Chapter Nineteen.
Onyx
“Gonna call in Unwanted Bastards?” Venom asked as we walked to our bikes.
“No. Not until we have her. If Seb is wrong, then we pull everyone away from the search and waste time,” I replied.
“Does it really matter? She’s gash, that can be replaced.” Viking glowered.
Resigned, I shook my head at Viking. His previous woman had fucked him up; now Viking viewed every woman as an enemy or a hole to warm his cock.
“These women mean something to the Unwanted Bastards,” I said.
Viking snorted. “Yeah, a ball and chain and a lifetime of misery.”
I couldn’t disagree with that assessment. My old lady had been a cunt. And paid the price by ending up with a bullet in her head. Rage, Hellfire, Unwanted Bastards, and the rest were fuckin’ nuts, but it was their choice.
“They’re allies; we’ll help,” I stated.
Viking nodded and swung up onto his bike. I pulled out as Venom and Viking covered me, just like always.
Amy
I held back a squeal as a rat scurried past. Beady eyes stopped and assessed me, and I kicked out. The vermin scampered away but offered me a knowing stare. Once more, I checked my surroundings. I appeared to be in an old office block.
It was the type where the bottom part of the offices was wood and the top was glass.
The office I was in had filing cabinets along one wall, paper scattered everywhere, and two broken chairs lying on their sides.
My hands had been tied behind my back, and my feet were also bound. Even my mouth was gagged.
For the past ten minutes, I’d been rubbing the bindings—duct tape—against a sharp piece of metal protruding from the wall. Once it had held a radiator, which was sitting lopsided on the floor. I’d not seen my kidnapper, but I knew he was somewhere around. He had to be.
Escape was the plan. First step, free my hands; second, rip the tape off; third, untie my legs.
There was a shuffling noise, so I stopped moving. A man came into sight.
I stared curiously.
He gazed back emotionlessly. “Bet you’re wondering who I am.”
I nodded .
“Guess I suppose I owe you that before I kill you. My name is Edwin Foster.”
My eyes widened, and Edwin snorted.
“Bet you’re also wanting to understand why you have to die.
Cops have been searching for me for weeks.
Nobody knows me. Why? Because I’m fucking invisible.
No one sees me. My wife was one of the designers for the zeppelins.
Except the bitch wasn’t. She stole my plans, formula, and sold them.
Took credit for my genius and made millions. Those were my designs!” Edwin hissed.
Blankly, I stared. This was over blueprints?
“Ten long years I spent perfecting them while working a stupid, mediocre job.
When I achieved perfection, she stole them and divorced me.
When I tried to reclaim my work, I was laughed out of the courtroom.
Do you know I worked with two hundred colleagues, had a week in court, and no one saw me.
I was invisible. All those people and none paid attention.
“But that bitch isn’t amused now. She was killed on the Titanic of the Skies.
I’m laughing because before she died, I made her admit the theft.
I forced her to transfer all the money. Once I’ve cleared up the last few survivors, I’ll blow the Olympus of the Skies up and then go somewhere with no extradition treaty.
There, I’ll inform everybody what happened and why. And nobody can do a thing.”
All this because Edwin felt ignored? Okay, I understood being hurt and angry at what his wife had done. What crimes did the passengers commit? None. Edwin seemed to read my mind.
“You rode my design, used facilities I designed, enjoyed what I created, while I suffered. I lost everything. Bitch said she was tired of being with a nobody. Well, now I’m a somebody.
People won’t forget me again, and my work will be recognised as mine.
At first, I couldn’t let anyone live; you might have identified me.
And now it’s the principle, especially with you. You refuse to lie down and die.”
I didn’t intend to do that now either.
Edwin shook his head at me and came closer. “Amy, I’m preparing something special for you. You’ll be remembered for years.”
With that, Edwin walked away. I didn’t hesitate, but got back to sawing at the bindings. Whatever this lunatic had in mind, I wasn’t hanging around. Minutes ticked past, and my skin grew bloody, but they finally snapped. I ripped the tape off my mouth and breathed in deeply. Oh, thank God.
Blood trickled down my wrists, and I saw I’d been cut several times.
In my panic to get free, I’d not felt anything, but now I could see the mess I’d made.
However, I didn’t have time to wrap them up, not that there was anything here I’d use.
Quickly, I unwrapped my legs; the bastard must have used half a reel of tape on them. Then I stood up.
Pins and needles sprang to life, and I barely suppressed a groan.
Pain raced through my body, but I’d felt and survived worse.
I didn’t rush out straight away; that led to being captured again.
Instead, I peered through the glass walls, looking for an exit.
There were three potentials on the wall opposite me.
One was a set of stairwell doors, the other an elevator and then a second set of stairs.
I headed to the closest, picking my way through litter and rubble.
As quietly as I tried to walk, each step felt like a thunderclap, and I was worried the asshole might reappear.
I finally hit the nearest doors, pushed, and discovered it locked.
Shit. The elevator was out of the running.
If I used that, the noise would alert Edwin.
But when he’d come to see me, he’d not used it, so that meant the other stairs were unlocked.
However, I could barge right into him. I could hide near the exit and wait for Edwin to return, but that would end up in a race with him chasing me.
That was too high a gamble. Cautiously, I opened the door and listened.
When I couldn’t hear anything, I walked through.
Warily, I peered over the stairs and checked to see if I could spot Edwin.
Nothing. I took a step and flinched. My shoes crunched on the debris underfoot.
Even trying to be quiet, I made a noise.
I didn’t like the look of the floor; it was clearly dirty.
But did I risk being caught or an infection?
I slipped my shoes off and tried a few more steps—much quieter. I advanced steadily down two flights, paused on the next floor, and peered through the window. Not seeing movement, I pushed the doors, and they opened slightly. If Edwin walked up the stairs, I could hide here.
My body was shaking with fear and adrenaline.
I had to escape, but I understood logically I needed patience.
My stomach was twisting itself into knots.
Edwin hadn’t shown signs of carrying a weapon, but that didn’t mean there wasn’t one.
After a few minutes, I crept down the next two flights and repeated my actions.
As I started down the final staircase, I detected movement.
Quickly shoving the doors, I slipped inside, but they made a grating, squeaking noise.
There was silence before the noise of running steps.
I rushed into an office and curled up in a ball.
The doors banged open, and I felt Edwin standing there.
I froze, not daring to move in case I made a sound.
The doors slammed shut, and I heard Edwin’s footsteps racing upwards.
Desperation riding me, I leapt up and looked around.
The far corner held a broken window. Spotting the second exit, I hurried over and nearly cried when that was also locked.
Cold air blew in through the shattered window, and I shivered.
A slamming noise came from above, and I headed back towards the doors when I heard movement.
I ducked down low and scurried off as they opened again.
Silently moving, I headed away from Edwin and the escape route.
The wind grew colder and more bitter as I inched nearer the open window.
Hopefully, Edwin wouldn’t think I’d come this close.
Then I stepped on a piece of glass, and a pained cry escaped me before I could stop it.
I peered up and spotted Edwin across the expanse, staring at me.
Edwin began moving my way, murder written on his face, and I backed up against the window and looked down. Maybe I wasn’t too high up.
Below was an open trash bin, filled with bags. Mind racing, I quickly decided. I’d take my chances with the trash bin. I used my shoe to remove most of the jagged glass, then swallowed hard and leapt.
“No!” Edwin screamed as I plummeted a storey down.
The breath left my lungs in a wheeze, and I saw stars.
It took a few moments to collect my thoughts.
I gazed up into the killer’s disbelieving eyes.
Edwin’s expression made me scramble to get out of the trash bin, and I lurched over the side.
A sharp pain shot through my ankle, and I staggered before turning to run.
“Bitch!” the scream came from above, and Edwin stepped back. I guessed what he was going to do, and I staggered away.
Onyx
Holy shit, I did not just witness that. Amy, because it could only be her, stood at the broken window with a look of abject fear on her face. Then she leapt out. Fuckin’ jumped. My heart surged into my throat as I guessed I’d be calling Vortex with bad news.
“Fuck!” Venom roared, and I couldn’t disagree.