Lockdown

Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter Twenty-Three

10/09/2019. 16:27 hours. Abandoned building, somewhere in Virginia.

Spencer groaned at the dull throb in his skull as he came to. He lay on his side in a tight foetal position with his head on his knees. The concrete floor beneath him was cold, and a breeze whistled through what he could only assume was a crack in a window. He felt his blazer brushing against his arms as it was pulled away. Hands gripped his cuffed wrists and wrenched them up. His adrenaline spiked. Spencer kicked out blindly at his captors. His legs were gripped firmly. He twisted and turned to try and escape the hold on his legs. He felt the pressure of a rough collar being buckled tightly around his neck. His hands fumbled for the collar but was met with a surge of electricity through his nerves, forcing a muffled scream out of Spencer, his body taut with spasms.

"Quit struggling, Agent Reid." He was forced onto his knees, and his wrists were jerked upwards. The chain linking his handcuffs was attached to a low hanging hook from the ceiling, yanking his arms up painfully above his head. His brows were visibly knotted behind the tie blindfolding him. His fingers felt around, seeking purchase around the short chain between the cuffs. He faintly heard the sound of a train rumbling along tracks outside.

Linda smirked at her hostage as he breathed heavily through his nose, his arms stretched up above him. She relished in watching him, trying to place the sounds around him as she dragged a wooden crate in front of him and set up a laptop. She tapped a button to power up the laptop. The screen came to life with a video call.

"I'm going to let you say goodbye to your team, Agent Reid." Spencer visibly tensed, his breaths stilted behind the gag.

10/09/2019. 16:29 hours. FBI Offices, Quantico, Virginia.

The team was confused when the wall monitor blinked before opening a video call window. Penelope was unable to prevent the sob that escaped her throat at the sight of Spencer with his wrists chained above his head. He had been blindfolded with his tie,  and a strip of duct tape silenced him. His head was bowed as though ashamed. A shock collar had been buckled around his neck.

"You have five minutes to say goodbye to your team," came a woman's voice. A gloved hand wrenched Spencer's head up by his hair and tore the tape from his lips. Spencer hissed at the burning of his skin. Emily stood on shaking legs, her palms pressed to the table to keep her steady as she eyed her subordinate.

"Reid? Can you hear us?" asked Emily in a trembling voice.

"Yeah."

"Listen to me, Reid. We're going to get you out of this." Spencer traced the tip of his tongue over his bleeding lips.

"I don't have much time. I just need you all to know how much I love you. I truly appreciate everything you have done for me. David- I meant it when I said that I think of you as a father. Penelope and Jennifer - you're the sisters I never had. Matt and Luke- you're like my brothers. Tara- you're the cool auntie. Emily - you have always been mygod-given solace. Mel doesn't know what's happened. Please tell her that I love her. Ask her what song she was listening to when I surprised her with breakfast."

"Reid? Stop talking like this is goodbye," choked out David, his dark eyes glistening with unshed tears.

"Dave, you know what she's going to do. Please. It's important that you ask Mel what she was listening to."

"Okay, that's enough!" The team watched in horror as a new strip of tape was pasted firmly over Spencer's mouth. The sharp edge of a blade pressed against his pulse point. He swallowed thickly before the call ended.