Chapter Nine: Things We Said in The Dark

T/W: Michael Bay explosions, gore, and Character Death

Sunlight shone through the window the next day. Will woke up to the sound of a knock coming at the front door. He frowned. He went down the hallway. Maggie had already left for the morning. He heard the knock again. He went to the front door and peered out of the peephole. A man with dark ginger hair stood outside. He had a fedora on with a black trench coat.

Will opened the door. "Can I help you?" he asked.

"Yes. Perhaps you could, Dr. Halstead. May we talk inside?"

Will hesitated for a while. Arthus took off his fedora. "Trust me. You'll want to hear me out."

Will let Arthus inside. The two went off into the living room. Arthus sat down in the recliner. He folded one leg over the other. "I won't take up more of your time. Hopefully, we can come to some sort of decision, Will. I've got quite the mess to clean up since you left."

"Your hoping I'll come back? Not a chance." snarled Will.

Arthus kept a rather calm tone in his voice. "How about we sit and talk, hm?" he suggested.

Will sat down on the couch. Arthus leaned forward a bit in his chair. "Will, don't make this any harder than it has to be. You know deep down that you won't be able to hide away from Jack forever. What if I could..work a favor for you? Hm?"

Will eyed him. "What sort of favor?"

"How about I can make this all go away and guarantee the girl that you loved so much safety?"

"Go on." prompted Will.

"You return to work for Creakwood. Not for Jack but for Creakwood. I'll let the girl and your friends walk free and they won't be a target for us any longer. I did plan on parting ways with Dayton Enterprises anyway." offered Arthus.

"And if I refuse?"

"Then it'll be a constant game of cat and mouse and I'm afraid you can't raise a child in that sort of environment now can you?"

Will looked down. He was right. "You can promise me that Natalie and her kids will be safe? That everyone at Med is safe?"

Arthus nodded. He held a hand out toward Will. "Do we have a deal then?"

Will stared at his hand. He shook it. He then sighed. "Just let me say goodbye to Natalie."

"Of course."

Will walked back into the room he shared with Natalie. Natalie was still resting. She had a rather peaceful look on her face. Will watched her for a while. He planted a kiss on her forehead before leaving a note in her hand. He then left the room.

Natalie woke up to Will being gone from her side. "Will?" she called. She frowned when she didn't get a response. She felt something in her hand. She looked down to see a note. She unfolded the note.

Natalie-

I'm very sorry I couldn't say this in person. A man from Creakwood came by. He said he can make our troubles disappear if I agree to go back. He says he can keep you safe. He even said that he planned on parting with Dayton Enterprises.

We can't raise our children while we are on the run. I'm sorry. I was the one that put you in danger. I love you. Nothing will ever change that. Please take care of yourself. Stay with Maggie. I'll find a way back to you

-Will

Natalie began to tear up. She clutched the note close to her. She had done everything in her power to protect him. She wasn't going to let this slide. Pregnant or not, she was going to head to the facility and rescue Will.

Will stood in the elevator with Arthus standing behind him. Arthus had his hand on Will's shoulder the entire time. It was like Will was a prisoner that Arthus had captured. Will felt his mouth go dry. Did Jack really win this time? Arthus could pick up on a change within Will's body. "Don't worry. You just let me do all the talking."

The elevator stopped. The doors opened. The both of them stepped out. Arthus escorted Will to the office. Jack had a wicked smile on his face. "You managed to find him?"

Arthus nodded. "No thanks to you." Arthus let go of Jack's shoulder. He approached Jack.

Jack looked up at Arthus who was now looming over him. Arthus' hand went around Jack's throat. Jack gagged. His feet dangled in the air. "You've been a thorn in my side ever since we first considered partnership. You have done nothing but compromise everything that my organization has worked for." snapped Arthus.

Jack was struggling to breathe. His eyes fell on Will. "Help." he rasped.

Will saw Arthus' hand get super tight and squeeze down on Jack's neck. He heard something hiss in Arthus' hand. Almost like some sort of hydraulics went off. Will watched as Jack turned a very dark shade of blue. Arthus then released pressure in his fist.

Blood spattered against the wall. Arthus let Jack's body fall to the floor. Blood soaked his fist. He turned to Will slowly. Will, for once, felt fear course through him. Arthus just let his fist fall by his side. He eyed Will. "Don't disappoint me." he warned.

Natalie was busy packing for her trip. She grabbed what she could in the way of supplies. She grabbed a knife from the kitchen. She made sure it was sharp. She stuck it under her shirt. She heard the front door open. Maggie walked in. "What's all this?" she asked.

"Some crazy madman has Will. Will is totally convinced that this person won't hurt me or our kids. I'm not taking any chances." replied Natalie.

Maggie put her hands on her hips. "Well you sure as hell aren't going. I'm not going to let you. We nearly lost you and Will once. I'm calling Jay."

Natalie sighed. Maggie got on the phone with Chicago PD. Within minutes, they heard a knock at the door. Maggie answered it. Jay stood outside. "Hey. I came when you said it was urgent."

Maggie nodded. "Come on in. I've got a pregnant lady on a war path."

Jay walked in. Natalie looked at him. "What's going on?" asked Jay.

Natalie showed him the letter she had gotten. She also explained to him what was going on. Jay listened. He then sighed. "Count on my brother to do something stupid. Do you know where these assholes are hiding out?"

"Yeah. There's a mountain on the outskirts of town. I even know where one of the entry points is. I'm heading there now if you want to join me."

Jay tapped his gun. "Let's go."

Natalie and Jay both left the house. Jay opened the car door for her. She got in. He closed it behind her. Jay got in on the other side. He drove away from Maggie's house. "So, how come you didn't come to me sooner?"

"Will didn't want anybody to know. He didn't want anyone else to get hurt."

Jay scoffed. "Take a lot to hurt me. He should know better. Now we've got to bust his ass out. You got a plan?"

"Not really. I didn't get that far with planning."

Jay rolled his eyes. "So you were just going to brute your way in? Here I thought better of you, Manning."

"I care about your brother, okay? The two of us have gone through hell. I'd much rather face a thousand men than to lose him again."

Jay looked at her. "Good answer. Stay behind me though. I'm the one with the gun."

Natalie nodded. The both of them rode in silence. They left Chicago. Natalie guided him to where the facility was. They parked at the end of the mountain path. Jay put his gun back on his belt. He looked up at the mountain. He could see a radio tower at the top of the mountain.

Natalie stood by him. The both of them began making their way up the trail. Natalie couldn't help but feel as though they were being watched. Jay followed Natalie. He kept silent. He looked around them.

They approached the drainage pipe. Natalie sees the datapad. She groaned inwardly. She didn't have a keycard to get in. Jay took out his gun. "Move."

He shot the datapad breaking it. The door began to move. It opened up revealing the maintenance tunnel. Jay put his gun away. He headed inside first. Natalie followed after him.

The hallway was still damaged from the explosion. The fires had long since burned themselves out. Natalie took the lead. The tunnel was rather dark. She felt along the walls.

Light shone at the end of the tunnel. They got to a glass door. Natalie peered out of it. She could see guards moving around Some of the folk that were being kept there were walking the floor as well. Jay stood behind her. "So what now?" he asked.

"We'll need to sneak in. However, with as many people as there are. I imagine it's not going to be easy."

A guard was going past the door. Jay quickly opened the door. He grabbed the guard by the base of the neck. He began to choke him out. The guard gagged. He struggled. He reached for his shock wand. Will slammed the handle of his pistol down on the man's head. The man sank to his knees. He blacked out.

Jay dragged him further into the tunnel. "Put that outfit on. I have a plan."

Natalie got changed into the guard's uniform. Jay took down another guard. He got changed as well. He put the helmet on. "Ready?" he asked.

"What are we doing?"

"We're going to walk around disguised. Keep an eye out for Will." He switched the radio to a different channel. He did the same to Natalie's. "Radio me when you find him."

The both of them left the tunnel. They went separate ways. Natalie walked along the holding cells. She could see the various patients that Jack had locked up. She searched each one in hopes of seeing Will. She reached the end of the row.

She got on the radio. "I don't see him here."

Hang on. I think I see someone coming down in the elevator. Look up.

Natalie saw Will and a ginger haired man coming down in the elevator. She saw how blank Will's eyes looked. She felt her heart twinge.

Let's move in.

Natalie moved toward the elevator. She saw the doors open. Will and the man stepped out of it. Something was wrong with Will's movements. The man had his hand on Will's shoulder. His ice blue eyes landed on Natalie. "Oh look. A guardian escort." his voice sent chills down Natalie's spine. "Isn't that wonderful?" he asked Will.

Will nodded. Again, he didn't utter a word. Arthus' eyes turned toward Natalie. "Don't just stand there. Take us to the holding cells."

Natalie turned heel. She walked in line with Arthus and Will. Jay joined them. They moved along silently. Jay's voice came through the radio quietly. What's going on with Will? Was he always like that?

"I don't know. That man or Jack must of done something to him. Let's just follow them for now and hope that the man gives us enough leeway to get Will out of there."

They approached the holding cells. Will lifted up the file he had gotten. He began reading it. Natalie noticed something attached to the back of his neck. She also spotted a glowing blue light on the man's wrist. "He's controlling Will. We need to deactivate that device."

Jay nodded. He reached for the shock wand on his belt. He went to strike Arthus only for Arthus to block it with his other wrist. He heard Arthus laugh. "I didn't think you guys were going to come so soon."

Jay took out his gun. He shot Arthus in the face. The bullets barely scrapped him. He turned. He reared his fist back. He punched Jay harshly across the face. The helmet took most of the blow.

Natalie reached for her shock wand. She struck Arthus in the base of his neck. Arthus yelped as it discharged. His body shook and then sank to the ground. Will stumbled forward. Natalie quickly grabbed his hand. She dragged him along.

They ran toward the exit. Natalie took her shock wand and placed it to the device on Will's neck. The device short-circuited. It fell off him. Will wobbled a bit. The headache he felt was gone. He could finally breathe again. He realized he was running alongside a guard. He went to pull free.

Natalie stopped. She removed her helmet. "Will. Will. It's me."

"Natalie?"

Jay ran up to the both of them. "We have no time for a happy ending. Let's go!"

The both of them nodded. They began fleeing. Will felt something sharp dig into his skin suddenly. He reached behind him. He started to feel distant. He turned to see Arthus standing up. He waved his hand. Will froze in place. His eyes turned a deep shade of blue.

Natalie felt Will stop. She still had hold of his hand. "Will? Come on."

Arthus laughed. "I don't think you are going anywhere." He moved his wrist. Will growled at Natalie.

Natalie felt him hold her arm. He flipped her over onto her back side. She yelped in pain. "Will."

Will placed his foot down on her chest. He put pressure down on her rib cage. Arthus got close to the both of them. Jay tossed himself at Arthus. Arthus turned and smacked him away. Jay went back first into a table. He dropped his gun.

Jay went to stand up again only for Arthus to put his boot down on his leg. Jay reached for the gun. Arthus kicked it over to Will. "Use that while I take care of him."

Jay growled. "I'm not scared of you. Bring it, shithead."

Will picked up the gun. He looked at Natalie. There was almost a blank stare on his face. He pulled back on the hammer and aimed it at her. Natalie whimpered softly. "Will. Please. Don't do this. It's me. Your lover. The person you wanted to protect."

Will stood there silently. Natalie weakly tried to stand up. She tried to force his foot off him. She couldn't. She reached for something on her belt. "You don't want to hurt me, Will. I know that's not what you want to do."

Will didn't say anything. Arthus held Jay by his throat. He growled at Will. "Kill her already!" He snapped his fingers.

Will raised the gun once more. Natalie stared into the eyes of her boyfriend. "Take the shot, Will."

Will's hand began to shake. Natalie teared up. "Do what you have to."

Will closed his eyes. He squeezed the trigger. Natalie swung her shock wand quickly. She struck him in the ankle. Will yelped. His fingers squeezed the trigger. The gun discharged missing Natalie by mere inches. He collapsed on top of her.

Natalie turned her head to watch Jay. Jay was still laying on the ground. Arthus was beating him. She reached for the gun. Her hand shook as she aimed. She shot at the base of Arthus' neck. Blue and black blood spurted into the air. Arthus sank to his knees. Jay punched him across the face. The man then fell onto his side.

The light on his wrist turned red. Alarms started blaring. People began panicking. Kill switch activated. Time to destruction five minutes. Came a voice over the speakers.

Jay helped Natalie stand up. They had Will on his knees between them. They were dragging him back the way they came in. A blast door came down and blocked off the enterance. Jay kicked it in anger. "Shit. We're fucked."

Natalie panted looking around. "Let's try to find another way out."

Natalie noticed some of the crowd heading down the stairs. Others were going toward the elevator. The facility shook. She began edging toward the stairs. She wasn't sure if Will could make it down them. She picked him up in her arms. She carried him down the stairs.

The roof shook. Dust and debris suddenly came down blocking the way back. Jay put a hand on Natalie's back side. "Keep going."

More debris came down around them. Natalie began running down the stairs. Jay followed after her. The stairwell began collapsing behind them. Natalie kept going. She reached a metal walkway down below them.

Natalie ran across it. A large metal door was closing ahead of her. She chucked Will underneath of it. She then placed her hands on the bottom of it. She was trying to stop it from closing. Jay caught up to her. "Go!" she shouted.

Jay nodded. He ducked underneath of it. The hydraulics in the door kicked in. Natalie felt it push against her hands. Her hands slipped letting go of the door. She was stuck on the other side.

Will snapped out of his trance. He heard Natalie banging on the other side. He felt the door for a way to open it. Time to destruction 50 seconds.

"Natalie!" shouted Will.

"Will! You have to go on without me!" shouted back Natalie. "The way behind me is blocked."

Will shook his head. "I'm not leaving without you." He slid and sat down in front of the door.

"Will..please...you have to go." tears formed in Natalie's eyes. "I love you."

"I love you too, Natalie."

Jay yanked his brother to his feet. He dragged him over to where there was a jeep. The facility shook once more. Time to destruction 10 seconds.

Will shouted for Natalie as they drove away. Natalie sat down in front of the door. She leaned her head back.

The hangar bay doors where part of the way closed. Jay and Will managed to narrowly escape the incoming collapse. Will watched as the mountain came down on top of the facility.