Graham Legacy (20) World's Collide

 

"Had I known but yesterday what I know today,
I’d have taken out your two gray eyes
And put in eyes of clay;
And had I known but yesterday you’d be no more my own
I’d have taken out your heart of flesh
And put in one of stone."

– Quoted from Tam Lin

The day had started so normally. Kale had suggested they go out for the afternoon since it was such a beautiful day. Kyle and Lyddia offered to watch the kids and Holly and Kale had left, without a second thought. 

Kale picked a decent Bistro and they enjoyed eating outside. He glanced at Holly. "What's wrong? You've been awfully quiet." She stared at her fork. "Have you ever felt that things are going too good? I can't help thinking that something bad's going to happen."

Kale threw up his hands. "Kanoa is in jail! He won't be out for at least a decade. Nothing is going to happen!" Holly nodded. "Your probably right." Kale agreed. "Of course I am."

 

After a movie Holly noticed someone following them. Kale glanced over his shoulder. "Its probably just a stalker. You do look rather gorgeous today." He winked. Holly laughed. Kale had eased her fear but he was still alert. He decided they should walk down the block to the police station. Just in case. 

Somehow the man had circled them and now barred their way to the police station.

Kale stood protectively in front of Holly. "Your in our way." He observed, hiding any fear from his voice.

The man didn't budge. "Actually, I'm right where I should be." He held up a can of something and sprayed. Kale and Holly blacked out before they knew what hit them.

Sydnee shook her head, Holly's story was about as crazy as her own. "He actually showed up at our house. Thank goodness our kids had just left for the movies." Holly started crying. " My kids! I hope their safe!"

Sinbad stood outside of the lounge. He pulled out a set of bow and arrows that he always kept on him. The weapons were enchanted, blessed by the queen of the fae, and could shrink to the size of a pen. Sinbad gripped the bow staring into the night. Where to begin? He knew there were countless abandoned and repossessed houses in this city. He could try every single one and still not find them in time. He thought about where the victims lived, in terms of the neighborhoods. He decided to head to Sydnee's first and hope for luck. Sinbad wanted to kill Kane in that moment more than he ever wanted to kill anyone. Sinbad was not a man who murdered often, but he knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that Kane would die for this. 

Sinbad hurried as fast as he could. Suddenly he spotted Axel and slowed. He hadn't heard from the kid since yesterday and had a bad feeling.

Axel, who had ignored Kanoa's threat of harming Reese or Cassidy, charged at Sinbad fueled by bitter anger. "YOU! This is all your fault." Sinbad took a step back. "Andrea and Zachary are dead because of you!"

Sinbad furrowed his brow. Axel was a punk, and he still didn't like him but he felt terrible that Axel's family was dead. And Zach. Zach had only been a toddler. "I'm sorry." Sinbad said hoarsely. 

Axel hung his head. "They want me to turn myself into the police. To tell them that I..." he began to choke up..."That I killed Andrea and Zach." 

Sinbad couldn't respond, he felt sick. Kane was cruel but this was sinister even for him. He wondered if Kane was working with a partner. Regardless, Sinbad wouldn't leave Axel here alone. "Come with me. The man who did this, Kane, he's kidnapped most of Sydnee's family, including Reese." Axel balled his hands into fists. "I can't let Reese die too." Sinbad relayed what Kane had told him quickly. "We need to hurry, to get at least two out before the time runs out." Axel nodded. "What happens if we don't?" Sinbad stated. "Then Murdock will shoot us when he sees us. And he's a good aim, so I'd rather avoid having to deal with him." 

Kale and Jack found that they both had a lot in common. They were both firefighters and both had a brother-in-law named Kyle :) They also were both men of their word and faithful to their spouses. They began devising escape plans. 

The door opened and Murdock burst in. "Will you all shut up? I can't hear the radio, for Sims Sake! This isn't a bloody garden party, so knock it off!"

 Murdock stared at Sydnee and Holly a moment, creeping them both out.

Kale and Jack both noticed his unwanted gaze and Kale cleared his throat. "Well if that's all.." Murdock snapped back to reality and gave Kale a challenging look as he exited. Holly shuddered. "That man is disturbing." No one disagreed.

 Sinbad and Axel were lucky, and found one of the four houses that Kane had described. Murdock had just arrived at the house. Sinbad tapped his wrist, indicating he still had time. Murdock sulked but put his gun up. Sinbad and Axel practically ran down the stairs. 

Zane's family was the first they had found. Sinbad explained the situation and Kane's "rules" and the time frame he had. Zane and Irena both agreed he should take the toddlers. Zane didn't seemed thrilled about Axel's presence but said nothing. They had been in the basement the better part of a day and he knew the twins were hungry. Sinbad spoke with absolute authority, "I will come back for you." Zane nodded. "Is Andrea okay?" Irena asked. "What about Zach?" Sinbad looked at Axel who was trying to hold it together. "Their dead." Sinbad said softly. 

 They walked out in silence as Zane, Irena, and Alissa began to weep.

Paris was beginning to feel delirious. She had been stuck in a room for hours longing for an energy drink and having to watch her brother make out with his girlfriend, Stella Carlton. She stood. "That is it! I cannot take this anymore! Parker what are you thinking dating someone as young as your nieces, really?"

Stella stood up too. "For the last time, I am NOT as young as either of your nieces! I WORK OUT!"

Lyddia watched, dazed as they got into a fight. She was starting to feel hungry and tired. Lyddia wondered why they would waste so much energy on fighting. Stella won the fight quickly.

They were all starting to feel the effects of no food and hunger. On top of that, Paris was addicted to energy drinks and could feel herself sweating and shaking. Lyddia hoped that Kyle was okay. They both had been kidnapped at the same time but he wasn't here. She felt her heart sink slightly. Would she ever see him again?

Grayson and Kyle weren't fighting...exactly. They were in a heated argument over which Jedi was the absolute best in Star Wars. Reese had all but nodded off. Suddenly the door opened and Murdock was in the room.

Kyle had only had a vague idea of what he looked like. Now seeing the man up close Kyle knew he could more than take him in a fair fight. Judging by the man's face, Kyle doubted he ever fought fair.

Murdock stared at Reese salaciously. Reese, who had been watching him smiled and flirted, "Like what you see?" Kyle and Grayson stood immobile for a moment in complete shock. 

Grayson propelled himself into action faster than Kyle. " Why don't you just back off?" Murdock looked aggravated. "And what if I don't?" Grayson, who had lost his entire family wasn't about to lose Reese. "Gun or no gun, me and Kyle will try to take you down." Murdock looked mad but saw Kyle moving closer to the door. Murdock scowled and left the room.

Grayson turned around. "What are you thinking, Reese? Are you trying to wind up dead?" Reese spoke shakily. "I just want to see Cassidy again! I want to live!" She was nearly hysterical. "We are going to die down here, Grayson!" Grayson spoke with authority. "That may be true. But do you really think that guy would help you get out of here? Die with dignity at least!" Reese felt reprimanded. "I'm sorry, I know I shouldn't encourage him. I was wrong." Tears filled her eyes. "I feel like I'm losing it, Grayson." Grayson could relate. He didn't know how long they had been down here but it was starting to feel like forever. 

Grayson and Kyle talked in low voices after Reese fell asleep. "We've got to keep a close eye on her, she's not thinking clearly." Kyle nodded. He himself was beginning to feel exhaustion set in. "Maybe we should stay awake in shifts?" Grayson agreed. "I'll go first."

Sinbad and Axel had brought the toddlers to Jeff's house, which happened to be where Han and the girls were staying as well. While Selah and Li Li played with the toddlers Han divulged his growing concern. "Sinbad said he's only found one of the four houses and it was by sheer luck." He lowered his voice. "I am beginning to worry we might not see our parents again." Jeff didn't disagree. He had come to the same conclusion awhile ago. "Put on a brave face, at least for your sisters." Han nodded. 

Selah and Li Li weren't dumb. They both knew that their parents may die, may be dead already. Accepting this reality was hard. They had already lost Their Uncle, Aunt, and Cousins. (they didn't know Grayson was alive) Andrea was dead and so was Zachary. Sinbad had told them as much. Selah didn't know how much more loss she could stand.

Axel and Sinbad stopped by Sinbad's house to get a map of the city. Sinbad began to rapidly divide the blocks into sections and then shoved the map into his pocket. Sinbad looked at Axel debating what to do. "Do you truly want to help me?" Axel nodded. "Okay, then your going to have to trust my judgement."

Sinbad brought Axel out to his Archery range. "There is a strong possibility that we won't get there in time. That people will die." Axel held the bow as best as he could in his untrained hands. "Either way, Kane dies. I need you to become an asset, not a liability. Train with this, and when I need you I will find you."

Axel pulled the arrow back, rage making his concentration stronger. He had helped save Andrea's younger sisters and yet he still felt miserable. He was furious, he was broken. One thing fueled him as he practiced. One need kept him going, despite the fact that he had very little sleep the past two days. Revenge. Axel planned on exacting his revenge on the men who planned this. Murdock would suffer. He planned on dragging out his death as long as he could. 

Alissa took a nap on the couch. Zane was beginning to worry about his wife. Though she was not diabetic, she had low blood sugar and when she didn't eat she would get quite ill. She had passed out two hours ago and Zane felt completely helpless. He had already lost his daughter and grandson. Would he now lose his wife?

Sinbad entered the room. He had picked a good time to come back to the house. Murdock was gone and upstairs the house was empty. He looked down at Irena and back up at Zane. "We need to hurry."

Zane woke up Alissa and picked up Irena. She didn't even stir. He squared his shoulders, determined his wife would live. Alissa didn't say anything. She was terrified that Irena might die and that they might not make it out. 

As they exited Sinbad felt his heart sink. Irena was already weak and that was after one day. Would Sydnee live? Sinbad's only son was dead, he couldn't imagine his daughter dying as well. He pushed the thought from his mind and continued on.

Zane called Han and the girls as soon as they got home. Han hugged his uncle relieved. Irena had eaten and was asleep in the other room.

Selah and Li Li expressed their condolences to Alissa. They weren't that close to Andrea but they knew she was. Alissa nodded numbly. The last few days had been a blur and she wasn't ready to grieve yet. 

Gage Kane answered his phone. Murdock was on the other end. "Um, there's been um a complication, sir." Kane felt Murdock was primitive at best and asked sharply, "What kind of complication?" Murdock paused clearly not wanting to tell him. "He got the rest of Zane's family out." Kane was impressed with his opponent but aggravated with his lemming. "Make sure you are more careful with those we have left. Or you may find yourself in a basement!" Kane hung up the phone.

Kanoa had been listening to the conversation quietly. When Gage and Kanoa had met in prison Kanoa had deemed Kane's plan brilliant. Now he wasn't so sure. Sinbad Rotter had been top thug in this city for over fifteen years. His reputation was brutal. Kanoa now wondered what would happen to them if Sinbad actually found them. He also was beginning to question Kane's sanity. Kane was becoming more and more unraveled. He looked up at Kane. "Complications?"

Kane stared at his phone a moment thoughtfully. "No. We just need to act sooner than I thought."

 He sat down at the table. "What do you mean act? I thought the idea was we don't get involved with their deaths." Kane shook his head. "I'm not talking about death. I'm talking about suffering." Kanoa opened his mouth to protest but Kane kept talking.

"It won't take much. They already have no food. Its the little things in life that keep humanity from sinking into total and utter chaos." Gage Kane's smiled unnerved Kanoa. "We will make them suffer, make them pay. So that if Sinbad does rescue them, they will despise him anyway."

End of Part 20