The Kidnappers

The Kidnappers - First Clue (Chapter 4)

CHAPTER 4

- Sapien's POV


Maybe it's a simple misunderstanding and this can all be sorted out by a simple 3Dpersoncall. Glancing up, I could practically see their shocked and annoyed thoughts whizzing around the room.

"Not only do we need to keep ourselves alive but we have to drag along three kids and try not to get their heads blown up. That's the life any normal person would dream off. No, of course, it's not the worst case scenario." Dese sarcastically says, spitting out her words.

I step stand up heading to the 3Dpersoncall machine sitting on the side table of the living room, I'll just call one of my old professors who is high up in the Domi Society and she will clear everything up for us.

I tap in her personal number, the cloud in front of the machine remains black until a holographic figure of a man stepped into it. That's not who I'm expecting. It's not the aging face, full of happy wrinkles, messy brown haired of a woman that should be here.

This is clearly is not Professor Brown. The image becomes more apparent, it's man dressed in a white lab coat. He looks familiar. It's Dr Drop. He must have been in the room, and saw my call so  he picked it up for her.

"Dr Drop?"

"Sapien, did you feel exhilarated when you destroyed your Detectors? Well I hope you feel more exhilarated when the Domi Society will hand out your punishment to you, for destroying high tech equipment of the Domi Society. To be quite frank I thought you were better than that, Sapien." He digs right into it. I glump, my thoughts stop. I want to press the end button and run away like the coward I've suddenly turned into.  

"Sorry...Sorry Dr Drop. I didn't mean to do it." I stutter, feeling warm and claustrophobic in the room. This is bad, this is really bad. Why hadn't I been more forceful of Zeki? I never rebel. It's like my world is crashing around me. I can feel raising from my cheeks.

"What is done, is done now, Sapien. You, all just need to be aware, of the fact that there will be a payment faced with, from the rebellious actions you have committed so early in the mission. Such a shame really. Now what is the reason for your called?" He shakes his head, hands clasped in front of him. Dr Drops words snake coldly around me.

"Err..Dr Drop we were uncertain and hazy on the details of the mission that the Domi Society sent to us. We were hoping you could refine the details a little." I rasp, trying to have some authority and some sort intelligence. 

"I thought the instructions where very definitive, but it seems you have let your skills relapse as well, Sapien. I was so sure that this mission would be easily conquered, considering there is your sharp intelligence on the team. But I seems I've been mistaken." Dr Drops states harshly, he manages to make me feel so full of shame, although he is just a holographic image.  

I don't know what to say. I nod, mumbling that it's fine and I would work through the vague details of the mission and that  I was sorry for disturbing him, too afraid to question further about the mission. 

He zapped out with the words."Please don't disappoint me further Sapien." 

 "Wow, he's turned into a crabby little bitch over the years." Deses breaking the heavy silence, that's seems to be suffocating me.

"Thanks for taking one for the time mate." Zeki clasps around the shoulders jostling me in comfort.

What have we done? It's like we're doomed from the start. The only way is try making it better and hopefully the punishment won't be too serious. There's so other way. Take a deep breath Sap. 

"Right... you're welcome. So here's the first clue." I mumble, picking up the parchment I had dropped in my shock of Dr Drops brutally honest words. 

In the city, which time emanated,

A young, stares at the ebony sea,

With nothing to purchase.

Yet absent of wealth, prosperity and love

She remains surrounded by light,

Accumulated by all her might.

Although, still rearing with strength and magnificent power. 

Living among the kind,

She does not look askance at,

 Too ignorant and destitute to know what is right. "

Once again I am greeted by a silence filled with confusion. It is becoming a trend, which I have to do something urgently about.

It isn't that bad, I mean we'll figure it out. We always do. One step at a time. Just need to figure out what's the first step, now. I'm always up for a challenge. I shake away the last wisps of the trauma of the 3DPhonecall away. 

"Well at least it rhymes" I add, attempting to lighten the mood, just like this child is "surrounded by light." hoping to get a glimmer of a smile from my play on words but I'm not granted by any.

Right, a city where "time began". An old city. Byblos in Lebanon? Damascus? Beirut?Jerusalem? Athens?

All these cities are millenniums old. The riddle could mean any of these. It's only beginning to dawn on me now, how near impossible this task is. Oh, how misplaced my sudden optimisim is. Dr Drop was right I am a disappoint.  

Where time begun? Why specifically "time"? I'm sure whoever, constructed this riddle was not focused on their literacy techniques of rhyme and rhythm. It has to be something else.

Where did time begin? Everyone had their various methods of telling the time but time only came into world wide perspective, when the Greenwich Mean Time began in 1675. 

Greenwich is in London. London. A city. Time begun here. Could it be possible, our first child is in the same city as us?

Hope enlightens and a  smile pulls my lips up in triumph. We have some direction to search for this child. 

"Ebony sea", London does not have sea, although it has the River Thames. Could it possible mean this? The Thames is not ebony though. What is black? Think Sapien.

Ebony...Ebony...Ebony...

Black Sea, is not in London.

I stare, distracted at the window, as it is being tapped by the overhanging, naked branches. The finger-like branches silhouetted against the long, cream curtains, the sky a dark background.

Black sky. That's it, it's not black sea, it's black sky. A sigh of realisation escapes my lips.

The girl looks up at the dark sky in London.