For Once, page 15
With that, he yanked Morgan out of the cage, her wrists still bound, and dragged her into the darkness. Every step further away from Derik felt like a blow to her soul, but she had no choice but to follow Adam's lead.
The rough texture of the rope bit into Morgan's wrists as Adam tightened the knot, ensuring she wouldn't escape his clutches. "You're not going anywhere," he sneered, his breath hot against her ear. The chilling sound of his voice sent a shiver down her spine.
"Derik, please wake up," she whispered to herself, her heart pounding in her chest as she imagined what fate awaited her partner.
"Quiet!" Adam barked, yanking a hood over her head and plunging her world into darkness. Her senses were suddenly deprived; all she could hear was the sound of her own breathing, ragged and shallow, and the distant hum of insects in the night air.
"Walk," Adam commanded, pressing the barrel of his gun against her back to emphasize his point. Desperate to buy time and keep Derik alive, Morgan obeyed, carefully taking each step forward, painfully aware of the uneven ground beneath her feet.
"Where are you taking me?" she asked, trying to sound brave despite the fear clawing at her insides.
"Shut up and move," Adam replied coldly, giving her no hint of reassurance.
As they continued through the darkness, Morgan's mind raced with possibilities. She thought of her father, who had taught her how to identify birds by their songs, and she found herself listening for any familiar calls that might give her a clue about their location.
"Nice try, but you won't find any help out here," Adam taunted, sensing her attempt to gather information. "Just keep walking."
Morgan's thoughts turned inward, replaying the events that had led her to this moment. She couldn't let Adam win – she had to find a way out. For Derik, for the victims, and for herself.
"Almost there," Adam announced, his voice dripping with anticipation. "You're going to love your new home."
Morgan clenched her jaw, bracing herself for whatever horrors awaited her.
CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN
The coarse fabric of the bag pressed against Morgan's face, making it difficult to breathe. Her heart pounded in her chest as she stumbled through the darkness, guided by the rough grip of Adam Sallow on her arm. He had knocked Derik out and threatened his life, leaving her no choice but to comply with his demands. She wished she could reassure herself that Derik was alive, but she knew better than to place any trust in the killer who held her captive.
As they went up a set of stairs, the sound of their footsteps echoing in what seemed to be an abandoned wildlife facility, she tried to memorize every turn, every step, anything that might help her escape. The sharp stench of rust and decay filled her nostrils.
"Move faster," Adam snarled, "unless you want me to change my mind and kill your partner."
Morgan's pulse quickened at the mention of Derik, and she hurried her steps, not wanting to test Adam's threat.
A cacophony of creaking hinges broke the silence as Adam pushed open a set of heavy metal doors. He shoved Morgan into a room, slamming the doors shut behind them. Rough hands grabbed her wrists, binding them tightly before yanking the bag off her head.
As her eyes adjusted to the dim light, they fell upon a horrifying sight: a woman tied to a chair, unconscious, with deep incisions running up her arms and feathers stuffed into the wounds. Alexandra, the victim they'd been searching for. Alive, but in a state that made Morgan's stomach churn.
"Look at her," Adam said, his voice dripping with pride. "Isn't she beautiful?"
"Beautiful?" Morgan spat, her voice hoarse. "You're a monster."
"Monster?" He chuckled darkly.
Adam slammed the door behind them, the sound reverberating through the room as he moved to barricade it. Morgan glared at him, her anger boiling to the surface despite her precarious situation.
"Your words have no meaning to me," he said coldly, gripping her arm and forcing her to sit on a chair positioned in the center of the room. He tied her wrists securely, making sure she couldn't move an inch. As Morgan tugged against the restraints, she racked her brain for any possible way out of this nightmare. Derik was still unconscious somewhere below, and she had no idea when—or if—he would wake up.
As Adam stepped away to retrieve something from the shadows, Morgan's heart raced in her chest. She knew she needed to buy time, to distract him somehow. When he emerged with a syringe filled with an ominous liquid, her determination solidified.
"Tell me," she began, her voice steady despite the fear coursing through her veins, "why are you so afraid of ravens?"
"Ravens?" He scoffed, approaching her with the needle. "I'm not afraid of anything. Least of all you."
But Morgan caught the subtle twitch in his expression, the slight crack in his facade that told her she was onto something. She continued working her wrists against the ropes, hoping to loosen them enough to break free.
"Your obsession with birds...it's personal, isn't it?" she pressed, watching his eyes narrow as she spoke. "Are you trying to prove something? To show everyone that you're not afraid?"
"Shut up." His voice was low and menacing, but Morgan could see the turmoil beneath the surface. She knew she was getting to him, and she refused to let up.
"Is that why you chose Alexandra?" she asked, her gaze flicking to the unconscious woman. “She reminds you of a bird? And you want to prove to yourself that you’re not afraid anymore?”
"Enough!" Adam snarled, looming over her with the syringe in hand. "I said shut up!"
Morgan held his gaze, her heart pounding in her ears as she felt her restraints beginning to give way. She needed just a little more time, and she had to keep him talking.
"Fine," she conceded, her voice dripping with false submission. "But one day, you'll have to face your fears—whether it's ravens or something else entirely."
"Like I told you," he growled, raising the needle to inject her. "I'm not afraid of anything... Especially," he added with a sinister grin, "you."
"Adam, I can't imagine how traumatic it must have been for you," Morgan said, trying to empathize with him. "To have your eye eaten out by a crow when you were just a kid... And on a field trip for all the other kids to see too... That must have been so embarrassing."
"Shut up!" Adam yelled, his face contorting with anger as Morgan continued working her restraints. She noted that he was getting more agitated as she spoke, which told her that she was pushing the right buttons. She could feel her bonds loosening, but she still needed more time.
"Tell me about your childhood," Morgan ventured, trying to keep him talking. "Did you feel like an outcast because of what happened?"
"Who the hell do you think you are, my therapist?" Adam snapped, but his eyes betrayed a flicker of vulnerability. He took a deep breath, regaining his composure as he launched into an unhinged rant. "I'm an artist, free like a bird! I create masterpieces, and no one understands what I am capable of!"
Morgan listened, equal parts fascinated and horrified, as she realized that not even Adam seemed to know what he was. All the while, she continued to work her restraints, feeling them gradually giving way under her persistent efforts. Her heart pounded in her chest as she knew that her window of opportunity was closing fast.
"An artist, huh?" Morgan mused, trying to keep the conversation going. "Is that why you chose birds as your medium? To prove that you're not afraid of them?"
"Enough!" Adam roared, but Morgan could see the truth behind his rage. He was afraid, and she had managed to get inside his head, forcing him to confront the very thing he'd been running from all these years.
"Am I getting too close, Adam?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "Is that what you're afraid of? That I'll see the real you?"
"Shut up," he growled again, his hands shaking with renewed fury. But it was too late; Morgan had seen behind the mask, and she knew that beneath his monstrous exterior, Adam Sallow was just a scared, broken man.
Seeing that Morgan had managed to get under his skin, Adam's face twisted into a snarl as he strode over to the table where he kept his tools. He picked up a syringe filled with an unknown substance and began advancing towards her. "You think you're so clever, don't you?" he spat.
Morgan's heart raced as she watched him approach, the needle gleaming in the dimly lit room. Her fingers fumbled with the last of the tight knots binding her wrists, sweat slicking her palms. She had to time this just right.
"Go ahead," she taunted him, trying to keep her voice steady. "Do it. It won't change who you are."
Adam's eyes flashed with anger, and he lunged forward, jabbing the needle into her arm. The moment it pierced her skin, Morgan yanked her hands free from the restraints and grabbed his wrist, using her strength to twist it away from her body. With her other hand, she wrapped her forearm around his throat, squeezing tightly as she pulled him backward.
"Is this how it feels, Adam? To be completely powerless?" she hissed through gritted teeth. She could feel his pulse throb beneath her grip, his breath coming in ragged gasps. He clawed at her arm, nails digging into her flesh, but she refused to let go.
As the drug began to course through her veins, Morgan felt a wave of dizziness wash over her. Her vision blurred, and her limbs grew heavy, but she willed herself to maintain her chokehold on Adam. Time was running out.
"Come on, Morgan," she muttered under her breath, shutting her eyes for a brief moment. "Just a little longer."
Finally, Adam's struggles began to weaken, and his body went limp in her arms. The second she felt his consciousness slip away, Morgan released him and let him crumple to the ground. She stumbled over to a nearby cabinet, rummaging through it until she found some rope. Fighting against the disorienting effects of the drug, she managed to tie Adam's hands and feet securely.
"Got you," she whispered, breathing heavily. With her captor subdued, Morgan turned her attention to Alexandra, her heart aching for the woman who had endured so much at Adam's hands. She rushed to her side, checking for signs of life. To her relief, she felt a faint pulse beneath her fingertips.
"Stay with me, just a little longer," Morgan murmured as she began working on the knots binding Alexandra to the chair. "Help is coming. I promise."
EPILOGUE
The sterile scent of the hospital room filled Morgan's nostrils as she sat on the examination table, her legs swinging idly over the edge. Her gaze wandered around the room, taking in the bland walls and neatly arranged equipment. A doctor entered, his eyes briefly studying the chart in his hands before he looked up at her.
"Agent Cross, I must say you're quite fortunate," the doctor began, adjusting his glasses. "Mr. Sallow didn't administer a high enough dose of the drug to cause any lasting damage. You'll likely feel drowsy for a while, but there shouldn't be any other side effects."
"Great," Morgan grumbled, rubbing her arm where the needle had pierced her skin. "Anything else?"
"Well, there's that gash on your forehead," the doctor said, turning his attention to the wound. He prodded it gently with gloved fingers, eliciting a wince from Morgan. "What happened there?"
"Uh, a fender bender," she lied smoothly. "Smacked my head on the steering wheel."
"Must have been quite an impact," he mused, shining a penlight into her eyes. "I'm seeing some signs of a mild concussion. You should really take it easy for a few days."
"Thanks for the advice, doc," Morgan replied, slipping off the table and grabbing her jacket. "But I've got things to do."
"Like what?" the doctor asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Checking on my partner," she said tersely, her mind already on Derik. She needed to see him, make sure he was okay after Adam had struck him. The doctor frowned, but sensing her determination, he nodded reluctantly.
"Very well, Agent Cross. Just don't push yourself too hard," he cautioned, watching her leave the room.
Morgan ignored his warning and strode down the hallway, her thoughts racing. Even after backup had arrived and Adam Sallow was taken into custody, Derik hadn't regained consciousness. The image of him lying motionless on the floor haunted her, and she couldn't shake the feeling of guilt that settled in her chest.
Derik had been there for her when no one else was, and despite their rocky past, he was the closest thing to family she had left. As she approached his hospital room, Morgan steeled herself for what she might find. She had to be strong – for both of them.
Morgan hurried through the sterile hospital corridors, her heart pounding in her ears. The smell of antiseptic filled her nostrils as she scanned the room numbers, searching for Derik's. A nurse carrying a clipboard noticed her frantic expression and approached.
"Can I help you find someone?" the nurse asked kindly.
"Derik Greene," Morgan replied breathlessly. "Is he awake yet?"
The nurse checked her clipboard before shaking her head. "Not yet, but he should wake up soon. You can go sit by his bedside if you'd like."
"Thank you," Morgan said, relief washing over her. She followed the nurse's directions and found herself standing outside Derik's room. Taking a deep breath, she pushed the door open and stepped inside.
The sight of Derik lying in the hospital bed, hooked up to machines monitoring his vitals, made Morgan's chest tighten. A bandage was wrapped around his head, covering the spot where Adam had struck him. He looked so vulnerable, and it only served to remind her how much she cared about him.
"Hey, partner," she murmured, pulling up a chair next to his bed. "You better wake up soon, alright? We've still got work to do."
As she sat there, watching Derik's chest rise and fall with each breath, Morgan couldn't help but reflect on everything they'd been through together. The lies, the betrayal – it felt like a lifetime ago, even though it had only been weeks since she'd discovered the truth. And yet, despite it all, Derik remained the closest thing to family she had left.
If he could risk his life for her, face down a deranged killer like Adam Sallow, then maybe she could find it in herself to forgive him. To trust him again.
"God, what a mess we've made," she whispered, resting her hand on his arm. "But we'll figure it out, Derik. I promise."
As she sat there, lost in thought, she couldn't help but hope that they could mend the broken pieces of their partnership and move forward – together.
Morgan's fingers tapped gently on the arm of the chair, her gaze fixed on Derik's steady chest movements. She'd been sitting there for what felt like hours, but in reality, it had only been a matter of minutes. Her mind raced with thoughts, unable to settle on just one.
The raid on the abandoned wildlife center had yielded horrific results. The FBI had discovered more victims, their bodies grotesquely preserved with feathers stitched into their skin. It was a macabre tableau that would haunt Morgan for years to come. But at least Adam Sallow was now behind bars – and she had played a part in putting him there.
"Derik, you wouldn't believe what we found there…" she whispered, as if he could hear her. "It was like something out of a nightmare."
But Adam wasn't her only concern. Thomas still hadn't contacted her about Skunk, her loyal dog who had been kidnapped by that duplicitous bastard. He had threatened her, forced her into playing his twisted games, and she still didn't know what he wanted from her. Why involve Skunk? What purpose did it serve, other than to torture her?
Morgan's heart ached as she thought about Skunk, picturing his wagging tail and the way he always seemed to know when she needed some comfort. She missed him desperately, and the uncertainty surrounding his fate gnawed at her soul.
The steady beeping of the monitors filled the room, casting a soft blue glow on Derik's pale face. Morgan watched him intently, her heart aching for the man who had once been her partner and closest friend. Despite everything that had happened between them, she couldn't deny the bond that still lingered.
Just then, Derik's eyes fluttered open, the green irises shimmering in the dim light. He focused on Morgan, and a weak smile tugged at the corners of his lips. "You know," he croaked, his voice hoarse from disuse, "we really should stop meeting in hospital rooms like this."
Morgan's lips quirked into a small smile as she reached out to take his hand, her fingers brushing against the cool skin. "I'm just glad you're all right, Derik." Her voice was softer than she'd expected, betraying more vulnerability than she meant to show.
His eyebrows shot up in surprise at the contact, but he didn't pull away. Instead, he held onto her hand gently, his grip reassuring. "Do you think things can ever be normal between us again, Morgan?"
"Normal?" she echoed, searching his gaze. "There never was anything normal about us, Derik. But maybe we can find our way back to something better." The admission hung heavy in the air, an unspoken promise that they both knew would take time and effort to fulfill.
Derik nodded, his eyes locked with hers, understanding the weight of her words. They sat there in companionable silence, letting the moment stretch out before them.
As the minutes ticked by, Morgan found her thoughts drifting back to Thomas and Skunk. She wrestled with the idea of confiding in Derik, torn between wanting to trust him again and fearing his reaction. Finally, with a shaky breath, she made her decision. "Derik, there's something I need to tell you," she began hesitantly, "It's about Thomas."
"Thomas?" Derik's eyes narrowed, his grip on her hand tightening. "What did he do, Morgan?"
She could see the concern etched across his face, and it gave her the courage to continue. As she opened up to him about the threats from Thomas and the disappearance of Skunk, she felt an odd sense of relief. It was as if a burden had been lifted from her shoulders – one that she hadn't realized she'd been carrying all this time.
Morgan hoped that by sharing her fears and suspicions with Derik, she was taking a step toward rebuilding the trust that had once defined their partnership. And as they sat there, hands entwined, she knew they were both willing to fight for the chance to start over. Together.
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