A New Beginning

Chapter 93: Prisoners

"Here we are," Cal announces, pulling the car to a stop in front of a tall wrought-iron gate. They'd driven deep into the night and dawn was going to be breaking very soon. "Riptide be a good man and open the gate."

The driver hands the passenger a large key to undo the chains holding the gate shut. Beyond was a mansion that was almost as equally as large as the one in New York. The Hockley family had many lavish homes throughout the United States, some considered their "summer homes" or homes to do business. Nathan Hockley was known for purchasing different estates to ensure that whenever he and his son travelled for business, they could do so in their own comforts and luxuries instead of in hotels. This plot of land one was located in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; large and seemingly impressive, it was small in Cal's eyes, only a place to stay for a night or two before going back to either New York or Philadelphia or Pittsburg. This one had been shut again for the coming winter season and no one would be there or suspect the steel tycoon would visit, with his manservant and two hostages. It was not completely safe, but it would give them time to think more clearly about their next steps, plus it was big enough in which he could keep Rose and Jack separate and not have to see or hear them if Cal so desired.

I am not a good man, I am a damned man... the manservant thinks to himself.

Doing as he was ordered; Riptide gets out of the car and goes to the chain. With some simple turns of the key, the heavy chain falls to the ground and the servant kicks it out of the way before pushing open the heavy gate.

Once it is open, Cal proceeds through, only pausing briefly to talk to the other man.

"I need you to lock the gate again as to not draw any suspicion that we're here and then meet me at the front doors."

Not saying a word, Riptide just nods and pushes the gate closed as Cal drives up the long gravel pathway towards the large house.

The bitterly cold wind stings the manservant's face as he struggles to lock the gate from the opposite side now. He wished he had packed more clothing to keep warm... in reality, he wished he was far away from all of this in general.

For a brief moment, he stops himself from putting the key in the lock, wanting to just flee into the dark, perhaps find another house with people inside and confess. He could then call the police and have them come to save their prisoners. It was possible that if he did this, he would get less jail time than Mr. Hockley. After all, his boss was the mastermind, he was merely the pawn in this twisted game. But, if he did not help, there is a chance that an unborn infant could be killed if he was not there either to reason with the mad Hockley man or to feed them. It was something that he could not have on his conscience either... more burdens of guilt to bear. Sadly, he does as he was told and locks the estate up, making himself a prisoner as well.

...

The sudden change in motion had woken Rose up in the trunk. She had fought to stay awake as long as possible, but the exhaustion, fear, anger, sadness and her child's needs caused her to fall asleep. The rhythm of the car put her under nicely but now that it had stopped, her heartbeat accelerates as she fears what could happen next. She and Jack were at Cal's mercy and she worried about everything.

Her child kicks in her stomach, responding, but also assuring Rose that her baby... their baby was still alive. No doubt it would be hungry by now and she feels such guilt over not being able to provide what her child needs. What kind of mother is she if she cannot feed their baby? While it was not her fault at all, she knew she had to appeal to the tiny bit of humanity that Cal might still have for the sake of the innocent life inside.

She hears the trunk open and while she was no longer gagged, she remains quiet to make him think that she was. She did not want to be forced into silence again.

A cold wind causes her to shiver and shift uncomfortably. Her hands remain clasped with Jack's, having never let go despite how sore and numb her fingers were. She hoped the temperature change would awaken Jack somehow and that he might have more fight... enough to get them out of this.

The sounds of footsteps in gravel approach and Rose knows that both men are now hovering over them. There is a series of whispers as they plan something between them.

"Open the door," Cal's voice says. "Then we'll work to bring the whore inside."

The redhead grinds her teeth and wants to scream out at the man, but she bites her tongue to remain quiet. While the insult was nothing new considering what Cal had put her through, it still stung even if she was carrying the child of the man whom she actually loved. It was interesting to think that she was also so heavy that not one many could carry her.

She grasps Jack's hands, not wanting to be separated from him and when both men come back and try to lift her, they see what she's doing.

"It won't do you any good Sweet pea," Cal hisses. She can feel his hot breath through the bag and in her ear. "Either you let go now or I'll break those wrists of yours or his... or maybe we can cut off his hands if you're so fond of them"

Fear of being hurt more, considering how many scars she already carried from his torture, Rose obeys for Jack's sake more than her own.

"Good girl," he says with glee. "And I recommend you keep still because if we drop you, that spawn might not survive a drop down the stairs."

Again, to keep her in control, the thought sickens Rose, and she is forced to comply for her child's sake.

When her bound form is lifted from the car, she remains still to avoid being dropped. One man holds her under the arms and the other, her feet.

The cold atmosphere and the gusts of wind change to even colder and deadly silent. The redhead realizes that she's in a house... very large house she deduces because of the men's footsteps echoing around her. She feels them begin to take her upstairs as the gravity and their grunts change. Her body shifts more, but not from her own accord, but theirs as they try to get her to the second level of the home. Several times Cal swears at her under his breath, likely due to the weight of the baby. Perhaps being pregnant was an advantage at this moment.

Eventually, things even out again and a door opens.

"Over here Riptide," Cal says.

Rose feels herself being placed on a mattress, a luxury she had not felt in quite some time. It was rather soft and comfortable and certainly beat the cellar floor.

The last thing that is done is the burlap bag is removed from her face. She blinks, trying to adjust, but it's still utterly dark and she can only make out the faint forms of the men.

They say nothing and since it's still dark, they do not notice that the gag hangs around her neck rather than in her mouth.

They turn and leave, shutting her into darkness once again. Her eyes try to adjust, but it's difficult.

Rose wants to struggle and try to find a way to escape, but her body is so exhausted and sore plus the comfort of the mattress makes her body feel heavy and even relaxed. Her eyes begin to droop, and she eventually falls asleep without much fighting.

...

Back at the car, the two men gaze at Jack.

"We'll leave him in the servant's quarters and deal with him further in the morning," Cal yawns.

The so-called gutter rat is still unconscious which makes the men's job easier. They lift his limp form and carry him through the house into the back kitchen. There was a cot by the stove that the scullery maids would sleep on to stay warm, and while it was more than what he deserved, the men drop him there. Cal rips off the burlap bag, so he does not smother in his sleep and then turns to avoid meeting the man's face. They then go back through the house.

"Shut the trunk will you and then lock the door," Cal orders. "Then choose whatever room you want, I'm going to bed."

Riptide stands there, watching his master go up the stairs towards the bedrooms.

With a heavy heart, he obeys and then locks the house, keeping the four prisoners inside.

A/N: 109 years ago today. In memory of all those who perished on April 15th, 1912