Forty- Three - A crazy ride ahead
"I don't get it. Why would this gang take Chloe? I don't see a reason."
"Maybe they don't need a reason," Amir replied Gabriel whose eyes were shut to hide his despair. "Or they might have one that involves me." The air was so tense as each men battled within.
Nathaniel who was looking out at the darkness quietly turned to face Amir. "You think they are trying to lure you?" he asked, doing a good job of hiding his rage
The car hit a rough path causing the vehicle and its occupants to dance, a rather creepy view of tall trees and gusty air leading the way.
"Whoever Tate works for obviously wants to ruin me. Hence the whole rape thing. I thought that whole situation was enraging. But now that..." His fist formed tightly. "Now that he has Chloe..." Amir couldn't bring himself to express his anger fully.
Given a chance to face the bastard who has Chloe, then he would express his rage like a rampaging beast.
"Do you guys think we should search this area? It looks like it would have a good place to hide someone," Gabriel suggested.
"Hmm. The area is too lage, we might miss each other as we would have to split and search." Sebastian finally found a way to contribute to the exchanges. Truthfully, he knew it was kind of his fault that Chloe got so exposed to danger.
Had he not called Amir there, nothing would have happened to her.
His guilt made it difficult for him to converse freely with the men. He feared they would finally lash at him and remind him of his fault.
"I am willing to take the chance." Nathaniel took a quick look at his watch. "This is almost midnight, almost six hours since she was taken. I am not willing to waste one more second because of a huge forest. So, stop the car and let me start the search."
"We need flashlights though," Gabriel stated, looking back to throw his friend an assuring look.
"We have our phones," Nathaniel returned.
"Well then let's- what the hell man!" Gabriel howled at Sebastian as his head kissed the dashboard.
Sebastian ignored his complain and watched ahead, not bothering to apologize for the abrupt stop.
"Sebastian, what is it?" Nathaniel asked.
"Someone is approaching."
"You can tell?" Gabriel narrowed his eyes.
"Reduce the lights," Nathaniel said as he shifted forward to catch a glimpse of the person that found it very easy to walk such paths.
As Sebastian did as he requested, they all saw what Sebastian saw. But it was just a form, nothing more. It kept moving towards them but with scattered steps.
As they all curiously watched, a kind of glint came from the form in reaction to a night light and Nathaniel immediately suspected a hint of familiarity.
A few more steps forward and Nathaniel saw it. The beaded base of her simple top. She had selected that top right in front of him.
Zero thoughts within, he instantly swung the door open and rushed to her. "Chloe?" She was sticky and she smelt like dirty oil. "Hey, look at me." She finally heard his voice and she looked up at him. She wasn't wearing a weak look but he knew she was feeling more than weak.
A look at her hands almost turned him to anger as the red marks were fresh and depicted pain. But it was really not the time for anger.
Others rushed towards them and he said, "Let's get her home."
"Shouldn't we take her to the hospital first?" Amir asked, his eyes almost teary as he watched Chloe grow limp in Nathaniel's hold. It was his fault she went through whatever they put her through.
"Sebastian, call the doctor and ask him to come down to our house. Gabriel, help me with the door." The ordered men did as they were told and soon, minutes later, they were on their way back home, this time with Chloe.
~
Quietly, Nathaniel and the doctor left his room where Chloe was taking a deep rest. As the short man bade his farewell, Nathaniel joined the others at the entrance.
"Uh..." Nathaniel started with a tired voice. "Lucille?"
"Yes Nathaniel?" She got up from where she was seated.
"Please make sure you have a meal ready pending the time she wakes up."
"I will."
"Good. You can go to sleep now."
"But I should-"
"Lucille?" He cut her short gently. "Please go to your room and rest."
Lucille said no more and did as he asked. After she had left, Gabriel got up and said, "We need answers Sebastian. Will you find them for us?"
"I will do my best."
"One thing bothers me though," Amir, who was seated on the floor said. "If she was taken to spite me, would she have been released?"
"How do you mean?" Nathaniel gave him a look.
"It is just odd. If the people that hate me took her, I perceive they would have kept her till I fell for their trap."
"You think someone else took her," Nathaniel stated. After, his back leaned against the wall and he cursed within him. Whoever it was that took her definitely would pay. No matter who they are.
"It is very likely."
"How would we know for sure who took her then?" Gabriel asked and immediately they shared a look. "Chloe."
"We should let her rest well before asking her questions."
"Definitely," Amir said, getting up. "Sebastian, do you think we should conduct a body scan?"
"You think they planted a chip?" Gabriel asked.
"It is very likely."
"Let's start from there then." Nathaniel took over. "Sebastian, prepare for a body scan and while we wait for that, let's all go rest. I think we have a crazy ride ahead."
"Yeah, we should rest. Nathaniel, you are staying with Chloe right?"Nathaniel nodded to Gabriel's question. "Good. I will be in the basement."
"Why?" Amir asked.
"My sister is using my room."
"When is she leaving?" Nathaniel asked.
"I have no idea. She never tells me things."
With a slight scratch of his forehead, Nathaniel eventually became disinterested. "Well, see you later guys," he said and went in before they could reply him.
