muddy hill, Rae has to hold me close so I don't trip and fall. I'm getting my bearings back, I think. Once we reach level ground, she lets go of me completely, seeing if I fall or not.
"What the-" I say as I wobble about, but get balance in a few seconds.
"Just seeing if you can walk straight. Seems like you can," She replies as we walk a bit faster than before, "Question is, can you run?"
"I think so. Gods, this is all my fault..." I admit, trying to jog a little before my stomach gives out on me.
Rae catches up to me, holding my hand as she replies, "No, it's not. He came in, you tried to protect him, but you lost the fight. But you know what?"
"What?"
"There's always round two." She gives a weak smile, as if to make light of the situation.
"…This isn't something to smile about."
Rae doesn't speak, most likely thinking the same thing as me.
After a few minutes of running, we reach the station, out of breath, and it's surprisingly not packed like on usual Sundays. Strange. But that makes it all the better, we can get tickets for the Western Segment much more quickly now!
I hurry over to the ticket counter, oblivious to my sister's attempts to stop me. Why is she trying to anyway?
I approach the man behind the counter, who just so happens to be the same one Link spoke to quite harshly the other day. It pains me to think about it.
"We need two tickets for the Western Segment, quickly!" I force out, slapping my hands on the counter to get his attention.
"Calm down, calm down! Sorry sir, the last train for the Western Segment left a couple of hours ago." So I've been out for quite a while, huh. "Didn't you read the sign?" …What? Looking up, embarrassment washes over me as I read, is statement being true.
"The next train for it won't be here for a couple hours. I suggest you wait or something." The man goes back to… whatever he was just doing at that moment, but is taken out of it by Rae.
"Listen you, we've got a big problem here. We need to get there, now!" Gods, save her soul. She's too stubborn for the Heavens.
"And what's this problem, miss?" He folds his arms, chuckling.
"This guy right here," She points to me for a moment, "This guy right here has a son who needs to be picked up. We can't wait, unless you're okay with little kids being abducted."
"Well that's a damn shame, miss. Sorry, but read the sign. You need to wait. He'll be fine."
Rae goes from calm to outraged in a matter of seconds. Go her.
'He's just a little kid man, a little kid! Do you really want to tell us to wait for some late train so that our kid can be taken by some weirdo?" Nice one. I guess.
"I don't like the thought of it, but you have to wait. Sir, I advise to keep your wife quiet. She's disturbing the other customers."
"I'm his sister!" She clenches her fists, but there's no use for it. We have to wait or find another way around this.
"Okay okay, fine. Just be quiet and sit down, will ya?" The man sighs and leans back in the little booth. This is not turning out good.
Meanwhile, Rae is just pulling her hair out trying to think of something. "Gah! What are we supposed to do?-! We can't wait, we-"
"Listen. We have to. That or we can walk," I cut her off, but the next speaker isn't my sister.
"Or 'ya can go with me," the grandson of a carpenter replies. Starn.
"St-Starn! How'd you get here?" Rae exclaims, going over to the man. He's always there when we're stuck in a pinch, and this time is no different.
"I walked, 'o course." Rae slaps herself in the face. Starn is always one to be blunt…
"This isn't the time for jokes, Starn. We've got a kid missing."
Gods, how surprised does he look.
"R-really now?-! Is it Link?" He stammers out, mouth agape.
"Unfortunately. The big boss came round and took him back, beating poor brother over here to a pulp." She points over to me with her thumb. "We need a way to get to the Western Segment, and quick man!"
"Okay okay, jus' lemme think fer' a moment 'ere," Starn goes lost in thought for a little bit, his face contorting as he thinks. "I got it."
Rae beams while she replies with her hands clapped together, "Really? What is it?"
"Well, 'ya have two options. Either 'ya can take a ride to 'ta Southern Segment and walk from 'dere, or…"
"Or what? Tell us!" She begs with excitement flaring about her.
"Or we can take my ship and go 'round. Won't take too long if 'ya do 'tat."
Her jaw drops. "…Do you know how long it'll take?" I know how she feels. If we do that, it'll take hours.
"Only a few hours if 'ya go by 'ta rivers… we'll go out on 'ta river near here, go 'round and dock on 'ta outskirts."
"That'll take forever. There has to be a better way!"
"There isn't, sister. I hate to say it, but there isn't. Unless… unless we go to the Southern Segment." Rae readjusts the umbrella above us, sighing.
"Tat's where I'm goin' anyway. I'll be more 'den happy to go along with 'ya," Starn comments. We need to get going. Now. I've had it.
"No matter what, it'll take a while. …C'mon, let's go purchase our tickets." Rae travels over to the ticket booth yet again. With all this talk, we've wasted a good few minutes. I can't take it anymore, we need to hurry.
Following her, Starn and I go over by the ticket booth, the man there not even paying attention to our conversation apparently.
"Three tickets for the Southern Segment please…" Rae asks with a soft tone, a little calmer now. The entire day has been stressful, and with this going on, I'm surprised we haven't killed each other yet.
"Sure thing miss. Sixty Rupees." He holds out his hand while Rae is digging into her tunic pocket. With a little groan, she turns to us. I think Starn and I already know what she wants.
We both start digging into our pockets, with me only fishing out a good twenty-five, Starn thirty. There's fifty-five there. Five left to go.
"We've got a good fifty-five from Starn and me. Rae… please tell me you have money on you…" if she doesn't, we're in for it.
"Relax guys, I do. Will a measly ten cover it?" Thank goodness!
"Yeah. Keep the other five." With that, she pockets the rest of her money, the pooled money now in her hands, turning to the man at the booth yet again.
"Here, sixty right on the nose." She forces the money out to him, somewhat showing her hastiness.
"And here are your tickets. Next time, don't throw such a hissy fit." He has no idea.
"I'm not- …fine. Thank you sir." She takes the tickets and hands them out to us. With that nonsense over, we hurry to the line for the train number marked on our tickets. Thirty-five. How fitting.
There's a loud voice booming out, saying that our train is ready to be boarded. Our little group exchanges glances before getting our tickets stamped and finding seats inside.
The leather seats are cold, and so are the golden rods that surround them. Outside its dark and uninviting, like before. A child should not be out in a mess like this.
Rae sits down next to me, Starn on the other side of us. We just stare at each other, just wondering what is to become of each other. Should we make plans? Try to make the trip seem shorter? Every minute that passes could be one minute of pain for Link, one minute of crying out. One minute of total desperation.
Seeing my expression as I think those negative thoughts, Rae slips an arm around me, telling me that I'm going to be okay. But I know I won't. How can you be okay when one of the only people you love gets taken away from you in an instant?
"'Ey, quit 'yer poutin' 'dere, he's gonna be okay," Starn says, even though his words tell me to stop being so worried, his face shows the exact opposite of that. We're all worried. No amount of comforting will change that.
The hours pass by painfully, with me only staring out the window like Link always did. None of us fell asleep, our thoughts most likely keeping us from that. The train comes to a full stop, and our little group quickly gathers our things before stepping off the train and into the Southern Segement.
The Southern Segment is actually a rather peaceful place. It's flourishing with plant life, forests here and there, and a few small towns to boot.
"Well, we've got a long walk from here," I say, only dampening the mood.
"Why walk when we can run?" Rae comments, twirling her umbrella.
"Aye. Let's just get goin', no need fer talkin'."
After a few good looks from each other, we start to sprint for our next destination. If we keep a good pace, we'll be there in an hour or two. As of now, it's been two hours. So we'll reach the orphanage with a good four hours behind us… adding however long I was out…
"Hey, any idea what time it is? Forgot my watch," I ask, hoping that I wasn't out for as long as I think I was.
"Somewhere around two," Rae answers. "There's a giant clock over there, you know." Well, that was pointless of me to ask. Alright, let's see. I must have woken up around twelve. Last time I looked at the clock before that… eleven? So an hour. Add the trip down here… two hours to that… So Link has been gone for three hours. Once we reach where we suspect him to be, it would have been four or five hours. This is terrible. If Lyle had wanted to, Link could already be dead… or worse. If there's even a fate worse than death. …But the train for the Western Segment left hours ago. That means they walked. That means they're almost there, or have been for only a short time.
"'Ey… lost in thought 'dere buddy?" Starn pats my back hard to drag me out of my thoughts. Guy almost knocks me down. Might as well tell them what I've figured out at least.
"Maybe. I've just been thinking. I didn't tell you two, but Lyle gave me a hard enough blow to knock me out. After thinking about it, I apparently was out for an hour or so. From what I could gather… Link has been gone for three hours."
"And if we add two hours to 'dat fer 'ta next trip…"
"It'll be four or five hours."
At that we slow ourselves down to the point we're walking, the rain picking up and hitting us hard. We're already soaked, so there's no reason to worry about that. It'll be five hours until we find him. Five hours. If only we could've taken the train…
"Brother, are you crying?" What? It has to be the rain, why would I…
"It's just the rain. Nothing more," I respond quickly, wiping my face with my sleeve. Even though I've dried it off and no rain is hitting my face at the moment… something's still running down.
"You are. Listen… I know it's tough for you." Rae quickly brings me into a rare hug, Starn only standing back. "He's going to be okay." But she really doesn't know that, does she?
"And how do you know that?" I ask, letting my arms hang down. I'm not in the mood for this.
"He just will. Do you honestly think he would kill the kid?" Come to think of it…
"Maybe. It depends on the situation." Rae sighs and lets go of me, and we're already back to walking.
"Honestly brother, you're acting like we'll never find him." I don't say anything to that. I can't.
What if something has already happened to him? I know I shouldn't be thinking about it, but that what if is still hanging in the air. And really, I know I shouldn't put the blame on myself. But I know I am the one at fault. I opened the door. I let him into our lives.
And I'm ready to let him out.
AN: And there we have it. See you all in the next chapter.