Finding You Again
Chapter Five
"We're better than the words you speak. So much more than incomplete. Figure out what life means out on our own. Words you say can't bring us down. We've all failed and hit the ground. Now it's time for us to just take control."
Words We Speak by Hawk Nelson (Tooth & Nail Records) from Hawk Nelson Is my Friend
15 YEARS AGO
BAYPORT
Where am I? Joe Hardy thought as he struggled to open his eyes. His head throbbed painfully and he couldn't remember anything after something had crashed down on his skull after leaving for his morning run.
He was surprised to see that wherever he was, he wasn't tied up. He sat up and slowly stretched, glancing around. I'm in MY van! He realized. He tried the doors. Locked. The locks had been tampered with. They wouldn't budge. The black tinted windows were bulletproof, as was every other glass surface in the vehicle. He couldn't break them.
He looked out the window and felt sick to his stomach. He knew where he was. In the parking area of the Bayport Mall. He could see black scorch marks on the pavement below. He was in the spot where his first true love, Iola Morton, had been blown to bits by a terrorist bomb.
Whoever had kidnapped him was playing a sick game, bringing him here.
He heard his cell phone ring. That was odd.
PRESENT
"I still can't believe you, Darren!" Joline exclaimed. "How on earth did you get us plane tickets to D.C.?"
"I told you, Dad was happy to get us a flight to Washington, dear cousin," Darren said, grinning. "All I did was tell him that we're really interested in the Walker campaign. I told him that we wanted to see the action up close. Now, not only do we get to go to D.C., but we get to stay with Walker himself. Dad was able to arrange it since Grandpa and Walker were such good friends. Since Walker is an official candidate, we'll have the Secret Service on our side, too." He chuckled. "At first Dad was reluctant, but after I told him I'm thinking about dropping crime scene investigation and might go into something nice and safe like politics…"
Joline grinned, then stared out the window of the private plane. "It's a good thing Walker is such good friends with Grandpa. I guess if you save the potential president's life, you can call in any favors…private jets, room in the candidate's home, Secret Service waiting to pick you up at the airport…But we can't let all this go to our heads," she said firmly. "We know Dad was at the press conference. That means maybe he'll hang around while Walker's in D.C. So whenever we get the chance, we've got to do some serious sleuthing. And we've got to find him before we fly home on Monday."
Darren nodded. "We're in this together," he said.
Just what they were getting into together, they had no idea.
TWO DAYS EARLIER
SECRET BASE IN THE JUNGLES OF ROMANIA
Eric stood before Atol, who was gazing at him with cruel scrutiny. "I can see that you will not be set back easily. You have made it to your last test. Only if you survive, will you be given your first assignment." He paused. "Let's review, shall we? You have, at the base of your skull, an implant. If you should decide you do not want to go through with this test, a button will be pushed, and the implant will send thousands of electric currents throughout your brain. You will be dead within seconds. If you fail but manage to survive, the same will happen. Are we understood?"
Eric glared at his superior stonily. "When would I ever betray the Assassins? I know nothing but this place, and it is my life."
"It is a precaution we take with all of our members, correct? Now, you have done exceptionally in blocking out pain, heat, cold, emotions, and distractions. I am told that you can condition your body to endure even the most deadly conditions, right?"
Eric bowed his head in modesty. "I can, Sir."
"Very well. The final test will see just how conditioned you are. Only the most elite have survived this challenge and gone on to become so superior in the Assassins."
"What must I do? I am ready."
A crooked, unreadable smile flickered on Atol's face. He beckoned Eric to follow him. They shuffled down a long flight of stairs into a damp basement. In the middle of the floor was a metal chair with cuffs on the armrests. A strange machine was attached to it, with a helmet protruding wires. Eric stared at it, emotionless.
"You must survive the Electric Chair."
~Emachinescat ^..^