The Hostage and the Wanted

The knock sounded again, making Zayn cross from the table to the door, looking out of the peep hole. His face relaxed.

“It’s just old woman Woods, the one with the twenty cats.” Zayn said, his body un-tensing as he opened the door and stepped through.

Harry had put his hand over Isabella’s mouth but she continued to work the proxy, unbothered by his actions or anything around her. She just wanted to get the van away –far away from them. So she let her fingers continue to work, the black screen in front spewing out commands. She worked quicker. Setting commands, her eyes wide –a small grunt coming out of her sealed mouth, picking one of her hands from the keys and setting it against Harry’s, tapping it twice and pointing to the screen, a small dot moving against a map before she pressed another key and the one dot turned into sixteen.

Isabella let out an exclamation –and she was glad Harry’s hand had been there but she tapped his hand again, beginning to talk into it.

He moved it up a little to allow Isabella to talk.

“These dots mean there are more than one van in the surrounding areas. I don’t know if they are all connected –according to my proxy they share the same signal connection but sometimes people will use a random proxy to latch on to a certain frequency.” She pointed to a few of the many dots on the screen as she explained. “I could try to hijack their equipment, get a microphone working if they have any in there. Hear the enemy sorta speak.”

Harry removed his hand, looking at the door as Zayn came back inside, looking a little defeated.

“Mrs. Woods needs her petunia plants replanted because Niall ran them over. Mate? Old woman Woods chewed my ass a new one –careful not to drive over her prized flowers next time you’re running for your life.” Zayn chastised sarcastically before uttering a random degrade at the old grouch.

Isabella smiled, despite the concern on the screen. She hadn’t worked a computer for two years and it was like riding a bike. Once you knew, you never forgot. It made her happy as her fingers typed the keys.

“Zayn, we’ll worry about the old bat’s flowers later, look what Isabella found! She picked up their proxy.” Niall exclaimed, pointing at the screen as Zayn joined behind her –watching.

“As I was explaining to them, according to these dots, they indicate sixteen vehicles on the same signal. Now, some people will hijack a signal and the signal will reroute the frequency and from there it will look like more than they are, just like police cruisers have one signal that plugs all the radios together. Here, let me show you,” Isabella said, typing in more commands, switching windows and pulling up another map –this time at least a hundred green lights shone through the map, spanning out for hundreds of miles. “All the police within a hundred mile radius of us.”

“Fuck me.” Louis muttered, slouching a bit.

“That’s nothing, let me hijack their radios. Let’s try officer three in police cruiser 331B.” Isabella said, typing in a few more keys and turned up the sound.

At first it was quiet but then the voices tuned in and adjusted to regular sound.

“So your wife hasn’t given you a good tug n pull for how long? –“

Isabella cut the sound.

“Ok let’s not try officer three, God.”

Niall and Harry chuckled.

“I feel his pain, I don’t know when any of us had a good tug and –“

“Ok, shut up, conversation over, next?” Isabella made a disgusted face.

Louis chuckled and Liam shook his head, although he was clearly amused. Zayn snorted, completely un-telling.

“Well, luv, getting the van off our backs?” Harry said, although he was smiling.

“Right. I just take this signal here and sort of ‘kidnap it’ from there I hold it ‘hostage’ and plug in what I want to send in the form of data. It’s sort of stuck there as you can see, there’s a block where it cuts off for a second and then once I put in what I want to, I release it and send it back through their proxy and it pops up on their end. Now, watch.” Isabella explained, her finger following along one of the dots as it sped away from the neighborhood it just went from, chasing a false signal. The rest of the vehicles followed suite – all but one. It just sat unmoving.

“That one must be a proxy stealer or something?” Louis asked, pointing at it, which made Isabella’s eye brow pop upward questioningly.

“I don’t know. That one could be a proxy thief or they could just be waiting to get word from the others.” Isabella shrugged.

“So, where did you send them?” Liam asked.

“Ireland.” Isabella chuckled, typing in a few more keys before opening up another browser completely and typing in google on a search of Simon’s company before going back to her proxy box and creating a fake proxy, sending the signal to a random location. She figured Antarctica, any tower there could pick it up.

“My country? Damn lass, you’re cold.”

“Not as cold as they’re going to be.” Isabella responded, her face serious as she connected the IP to the fake proxy and created an entry point, bypassing a security stop and moving further until a sign in window popped up.

“What are you –“ Louis began to ask, leaning in further, his arm draped across the back of Isabella’s chair as she opened another box within a moment’s blink and hijacked another proxy, typing commands as fast as she could. Her hands moving in an almost unnatural speed. When she got what she was looking for she went to the sign in box and typed in the information she received.

Almost instantly there was information, records – automatic pay, access to money, accounts. Isabella had hacked into Simon’s personal account files. All his bank accounts, all his records and the salaries of each artist that was employed there.

“What you have here is a gold mine. I’m in the very vein of Simon’s career, life. With one press of a button I can bankrupt him…but let’s not get ahead of ourselves.” Isabella smiled when Liam looked about ready to object.

“We don’t want to fuck him over that bad, just have a little fun, dove.” Niall chuckled, seeing her hands move again and a few things appear and disappear.

“What was your band name?” Isabella asked, her hands stopping at the keys.

A hush fell over the five men but Harry spoke up, his voice soft but bitter.

“One Direction.”

Isabella liked the name, it was creative and…new. At least to her ears.

She did some research, seeing that the band had brought in quite a few million from revenue, so how they could owe Simon anything confused her.

“You made mention that you’re still paying him, I see no money that needs owed. Your accounts are in steady order and as it looks, he owes you. According to the records –“Isabella was explaining but Louis stopped her with placing his finger on her lips.

“We’re not getting into it, love. Just –exit there, yeah? Whatever you’re going to say, we know. It’s all been tied up in courts for a long time now. Just – have your fun but stay out of our past.” He warned, watching the screen intently.

“Alright, well – I could give you that money back and it legally it would all be just. There is an automatic system with your addresses – which is here and I could send a signal and note to his secretary, which she’d send you all the checks and because it’s in the legal courts I could hack into there and make the changes to the records. That way you get your money, he gets screwed and there would be nothing legal he could do to you. He’d have to eat the loss. Which for people like that, it only means he can’t afford his five new cars for a month.”

“Leave it alone, dove. Move on.” Niall sighed, the subject seeming a little touchy for them.

“Alright stud, whatever you say. Maybe if I’m a good little hostage you’ll tell me your story since you know most of mine, I know virtually shit about any of you – other than the obvious.”

“Our story is long, complicated and boring. You don’t need to know, no matter how good you can prove to be –it’s not a story we need to share. Leave it go, luv. It’s not a very happy conversation.” Harry explained.

“Neither is my past and yet you managed to tire me out enough to spill some of mine.” Isabella shrugged, stealing a now cold chip from Harry’s plate and popping it in her mouth. If they weren’t going to eat, she certainly could. Her appetite, like her body rejuvenated with the touch of the keys.

Isabella’s actions made Zayn slap his forehead, going to the microphone and pulling out a sort of stuffing but it looked to be rather dried.

“Sorry gents, looks like were ordering out for lunch.” Zayn spoke but none of them answered, they were way too preoccupied with the computer.

“Alright, dinner then.” Zayn shrugged, rejoining them.

Isabella clicked out of their accounts but unbeknownst to them she did exactly what they had told her not to. Legally, it looked like he had just settled with them over a debt and it only took a second to change the court claims to completed –with an automated online signature from Simon.

From there she accessed a few more boxes and began to have a little fun with his bank accounts as well as adjusting the salary to the other artists. As far as Isabella was concerned they each got a one million dollar raise – per week. Which will be interesting to see him explain that mess, especially after an official letter was sent out to that artist.

She couldn’t help but laugh and turn to Harry, explaining what she just did.

Harry, Niall, Zayn, Liam and Louis returned the amusement.

To make matters worse, Simon’s bank and private accounts were made less heavy. She took everything out except what a normal person needed to maintain a household, food, upkeep – although she was being far too generous with seven thousand.

“Simon will be living on a budget for a week. I took virtually all the money and it’s now safely secured in a ghost proxy. That proxy will self-destruct in a week and any funds help in there will go right back into the bank accounts as an undeliverable payment. So it’s not permanent. Now, according to flight time, Simon will be landing in New Zealand in approximately three hours. Let me get his coordinates and I’ll be able to log into the planes system that way and change the landing coordinates to somewhere a little more –cooler.” Isabella smirked, her fingers typing commands into the black box.

“What is it with you and cold places?” Liam asked.

“I don’t know about you, Liam, but I like my revenge best served cold.” Isabella shrugged, her eyes flickering from one end of the screen to the next. She was typing as fast as she possibly could, smiling when a successful message came up on the screen. She sat back, looking around her.

“Simon is taking a nice little trip to Russia – small town. I hope he speaks Russian because that part of Russia is non English speaking.”

Harry clapped calmly, while a few of the other boys chuckled. The rest just sort of smirked knowingly.

“With him not able to buy his way out because of the suddenly missing money – so, if you wanted my goal to make his vacation hell, then I think it is safe to say I have been successful.” Isabella announced proudly, receiving a high five from Niall. His eyes were alive with joy.

“Way to go, Ella.” Zayn smiled, leaning forward and wrapping his arms around the girl before whispering something in her ear, nodding off with his head.

She smiled back and nodded.

“I wish I could do that.” Niall laughed.

“You can, maybe I’ll teach you sometime, stud.” Isabella winked, standing up and stretching, stealing another chip and following Zayn from the room, although he turned around to let them know he needed to change a few of her bandages before disappearing.

Once they were in the guestroom with the door closed he and Isabella took a seat on the bed, his eyes completely trusting.

“I saw what you did. I wanted to say thank you.” Zayn said, keeping his voice now.

“Do? I didn’t do anything.” Isabella said but smirked knowingly.

“Cut the crap, you just freed up our legal struggles in a touch of a simple button. I don’t know how to thank you enough, love. I don’t think –“

She shushed him, placing a hand on his shoulder.

“Then don’t say anything. Just enjoy what is yours – you may find a little bonus attached. All written in the legal ties of the letter. Make sure you don’t lose that.” Isabella replied, standing up and going toward the door.

“Wait, I think I understand.” Zayn called, standing himself and going forward to grab her wrist.

Isabella smiled, using her other hand to place over his.

“I have a skill very few people possess, I can do virtually anything online. I can do it electronically through the air – I can make a whole city block dark and void of any electric. I could do so much more. If I wanted, Zayn, I could hijack the system for the missiles and have every single missile in the world shot in the sky and up into space or I could point them anywhere and set them there. Why do you think I’m so wanted? It’s not because I stole from Saudimere. It’s because I was his weapon. I’m not running because I’m wanted, I’m running because if he finds me, he’ll make me finish what he started. Glen is a bad person with an even worse disposition when he’s crossed. I crossed him but that was only when he crossed the line.” Isabella glowered at the memory, balling her hand up and hitting the side of the door.

Zayn didn’t question Isabella, he simply wrapped his arms around her, holding tightly but she withdrew and hugged him back.

“Thank you Zayn. For your kindness.” She replied, letting go of the anger and jerked the door open, seeing Harry about to knock, his eyes wide.

“The computer is singing at us, it asked for you personally.”

Isabella raised her eye brow, walking back down the hall and sitting down in her chair, the other boys already by her side.

She pressed a few buttons and found a private proxy that it was coming from, she engaged it and found what Harry meant, the voice was singing – the lyrics coming from the speaker were enough to turn her blood cold.

“Hacker one to hacker number 5997TU. Who is this?” She asked coolly, trying to see if there was a video device she could access, her eyes nervous as they worked in overtime.

“Hacker and numbers? Is that all I am to you?” The masked voice asked, laughing.

“What are you supposed to be to me?” Isabella asked, swearing when she was blocked from accessing one of the proxies, taking time to find another to the direct source.

“A lot.” The voice replied simply, seeming to shrug.

“How much is a lot? Do I know you?” Isabella stalled, smiling when she found the right port.

“Your past, your future –your death.” The voice responded, seeming to enjoy a game of wit with the girl.

“My past died many years ago, my future is uncertain and my death will not be today,” Isabella said with little care, slamming her hand on the table with a loud bang when she found the asshole had covered his video cam. “Although, I want to see the face I supposedly know, if I know you, why are you so afraid to let me see you? Afraid I might scream? Are you that ugly?” Isabella challenged with a laugh.

Harry caught her attention, shaking his head.

She glowered, already tiring of the game.

“Your boyfriend next to you is smart, little words tend to get people killed.” The voice warned but started to adjust itself to normal. “Although I suppose I should feed your curiosity. You deserve that much.”

The audio adjusted and a familiar tone started to fill the speakers –in fact, he was humming a very familiar tune that Isabella recognized right away.

“No…” Isabella trailed off, her eyes forming shock, the dark cloth slowly coming off the webcam, the room itself dark but she recognized the face illuminating against the glow of the computer. It was the man she had been wondering about for two years. He was smiling.

“Yes. Hi babe.” He laughed, the beautiful laugh she remembered those few years ago –only it was under a lot different circumstances. It was darker – bitterer.

“E-Ethan!” Isabella exclaimed before her whole world began to swim and before she knew what happened –she had fainted.

Harry and Louis caught her before she could face plant on the table, Zayn was taking her out of the chair and carrying her to the couch before anyone could blink. Her reaction had been violent, her body was stiff in absolute shock.

Harry, Niall, Liam and Louis stared at the slightly older gent, not really knowing what to do.

“Tell Anastasia I’ll see her soon. I might not have a direct location yet but it’s only a matter of time.” Ethan promised going to shut his camera off but Louis stopped him.

“Are you part of the search, with those vans?”

He paused, his hand on the disconnector.

“No, those guys are fucking idiots. I’m an independent contractor and I simply want my fiancée back. You can give her to me or I can take her, either way she will be coming back with me. Glen Saudimere wants her and he made me an offer that couldn’t be refused. So tell her I’ll see her soon.” Ethan smirked, the screen going blank.

“Over my dead bloody body.” Louis muttered as Harry slammed the laptop down and went over to the couch, kneeling to the floor, his hand gently rubbing Isabella’s shoulder.

The rest of the boys joined, each perching somewhere in the room or near Isabella.

Harry’s mouth closed in by her ear, his voice soft when he spoke.

“We’ll protect you, luv, I promise.”

Notes