ATF Alternate Universe
FOUR
Ezra pulled his Jaguar into the drive and hit the button to open the garage. He waited impatiently as it slowly began to rise. When it was open he pulled the car in and parked it. He got out of the car and closed the door. He leaned on the car and sighed. The evening had started out fantastic. He had dinner at his favorite French restaurant and tickets to see the much-anticipated Marriage of Figaro at the Denver opera house. Dinner was superb and the opera's first half was wonderful. When he had taken his seat again after intermission he had a pounding headache. It had gotten so bad he was forced to leave. Ezra sighed again and pushed himself off the car. He headed for the door that led into the townhouse. He stopped at the door and punched in his code to deactivate the alarm. Once it was off he went inside. He decided to just go to bed. As he walked to the bedroom he loosened the tie on his Versace tux. He removed the rest of the tux and placed it on the suit stand by his walk-in closet. He walked over to the dresser in his boxer's and pulled open the drawer. Right on top were the blue silk pajamas. He grabbed the pants and pulled them on and headed for the bathroom. When he was done washing up and taking a couple of aspirin he stretched out on his bed. He picked up the remote and turned on the news.
"In local news tonight. Four men have escaped from Huntley Prison. They escaped into the wilderness of Crystal Mountain Lake State Park. Authorities have informed us that they are armed and considered dangerous. We will keep you posted when information becomes available."
Ezra tuned out the rest of what she was saying. He was getting a bad feeling about the whole situation. Just when he decided it was his imagination he turned off the TV. He was about to turn off the lights when the phone rang.
"Standish residence."
"Ezra," said a familiar baritone. "Have you seen the news?"
"I only caught a small portion of the broadcast."
"Did you hear about the prison break at Huntley?" Josiah asked.
"Yes," Ezra answered suspiciously. "Why?"
"I don't know," Josiah admitted. "I just got a bad feeling that's all."
"That makes two of us," Ezra conceded. "I have a feeling our companions may be in trouble."
+ + + + + + +
Chris watched the convicts while the others slept. At midnight Carl walked over and kicked Chris's boot thinking he was a sleep. Chris gave him one of his deadly glares.
"Time to get up," Carl ordered.
Buck and JD woke up as soon as they heard Carl's voice. Vin wasn't reacting quickly enough for Carl and he shook him by the shoulder.
"Keep your hands off him," Chris warned.
"Or you'll do what?" Carl asked as he put his hand on the butt of the gun.
"Chris, don't," Vin said staring at Carl. "It's what he wants."
Chris knew Vin was right and tried to calm down. He looked at Buck and saw that he was furious. JD looked scared but was trying not to show it. The two of them were still gagged. He turned back to Vin and could see he was just as mad.
"How you doing?" Chris asked.
"I've got one hell of a headache," he smiled and they heard Buck snort at the answer.
"Gentlemen," Marcus said walking towards them. "You will be carrying the packs. Ron is going to untie you one at a time and let you get the gear on. We'll start with you."
He pointed to Vin and Ron walked over to him and pulled him to his feet. Chris watched in concern as Vin swayed but remained on his feet. His hands were untied and Vin considered taking Ron out until he heard Carl clear his throat behind him. He turned to find Carl holding a gun to JD's head and smiling. He glanced at Buck and saw him trying to struggle against the one called Butch. Chris caught Vin's eye and he knew to wait, there'd be a better time. Vin bent down and put the pack on. He stood up after everything was buckled and almost fell over. His head was pounding and he closed his eyes for a minute. When he opened them again Ron had retied his hands behind his back.
"If you want me to lead you out of here, I'm going to need my hands to hold the compass," Vin said as he watched them retie Chris's hands after he got his pack on.
"Alright," Marcus agreed. "But if you try anything stupid I will kill the kid."
"Hell you will," Carl protested. "I told you he's mine. I don't plan on sleeping alone when we stop tonight."
Buck tried to lunge for Carl when he heard what he said. He was stopped when Butch kneed him in the groin and Buck went down hard.
"You fool," Marcus said. "Now we have to wait until he can walk. Get the pack on the kid."
They got the pack on JD then retied his hands. Butch and Carl pulled Buck to his feet and untied his hands. They forced the pack on him then secured him. Buck was still having trouble standing up straight.
"Remember what I said," Marcus warned Vin as he tied his hands in front.
Marcus pulled out a flashlight and the map. He showed Vin where he wanted to go. It was a point on the highway about thirty miles from where they were. He handed Vin the compass, map and flashlight and told him to get going. Vin started out followed by Marcus. Chris came after with Ron behind him. After Ron was Buck followed by Butch and bringing up the rear was JD being trailed by Carl. It was tough going for Chris, Buck and JD with their hands tied behind their backs. Their balance was off and they kept tripping on things in the dark. Vin wasn't doing much better. He's head was killing him and it was hard going. Marcus kept them hiking for three hours when Chris noticed Vin was starting to stagger.
"You better call a halt," Chris said. "Unless you want to loose your guide."
He called a halt and put the hostages together. Vin gratefully dropped to the ground and leaned back on his pack. Chris sat down next to him. Carl pushed JD to the other side of Vin. Buck was pushed down next to Chris.
"How ya doing Vin?" Chris asked.
"I'm alright," he said. "But I could use some water."
"Hey," Chris called. "We need some water."
Marcus waved Ron over with the canteen. He ungagged Buck and gave him a drink. He left the gag off and moved next to Chris. He had finished with Vin and was about to ungag JD when Carl pulled him out of the way.
"I'll do this one," Carl leered at JD.
He stroked JD's hair then slowly ran his hand along JD's face. JD jerked away and moved closer to Vin. Carl grabbed JD by the chin and turned his head towards him.
"Get it through your thick head," Carl said. "You're mine, and there ain't nothin' you can do about it."
"You think you're so tough, picking on the kid," Vin growled.
"Oh don't worry, pretty boy, when I'm done taking him, you're next," Carl smiled.
"Why you no good bastard!" Buck yelled struggling with his ropes.
"Enough, Carl, just give him the water," Marcus warned.
"Or you'll what?" Carl asked.
Lightening quick Marcus punched Carl in the mouth. Carl landed in a daze next to JD. Marcus walked up to him and pulled the gun from his waistband. He cocked it and placed it next to his head.
"Just remember who's in charge here," Marcus snarled. "You can play with them when we put a little more distance between us and the prison. Now give him a drink."
Carl did as he said and gave JD a drink. JD greedily drank the water. When Carl was satisfied he'd had enough he took the canteen away. He moved close to JD and licked his ear. JD jerked away from him as Vin tried to punch Carl with his bound hands. Carl easily moved out of Vin's reach with a laugh and joined his friends. JD huddled next to Vin, shaking. Vin reached out his hands and touched him. JD jerked away from him.
"It's OK, JD," Vin called. "I promise I won't let them hurt you."
"Why's he doing it?" JD asked.
"He's only trying to scare you," Buck answered.
"Well it's working," JD said.
"Chris, what the hell are we going to do?" Buck asked.
"Not much we can do right now," Chris answered. "We'll just have to wait."
"I don't like it," Buck disagreed.
"What do you want us to do?" Chris asked angrily. "They have all the weapons. We'll wait until they stop. They have to rest sometime."
Marcus had them on the move again a short time later. They spread out on the trail in the same order. Buck hated the fact that the kid was behind him with that lunatic but there was nothing he could do. Vin tried to lead them over smooth terrain but it was hard. There was a full moon out but its light didn't penetrate through the thick foliage. He had one of the flashlights and the convicts had the others. He could hear Buck curse every time he tripped over a root. They had been hiking through the night when dawn began to lighten the darkened forest. Marcus looked for a place they could stop for a few hours before moving on again. He noticed a thick stand of cedar and directed Vin towards it. Once passed the close-growing trees a small clearing was found. The packs were taken off and they were hog tied with their feet and hands tied together behind them. The only way for them to get comfortable was lying on their sides. Buck scooted as close to JD as he could.
"Why don't you get some sleep, Chris," Buck said. "I'll watch this time."
"All right," he said and tried to get comfortable.
Buck could see that Vin had fallen asleep as soon as they were finished tying him up. He was worried that his head wound was more serious than the sharpshooter was letting on. Buck looked towards JD and he could see he was wide awake.
"Get some sleep, kid."
"I don't think I can," JD admitted. "Not with him watching me."
"I know. But don't worry, we'll get out of this. I swear."
Buck watched as JD closed his eyes and tried to relax. After a short time he was snoring softly. Buck looked at Chris and could see he had his eyes closed but doubted he was asleep. Vin was so deeply asleep Buck wasn't sure if he was alive. The only way he knew for sure was because Vin's hair was partially covering his face and every time he breathed it would move. He craned his neck to see what the convicts were doing. When Carl saw he was looking his way he smiled. He blew Buck a kiss then stuck out his tongue and moved it in a licking motion, then glanced at JD and laughed. Buck silently vowed he would beat the crap out of him if it was the last thing he did.
+ + + + + + +
It had been decided last night that they would wait until morning before doing anything. At 5:00 am Ezra had finally decide he couldn't wait any longer. The feeling of dread wouldn't let him go to sleep. He got up and took a quick shower and rummaged in his closet for a pair of jeans. He had kept the clothes Vin had picked out for him when they went under cover at the rodeo. Granted he had thrown them in the back of the closet but like his mother always said, you never know when you're going to need something. He pulled on the faded jeans and grabbed a dark green Henley from its hanger. He pulled the shirt on and picked up the phone and dialed Josiah. The phone rang once when it was picked up.
"Couldn't sleep either, brother?" Josiah predicted.
"That is quiet perceptive of you, Mr. Sanchez."
"I already called Nathan," Josiah announced. "We're on our way over now."
"Excellent. I shall be ready," he said and hung up the phone.
After hanging up the phone he went back into the closet to find his hiking boots. They were left over from some vacation his mother had dragged him on in Switzerland to meet one of her endless friend's marriageable daughters. He sat on the bed and pulled on the boots. When he was done he went up in the attic for some other gear from that "hike" in Switzerland. Once he was up the stairs he pulled the cord to turn on the light. Everything was meticulously labeled and he found the box he was looking for quickly. He pulled it open and took out the canteen; flashlight, compass and other paraphernalia he might need, then went back down. Included in that box was a small daypack that he loaded everything into. He also added an extra shirt, pair of jeans and socks. By the time he had gathered everything he thought he would need the bell rang. He walked to the door and let Josiah and Nathan in.
"Don't you even check to see who it is?" Nathan asked surprised.
"You were the only ones I was expecting this early."
"I see you've been busy," Josiah observed the gear spread out on the floor.
"Got enough stuff?" Nathan asked.
"I go by the Boy Scout motto, my friend, always be prepared," he smiled. "Then pack for the worst."
Josiah looked at a few of the items and decided to take them as extras. Ezra moved to the closet and pulled out a fleece vest and a Gore-Tex parka. Nathan was surprised to see he even had outdoor gear. Ezra came over and picked up his pack and looked at the others.
"Are we ready gentleman?" he asked.
"I'm ready," Nathan said. "I'm just not prepared for what we might find."
"If I know them they are sitting next to the lake fishing peacefully," Josiah said. "And we are probably worrying for nothing.
They looked at each other and shook their heads. They knew that was wishful thinking.
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