All In, page 13
The figure stirred, slowly rising to its feet. As it turned to face her, Nicky's heart jumped into her throat. It was one of the missing girls. Amy Bishop. She was sure of it.
Amy squinted into the flashlight, her hands tied together by a rope that was tied to a post, mooring her to the wall. She looked terrified and disheveled, with bruises on her arms and a cut on her cheek.
"It's okay, we're here to help you," Nicky said softly, reaching out to the girl.
But the girl backed away with a look of pure terror on her face. "No, no, get away from me!" she screamed, her voice hoarse with fear.
Nicky felt her heartbreak. This girl had been through hell, and now she was too afraid to even accept help.
"We're not here to hurt you," she said, keeping her voice calm and steady. "We're here to rescue you. We're on your side." She glanced at Ken. "Call this in, now."
"On it–"
Just then, the sound of a gunshot ricocheted through the room. Startled, Nicky's flashlight slipped from her hand. Amy screamed. And then it was total darkness.
CHAPTER TWENTY TWO
Nicky's heart raced as she fumbled for her gun, her ears ringing from the gunshot. Gunshots rang out, and she heard Ken shout something, but it was muffled by the sound of her own racing heart. Amy kept screaming, disorienting Nicky more as the panic settled in. She tried to reach for her flashlight, but another shot rang off—this time, right near her head.
Nicky ducked down low, adrenaline coursing through her. She didn't have time for this—she had to act. She had no choice but to try and direct whoever was shooting away from Amy; she had no choice but to leave her, as much as she hated the idea of it. And where was Ken?
Desperately, Nicky tried to catch a glimpse of her partner in the darkness, but it was impossible. The gunfire had stopped, but she knew better than to let her guard down.
"Ken!" she called out, hoping to catch his attention. But there was no response, only the silence of the abandoned hospital. Her heart sank. Had he been hit? Was he even alive?
With a deep breath, Nicky steadied herself. She had to focus on the task at hand. Hopefully, Ken was still alive, but for now, she had to assume the worst.
She pulled herself up, her gun at the ready as she crept towards the door. It was time to get out of this place and call for backup. But as she stepped outside, she was met with another surprise. A figure was waiting for her in the shadows, their face obscured by the darkness.
"Who are you?" Nicky demanded, her gun trained on the figure.
There was no response, only the sound of footsteps approaching her.
Nicky's heart raced as she took a step back. She was alone, with no backup. This was the moment she'd been dreading.
The figure stepped into the light, revealing themselves to be a man in a crisp suit. He raised his gun, pointing it directly at Nicky's head.
Nicky's heart raced as she stared down the barrel of the gun. She knew she had to act fast if she was going to survive this encounter.
"Drop the gun," she commanded, her voice steady despite the fear that threatened to overwhelm her.
The man just laughed, his eyes glinting in the darkness. "You really think I'm going to listen to you?" he sneered.
Nicky's mind raced as she considered her options. She could try and disarm him, but that was risky. She could try and shoot him, but she didn't want to risk hitting anyone innocent.
Suddenly, there was a movement behind the man. Ken had appeared, his own gun trained on the man's back.
Nicky's heart was in her throat. She prayed Ken wouldn't make any sudden movements. She prayed he wouldn't put himself in harm's way. She prayed they could both make it out of here alive and have the chance to be together.
Just then, the killer ducked out of the light, back into the shadow. Ken fired off a shot, but it ricocheted off the walls.
They were blind again.
"Ken!" Nicky called out.
"Over h–"
Ken was cut off by the sound of a THWACK, then a grunt. Nicky's heart seized. She couldn't see in this darkness. Without her vision, she had no idea what to do. If she shot, she might hit Ken. Slowly, she tried to back away. But the room was dead silent.
"Ken?" Nicky called out, her voice trembling. Was this really it for them? They were going to die here, in this horrible place, to this madman?
Nicky's mind raced as she tried to come up with a plan. She couldn't see anything in the darkness, but she could hear something moving. The killer was still out there, and she needed to find a way to take him down.
"Ken?" she called out again, hoping to hear his voice. There was no response.
Nicky took a deep breath and tried to steady herself. She needed to focus on the task at hand. She needed to find a way to get out of there alive.
Suddenly, she heard a faint whisper: ”Nicky... over here.” It was Ken's voice.
Nicky's heart leaped with hope. She moved towards the sound, her gun at the ready. As she got closer, she could make out the shape of Ken lying on the ground. He looked injured but alive. Nicky rushed towards him, checking for a pulse. He was breathing, but barely. She needed to get him out of there and call for backup. Nicky tried to lift Ken up, but he was too heavy. She needed help. Just then, there was a loud banging sound, like someone was trying to break down the door.
Nicky's heart raced. They were running out of time.
She looked around the room, trying to find anything she could use--but as she did, a sensation washed over her. A warmth from behind. An awareness that she wasn't alone.
Before Nicky could think twice, something hard smashed into the back of her skull. The world spun around her as Nicky crumpled to the ground. She tried to keep her eyes open, but the darkness was overwhelming. The last thing she heard was the sound of footsteps approaching her, and then... nothing.
***
When Nicky opened her eyes again, she was lying on a cold concrete floor. Her head was throbbing, and she could feel the sticky warmth of blood on the back of her skull. As she tried to sit up, she realized she was tied up, her arms bound tightly with rope. But oddly, her legs were free.
Panic set in as Nicky struggled against her restraints. She needed to get out of here, to find Ken and get the hell out of this place. But as she looked around, she realized she was completely alone. The room was pitch black, with no windows or doors. She was trapped at the mercy of whoever had captured her.
Realizing her arms were tied too tight, Nicky gave up and balanced herself on her feet. At least she could walk. She began limping toward the door when a quiet, feeble voice stopped her in her tracks: "Don't run. He'll catch you."
Nicky sucked in a breath. It was a woman's voice.
"Who is that?" she asked.
More mutters spread around the room, and that was when Nicky's senses adjusted. She wasn't alone. She could hear multiple people breathing.
"He wants you to run," another girl's voice said. "It's better if you don't try. The punishment is worse."
"He punishes us less if we just stay put," the other girl said. "Amy... she tried to run again. So he took her somewhere else."
Nicky's blood ran cold. This was a nightmare. She was trapped in a room with other women who were being held against their will. She had to find a way out of here and fast.
"Who is he?" Nicky asked, trying to keep her voice steady despite the fear that was threatening to overwhelm her.
There was a moment of silence before the woman's voice spoke up again. "We don't know his name," she said, her voice trembling. "We just know he's dangerous."
Nicky's mind raced as she tried to come up with a plan. She needed to find a way to get out of there and call for backup. But she also needed to help these women.
"I'm going to get you all out of here," Nicky said to the darkness. "I'm with the FBI. He won't win. I promise."
With that, Nicky hobbled through the darkness. The girls muttered amongst themselves as she cautiously moved forward until she hit a wall. She moved along it, using her shoulder to feel, until she felt the metal edge of a doorframe. It was jagged metal, somewhat sharp, and Nicky began rubbing the ropes against it until her hands burst free. She patted down her pockets, but of course, her phone and gun were gone. But she reached out and found the door handle, and pulled it open with a creak. It seemed too easy. Almost like a trick or a game he was playing. Like he wanted her to break free. Either way, she had some part of her freedom, so she had to use it, even if she didn't trust it.
"Come with me," Nicky said to the girls.
"He'll find us," one said. "It's not worth it. And we're all tied up."
"Trust me, he won't let you out," another said. "He wants you to think you're free. He wants you to run. Then he'll hunt you."
Nicky's heart sank. She had to find a way to convince them to come with her. She had to help these girls, but she couldn't do it alone.
"Listen to me," Nicky said, her voice firm. "We have to stick together. We can't let him win. We have to fight back."
There was a moment of silence before the first girl spoke up. "We'll take our chances here."
Nicky knew she had to act quickly. She couldn't leave these women here, trapped and helpless. But she also didn't have time to convince them. He'd obviously traumatized them so much that they were terrified to even try for their freedom. Nicky would have to do this alone, then come back for them. She had to find Ken, too. For all she knew, the man had already killed him. The thought filled her with dread, but she couldn't think about that now. Nicky had no intention of running. She was going to find this bastard and make him pay.
Her head still throbbed, but Nicky hobbled out of the room. It was still dark, but some light seeped in from a doorway up ahead, giving the tiniest sliver. It was just enough for Nicky to see she was in a long hallway and that there were stairs leading up to another room. She was in the basement, it seemed.
Nicky took a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves. She crept up the stairs slowly and cautiously, her eyes scanning the room for any sign of movement. As she reached the top of the stairs, she heard a faint noise—a soft whisper, barely audible, but enough to tell her that someone was nearby.
Nicky's hand went to her pocket, but then she remembered that her gun was gone. She was defenseless.
She gritted her teeth, pushing the fear aside. She couldn't let this monster win.
The next hallway was long and narrow, with several doors lining the walls. Nicky tried each one in turn, but they were all locked. It was like a maze, and she had no idea where to go. But she couldn't give up. She had to find Ken, and then she had to get out of there.
Turning down the next hall, Nicky noticed a faint red light coming from above. She peered up to see a camera tracking her motions and wondered if there had been someone following her all along, and she hadn't noticed until now. She slowly approached the camera. The light coming from it was just enough to give her a view of the wires that trickled down it. Nicky followed them with her finger until she realized that they were connected to a network of wires--a security system the kidnapper had likely installed himself.
Nicky began following the trail of wires. She traced them all the way down the hall and into a small room at the end. The room was empty except for a desk and a set of monitors, showing feeds from various cameras throughout the building. And, splayed out on the table were boxes of chocolates, the artisanal ones left at the previous crime scenes.
Nicky's stomach fell. He really was the Casanova Kidnapper.
She moved closer to the screen to try to get a better look. It was then that she saw him.
CHAPTER TWENTY THREE
Nicky's heart leaped with relief—Ken was on one of the screens, tied to a chair in what looked like a small interrogation room. He was still alive. But her relief was short-lived. The man who had taken them was standing behind Ken, looking intently at him. Nicky could feel the rage building inside her. This man had hurt her, had hurt Ken, and had hurt those other women. He needed to be stopped. Then, the man’s eyes flashed toward the screen.
Nicky held her breath as if the kidnapper could somehow see through the lens and see her.
She watched as he picked up a device, then brought it to his mouth. He pressed a button, and then the sound of static surrounded Nicky, coming from various speakers throughout the room.
"Are you there yet, my love?" he said, still staring into the lens. "By my estimation, you should be free now, and you should be looking for him... for your love. For your chocolate."
"Bastard!" Nicky shouted, even though she knew he couldn't hear her.
"You love him, don't you?" Casanova said. "He's your muse. But the best art comes from pain, doesn't it? Wouldn't you be better off if you lost him?"
"No!" Nicky screamed.
She needed to get to them, but she couldn't just barge in there and hope for the best. She needed a plan.
"Come find me, and we'll finish this," the man said. Nicky watched the screen in horror as he moved toward it, then covered the camera lens in a black sheet of some kind, blocking Nicky's view of Ken.
Her heart raced. Nicky quickly scanned the room for a weapon but found nothing. She'd have to improvise. She tore off a piece of the rope still hanging off her wrists, wrapping it tightly around her hand. It wasn't much, but it would have to do.
Nicky's heart pounded in her chest as she made her way towards the interrogation room. She kept to the shadows, moving slowly and deliberately so as not to make any noise. She could hear her own breathing, the sound of her footsteps echoing in the hallway. But she didn't let that stop her. She had to save Ken; she had to stop this monster.
She finally reached the door and listened intently. But there were no voices. Slowly, Nicky pushed the door open. The room had a slight crack in one of the boarded-up windows, giving enough light for Nicky to see Ken like she had seen him on the monitor—only this time, he was alone.
Nicky rushed up to him and checked his pulse. He was alive. But where was the kidnapper? She stood on alert, tuning her ears to the creaking and moaning of the abandoned hospital.
"Ken, wake up," Nicky said, gently patting his cheek. She began to untie him, but he didn't respond. Nicky's heart sank. Was he drugged? She shook him harder, calling his name, but he still didn't wake up. She had to get him out of there.
Nicky glanced around the room, looking for anything that could help her. That's when she saw it—a window, slightly ajar. It was a risk, but she didn't have any other options. She grabbed Ken's arm and dragged him towards the window, pulling it open as quietly as possible. She hoisted him up, struggling with his weight, but managed to get him through the window and onto the ground outside.
Nicky breathed a sigh of relief, but she knew they weren't safe yet. She couldn't just leave when all those girls were here and the kidnapper was out there.
She looked down at Ken, lying on the grass outside. He was safer here than he was inside. Casanova was somewhere in this building, toying with Nicky, waiting for her. So, she had no choice but to leave Ken here and go hunt him down before he hunted them again.
Taking one last look at Ken, Nicky squeezed his hand, then made her way toward the door and headed back out into the hallway. She had to be careful now, knowing that the monster was out there somewhere, waiting for her.
She moved slowly, cautiously, trying to make as little noise as possible. She didn't want to alert him to her presence.
As Nicky crept down the hallway, she heard the faint sound of footsteps approaching from the other end. She ducked into a nearby room, crouching behind an overturned table. Her heart raced as the footsteps grew closer and closer. She could feel sweat forming on her forehead, her hands shaking with adrenaline.
Suddenly, the footsteps stopped outside the room. Nicky held her breath, waiting for the kidnapper to burst in and find her. But there was nothing. No sound, no movement, just an eerie silence that hung in the air.
Nicky couldn't take it anymore. She had to know where the man was, and what he was doing. She peeked out from behind the table, scanning the hallway for any sign of movement.
She heard a noise from one of the nearby rooms. She turned to look but couldn't see anything in the dark. She took a deep breath and silently made her way toward the room, her hand still tightly wrapped around the piece of rope.
As she pushed the door open, Nicky saw him—the kidnapper, his back turned to her, standing in front of a mirror, slicking back his hair. He was holding a knife, staring intently at his own reflection, muttering words to himself.
"Ah, my love is so pure," he hummed, "but pure can be black, too, can't it.” Then, he smiled at his reflection, his eyes flitting to Nicky.
"I've been waiting for you."
Nicky didn't think. She just lunged toward him. The kidnapper turned around just in time to see Nicky's fist connect with his jaw. He stumbled back, dropping the knife. Nicky grabbed it, holding it tightly in her hand.
"You're not going anywhere," she spat at him.
The man chuckled. "Oh, feisty. I like that. But you won't get away with this."
Nicky didn't respond. She knew what she had to do. She took a step forward, raising the knife. But before she could strike, the man lunged at her, knocking the knife out of her hand. It clanged to the floor, hidden in the darkness, out of the sliver of light coming in from the window. They grappled, exchanging blows. Nicky felt a sharp pain in her side and realized she had been stabbed. She gritted her teeth, using the pain to fuel her rage. She landed a punch to the man's face, sending him reeling.
He stumbled back and tripped over a nearby chair, falling to the ground. But then he stood up, still with that wicked smile.
"Is this what real love will make you do?" he said. "You could have escaped, you could have left, and yet you came for him--then you came for me." His smile grew. "Oh, I wish I had someone like you who loved me. I wish you loved me, Agent Lyons."
Nicky was taken aback by the man's words. How could he even think that she would love him after all the pain he had caused? But before she could say anything, the man charged at her with a ferocity that almost took her by surprise. They grappled once more, the sound of their bodies slamming against the walls echoing through the hallway. Nicky tried to fight him off, but he was too strong. She felt him grab her by the throat, tightening his grip until she could hardly breathe.
_preview.jpg)
