The Children of Light Episode 11

Episode 10 – Quin and Thomas

Quin groggily opened her eyes, then shut them again as the world around her spun. Where was she? What had happened? Forcing her mind to work, she tried to recall where she had been when she had fallen asleep. Trees. A forest. She had been in a forest, and Nico was there. Everything came back in a flash, and she sat up, only to collapse again from vertigo. She couldn’t focus on the room, but it seemed to be made of concrete, with a table in the middle and a steel door. There weren’t any windows that she could see, the only light coming from an uncovered bulb on the ceiling.

“Somebody help!” She shouted, realizing a second later that she was probably in their base. 

“Oh, look who’s decided to join the land of the living,” a cool male voice came from a speaker somewhere above. “Well, now that you’re with us, we can get to work.”

“Who are you?!” Quin shouted toward the speaker. 

Nothing. 

If there were microphones in the room, then they were probably ignoring her.

After what felt like an eternity of trying to find a comfortable position, there was a scrape as the metal door slid open, then a thud as it closed. Quin opened her eyes, fighting past the dizziness. At least the room was no longer spinning. “So what are your sick intentions? Torture my parents until I’m forced to join you? Use me as a bargaining chip? Torture me just because you’re evil?”

The black-haired lady in front of her let out a curt laugh. “You think we’re that kind of evil organization?”

Quin felt her leg starting to go numb, and she stood up, forcing her eyes to stay glued at the lady. “Oh, so that’s why you knocked me out and dragged me through the forest? Because we couldn’t have talked there?”

“Oh, we didn’t kidnap you to talk. We kidnapped you to use you as a bargaining chip. However, I do want to talk to you about your behavior. You see, you have a peculiar habit of doing things you’re told not to do, such as, for example, leaving the island—big mistake, by the way.”

Quin felt her face flush with anger as the lady eyed her like a cat eyes a mouse that it knows it’s caught.

“However, we have a solution. Your conscience. If you do something you’re told not to do, or don’t do something you’re told to do, Emma will… suffer.”

“You’re a monster!” Quin spat, glaring at the lady.

“No, actually. You would be the monster. You see, you’re the only one who can kill her. If you obey us, Emma will live. If you don’t, it will be your actions that kill her. Is it the soldier or the commander who’s the real killer?”

Quin’s mind reeled. How could someone be so far gone that they would murder someone else without a second thought. Isn’t this what you wanted? To be in the darkest place? Why had she asked God to send her?

“You know, in a way, you did save Emma. Now you just have to keep her safe. We’ll be back in half an hour.” She looked directly into Quin’s eyes. “Don’t go anywhere.”

It was like a lead weight had grown from her shoulders as she watched the lady disappear out the door. Any thoughts of escape were gone. There was only one thing she could do.

“Lord,” she whispered, covering her hand with her mouth so they couldn’t hear, “what do I do? When I asked to go into the darkness, I didn’t mean like this. Why did you bring me here?”

“You know, in a way, you did save Emma.” was what the lady had said. Had God really brought her here because it was the only way to save Emma? Putting Emma’s life in her hands? What would they ask her to do? A thousand horrible things flashed through her mind.

“Okay, if you brought me here to save Emma, then please help us get out. There must be a way without obeying them.

Resting her head against the cold wall, she tried to think up a solution. The only way out was through the metal door, and she was certain the lady had meant what she’d said about obeying them. So now what? What solution could there be? They had beat her.

an hour earlier – Thomas

It wasn’t fair! He had trusted Nico, trusted him enough to bring him in on one of the greatest things that had happened to him since being sent to this Academy, and now he had both betrayed his secret and betrayed it to the principal’s daughter! Why had he told Emma and Nico about the room? He should have known they couldn’t be trusted. No one could. Hadn’t he learned that the hard way enough times? Yet somehow he had let them through all the protection he had built up.

Thomas stood up from his desk. It didn’t matter. He should have known that everything good would be taken away. Soon, the whole school would know about thier little group and then it would be over. Everything would go back to how it was, only now, too many people knew his weaknesses. If Nico could betray the secret of the hideout, how much of a leap was it to betray his other secrets? Okay, calm down.

Thomas took a deep breath. No. Right now wasn’t the time to stop. Emma was gone, and even if everything was about to fall apart, he’d still made a promise to her. They were a team, and teammates didn’t give up on each other. That’s good coming from you. No! He wasn’t going to think like that. Not now. He was going to find Emma, and he didn’t need anyone to help him.

Ducking out of the classroom and into the hallway, he headed back the way he had come. He knew Nico and Quin had already left as soon as he stepped into the cleaning closet and caught sight of the open vent. No doubt, they were headed toward the boat. No. Wait. How would they drive the boat without Emma’s hacking skills? They must have found another way off the island, but how? A secret tunnel? They wouldn’t try to swim the river, at least Nico wouldn’t. Honestly, he wouldn’t put it past Quin.

Thomas ducked into the vent. Maybe there was some clue in the room. He smirked. The last time he had thought that, he had been looking for the Children of Light. Though wasn’t he doing pretty much the exact same thing now? He stopped mid stride. The Children of Light! They had gone missing mysteriously. Now Emma had vanished. What if it was happening again? How would anyone even know the Children of Light were back?  Too many questions. Not enough answers.

Pushing the questions back, he focused on the one he needed to solve now and headed into the room. Everything seemed exactly the way he had found it. A thick layer of dust still covered everything. The bulletin board still looked the way it had the first time he had seen it. Yet something was off—missing. He scanned the shelves. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary, except… In one spot, the dust had been scraped away. Something had been taken off the shelf. Something big.

He tried to recall everything that had been on the shelf the first time he had found the room when he was looking for a way out. Everything he remembered seemed to be here… He closed his eyes, and an image of some sort of gun-like device filled his mind. There had been some sort of gun. That’s what was missing! But he couldn’t imagine Nico letting Quin take a gun. He suddenly remembered the rope that had been lying next to it, with a fish-hook looking thing at the end. A zip line: that’s what it had been! Which meant…

Thomas raced over to the secret door and pulled the oil lamp. With a click, the wall swung open, spilling golden beams of light into the room. Thomas raced outside, closing the door behind him. Without looking back, he ran toward the woods that led to the beach. They would need a tall heavy tree in order to get enough height, which meant they had to be at the old elm tree by the west shore.

He darted through the trees, ducking and weaving under branches, praying he wouldn’t be too late. But too late for what? Too late to stop them from finding Emma? Too late to get to the city? Too late to save Emma?

The thoughts left his mind as he caught sight of the elm tree, and sure enough, a thin metal line connecting it to the other side of the river. And there, high in the branches of the tree, was Quin.

He reached the bottom just as a zipping sound echoed through the woods. Panting, he scrambled up the tree, using large branches and handholds that had been carved into the tree years ago. Finally, he reached the top, and he looked out over the trees and river toward the far bank. He was too late. He could only watch as Nico and Quin disappeared into the forest. Thomas closed his eyes and turned around. No. He didn’t need them. He didn’t need anyone. He was a lone wolf. Lone wolf or not, Emma needs you.

A load thwack exploded by his ear, and he instinctively shielded his head. After a few seconds, he opened his eyes, gaping at the tranquilizer dart embedded in the wood inches from his ear.

He quickly scanned the forest below, but there was no movement. He turned back to the dart, and something on it caught his eye. A logo was printed on the dart with the words “open me” underneath. That logo almost looked familiar…. He did a double take. The last time he had seen that logo had been six years ago. Emma, Nico, and Quin were in huge trouble. Holding his breath, partly in anticipation and partly in case it was a gas bomb, he pulled the bottom off. He was barely in time to catch a small piece of paper as it fell out. Unfolding it, he began to read,

“Please inform your principal that if she ever wants to see her daughter again, she will do exactly what is written inside this letter.” 

 Frantically, he scurried up the tree, making sure to stay low. Emerging into the canopy again, he scanned the shoreline. There! Through the trees, he could just make out five figures, two of them limp and unmoving on the ground. Nico! All he could do was watch as two other burley guys hoisted Nico and Quin onto their shoulders and started off through the woods.

Great! Now what?! Why did everyone have to get themselves into trouble? It seemed like ever since he’d met Nico and Emma, he’d been doing nothing but saving them, and now Quin had joined them. Okay, focus. He had to rescue them; the sooner the better.

Thomas glanced at the zip line. It was the fastest way down, and maybe the only one. The only problem: he didn’t have anything to ride it. Think, Thomas. There must be a way! Checking his pockets, he came up with a utility knife, a wallet, a phone, and of course his tactical pen. Maybe he could use a branch to get across, but the chances that he would get stuck were way too high. He had to get down. If they got away with Nico and Quin… he couldn’t even think about it.

“So, this is how you get off the island when you don’t have your little computer freak to do the work for you?”

Thomas spun around, almost losing his balance on his branch. There, emerging from a thick layer of leaves, was Jack. Of course it has to be Jack.

“You know, for such a good reputation, I’d think you’d be better at knowing when you’re being stalked. Guess I’m just a better tracker.” Jack leaned against the tree trunk, his red pants and black tactical vest blending in with the autumn leaves. How did this jerk always seem to be there at the most inconvenient times? Thomas paused mid-thought. Something on Jack’s vest caught his eye. A carabiner clip. If he could somehow get it off the vest, it would make a great makeshift trolley.

“Alright, so you tracked me here. Why?” Thomas asked, already calculating the distance to Jack.

“Simple. I knew you had a way off this island. And now I’m going to use it to get out of this place.”

“You do realize that if you leave the police will be after you.” Thomas moved toward Jack, balancing on the swaying branch.

“Actually, they won’t. I’m sure Emma will be more than glad to help me get ‘transferred’ in exchange for not telling the principal about her boat rides.”

“Yeah, only one problem with your plan,” A new thought started forming in Thomas’ mind. “Emma’s gone. Disappeared last night with the boat.”

Jack’s smug expression wavered.

“That’s why I’m trying to get off the Island. Quin and Nico went after them, and now they’ve been kidnapped, probably by the same people who took Emma. If you’re so good, you should have seen them.”

“And why should I believe you?”

“Because if you don’t they’re going to die.” Thomas stopped. Did he really just ask Jack to team up with him? What was he thinking?! “You help me get them back, and we’ll help you get out of here.”

Jack scrunched up his forehead in an exaggerated ‘I’m thinking about it’ face. “Alright, if you promise to do exactly what I tell you to, I’ll ‘help’ you.”

Thomas shook his head. He should have seen this coming.

“Or I could not help. Good luck trying to get across. Maybe your branch idea will work, or you’ll fall to your death.”

Thomas took a deep breath. “Okay, you’re in charge. But I still have a say in what we do.”

“Nope. My mission, my plan.”

“Fine!” What other choice did he have? The longer they waited, the harder it would be.

“Alright, then.” Jack pulled out a pair of handcuffs and a roll of paracord, deftly tying a loop around one cuff. “Hold out your hands.”

“You’re not going to do…”

Jack grabbed Thomas’ wrist and, before he could protest, snapped the cuffs on his right wrist, cuffing him to the wire. “Hold onto the cord, and it shouldn’t hurt too bad. Let go, and you’ll probably dislocate your hand, but you won’t die.”

“Hold on—” Thomas began, but before he could ask what Jack’s plan actually was, he was shoved off the branch and into the air. He grabbed onto the loop with both hands, hanging on for dear life as freezing air whipped around him. The cord bit into his hand, but he didn’t dare adjust his grip. It was way too easy to imagine his hands slipping and his hand being yanked out of its socket. Finally, he started slowing, and he opened his eyes to see a tree rushing up to meet him. He was just in time to raise his legs as he collided with it, absorbing the impact.

For a moment, he just hung there, then the line dipped, and his feet touched the ground. A zipping sound filled the air, and he looked up to see Jack hurtling toward him. That jerk! With trembling hands, Thomas grabbed his multi-tool with his left hand and unfolded the lock-pick section. He fumbled for a few seconds before the rake slid into the keyhole and he frantically started feeling around for the release pin. The zipping was growing louder, but he didn’t dare take his eyes off the handcuffs. Something clicked, and a second later, he was on the ground. He barely had time to roll out of the way as a body whizzed beside him. A second later, Jack was next to him, grinning.

“You’re insane,” Thomas muttered, getting to his feet.

“And you’re alive. Good work. Maybe you are better than I thought.”

Thomas shook his head. He didn’t even want to think about what that meant.

Fortunately, Jack didn’t say anything else as they made their way up into the dense forest.

“Looks like this is where your friends fell unconscious.” Jack pointed to a seemingly ordinary patch of woods ahead of them, then continued. “See where the sticks are cracked and the dirt is kicked up?” Thomas still couldn’t see anything different about that area, but all he said was, “I already saw where they fell. Then the kidnappers went this way.” Thomas started down the trail they had made. At least he could spot those easily enough.

“You mean this way.”

Thomas turned around to see Jack heading in the opposite direction, and he fought the urge to slam his head into a tree. “Do you seriously have to do the opposite of everything I do?”

Jack turned and smirked. “Depends. Maybe one of these days you’ll be right for a change.”

“The tracks lead in the opposite direction. Even I can see that.”

“That gives us more time, seeing as they have to double back.” Jack continued walking, as if that was enough of an explanation.

Honestly, it did make sense. If they had seen him, they wouldn’t have wanted to draw him toward where they were going. Feigning a left dodge so they can catch you off guard. Grudgingly, Thomas hurried after Jack, moving swiftly through the woods. At least that was one thing he was better at. When it came to the woods, Thomas was in his element, and Jack obviously wasn’t, swinging at branches and cobwebs.

Jack held out a hand, dropping to the ground.

Now what? Thomas followed suit, straining to sense anything out of the ordinary. Gradually, he made out the distinct sound of voices, one a woman’s

“Shut up,” the woman’s voice drifted through the woods, “and be careful with the cargo.”

“It’s them.” Jack whispered, pointing a monocular at the movement in the woods up ahead. “Two muscular guys and a woman.” Rising into a crouch, he started forward. 

“Hold on,” Thomas interjected, sensing an opportunity to finally get away from Jack and his antics. “You stay behind. I’ll get closer, since I’m quieter.”

“My mission, my rules. We stay together.” Jack growled.

Squeezing his eyes shut, Thomas took a deep breath, then joined Jack. What mattered was getting Quin and Nico. As long as they succeeded, nothing else was important. By the time they’d gotten close enough to make out five bodies, Thomas’ knees were starting to cramp. Hopefully, the kidnappers would stop somewhere soon.

“…Not on your life! The Cowboys scored 44 to 6 last game. We’re bringing it home.” One of the men’s voices filtered through the trees.

Football? These guys had kidnapped two students and they were talking about football?

“Bulldogs gonna steal it tonight, big guy. Just you wait.”

“Shut up! Both of you!”

The only sound after that was the soft crunch of leaves under their feet. Finally, just as Thomas thought his legs might just explode, the kidnappers stopped.

“Red key with the flowers,” one of the guys said, and even from the distance, Thomas could feel the lady’s annoyance as she glared at the man. A second later, there was a click, and the sound of rusty hinges. They were going into some sort of bunker. 

Taking a deep breath, Thomas stood up, grabbing his tactical pen. It was now or never. Once they were inside, they would be lost. Adrenaline raced through his veins as he sprinted forward, only to find himself tackled facefirst to the ground. No no no no! He tried to stab the pen into his attacker, but his hand was pinned down.

“That’s about how long you’d last against them,” Jack whispered in his ear.

Thomas rolled out of his hold, glancing to the left just in time to see the door swing closed with a loud click. Their last hope of rescuing Nico and Quin were gone. Thomas spun on Jack, who looked surprisingly smug. “You let them get away!”

“I thought you were a lone wolf and didn’t care about your teammates. Now you suddenly care because they’re your friends. Well let me give you some advice. Friends will always leave you.”

“That doesn’t mean I have to leave them.”

“I know.” Jack replied, smirking. “That’s why we’re going to initiate the second phase of the plan. Operation Rabbit Hole.”

To be continued.

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Comments

3 responses to “The Children of Light Episode 11”

  1. Loving this so much!!

  2. Ahh I see They sprung for the more expensive darts. XD This was really good, Timothy. Excitement job on the edits.

  3. Thank you Emmi and Evelyn!

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