————————————————————————— The sound was faint at first. Just barely audible over the yelling and footsteps pattering against concrete, most didn’t hear it until it practically overpowered the facility, droning through the boards on the windows and the cracks underneath the doors. Everyone, including the kidnappers, eventually stopped what they were doing and went still. The victims stopped running, slowly emerging from their rooms. The kidnappers’ bodies tensed, grips tightening on shotguns. The sound itself? … It was the sound of hope. It was the sound of freedom. The sound they all heard… were police car sirens. ————————————————————————— “I’m so sorry, dearest.” The woman murmured, stroking her son’s hair. “But your father passed last night… are you even listening to me? Please, get out of your head. Just this one time.” The fire poker ripped through his face, and he stumbled backwards. “Get the hell out of my house! I won’t tolerate this absolute disrespect!” “Bruno!” She screamed, falling to her knees. But her brother was already gone. The piece of broken glass stared angrily back at her, lodged in the boy’s chest. “You’re through, kid. You’ve been caught.” The officer snapped, letting out a scoff. “God, you disgust me. Get in the car.” “I’ll join if you offer me sanctuary.” The boy instructed into his microphone, monotone. “Sanctuary… and free wifi. I’ll keep you lot invisible, as long as you play by my rules. And I’m not about to go sit in some dusty room without good internet connection.” “Dude, just log on. Five minutes. You aren’t a chicken, are you?” One boy teased. The others laughed, beginning to cluck mockingly. The younger kid sitting at the computer bit his lip, caving inwards. ————————————————————————— The end was solidified as red and blue lights began to seep through the boards on the windows, and soon voices and footsteps could be heard outside. From what the victims could gather… there were slews of police officers and cars outside. The victims weren’t alone. “Good evening, Mr. Laine, Mr. Durand, Ms. Abalos, Mr. Perrini, Mr. Robinson and Mr. Stiggens.” A voice boomed suddenly, coming from a loud megaphone outside. The kidnappers looked at each-other anxiously, their last names sounding uncomfortably-foreign amongst their carefully-crafted shrouds of anonymity. “We know there are hostages inside the building. We urge you to release them at this time.” The voice continued. Everyone fell silent inside the building, but the victims seemed to gain some sort of strength. This was the end. This was it. If they could just survive the next few moments… they’d be freed. “You have one minute to relinquish everyone. After that, we will not hesitate to use force.” The added. The kidnappers looked around at each other blankly, fiddling with their masks. Not-Rudy folded his arms defensively while the second kidnapper still hovered over the fourth, staring at her companion with morbid horror. And then the broadcasting system clicked on. It screeched loudly from interference for a few painfully-long seconds before going silent. All they could hear at first were shallow breaths. And then he spoke. The elegance and poise from the man behind the intercom had suddenly dissipated. “… Are negotiations on the table?” They called out, hoping that the officers outside could hear. Everything paused outside, before the individual with the megaphone responded. “Who am I speaking to?” There was a short pant from the kidnapper on the other side of the intercom. They didn’t like the idea of sharing their name. Not after everything. Not after being in control for so long. “... It doesn’t matter. If you grant me and… ‘Mr. Laine’ immunity—” There was the sudden sound of a shotgun being racked into the microphone. Someone muttered something to the kidnapper behind the intercom system, voice too garbled to make anyone out. “And Mr. Perrini… we’ll release all hostages.” They added. Hushed discussion began to form outside before the person on the megaphone called back at him. For the moment, they ignored the sound of a gun reloading. “Mr. Laine and Mr. Perrini have alternate criminal offenses. We will not be doing that at this time.” (cont.) —————————————————————————
