Ransom

by Michael Ross

  “I waited too long for this. Vengeance and half of his company.’

  She pulls the man closer to her.

  The buzzer wakes Eugene. He half expected to be surprise by Maria standing at the door. Instead he sees chief Hertiga.

  Mr.Kay wants to see you now.” As they drove in the car, Eugene looks at Hertiga. He recognizes the scar at the side of his face and the callousness of his hands.

  “Did you know Guerreg well?” he asks Hertiga.

  “We worked in the military together. Special ops. Then the explosion. We both found ourselves here. He was to be promoted but for some unexplainable reasons, he allows Masala to escape.” Eugene kept silent the remainder of the journey. When they arrive at Kay’s mansion, Hertiga leaves him to be accompany by a guard. The servant accompanies him to the patio where Kay sits eating in his wheelchair. He shook hands with Eugene.

  “It is a pleasure to meet you young man. Your school speaks highly of you. I also heard you were acquainted with my daughter.”

  “I do I meant I did. My condolence on her disappearance.’ He says sympathetic.

  “We will find her. I won’t stop at nothing. Did you eat breakfast? How about joining me?”

  Eugene ate until he was satisfied.

  “Please accompany. I am on my way to inspect my latest invention in weapons defences.” They walk together towards the firing range. Several men in para- military uniform and white clothes he guess to be scientist waited for their arrival.

  “Are we ready Vickor? Sit next to me.’ He tells Eugene.

  Eugene obeys and sits next to the wheel chair man. The scientist sets up the test.

  “How come your daughter name Bronte?” he says conversationally.

  “Her mother. We did not want her life endanger by linking her name to mine. This is what we fear would happen to her.”

  The men signal to Kay and he gives them the green light. The man dress in para-military uniform fires at the target. Eugene was amaze to see it disappear.

  “Bravo!” Kay says with genuine pleasure. He shakes the hands of the men and then began to go back to the house. Eugene follows. Within, Mr.Kay pours them both brandy.

  “A toast to today’s success.” Eugene drinks it down. He looks at the man and thinks about his fortune. He wonders how much it took for him to become so rich. The servant arrives and whispers into his ear. He looks at Eugene apologetically.

  “I must leave for a brief moment. Please make yourself comfortable. He wheels himself out of the room.

  Chapter 9

  Mr.Kay approaches his security chief. The man extends a green cover dossier toward him.He accepts it and opens it and began to read.

  “His DNA matches. He is the clone.’

  Mr. Kay closes and opens his eyes.

  “I will send him on an errand. When he returns, I want you to make sure he is dead.’ The man nod and depart.

  Eugene look at Mr. Kay returning into the room. He notices the man expression withdrawn.

  “Isaac, my boy. I would like you to find my daughter.’

  “I would like to but my studies.”

  “do not worry about the prize. I am offering you twice that if you succeed.’

  He knew better than to argue with the suffering father.

  “On one condition. I am allowed to take the gun you just tested.’

  “You strike a hard bargain but my daughter life is worth more than that gun. Take it by all means.’

  He returns to his apartment and fells the presence of Maria. Her friendly smile and precocious ways. He pulls out the bike onto the street. With the gun across his shoulder, he pulls out of the city sector into the direction of the outskirts.

  Chapter 10

  He pulls up at a wayside tavern. He enters after parking his bike. The crowd of revelers notices his entry. The girl behind the counter looks at him curiously.

  “Do you have something to quench my thirst?” he asks politely. The girl reaches for a large glass of ale. He drinks it down gratefully.

  “I am looking for a young girl. She disappeared from the city sector.’ Average height and green eyes.’

  “Never seen her.” was the reply. He paid the woman and return outside.

  When he was back on the road, the wind whistle at him through the trees. Suddenly, a huge bird comes sweeping down at him from the skies. He recognizes the sound of the falcon as it began to attack him. He swore silently and tries to swerve away but loses control of the bike. It flies into the huge shrubs and tips over. Eugene is flung into the air. He lands with sufficient impact to render him unconscious.

  The two men approach the still form on the thicket. The man carrying the samurai sword around his shoulder kicks him.

  “Out for sure.’ He tells his companion.

  “This must be the man asking around for the girl.” He was carrying his twin pistols under his shoulder holster.

  “Let’s take him into the tunnel. Wu will know what to do with him”

  Eugene was place into the truck and driven away.

  Chapter 11

  Eugene open his eyes while swinging upside down from the ceiling. His hands and legs bond by ropes. He suddenly notices the silhouette sitting silently in a chair. The girl was tied to the chair and her hands bond in front of her . he recognizes Maria.

  “You sure are a sight for sore eyes.’ He says to her.

  “I am being held prisoner.’ She says in astonishment.

  “How many?” he asks her.

  “I have seen three. One is just outside the door.

  “We have to get him in here.”

  “Didn’t you get my message? I sent it to the bike from my watch.”

  “Sorry.”

  “Alright. I will lure him in.” she unbuttons the top button of her shirt.

  “Guard! Guard! I am thirsty.” sounds of heavy footfall outside. The door opens with a loud clanking sound. The guard looks in. then he leaves.

  “Come closer. Tear the skin off my back. Take the rod and place it close to the guard. Press the button and the volts will knock him unconscious.” She slides her chair until she was under him and pulls at his skin until it began to peel away. She removes the tiny rod and slides back to her place. The guard enters a moment later carrying a glass of water. As soon as he was close enough, she points the rod and the volts knock the guard unconscious. She then looks at Eugene triumphantly.

  “Now come over here and cut me loose. Point the rod at the bond only this time longer. When his wrist was free, he took the rod away from the girl and points it at his foot cutting the ropes. He lands agilely on his feet. He began to untie the girl from the chair and freeing her wrist.

  “The guard will be out for a while. Let’s find the others.”

  They both walk out locking the guard within. They follow the passage to a lighted room. A man was sitting toying with his blade. He patiently wipes it over and over again. Suddenly he sees Eugene facing him. He springs to his feet and advances on Eugene with his blade. He raises it to strike but Eugene grabs his hand and cut him down with several chops to the throat with his bare hands. He picks up the knife and went looking for the other the girl far behind. The man with the two guns sees him first. He reaches for his guns but the knife was already on its way to his chest. He fell to the floor lifeless as it penetrates him.

  Chapter 12

  After locking up the two guards and their dead friend, they look at the map found on the dead man.

  “I think this is the underground plan. I wonder where it leads?”

  “I also saw a vehicle pack with detonators.’ She tells him.

  “Let’s find it.” They arrive at the vehicle.

  “We are going for a ride. Jump on.”

  They sped through the tunnel arriving at the entrance to the sector Eugene recognizes.

  “This is your father sector. It does not make sense.’

  “both of you hands in the air.” A voice commands. A man carrying an assault rifle appears.

  �
��Ms. Wu will be delighted when she sees you both.”

  “But she works for my father?’

  “Don’t fool yourself little lady. Why did you think you were capture. Wu is going to make your father pay. Enough talking and start walking.’ He pushes them forward.

  Chapter 13

  While they walk inside the sector, four other guards join them. The man pushes the weapon against Eugene back. With a swift movement, he grabs the gun out of the man hands and delivers a blow with the butt to the man face. He fell. Then he points it at the others and began shooting. The sounds of firing deafening the area. Eugene grabs Maria hands and they races down the corridor. Alarms went off and they find themselves inside a room. Daag appears.

  “Well! Well! If it isn’t our escapees back for seconds. Let’s party, just you and me.’ He brandishes a machete. Eugene drops the gun and takes the pole from the wall. It was almost six inches long. Daag advance and lashes out cutting into the steel pole. It sounds resonate and Eugene looses his footing and was on his back. Daag continues to advance. The girl attacks him and he shoves her aside. She hits her head against the wall loosing consciousness. Eugene took advantage of the momentary distraction and was on his feet. He wraps the pole around Daag neck. The man fights to break the hold. Eugene continues to pressure. The strength leaves Daag and he struggle until he finally stop. He fall to the floor.

  “Take these keys. Get the prisoners free. Don’t loose sight of the vehicle. Now go.” The girl ran out the room. He walks into another room. The woman in the large mirror was holding a gun. He land on his back before she fires. He returns fire with the gun he recovers from Daag. She was hit several times before falling to the floor. He approaches her. Blood pour out of her mouth. He bent down, raising her head.

  “Why did you do it? He asks.

  “Kay. He kill my mother. I was going to make him pay. I shot him once and cripple him. I join his company to get closer and wait for my opportunity to get even. You look so much like Andy.” She says.

  “Andy who?” he asks but she was gone.

  The prisoners escape while Eugene set the explosives. When he was a safe , he detonate the sector. They drove away in the vehicle. Then they found the truck and drive onto the road. Eugene soon retrieve the gun.

  “Return this to your father with this.’ He hands her the gem.

  The next day while Eugene swim in the river, Maria went through his clothes. When he returns, she held the photograph.

  “Who is she?”

  “Her name is Sandra. We live together.’

  “Take me to her.”

  “But we have a rendezvous.”

  “It can wait.

  Sandra and Eugene looks at Maria driving away from the village.

  “Why did she want you to go?”

  “She fear her father was going to kill me.”

  “Why? You save his daughter?”

  “She finds out I am a clone.’

  They held hands and walks back to the village.

  #####