Serial Novel: Falling in Public, Ch. 26
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Ch.1|Ch. 2|Ch. 3|Ch. 4|Ch. 5|Ch. 6|Ch. 7|Ch. 8|Ch. 9|Ch. 10|Ch. 11|Ch. 12|Ch.13|Ch. 14|Ch. 15|
Ch. 16| Ch. 17|Ch. 18| Ch. 19 | Ch. 20 | Ch. 21 | Ch. 22 | Ch. 23 | Ch. 24 | Ch. 25
Falling in Public
Chapter 26
Holly forgot to breathe for several seconds as she watched the seconds tick away on the screen. Eddie wasn't in the frame, but how far would the bomb reach? Why were they doing this? She'd done everything they asked, and for what?
"Please don't be home," she murmured, swiping at the tears on her face. The numbers grew smaller, and her fingers curled into the blankets as she silently cursed her stupid leg and her own cowardice. She should have known they were going to set the bomb off anyways. She should never have played thier game.
The countdown hit zero, and with a loud pop Eddie's couch was enveloped in a cloud of flames and smoke that filled the screen just before the feed dissolved into static.
"He wasn't there," she whispered, falling back against the pillows and squeezing her eyes shut. The gears whirred in the cabinet as she cried into the pillow, everything that had happened finally crushing her under the weight.
She heard the door open, but didn't bother to look up. She knew by his gait that it was Ellison, coming to gloat, most likely.
"Oh come on, Ms. Saunders. You knew the man for what - two days? You can't really expect me to believe you cared that much for him in so short a time."
His condescending tone was expected, but it still stung. Then it hit her. He wasn't here to gloat. She sat up and used the edge of the sheet to wipe her face.
"He's not dead," she said, confident that it was true. "If he was, our deal would be void, and you'd have no way to control me." The thought shouldn't have made her feel better, but it did. Eddie was alive. He had to be. And that's all that mattered.
Ellison clapped his hands. "Very good, Ms. Saunders. I knew you were a smart one. Your rock star didn't seem to be buying your little speech, so we felt it was necessary to punctuate it, for effect."
Holly laughed. "If you thought that would scare Eddie, think again, Mr. Ellison. It will just convince him I'm being held against my will, and he'll find a way to get to me. You'll see."
He nodded. "Yes, we thought that could happen. Which is why you're flying to one of Sean's alternate residences in about..." he made a show of checking his watch, "four hours, give or take. Someone will be in shortly to help you dress." He stood, preparing to leave.
"Which other residence?" Holly asked, her pulse speeding up at the thought of disappearing indefinitely. "Where are you taking me? And where's Sean? Why haven't I seen him yet?"
"So many questions." Ellison shook his head. "You'll find out soon enough, and Mr. Winston will be on the plane with you. Now if you'll excuse me..."
Holly watched him go, biting her lower lip as she thought about what it could mean if she got on that plane. She had to get away, and the airport would be her best chance.
Ch.1|Ch. 2|Ch. 3|Ch. 4|Ch. 5|Ch. 6|Ch. 7|Ch. 8|Ch. 9|Ch. 10|Ch. 11|Ch. 12|Ch.13|Ch. 14|Ch. 15|
Ch. 16| Ch. 17|Ch. 18| Ch. 19 | Ch. 20 | Ch. 21 | Ch. 22 | Ch. 23 | Ch. 24 | Ch. 25
Falling in Public
Chapter 26
Holly forgot to breathe for several seconds as she watched the seconds tick away on the screen. Eddie wasn't in the frame, but how far would the bomb reach? Why were they doing this? She'd done everything they asked, and for what?
"Please don't be home," she murmured, swiping at the tears on her face. The numbers grew smaller, and her fingers curled into the blankets as she silently cursed her stupid leg and her own cowardice. She should have known they were going to set the bomb off anyways. She should never have played thier game.
The countdown hit zero, and with a loud pop Eddie's couch was enveloped in a cloud of flames and smoke that filled the screen just before the feed dissolved into static.
"He wasn't there," she whispered, falling back against the pillows and squeezing her eyes shut. The gears whirred in the cabinet as she cried into the pillow, everything that had happened finally crushing her under the weight.
She heard the door open, but didn't bother to look up. She knew by his gait that it was Ellison, coming to gloat, most likely.
"Oh come on, Ms. Saunders. You knew the man for what - two days? You can't really expect me to believe you cared that much for him in so short a time."
His condescending tone was expected, but it still stung. Then it hit her. He wasn't here to gloat. She sat up and used the edge of the sheet to wipe her face.
"He's not dead," she said, confident that it was true. "If he was, our deal would be void, and you'd have no way to control me." The thought shouldn't have made her feel better, but it did. Eddie was alive. He had to be. And that's all that mattered.
Ellison clapped his hands. "Very good, Ms. Saunders. I knew you were a smart one. Your rock star didn't seem to be buying your little speech, so we felt it was necessary to punctuate it, for effect."
Holly laughed. "If you thought that would scare Eddie, think again, Mr. Ellison. It will just convince him I'm being held against my will, and he'll find a way to get to me. You'll see."
He nodded. "Yes, we thought that could happen. Which is why you're flying to one of Sean's alternate residences in about..." he made a show of checking his watch, "four hours, give or take. Someone will be in shortly to help you dress." He stood, preparing to leave.
"Which other residence?" Holly asked, her pulse speeding up at the thought of disappearing indefinitely. "Where are you taking me? And where's Sean? Why haven't I seen him yet?"
"So many questions." Ellison shook his head. "You'll find out soon enough, and Mr. Winston will be on the plane with you. Now if you'll excuse me..."
Holly watched him go, biting her lower lip as she thought about what it could mean if she got on that plane. She had to get away, and the airport would be her best chance.
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