Demons Grasp

Chapter 17

Cecil Hall smashes his phone on the table. "God damnit, Cane. Where are you? Why is this moron not answering his phone?" He turns around to his companion. "Ed, were you able to trace him?" "The GPS is turned off. I seem not to be able to connect to the device anymore."

Hall paces around the room frantically, then stops facing Ed. "You are aware that we are dead meat if we don't have any results to show for. Find Cane." He emphasized his hast words by stabbing his index finger into Ed's chest.

"What is that?" Halls eyes widen and he points to the laptop placed on the table next to them. The screen flickers and suddenly an old timey test screen shows up. After a while, the image changes again, they see MC sitting in an armchair, relaxed and smiling. Something lies in her lap.

When he hears her first words, blasting from the laptop surprisingly loud, his face contorts into a hateful grimace.

"I know who you are, Cecil Hall. Born on nineteenth of October 1975, son of Stephanie and Harold Hall, husband of Heather. Your dog's name is Martha. You went to psychotherapy but stopped showing up seven years ago. You are suffering from a cardiovascular disease and had a minor stroke two years ago. Officially, your job title is Administrative Financial Officer. But we know the truth. You are stealing classified information and selling it to the highest bidder. We even know who you sold that information to."

"By now you are probably looking for your henchman, George Cane. You won't find him. I know that you were the one who ordered him to kill me. Nice try. But he is the one who ended up dead."

On the other side of the room Jake shifts in his chair when he realizes that it is really MCs voice he is hearing, not just a hazy dream. The realization that she is still alive and fighting back helps him muster the strength and he lifts his head to look at the two men holding him hostage. Hall stares at the computer, pure hatred radiating from him, while the other one types on his phone frantically, shaking his head. At the sight of their confusion and desperation a grin forms on Jake's face causing him to flinch as hot spikes of pain shoot through him. How did she pull this off?

"You will pay for what you have done to us. I will not rest until you are brought to justice."

"We are coming for you!" And with that MC picks up the item that was resting on her lap. It is a Guy Fawkes mask, but black with the eyes, eyebrows and beard painted gold. While she puts it on, the camera angle changes and more and more people walk into the frame wearing the same masks. There are easily fifteen, maybe twenty people now taking position behind her and next to her, arms crossed on their chests.

Then the screen flickers again, first balck, then back to the test screen, then black again and finally a blue screen appears. Lines of code run over it and then the laptop shuts off. Ed tries to turn it back on but to no avail. "It's fried," he mumbles.

Hall kicks the chair standing next to him. "God damnit! How is that possible? I am surrounded by morons!" His eyes land on Jake, catching a glimpse of his grin. That sends him over the edge. He pulls out a gun and strides across the room.

"Remember, the boss wants him alive, Cecil," Ed mumbles. "I don't give a fuck. I am done with this shit!" But he stops in his tracks, cocking his head at a faint sound he just registered. "Did you hear that?" "What? No..." Another pop. Closer now. "There! What is going on?"

Ed turns back to his phone. "The surveillance cameras are dead as well." "How is that possible?"

Before Ed can answer they hear another thump. And then one of the doors crashes open.