Veiled Shadows

Chapter 14

A crash wakes me up.

The bed is cold and there's no sign of Eko so I fumble my way through the dark to find my clothes. I locate my sweater and pants but the shirt seems to have been swallowed by the dark and another crash has me abandoning my search. Quietly, I open the door and begin creeping down the blackened hallway.

I had only meant to sleep for a little while but based on the lack of light and the groggy feeling in my head, I've missed dinner and we're now well into the early hours of the morning. I'm not sure where the sound came from but I make my way back towards the living room, doing my best to retrace my drunken path from a few hours ago. Thanks to Eko's magic I'm completely hangover free but the memories are still a bit of a blur.

"Grab the legs," a gruff voice says from deeper in the house. "Ow, fuck. See? That's why I told you to grab them."

My mind immediately goes to the worst case scenario. The Arc has found us and they have Eko. I pick up my pace.

Rounding a corner I come face to face with two black clad figures carrying a thrashing figure with a bag over his head. It must be Eko. They're so close I almost crash right into them and I let out a startled scream.

Recovering faster than they do, I attack. I go for the bigger one first, aiming a kick between his legs. When he doubles over I elbow him in the nose. Eko's body crashes to the floor.

"Ow! Lexi, what the fuck!" The man cries.

Startled, I jump back. He fumbles in the dark until he finds a light switch. The hallway lights flicker on to illuminate the faces of Vimmy and... Eko? I'm dumbstruck.

Vimmy is bent over, clutching both his groin and face. The person he was half carrying is now sprawled on the ground, struggling against their bindings.

"Pin her down! No, not like that! Pin her! She's going to wiggle loose!" Vimmy orders Eko.

Eko does as he's told, putting his whole weight on the person to immobilise them while I try desperately to figure out what's going on.

"Don't just stand there, Lexi! Get her legs!" Vimmy shouts at me as he rushes off down the hall.

I come out of my stupor with a start and do as I'm told, flinging myself at the two kicking limbs. The woman lands a solid blow on my chest before I'm able to get things under control.

"We did not mean to wake you," Eko tosses over his shoulder. "I apologise."

"Forget that," I grunt at him. "What's going on? Who is this?"

I already know the answer before it comes out of his mouth but I want more than anything to be wrong. Not because we don't need her but because I don't want to believe that Eko could be so cruel as to capture her and tie her up like this. To take away her choice and freedom the same way the Arc took away his.

"Amaelia."

My heart sinks.

Vimmy returns with another length of rope.

"I thought we were going to go talk to her and ask her for her help. I thought we were going to convince her," I say as Vimmy begins to bind her legs more firmly.

"We are doing what is necessary," is all Eko says in response.

He doesn't meet my eyes as he and Vimmy pick up Amaelia and carry her down the hall while I follow closely behind. Vimmy takes us to a part of the house I haven't seen yet that has a more clinical feel. There are no pictures or decorations to speak of, only plain grey walls and polished concrete floors.

Vimmy punches in a code on a keypad next to a metal door and it swings open. Overhead lights flicker on, illuminating a staircase. Vimmy and Eko take careful steps down into the belly of the house while Amaelia continues to kick and struggle against them. Her screams are muffled under the bag and there's no doubt that she's gagged under there.