The Hostage and the Wanted

Louis thought quickly and dragged Killian away from the sudden gunfire, right back into Ethan’s infirmary. Niall, Liam and Zayn following back with him, covered by Harry and Kellie.

Kellie locked the door and guided everyone to the far back corner of the room, blood trailing down his arm. He had been hit by a stray bullet.

“That could have gone better.” Kellie commented, his accent relaxed and his tone calming.

“Really? I thought with the flying bullets and guns being pointed everywhere that it went rather well, all things considered.” Louis responded sarcastically, hearing the door to the outside being tested.

“I love sarcasm, in fact it’s my native tongue but right now, we may need to put that to bed until we figure out how to get out of here, yeah?” Kellie asked, walking to the door, putting his ear to it and listening before aiming the gun at the top corner of the wood and pulling the trigger.

The gun exploded and a body could be heard dropping, followed by a few swearwords from Glen and one from Ethan.

“I suggest you get away from the door gents or the next bullet will have your name on it.” Kellie called, walking back to the group, observing each of them.

Isabella was holding on tightly to Niall, his strong arms wrapped around her protectively. He stood, glancing back at his native brother nervously.

Harry was helping Louis place Killian back on the chair, their eyes unreadable but they seemed anxious. Liam was next to Niall, his arms over his chest and looking around while Zayn was searching through drawers, pulling out an odd assortment. Everything from bandages to syringes filled with liquid medicine.

“The one with the dark hair rooting through the cupboards, which one are you?” Kellie asked, walking next to him but not without making sure the idiots outside were away from the door – which was currently the case. He needed time to figure out how to get them all out of there, if he managed to figure that out he had a vehicle nearby.

“Zayn Malik. I’m gathering stuff that might be useful.” Zayn replied, finding a leather doctor’s bag tucked neatly beside the counter. He grabbed it and began to throw the stuff inside.

“Doctor or drug exhibitionist?” Kellie chuckled, seeing Zayn had cleaned Ethan out of pain, sedation and even a knock out canister Ethan had stupidly left in his office. His bag was topped with mountains of bandages and he also noticed Zayn was cleaning the other doctor out of prescription pills. At least fifty bottles were being shoved inside the large leather pouch. It didn’t matter what it was, it went in the bag.

“Doctor. If we’re running, we’re going to need supplies,” Zayn replied, sticking his hand out. “A pleasure to meet you, I just wish it were under different circumstances.”

Kellie took the doctor’s hand, a smirk of his own.

“Trust me, redcoat, you wouldn’t want to meet me under different circumstances.”

Zayn’s eyebrow popped but he didn’t have time to question it, seeing Killian started to wake up, his body contracting in violent shakes.

Kellie frowned and went to his side, bending down on one knee, placing a hand on his shoulder.

“Rookie? Are you alright, can you hear me?” Kellie asked, feeling his brother’s body fight against his touch. He looked at Zayn who stopped what he was doing, going to the medical cart and finding what he was looking for.

Pulling it from its place, Zayn turned it on and walked over to the Irishman, slowly ran the scanner up and down the older boy’s body until he started to see his body still. It took some time but Zayn finally turned the scanner off, putting it near the doctor’s bag and pulling a yellow labelled syringe out.

“He’s in shock. I think keeping him sedated, at least for right now would be the best idea. He needs time to heal and he’s still going to have to come to grips if there’s any permanent damage done to his voice.” Zayn explained, uncapping the syringe but Kellie took it from him and looked over the medicine before gently injecting it into his brother’s arm.

“We need to get that collar off him.” Kellie growled, his hatred for these men intensifying. If it weren’t for his humanity, he’d open the door and blow them all out of fucking existence. Although it was still a good possibility that he was going to do that anyhow.

“Ethan has one key to it and I’m assuming it’s the same place the key to the padlock is. We’ll work it out later, I promise. Right now we all need to think of a way we’re getting out of this hellhole.” Zayn tried to keep Kellie focused on their fight and survival.

“Still working on that, mate. If you have any ideas let me know because I didn’t get passed being found by the hunting krakens outside the door there and even less so by the main party I was trying to avoid. My plans were find you, get you out. Everyone was spread throughout the building like a fucked up game of where’s Waldo and now we’re in a room with the coon dogs outside dying for a taste of blood. My brain is working overtime to compensate for poor planning, so my apologies but I’m not Albert Einstein or Harry Houdini. You want critical thinking? That’s the brother to talk to,” He threw his thumb to a sedated Killian. “Otherwise, sod off, redcoat.” Kellie ranted, throwing the empty syringe on the counter in frustration.

“W-what’s your name again?” Isabella asked weakly, her eyes tired and her wounds were seeping red through the white material.

“Kellie O’Hare, Killian’s better half. Let’s get a look at you, dearie, you’re looking a bit pale.” Kellie smiled lightly, walking over toward Isabella and taking her from Niall’s arms, placing her on the gurney, and unwrapping the coat gently to observe the damage. “You’re going to need stitches, those marks look deep.”

Zayn was still putting stuff in the bag, it became so filled that zipping it was now impossible.

“Already got the kit, I think I pretty well cleared the lot,” Zayn said, going to Isabella and looking over her butchered fingers before touching one of her broken toes, hearing her hold back a scream. “Ethan did a clean break it looks. I won’t know until I do a full examine and this is hardly the place. Are you hurt?” He asked gently.

“When aren’t I hurt?” Isabella groaned, gasping when Kellie gently grabbed one of her toes and observed it, his fingers prodding.

“Clean break,” Kellie confirmed before continuing. “Though judging but the severity of the fracture, she’ll be off her feet for at least three months. Two months if she pushes herself.”

“Medical training?” Zayn asked, looking at the other guys as they stared on at the exchange silently.

“Of sorts you could say. I’ll fill you in on my social number, height and sex later. I think my brain just found a solution for our problem. How much is in that canister?”

Harry, Niall, Louis and Liam walked over. Niall grabbing Isabella’s hand.

Kellie smiled at the sentiment, knowing the blonde did it as an unspoken message between them and he more than respected Niall for it.

Zayn grabbed the canister from the bag and shook it. It was halfway gone but it would be enough for the use they needed it for.

It was at that point there was movement outside the door again, orders being yelled by Ethan.

“Satan’s hell hound is at it again.” Liam muttered, knowing by now that when Ethan started yelling Glen was pulling the puppet’s strings.

“Yeah, doesn’t sound good by the looks.” Louis observed.

They all went silent, listening to the orders.

“On my signal, you are going to break down the door!” Ethan screamed, hearing the buffoons get into position.

“They have guns, what it they shoot us?” One asked before Ethan paused and a loud bang could be heard filling the hallway – followed by a body dropping to the ground.

“Anymore concerns, gentlemen? I’m sure you needn’t fear them as much as you do me,” Ethan went on as if nothing happened. “Now, I want them apprehended alive! Alive means with preferably little injury! If you cannot do that, step out of line and I will address your concerns.”

Three shots filled the air and Glen could be heard laughing manically.

“I don’t think you have enough men to break down the door. Way to go genius.” Glen snorted.

A second later a gunshot was heard, followed by silence.

Kellie rolled his eyes and grabbed the spray from Zayn, leaning in to whisper in his ear.

He nodded, grabbing the medical bag.

“Ok, point to yourselves and tell me which one is which.” Kellie demanded.

Harry raised his hand and said his name, Louis followed, Niall after him, Liam after him. When it got to Isabella, she simply stared at the blue eyed stranger. Engrossed in his aura. It was so uncanny that Killian had a twin brother. She knew he had a sibling but not a twin.

“I know I’m good looking gorgeous, after all I’m the more handsome twin but I really need your name, little sapling.” Kellie smiled.

“You sure your name isn’t Kellie O’Conceited?” Liam asked in retort.

“Don’t push me, redcoat.” Kellie smiled but held friendly, seeing Isabella hesitate.

“Her name is Ella.” Niall answered for her.

“A beautiful name for a pretty girl. Alright, Niall? I need you to cover Liam. Louis is going to carry Ella –“He was interrupted by a sharp bang on the door and then Niall a second after.

“Louis can’t carry anything, he was shot two weeks ago in the shoulder.”

“Alright, Zayn? Can you carry her? You’ll be covered last, less of a risk of getting shot. I need the stronger men to cover the weaker. With you carrying Ella, it leaves you more vulnerable and seeing as you’re bringing the medical pharmacy with you –“He gestured to the bag on the counter. “Our defenses are limited, especially since I will need Louis to help Niall with my brother. So it will go; me, Harry, Liam, Niall, my brother, Louis, Zayn and Ella. Harry and I will continue to cover with weapons and you guys just need to protect your own. Some may get hurt but there’s always casualties. When they break through the door –we’ll be ready. Attack with the spray first, when that runs out let the bullets fly.”

“We might be waiting awhile.” Harry muttered, although when two shots could be heard shooting the lock off the door, they scrambled into position.

Zayn picked Isabella up smiling reassuringly, her arms hugging tightly around his neck as the white coat was yet again secured around her.

“You’re alright, Ella, I got you.” Zayn promised calmingly, grabbing the heavy bag.

Niall and Louis hauled Killian’s sedated form into a standing position and steadied him, while Liam covered the two men. Harry’s gun at the ready and Kellie’s hand focusing the spray, while the other aimed the un-cocked shotgun.

They approached the door, all activity stilled from outside.

“Get ready, gents.” Kellie warned.

Liam’s muscles tensed, wishing he had a weapon. He’d be able to help more than to simply wait to get shot.

The door opened but instead of men rushing in, they saw that it was Ethan – alone.

That raised red flags.

He raised his hands up while entering into the infirmary.

“I believe a meeting is in order before any more of our parties gets hurt.” Ethan suggested, stopping just inside the door.

“Like the men you just shot dead? That’s not our fault, mate.” Harry cocked his eyebrow.

“No, they were just idiots –though, I may have overreacted slightly.” Ethan held his fingers out a smidge.

“Where’s Glen?” Liam demanded, watching the door intently, bodies littering the floor.

“He had a situation to deal with.” Ethan smirked.

“Bullocks.” Harry muttered, not hearing the elevator or Glen leave.

Ethan laughed, glancing outside the door.

“If you don’t believe me, check for yourself.” Ethan offered.

“No thanks, what’s your game, mate?” Harry demanded, cocking his gun off safety and aiming it at his head pointe blank.

“My game is simply this. I turn around, walk out of this office and leave. You guys are free to do as you please, I certainly am in no position to stop you but be aware that Glen will never quit searching. Anastasia is far too valuable. Both in bed and information, so I suppose I always lost that to him but she did offer me some valuable advice.” He smiled at Isabella and winked.

“My name is Isabella, Anastasia is dead and I won’t say it again.” Isabella glowered, tensing against Zayn’s chest.

Zayn shushed her.

Ethan bowed slightly, his eyes lit with an unreadable expression.

“Forgive me, Sunshine.”

“There is no forgiveness as far as I am concerned. You handed me over to Glen on a plate, wrapped in a red bow. Your touch, I use to yearn for it –many nights I wondered if you were alright, what you were doing at that moment. I kept going because I thought that maybe, someday, when I could stop running, I’d come back and check up to see how you were, pick things up. I tried to get you to come with me, I begged you to but you didn’t. When Glen discovered that I had made off with five million, when he learned that the data I entered was encrypted and he couldn’t use it, I became valuable. I know he got to you somehow –he brainwashed you.” Isabella felt herself hugging onto Zayn’s neck tightly, afraid to be addressing Ethan but she let go of everything she had been holding onto.

Ethan laughed but it was bemused.

“He showed me enough.”

“Glen showed you what he wanted you to see! He murdered our child or did you forget? Why did you betray me?” Isabella demanded.

“Because you betrayed me first!” Ethan yelled, his voice echoing around the infirmary, his eyes a cold blue. “Don’t play the innocent victim, Ana. Don’t –“Ethan held out his finger and pointed it at her, his voice breaking off in emotion.

“I loved you! From the moment you walked in to the night our lives were torn apart! I never stopped loving you and part of me sees past the monster you’ve become and remembers the man who would bring a rose by my work station and hold me when I had nightmares. The man who loved me unconditionally – what happened to that? What happened to you!?” Isabella sobbed, which made Niall tap Liam and whisper something in his ear.

There was hesitation but Liam switched places to help Louis hold up Killian.

Niall went to Zayn, gently taking Isabella from his arms.

When Niall had her securely he whispered comforting words in her ear, rocking her ever so slightly, the pain in her voice so clear that it brought on a stilled silence throughout the room, including from Ethan himself.

“That Ethan died too. The man that held you securely to him, overlooking the cliffs. The man who gave you his jacket – wrote sweet sentiments on a post it and put them in your purse every morning – he hasn’t existed for years. You can have my touch all you want but you, Anastasia Bright, will never again have my heart. You betrayed me and that’s all it took to shatter. Just like you will eventually betray these boys –technically you have already. The icing on the cake is Killian –he gave up his voice, all for a disease. You are nothing more than a falsified rock, fraudulently presenting herself as a diamond. A piece of shit can call itself gold but the texture and color speak for themselves.” Ethan growled stepping forward but was reminded of the boys who stood in his way.

“I won’t betray them. I won’t betray Killian, you’re wrong! I care about him, something you will never understand!” Isabella screamed, her voice shaking with anger, although she felt satisfied when Kellie let lose a spray of knockout gas in Ethan’s direction before pressing down again on it a second after – the blonde doctor falling to the ground.

“Sorry to interrupt but I think we’ve wasted enough time and arguing with a dick tip is obviously not going anywhere. You both displayed yourselves as victims but what I see is, both parties are genuinely hurt and refusing to let go of their pride. Now, that was just free advice, if you want me to play Doctor Phil, it will cost you.” Kellie retorted, stepping cautiously to the door.

Kellie’s eyes glanced over each men, coming to a stop where Glen laid.

Ethan hadn’t lied.

“Come on, follow through but be careful, bodies everywhere.” He warned as the group followed.

Kellie stopped in front of Glen, putting the shotgun to his head, clicking back the trigger.

Upon closer inspection, he noticed Glen’s side was bleeding.

His finger found the trigger at the same time a loud bang rang out from the other side of the room. A bullet nearly missing Kellie’s head, he aimed in the direction the shot had come from and put a hole in the would-be shooter’s chest.

“Come on, we need to leave before more show up.” Kellie urged.

“Glen will never stop coming after us! He needs to die, he needs to –“Isabella began but Kellie fell back in the line of boys, right beside her and tried his best to calm her as they all crammed into the elevator.

“There is no time, we have to leave, the panic alarms are still sounding and I almost got a bullet to the head. There will be another time but considering Ethan shot him in the side, Glen’s going to find more interest in him for at least the next few days – if he lives. He was bleeding pretty substantially.”

Isabella looked beside herself.

“He’s never going to stop coming after me, he’ll always come.” Isabella sobbed, the elevator door opening and at least fifteen men with guns aimed at the small group.

Harry held his breath and let the knock out spray fly, Kellie following in with a few bullets, body parts exploding in a mess of flesh and gore. The elevator doors shut again thanks to Zayn pressing the emergency door release.

“I believe that was the wrong floor.” Kellie observed, taking in a sharp inhale of breath.

“Which floor is the right one then? Ground?” Harry asked, pressing it.

“Ground should go to the car port.” Isabella said, tears falling from her eyes, wishing she could unsee what she saw and unlearn what she already knew. It was the lowest she ever felt, even when freedom was so near it all seemed so far. With Glen still breathing, she knew they were targets – targets that had to keep moving, forever runaways, forever looking over their shoulder. The only difference is that this time she wasn’t alone. Which made her conscience ache with guilt and consume her thoughts.

The bell dinged again and the doors opened into a carport.

“Coast is clear.” Kellie called, helping Liam and Louis with Killian, picking his feet up so they quit dragging on the ground.

The group hurried across the vacant parking garage and up a few ramps, leading straight to the outside.

As they approached the mouth of the carport, they saw the darkened skies through the grey clouds, the onset of a rainstorm.

Isabella never believed in coincidences but as they stepped out onto the concrete and across the street, disappearing down an alley and through several one ways – she knew that they were keeping to shadows – running away from danger that lurked behind them.

When they stopped at an abandoned parking lot with a rundown blue van, the rain had begun to pour and for a moment they all stood.

Isabella closed her eyes, breathing in the freeing smell of rain, feeling it on her skin, washing away her blood and for a moment, jolting her into reality.

She was alive.

“But for how long?” She asked herself aloud, looking to Niall as he looked down on her, his smile widening.

“How long what?” He asked her back, reaching over and gently placing a kiss on her cheek. “We’re free, Ella, we’re going to be alright.” Niall promised, hugging his body to hers, standing in the rain for a few moments more, the others having already got into the safety of the van.

“Not while Glen Saudimere is still breathing we won’t. We’ll always have to move, we can never stop moving. We won’t be able to set foot where there’s cameras and we will always have to look over our shoulders. It was ok when I was alone but now – now.” Isabella pulled herself closer to his chest.

“Now you have us and you’re no longer alone, Dove.” Niall smiled but she didn’t return it.

“Nothing ever lasts.” She faced away from him.

“I love you, Ella, we all do –some in our own way and but one thing I can promise is we won’t ever leave you. Not now, not ever.” Niall told her sternly, the cold rain falling around them, drenching their bodies.

Isabella clung onto him tiredly as he carried her to the van, Kellie reaching out and helping Niall by taking her from him, setting her in one of the seats and buckling her in.

As Kellie tightened the belt, he pushed her matted hair from her face, making her look up.

“I know someplace off the grid, we’ll stay there a few days and then move on. We’ll keep going until we get our opportunity but Niall is right, you aren’t alone and giving up now will have made this whole escape a waste. You’re alive, many people who have dealt with Glen Saudimere aren’t lucky enough to say the same. So chin up, little sapling because we got a long road ahead of us and even if Killian and myself have to drag you kicking and screaming, you aren’t giving up. So smile.” Kellie tapped her nose, flashing one of her own before glancing at his brother. “My brother is lucky to have met a dame like you, I didn’t think he would get involved but he took a risk – you saved him from Glen, something, even I as his brother failed to do. So, from one genius to another, thank you.” He leant forward and kissed her forehead before jumping into the driver’s seat and Niall took up a seat next to her, grasping her hand.

Isabella looked around, the van having gone quiet – each person seeming caught up in their own thoughts but she looked at Niall and forced a smile.

Isabella’s despair was still strong but she would find her reason to hang on, all she needed was time.

The real question though was, exactly how much time did they have left?

Notes

SEQUEL COMING LATER TODAY PLEASE KEEP CHECKING BACK!