Battle the Dark: Chapter 26

Blindfolded, Todd was lead, in the cuffs, into a dank-smelling area.  Unsure where he was, he could barely concentrate on anything but his aching wounds and staying alert.  A part of him wanted to give up, let the dark take over, and go to be with Blair in his safe place.  Another part of him shouted, with urgency, a refusal to give in, and a need to stay with the living and face reality instead of possibly dying in a fantasy.  He wasn't thrilled about either option, but he continued to battle the blackness crossing his vision, whenever it came.  It would be so simple to give in.  Much easier.  But since when have I taken the easy way to anything?  I can't.  Blair.  Jack, Sam, Starr.  Little Ray, my chance to be a father the whole way and do it completely and as right as I'm ever going to get it this time.


Leona snatched the blindfold without alert, and Todd's eyes adjusted to his new locale.  It was dark, rocky, and he assumed, underground.  No light was coming in anywhere around him.  Artificial light was provided by special LED lights that had already been put there ahead of time.  "Sit."  Leona said.


Doing as he was told, he decided to ask, "How about you move the cuffs in front?  I can't feel my fingers at all, and my palms are tingling now."  Without hesitation, Michael Leona extracted the keys from his pocket and undid his cuffs.  Todd worked his hands to bring the blood back to them and shook them, as if to bring them back to life.  "Thanks," he said.


"I'll be back," his captor said, and walked out.  


"Yeah, I was really doubting that," Todd said, sarcastically.  He wondered how secure it was, until he struggled off the rock he was told to sit on, and headed after Leona.  At the end of a rocky passage was a strange moving door that closed, sealing off the area.  He avoided, with all his might, thinking of it as a crypt.  He could not afford to deal with more fear or memories.  The time was now to develop a plan, any plan, that could save him and get him out of there.


***


The doorbell rang, and Blair left little Ray in his carrier, with Sister Rebecca Katherine playing with his toes.  She opened it, and Viki was standing there.  "Blair, dear, I am so sorry."  She hugged her.


"Thank you, Viki.  It's been tough around here without your brother."  She misted over.  


Viki walked toward the baby, and made a greeting especially for him, and then extended her hand, "I'm Victoria Buchanan, Todd's half sister."


The nun shook her hand, and said, "Pleased to meet ya, so sorry about your brother's dilemma.  But you and I both know, he'll be back with bells on.  And damn that man who took him, may the cat eat him and the devil eat the cat."


Viki was amused by the woman; she seemed good spirited enough.  Blair was clearly enamored of her.  "I hear that you're a great support to Blair."


"Ah, yes, but it's an easy task.  I mostly spend time watching this little angel.  He's quite the pretty one."


"He is.  Blair, I've said it before, but he's just gorgeous."  Viki added.  "So much like Jack at that age."


"Thank you, Viki."  Blair sat down, and Viki could see the tired sadness in her eyes.  Each was rimmed in red, and she appeared gaunt.  


"You know, when you are nursing, you need to increase your calories.  You burn 500 calories every day when breast feeding,"  Viki said.


"I think you're telling me I look thin, aren't you?"


"Maybe," Viki said, sitting beside her.  "Blair, how are you, really?"


She looked at her hands and her voice shattered.  "Fine."  She blinked her tears away.


"You don't have to be that strong.  For the children, yes, for us, no."


Both Viki and Sister Rebecca Katherine watched as Blair fell apart.  She cradled her own face in her hands and sobbed.  "This can't happen, Viki.  I was there, night after night, when he had his nightmares.  You've witnessed it, as well, this can't happen to him again."


Sister Rebecca Katherine came to her other side and sat, saying, "Blair, we've had this talk.  He's stronger, he has even more to live for.  He will be back to ya.  He won't give up, not now.  I have it on good authority that he has a mission to help raise this child.  He won't give up on that."


Viki smiled, "You're quite wise, Sister."


"Wisdom begins with fear of the Lord.  Now, let's chin up.  You've had a decent cry, not to mention the other three earlier."


Blair weakly smiled at this, "You're right, Sister.  I wish we could do something.  This just does not seem to be right, us here, and Todd somewhere."


Suddenly, John McBain and Timothy appeared at the door.  It was still open.  "Can we come in?"  John asked.


"Sure," Blair said.  She was quiet, thinking, sometimes watering up and then recouping.  She couldn't get used to the idea he was gone again.


Timothy said, "Sister, we are going to Ireland.  Now, no complaining, Creena.  We're going.  I will use my contacts at RA21 to try and help.  He must be found."


The nun was very angry, and it was visible to all.  "You must be out of your mind, Brotha.  You just struggled to get away from there.  Why go back?"


"To save the lad.  Come now, you must realize that only those men can help us.  The RA21 members are very in tune with the movement of The Men of 21.  They may know something."


John spoke, "I promise to look after him, and protect him the best I can."


"I suppose that will have to do, but Timothy John Broderick, I am not through with the likes of you!"  She boomed.  The man went to his sister and hugged her, and she quieted for a moment.  "Now you take care of yourself.  No being a big hero, you're not impressing anyone."


Blair said, "Timothy, you just got away from there.  Are you sure you want to risk this?"


He said, "My dear, yes, this is something that has to be done.  If I am the only one who might be able to help, then, yes, I must do so.  Your husband has been more than kind to me."


She teared up, and said, "Thank you," in her airy manner, and hugged him around the neck.  


John said, "Well, it's all settled then.  We're off.  Blair, I will stay in touch with you via phone.  Be sure to stay put.  And Shaun, I'll call and remind him to take special care of The Mannings..." and looking to the nun, "And our friend Sister Rebecca Katherine."


They were off after a series of goodbyes and well-wishes.  Then, the women all plopped back to the couch, as if tired.  Viki said, "Well, things do get more and more complicated.  Do you think, Blair, that Zeus would be of any help with this?"


Blair jumped a little at the name.  "I never even thought of that, Viki.  When John calls me, I'll mention it.  I forgot about him, but from what I understand from Todd, he was in poor condition to be of help to anyone."


Then Blair moved on to telling Sister Rebecca Katherine a short update on Zeus and his role in Todd's original disappearance.  She said, "My goodness, Victoria, you are certainly a smart one.  That was a good idea.  Perhaps we should go talk to this Zeus?"


Blair turned to make an answer, and was interrupted by Shaun rushing into the penthouse.  "Blair, is Sam upstairs?"


"No, why?"


"Hang on," he said, running outside the penthouse, and then back in.  


Blair became alarmed immediately, "Shaun, what is it?"  She said, standing up, along with the other two women.  Addie came down the stairs at the same moment.


Shaun said, "He's gone."


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