Alex frowned in a mixture of confusion, frustration and worry. He had tried both Amber and Hex's mobiles numerous times and had gotten voicemail every time. Paulo was pacing up and down. Hex had promised him. He swore, then turned to Alex.
'We must find Li,' he said determinedly.
'Amber and Hex aren't answering their phones,' Alex told him. Paulo seemed not to hear him.
'She must be in trouble.' Alex shook him. Hard.
'Li isn't the only one in potential danger here. What about Hex and Amber?' Paulo groaned and sat down.
'What will we do?' Alex shrugged. What could they do?
Amber sat up. She hurt all over. It was as if she had been hit by a truck. Darkness engulfed her and she panicked.
'Hex?' As her eyes adjusted to the dim light, Amber could just make out a shape in the corner of the room. The shape moved.
'Yeah?' She let out a gust of air, relief flooding through her. Hex moved over to Amber and sat next to her. In the darkness, he accidentally put his hand on hers and Amber felt like she had had an electric shock. Hex had the same reaction and he hurriedly shifted his hand, glad that Amber couldn't see his red cheeks. Amber took a shaky breath and tried to control her own blush.
Eager to end the awkward silence, she asked, 'Where are we?' Hex was glad of the distraction.
'Don't know. But I'd say that whoever shot at us and caused us to crash is also responsible for our imprisonment.' They searched the walls and eventually found a door. Locked. They sat down again, careful not to accidentally brush up against each other. Hex felt in his pockets, but their captors had taken his mobile and, Hex realised with a pang as his hand touched his belt and found the pouch no longer there, his palmtop. Amber searched her own pockets and found her's gone too. The full extent of their situation hit them. No one knew where they were and they had no way to let anyone know that they were in trouble.
Li was in a dark room at the back of the building. They took her phone and told her they would not hesitate to shoot her if the need arose. Li shivered and realised just what danger she was in. they way that they said they would shoot her... It brought back a flood of painful memories of the Scorpion and his cruel child slave trade. She shivered again and hugged her knees to her chest.
'Please guys,' she whispered. 'Please find me before it's too late.'
Paulo answered the police officer's questions with a growing sense of impatience. After what seemed like hours, the detective, a slim, attractive lady with black hair and piercing eyes, allowed him and Alex to leave, promising them that they would do everything possible to find their three friends. Alex was trying to ring Hex, Amber and Li again but with no such luck. He pocketed his phone and stared at the floor.
'What if something terrible has happened to them.' Alex looked at Paulo. 'What if they've been-' He cut off when Paulo grabbed his shoulders.
'Do not say it,' he said fiercely. 'The police will find them. Alive and well.' Alex nodded, but he wasn't sure if he believed his friend.
The man behind the whole operation strode into Li's cell. He held a gun and motioned with it that Li should walk out of the room. Following him along the dimly lit corridor, Li wondered whether escape was possible. Not a chance, she thought sadly, noticing the lack of windows and remembering that her captors were armed. And not worried about having someone's death on their conscious.
They eventually came to a small room-windowless- that contained a metal table and two badly scratched and dented metal chairs. The man gestured towards one seat then sat down across from Li.
'We never got acquainted properly. Ling Cho.' Li ignored him. 'What is your name?' Again Li remained silent. 'You didn't think that I was that stupid, did you? Just say that a total stranger could help me with my business? You are much dumber than you look.' Li stared at him.. Thanks Hex, she thought. Cho grinned.
'We saw you talking to two people before you bordered the train. We have them.' Panic flicked across Li's eyes. Paulo and Alex must have been captures as well. 'Yes. I sent four of my men out to get them. They shot the windscreen out and they crashed.' Wait a minute, Li thought. Crashed? That had to be Amber and Hex. She wanted to jump up and strangle Cho. The man who had captured her, Amber and Hex. The man who was smiling at her panic. Li couldn't fight it any longer. She launched herself at Cho, but two guards Li hadn't noticed before, grabbed her. Before they dragged her back to her cell, Cho tweaked Li on the chin.
'Spirited. And I see you care deeply for your friends. Very interesting.' He strode off and Li glared at his retreating back.
She fought every step of the way, as the two guards marched her back to her prison. She struggled and kicked but they held her tight and ignored Li's attempts to try and injure them. They pushed her into the room and locked the door, before hurrying away.
Only once she was alone in her cell, did Li realise what she had done. I see that you care deeply for your friends. He was going to hurt Amber and Hex. Use them to get to her. Li gave a sob and buried her face in her hands.