Sandwiched between Regina and Elizabeth, Edwin tried to keep track of time in his head. The ride had been straight and smooth for more than an hour, uphill and bumpy the next thirty minutes. Yet, when Elizabeth’s PT Cruiser slowed to a stop, he realized their captors weren’t far from their destination.
However, where were they going? Before Lance had them shuttled away from St. Barron Road, he ordered them tied up and blindfolded. Now, Edwin could only listen to every sound — big or small, as the driver’s window hummed open.
The scent of fuel and burning rubber drifted to the backseat; Edwin heard a deep voice say, “Card.” Shortly after, the same voice asked, “Where will you park this automobile?”
“Below,” the driver replied. “Fine. I will open the entrance.”
Edwin could feel Elizabeth and Regina’s bodies jerk when a tremendous drone echoed from outside the vehicle. When the blaring whine stopped thirty seconds later, the voice outside returned. “Drive through.”
The Cruiser bounced over several more feet of rough terrain then suddenly began to glide over a flat surface. With the window still lowered Edwin listened; the drone had started again — louder this time — with an echo that seemed to howl behind them as the vehicle rolled ahead. When he heard the cylinder sounding resonance of vehicles swishing by from the opposite direction, he knew they were traveling fast through a tunnel.
A mile or so later, the Cruiser began to slow down; Elizabeth leaned left onto Edwin, he onto Regina, as the driver turned hard right. Then they all tipped forward when the vehicle plunged, as if descending from a roller coaster puke peak.
Once the Cruiser arrived on level ground, it weaved slowly, completed a series of turns, then finally slowed to a stop. The engine was shut off. The front doors opened and closed simultaneously; the rear doors opened one after the other. Elizabeth was yanked away from Edwin first, Regina seconds after. Then a massive hand latched on to Edwin’s arm; he fell sideways, dragged from the center of the seat and outside the vehicle, where they yanked him to his feet.
“Edwin? Sweety you all right?” asked Elizabeth, voice shaking.
“Yeah, honey I’m — ”
“Be quiet,” said the voice behind him. He shoved Edwin forward. “Let’s move.”
Even with the blindfolds, the captors shoved them along. Edwin could hear Regina shriek and knew she’d stumbled because he’d already tripped over the scattered debris himself. However, their captors did show some compassion, warning of the upcoming ascent.
Edwin and Elizabeth had always kept themselves in terrific shape. However, Regina was panting uncontrollably by the time they’d reached the top of the lengthy staircase. She’d already been warned twice to keep moving, so when she stopped a third time, the man behind her wasn’t so nice, pushing her into Elizabeth. “Well if I’m about to die, at least I lost twenty pounds first,”
Regina wheezed, leaning against her.
Edwin listened to the cars whoosh by. The staircase had led back up to the tunnel, and they were now being led down a sidewalk along the road. They walked another ten minutes before they stopped, their captors being asked again to show their cards. Then like before, the deep drone began. This time they were standing right in front of the noise, which sounded like a thousand electric garage doors opening at once.
“Walk through,” said the voice, similar to the one Edwin had heard at the tunnel’s entry. As they continued forward, the drone started again. When the noised subsided, all Edwin could hear were blips, beeps, and fingers tapping atop computer keyboards.
After their captors had removed the ropes and blindfolds, the Alees and Regina wobbled down onto a couch. They batted their eyes, and rubbed their wrists, scanning the black marbled, octagon shaped room that certainly didn’t resemble a place where a person would be held hostage — especially with lavish furnishings like the fully stocked bar at center. Their captors walked over to a digital panel, punched in a code, then walked out. After the doors had hissed shut, Regina glared at the bar. “I need a drink.” So did the Alees, who stood from the couch and followed her over.
Regina stood behind the bar holding a blue bottle. The more she turned it, the more her eyes grew. “Chateau d’Yquem Sauternes, 1787? This is a — ”
“$64,000bottleofwine. Thomas Jefferson loved it and introduced it to George Washington,” groaned Edwin, so tired that he sat at the bar with his face down on the counter.
“Go on then,” said Elizabeth, eyes closed, resting her cheek on Edwin’s back, “Get that bottle opened.”
When the sliding doors hissed apart an hour later, everyone turned away from the empty blue bottle and watched Lance stroll into the room. He adjusted his tie and walked up to them grinning. “I see you’ve found Mr. Blue’s bar. For his sake, I hope your taste buds are worth $60,000. You’re lucky I didn’t fill that bottle with Merafuel — you could’ve wound up like the Newberrys.”
“Who cares?” Edwin asked, his back to him as he sipped his wine. “You obviously don’t plan on releasing us.”
“Don’t use that lame psychology on me. If you wish to know you’re fate — simply ask.”
“What kind of a man are you!” Regina shouted, springing off the stool. “You lied to me about everything!”
“Amazing,” said Lance. “I didn’t realize you had this, aggressive side — I think I like it.” He sighed. “Then again, maybe it’s just the pathetic words of an intoxicated female.”
Regina wasn’t drunk. However, the insult, along with everything else, caused her to blow up. She tried to slap him but he grabbed her hand and smiled. “You want to know what kind of man I really am?” he asked, crushing her fingers together.
“You’re hurting me!”
“Let her go!” Edwin shouted, pulling her away from him. “We’re well aware of the type of man you are — so piss off!”
Elizabeth shouted.
“That’s what makes me sick about you humans. You assume so much — and know so little.”
If they were confused by Lance’s choice of words, they looked even more puzzled when he snatched off his tie and unbuttoned his shirt. The women had moved behind Edwin, peering from behind his shoulders.
“I damaged myself tearing someone’s car apart,” said Lance, pulling his shirt open. “Have a look at the scratch.”
Using both hands, Lance dug his fingers into the six-inch scar on his left breast. Edwin moved backwards until the women were squashed against bar. He could feel their bodies wavering against his own vibrations as Lance stretched the skin apart. When a rainbow of wires and shiny mechanical parts were exposed, Regina screamed and crumbled to the floor. Edwin and Elizabeth trembled. “What the hell are you?” shouted Edwin, over the hissing doors.
Lance looked over at Tsara who’d stormed in, then released the wide-open skin that slowly formed back to a narrow slit. Then he glared back at Edwin again. “I’m an Ecnal-4 android. The best ever built.” He winked. “How ya like me now?”
“I like you a lot,” said Tsara, smiling at his perfectly sculpted physique. She stepped closer to him. “But right now we have a big problem with Mr. Wellbay.”
Lance grabbed his hair on each side. “THERE IS ALWAYS A PROBLEM WITH WALTER WELLBAY! WHAT IS IT NOW?”
“He walked into Blue Neptune and told Blue that he’s quitting. He said if Blue or anyone else messes with him or his family, he’s got evidence that will destroy all of us. Blue said to — ”
“Forget what Blue said.” Lance rubbed his goatee. “Tsara my dear, you’re about to depart on you’re second attack mission.”
“You’re going to re-program me!”
“That’s right — to kill Walter Wellbay. If I send an Ecnal, he’ll suspect something. We must hurry.” Lance glared down at the Alees who’d been tending to Regina, then reached down to pick up his shirt. After he and Tsara had filed out of the room, Edwin lifted Regina from the floor and carried her to the couch.