“We need a plan,” I signed. “What about your aunt? Isn’t she worried about where you have been all this time and has she tried to contact you? You haven’t been home for several days now.”
Oliver nodded his head. “My aunt is on a month-long vacation which started about a week ago before the explosion at the bookstore. Perfect timing isn’t it? She does message me once in a while, but I choose not to worry her for now. I will talk with her when she returns.”
I smiled at him. “Okay at least the Magistrate won’t disturb her for now and is one less complication for us.”
We started planning how to deal with Mrs Wills and save Felix.
TWENTY-FOUR
Oliver and I were standing opposite Mrs Wills’ home as a slight breeze swept the surprisingly quiet street of houses. We were early as the deadline was still an hour away and I noticed there were no children playing in any of the front yards and no adults sitting around enjoying the cool evening which is a bit unusual for this hour, but, then again, I didn’t know if this was normal for this street. The street didn’t know the possible chaos about to unfold in one of its houses though I was hoping it wouldn’t turn out bad.
“You know she will be ready and waiting for you,” Oliver signed. “We don’t know who else is inside there. It could be only Mrs Wills and her husband or Josh and his people may also be inside.”
I knew this was Oliver’s last-ditch effort to convince me not to go in but instead walk away. I knew I was walking into a possible trap, but sometimes we must take the greatest risks for the people we care the most for.
“I know. Despite it we need to try this and see,” I gestured. “I don’t think Josh is inside. This is Mrs Wills’ own way of trying to fix the problem and from her conversation with Josh she was not at all pleased with the way things were going. She wants things done faster.”
“So she took things into her own hands by kidnaping Felix,” Oliver motioned. “She is insane.”
We had been watching their place for the last fifteen minutes, but no one had entered or left the home and the window shades in the front were drawn shut. A few minutes earlier Oliver had checked on the side gate to Mrs Wills’ backyard and found it to be unlatched.
“Are you ready?” I gestured to Oliver. “Let’s begin.”
He nodded, ran across the street to the front door, stopped there, looked around and, then, finally at me and I started running towards the back of the home waving for him to begin the plan. I reached the side of the home, hide behind some bushes and was thankful the side-gate to the backyard was still unlatched.
As I was about to go into the backyard, Oliver knocked on the front door.
A figure opened the door and from Oliver’s expression I could guess it should be Mrs Wills. The figure was making gestures in a furious way and I was sure she was frustrated as to why Oliver was here and not me and knowing Mrs Wills’ recent change in behavior she wouldn’t accept it at all, which was what I was hoping for because I knew she only wanted me and would see no value in Oliver. I stooped, entered the Wills’ backyard and waited for several seconds before going to a window next to the back door.
I peeked through the half-open window shade and, at first, found a typical kitchen before my eyes focused in on Felix. My heart leapt as I realized he was tied to a chair at the other end of the kitchen near the living room. He was facing my direction, looked tired with his eyes closed but I failed to see anyone else in the kitchen with him. Fortunately, it didn’t look like they had hurt him as I didn’t see any visible bruises on him.
I moved slightly to the back door listening for a minute to see if I could hear anyone else’s movements, but nothing reached my ears. As Oliver should still be talking to Mrs Wills keeping her distracted I realized the plan was working, but the problem was I didn’t know where Mr Wills was in the house and my time was running out. I knew this was my only chance with Felix so close and I felt confident I could reach and save him and, as I tried the door, it surprisingly opened and I entered the kitchen and before I could take another step towards Felix someone grabbed me. Felix eyes immediately opened staring at me and he was scared for me as he tried to break free from the ropes but was unable to. I struggled against the person’s grip, but it was strong that I could not move at all making me realize the plan had failed and the Wills had captured me.
TWENTY-FIVE
Mr Wills entered from the living room, glanced at me, smiled and looked at my captor leaving me confused as to who it was but, whoever it was, this person was quite strong and bigger than Mr Wills. Did Mrs Wills get Josh’s men involved, was Josh also here and was I wrong to think Mrs Wills was doing this on her own.
Mr Wills turned to Mrs Wills, motioning something, the front door shut immediately, and I hoped they didn’t capture Oliver too as she entered the kitchen.
“Well well if it isn’t stupid Marinette trying to save her beloved guardian,” Mrs Wills gestured. “Keep a hold on her Bruce.”
As Bruce kept his tight grip on me, I tried my best to remain defiant not wanting to give Mrs Wills the satisfaction of seeing me breakdown in front of her knowing the plan failed. Felix always told me how I felt didn’t define who I was and with that I decided not to give into my feelings because like when I faced Josh earlier in the building I knew I could face Mrs Wills now.
“Oh by the way Marinette let me introduce you to the person who captured you,” Mrs Wills continued. “This is my brother Bruce who was in the Thomson team for basketball. So, don’t waste your strength trying to get free because your pathetic size is peanuts to him and he could easily break your neck with one arm. Although the thought itself, is interesting I do need you to be alive.”
Mrs Wills’ sarcastic words pierced every good remaining memory I had of her and I tried not to look at Mrs Wills in the eyes and, instead, looked at Felix and then noticed Mr Wills was quiet with his eyes looking at the ground and, maybe, there was a chance to bring some sense into Mrs Wills after all.
“Did you think we were stupid Marinette? We expected you to try and rescue Felix,” Mrs Wills indicated. “Which child wouldn’t try to save their parent or guardian? The unlatched gate, the half-drawn window in the back, and the position in which Felix was tied was all part of our, I mean, my ingenious plan. It was the bait and you and your friend walked so easily right into the trap. You both are too predictable and stupid!”
My heart dropped knowing I was foolish not to trust Oliver’s instincts because he was right in the end as this was a trap well planned by Mrs Wills.
As if knowing what I wanted to ask, Mrs Wills continued. “Oh if you are wondering about Oliver well you shouldn’t care about your so-called friend. He was a coward and ran off the moment I was told you had been captured. What kind of friend is this? I expected Oliver to put up a fight and not run but then what can I say about this generation of boys? Courage runs in short supply inside many of them.”
I knew Oliver wasn’t a coward because Mrs Wills knew nothing about him really and was only babbling like a fool in her victory. Oliver did the right thing and I was sure he was probably thinking of what to do next.
“Oh Amy….,” Mr Wills waved.
Mr Wills wiped his sweating forehead, one of his eyes was twitching and he kept pressing his right hand against the wall.
“What’s the problem Harry?” Mrs Wills signed. “Stick to my plan and everything will work out nicely for us.”
Mr Wills turned to look in the direction of the backyard and the unexpected began to happen.
“This is…. crazy…. Amy,” Mr Wills motioned. “We are not kidnappers like the Council and what we are doing here is wrong and getting out of control.”
“Shut up Harry,” Mrs Wills signed.
“I won’t Amy,” Mr Wills continued. “I have been quiet for so long on this whole matter, but we have become no better than the Council and you now let the only witness to this mess, the boy, run away. Who knows what he will do or who he will tell?”
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p; “He will do nothing,” Mrs Wills indicated with a smirk. “He is a silly boy who will run home and hide in his room. He didn’t even have the guts to fight with me. You shouldn’t worry about him.”
Although confident in her reply Mrs Wills appeared to waver a bit showing the first sign of cracks in her armor of arrogance.
“All the boy needs to do is anonymously alert the Magistrate,” Mr Wills gestured. “It takes one phone message and then this ingenious plan of yours is dead and all of us could be put in prison or worse. We should have at least told Josh of our plan. We all know the Council and its intentions. The Council always wants to be in control and they do not like people taking things into their own hands.”
The moment Mr Wills uttered those things about the Council I felt Bruce’s grip around me loosen a bit. Bruce forced me to the ground and sat on me to keep me from moving or breaking free.
“Sis, Harry is right,” Bruce signed. “I am not going to prison for this. I didn’t agree to this and we should reconsider the plan. I don’t want this on my record with the Council.”
“Okay okay okay…. you both made your point,” Mrs Wills motioned. “Let’s get this over with quickly then.”
Mrs Wills pulled out from behind her a gun.
My eyes widened, and I realized things have gone beyond out of control.
Mr Wills jumped two steps back. “Where did you get the gun from Amy? We don’t own any guns.”
“It’s none of your business,” Mrs Wills signed. “Marinette here has something the Council desperately wants, and I am going to find out what it is.”
Mrs Wills pointed the gun at me. “Whatever she knows must be really important for them to risk kidnaping my only dear child.”
“Stop this madness,” Mr Wills motioned. He jumped in between me and Mrs Wills surprising me by how fast he was able to move.
Felix’s eyes, with panic written over them, kept moving back and forth. The cold steel-like determination had returned to Mrs Wills’ face making me accept the fact I was naive to think I could turn Mrs Wills back to her normal self. Pointing the gun at me was the point of no return for Mrs Wills hammering the last nail in her coffin and making me think twice about what Josh said about her. She had either gone mad or this really was her true nature and everything else before this was a mere act.
“Stop this now sis,” Bruce signed. “And stop pointing the gun in this direction.” He gets up slightly from holding me down.
“Come on girl,” Mrs Wills ignored her brother. “Tell me what the Council wants from you. If you do there is a chance you and your guardian will get out of here alive.”
I didn’t believe her anymore because this wasn’t the Mrs Wills I cared about and longed to see every day on my way to school.
“She cannot reply to you in her position,” Mr Wills motioned pointing to me.
“Get her up Bruce,” Mrs Wills signaled.
Bruce picked me up like a doll, made me stand with my arms free and I knew he could break my neck at any moment with one twist if he wanted to.
“Tell me Marinette,” Mrs Wills gestured impatiently. “What makes you so special to the Council? Why would the Council be so scared of a little stupid girl like you?”
I then realized Mrs Wills didn’t even know what this was all about, and she had no idea about the connection between me, the incident and the fact I could make a sound. Obviously, Josh did not reveal his suspicions to Mrs Wills and this whole affair was simply her reaction to losing her child. The Council fearing me was news to me.
“I am not special,” I signed. “I don’t know why the Council wants me.”
“Don’t you lie to me stupid girl!” Mrs Wills indicated.
I stared at her, remaining silent and tried to release a sound to push Mrs Wills away, but I could not, and I didn’t know why.
“The girl doesn’t know anything more,” Mr Wills motioned. “I think we made a mistake on this Amy.”
“Well we shall see if what you say is true,” Mrs Wills signed. “Let’s make this really simple.”
She turned to point the gun at Felix.
“I will shoot him if you don’t tell me what I need to know Marinette,” Mrs Wills indicated. “Choose your next words wisely stupid girl because Felix’s life depends on it.”
Felix didn’t flinch, was as calm as ever and I was so proud of him. The only mother figure to me was threatening to kill the only father I had ever known, and I could not imagine things getting any worse this moment. Bruce’s pressure tightened on me and I remained unable to move my body. Was Mrs Wills really a killer?
“Sis, this is enough,” Bruce signed. “Why don’t you just put the gun away? There may be other ways to make her talk.”
Mrs Wills paused for a moment.
“You stay out of this Bruce,” Mrs Wills motioned. “I don’t have the luxury of time to wait for your other ways. I need to know now because every minute my child is away from me is a minute too long. Marinette this is your last chance. TELL ME!”
I decided enough was enough accepting the fact that I must say something to buy time as it was the only option left for me to save Felix.
“Okay,” I signed. “All I know is this. You all know about the recent car explosion incident right? Well I was near the explosion when it happened, and I think it could be why the Council is interested in me.”
Felix’s eyes showed surprise as he didn’t expect me to reveal this information.
“Finally,” Mrs Wills signed. “We are getting somewhere. And what else about the incident? Did you see or hear something?”
“I saw it in the news too,” I signed defiantly. “There is nothing else and this is what I told Josh. I do not know why they are after me. It is all a mistake.”
Mrs Wills stared at me for a few seconds. “There has to be more! You are lying. The Council does not make mistakes does it, Bruce?”
“I don’t know,” Bruce motioned shaking his head.
“Amy, she has told you everything you need to know,” Mr Wills interrupted. “Maybe we can talk to the Council to sort out this misunderstanding. Let’s end this here.”
“I decide when this comes to an end,” Mrs Wills signed. “Do you hear me?”
A sense of fear washed over Mr Wills’ face. Did he push his wife too far?
“I know dear but….”, Mr Wills started.
“But what?” Mrs Wills motioned furiously. “I want my child back! This only ends when I get my child back! DO YOU UNDERSTAND?”
Then the gun in her hands went off, the bullet hit Felix knocking him off the chair onto the floor and I stared in horror, as if watching a slow-motion scene in a movie, as Felix hits the kitchen floor. The next several seconds was complete chaos as Bruce and Mr Wills both jumped at Mrs Wills to get the gun away from her and I rushed over to Felix who was bleeding. As I untied the ropes and laid Felix on the floor I noticed the bullet entered near his chest area. The blood spot was growing larger slowly as I got some cloth from the kitchen table to press against his wound. I looked at Felix’s face, but his eyes were still closed and, although I wanted to wake him up, I was scared it might make it worse.
Turning around, Mrs. Wills and her husband were wrestling over the gun while Bruce had stepped back from the wrestling. After watching them for a few more moments he ran out the back door leaving the scene like a coward.
I heard a second gunshot and Mrs Wills’ body slumped to the ground with blood pouring out of her heart area.
Still holding the gun Mr Wills looked at me. “I didn’t mean to….. I didn’t mean to….. I only wanted to stop all of this.”
I didn’t respond because I no longer cared about Mrs Wills. Mr Wills glanced at his dead wife’s body on the floor before dropping the gun and running out of the home too.
I heard a door break open and Oliver rushed in.
“What is going….,” Oliver signed and then stopped in his tracks.
He saw the two bodies and me lying over Felix and ran over to me.
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Felix was still breathing and his eyes had finally opened, and he was staring at me.
“The ambulance will be here soon,” Oliver signed. “It is automatic.”
For once I was happy over how the Magistrate had set up the emergency services automated system in homes. The system intelligently recognized any sound requiring an emergency response, like a gunshot, and instantly sent a notification to the nearest services.
Felix raised his hands to touch my face. “You must find the truth because it is, not only for you, but for the rest of society. You are the silence breaker Marinette and remember it is not a burden but a responsibility.”
Piercing Through the Silence Page 11
