Well, here we are. The last time you get two chapters a week, for now anyway. Honestly, I’m glad to be going down to one chapter a week next week. The reason: I’m not sure how to end this book. I’m still trying to work out how it’s all going to end, how many chapters, and if I make it into a series or not. So, with that brain-scratcher, let’s get into Chapter 24 – Loss.
Loss
Adam sat on the floor of his room, staring at the door, letting the wall support him. It had been two days and he had heard Valerie on the phone. They needed an escape plan. Without Mick. Even though he had been with these people for a short while, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of loss. Fear driven questions kept sleep away at night. Where was Mick? Had he been captured? Or worse? He shuddered as the door opened. His hopeful expression fell when he saw it was just Drew. The young man walked over to him, sliding down the wall to sit next to him and placing a tray of food between them.
“You were hoping I was Mick?” Adam nodded, glancing at the tray.
“I’m not hungry.” Drew sighed.
“Adam, you haven’t eaten in two days. I practically had to force you to drink anything. You need to keep your strength up. Please eat something. Anything.” Glancing down at the tray, Adam grabbed an apple and took a bite, the juice running down his chin. Wiping it away, he chewed the apple in silence, his eyes back on the door.
“Is Mick dead?” His voice was barely above a whisper, as if saying it out loud would make it true. Drew leaned his head back against the wall, closing his eyes. He was silent for so long Adam had to look over to see if he had fallen asleep. “Drew?”
“I honestly don’t know Adam.”
*
Valerie sighed as she got off the phone, running a hand over her tired eyes. She knew that the loss of Mick was affecting morale, especially Adam. The poor kid had been through so much in the past few days. She wasn’t sure how much more he could handle. He wasn’t the only one struggling. She could tell Drew was also feeling the loss. Mick had been like a brother to him, taking him under his wing and training him. Looking out the window, she watched the trees dance in the breeze, the sun shimmering through the branches and sparkling off the lake. The sound of bird song filled the air. It was beautiful, but the beauty was lost to the group.
“Where are you Mick?”
*
Elijah flung a chair across the room, sending the two men who had come to report to him, running out of the room. Incompetent fools. Every single one of them. Another door opened and a well dressed man, with shoulder length brown hair, brown eyes, and a scar running from his left eye to his chin, walked in. He glanced at the broken chair, then back at Elijah.
“Bad news?” Elijah moved around the large oak desk and settled into his chair behind it.
“I’m surrounded by idiots. They let one of Vanderboon’s men distract them while the rest of his team got away with Adam. How am I supposed to get anything done if I have to do everything myself?” The man sat in one of the large armchairs across from Elijah.
“Perhaps you should let me handle it. You know I’m the best one suited for the job. They’ll never see me coming.” Elijah frowned.
“That will put a stop to your other work, but you could be right. Fine. No matter what happens, bring me my son!”
Is it all a loss?
Oh man. We don’t get to find out Mick’s fate in this chapter. Maybe the next one? Will they continue to feel the loss of Mick, or are they about to run into problems that force them to take their minds off Mick? And who is this new stranger? Maybe we will find out in the next chapter.
