Ransom

2

Robert had always been able to think his way out of a difficult situation. No matter the problem or crisis he would automatically quash his emotions and brave it out. Nothing phased him, not for long anyway. When Katie had fallen, when he'd realised she was dead, he'd been shocked, horrified, tears had filled his eyes and he'd felt the first pangs of grief. But within minutes he'd switched to cope mode, reasoned the situation out and come up with a plan to save his own neck. This with Aaron was different, he'd quickly realised he had no control over this situation. Shields held all the cards and Robert knew he was powerless against him. All he could do was wait until he got in touch, and Shields would probably draw the wait out so as to prolong the agony. He knew how Shields operated, this wasn't some spur of the moment thing, he'd have planned it all in advance, he would have done some digging, and sniffed out every scrap of information that could benefit him. He'd obviously found out that he was in a relationship with Aaron and was now using that knowledge to get what he wanted from him.

Robert's gaze remained fixed on the harrowing picture of Aaron. He'd tried but failed to block out another equally as chilling an image, and the unwelcome memories it evoked. Aaron had been unconscious and tied up then too, and that horrifying chain of events had been all his doing. For a while there he'd lost the plot completely, he'd lost all reason, blind desperation had him go way to far. What he'd done to Aaron and to Paddy was unforgivable but Aaron had so very recently given him another chance. Robert knew he didn't deserve it just like he knew this most recent nightmare was because of him, because of his involvement with the likes of Billy Shields. He not only feared for Aaron's life he feared for their relationship too, Shields could so easily destroy it, break it beyond repair.

It had been a good fifteen minutes since Robert had opened the texts, the helplessness he had felt had quickly overwhelmed him. But he was starting to surface from the pit of despair now. He took a steadying breath and told himself he had to get a grip, that he couldn't just sit in some side street in Hotton waiting for Shields to get back to him. It could be hours, days even before he contacted him. So what should he do? What could he do? For the sake of his own sanity he had to do something. He studied the heart stopping image a little more closely, his gaze reluctantly moving away from Aaron's face. For the first time he noticed that Aaron was still in his work clobber, and that told him Shields had to have got the better of him at the scrapyard! Aaron would have been on his own there this evening, and he wouldn't have suspected anything was afoot, not until it was too late. Robert didn't want to think about how Shields had overpowered Aaron, so he quickly moved his thoughts on. He realised he needed to go to the scrapyard, Shields might have left a message for him, some instructions as to what he wanted him to do? Why hadn't he thought about that before? He'd wasted time, time that might well make a difference where Aaron's life was concerned. Robert started his car and sped off, all the time silently willing Aaron to stay strong, to not antagonize Shields... to come home safe to him.

/

Aaron didn't know how long he'd been unconscious, it could have been five minutes or even five hours. All he did know was that in that time, his hands had been tied behind his back, his feet bound together, and some rank tasting piece of cloth stuffed in his mouth and secured there to ensure his silence. From what he could see, hear and feel he knew he was now in the back of a van, the van moving at speed. He could be 100 miles away from home by now... then again he could just be on the outskirts of Emmerdale! It was the uncertainty, the not knowing that was getting to him, especially the not knowing why this was happening to him. Hadn't he been through enough? Hadn't life dealt him enough blows? He didn't want or expect the rest of his life to be plain sailing but he truly didn't think he deserved this kind of shit! Why was this happening to him? Just who was the bastard that had...

Something had just occurred to him, and he wasn't liking the direction it was taking his thoughts. The man had mentioned Robert, he seemed to know him. So did this have something to do with him? It had to have, it had to be somehow connected to Robert! How though and why? Just what had Robert got himself involved in? He knew only too well that Robert was no angel, that if he couldn't get what he wanted with fair means he'd readily use foul to get his way. He'd seen him at his very worst, seen how low he could stoop. A surge of anger rose from his belly, the emotion directed solely at Robert. If this was because of him then he... No! He had to stop thinking like that, he wasn't being fair to Robert. Yes he'd seen the worst but he'd seen the best of him too, he'd been there for him all through the crap with his dad. Robert was the first person he'd told about the abuse, and he'd believed him, supported him, held him, kissed away his endless tears... and more importantly he'd still loved him. No matter what he could never forget that.

A wave of misery suddenly washed over him, he closed his eyes and tentatively shifted position, groaning as his shoulders protested the injustice done them. He didn't know what was worse the pain and discomfort he was feeling or the fear that had suddenly enveloped him. He wanted to pass out again, the darkness to claim him. He needed some relief from the hurt and dread, but as much as he longed for some respite, he was scared of what could happen to him if he didn't have his wits about him.

What he really needed to do was stop feeling sorry for himself and think on his plight, there had to be something he could do to help himself. What though? Aaron's gaze swept around his confines, he didn't know what he was looking for, just something that might be of help to him in some way. Maybe there was something he could use to cut through the ropes that were tied so tightly around his wrists and ankles. To his dismay the van was empty, him the only thing in it.

It seemed all he could do was think. 'C'mon' he told himself, he needed to come up with some sort of a plan, he needed to be ready for anything. A hazy memory suddenly surfaced, it centred on a film he'd seen years back, when he was first living at the Smithy. He'd watched it with Paddy and Marlon. They'd had a boys night in, tinnies, pizza and a DVD. Paddy and Marlon had argued about the plot, loudly voicing their ideas on how the lead character could escape his ordeal. He could remember shaking his head in disbelief at some of their far fetched notions. It had been a good night, a fun evening... but it wasn't the fun he wanted to remember it was the story line! The hero of the film had been in the same predicament he was, at least as far as being tied up in the back of a van. He'd not been able to concentrate fully on the film, not with Paddy and Marlon's constant banter and bickering, they were a source of amusement in their own right, and they'd made him laugh... His mind was wandering off topic again and he was letting it! It kept straying to the company he'd had that night, and he was beginning to realise why. He'd felt safe back then, he always had done under Paddy's roof ... right now he felt anything but safe. He was in dire need of some reassurance and he was taking that from the memory. He told himself to keep such memories for when he hit a really low ebb, for when his spirits truly needed some bolstering, and he had a feeling that time would come at some point.

Aaron forced his mind back to the film. It was about a kidnap, about how the victim had outwitted his captor and won his freedom. He could do that couldn't he? He could if he set his mind to it! His gaze settled on the van's doors, just like in the film those doors would open at some time and when they did he'd be ready. It took a while to manouver his trussed up form into the position he wanted to be, feet up against the doors, but he was ready now and all he had to do was wait...

/

Robert had found the scrapyard gates open, the porta cabin unlocked. It seemed no one had been there in Aaron's absence and noticed anything amiss, at least he hoped no one had. He'd realised he was going to have to keep Aaron's torment secret, but how the hell did he do that? He hurriedly scoured the office for something Shields may have left behind. Finding nothing he stepped dejectedly into the cool evening air. His gaze took in the yard, something immediately catching his eye. He hurried over to the object, his stomach turning over on realising it was Aaron's mobile phone, it was smashed and smeared with blood! Robert snatched it up off the ground and cradled it in his hands.

Shields had indeed left him a message... an alarming reminder of the fact he had Aaron... and a warning that his life could so easily be snuffed out!

tbc