The Death of a King

Chapter 8

Afternoon- 6:01 - Luke King

Well I can safely say, that this man had my attention. He had everyone in the basements attention. My mind races as I try to remember that voice, that singular, gruff and pained voice. The sheer fact that it sounds familiar is what throws me off, I swear I've heard it before. Just can't pinpoint the memory yet. No one replies, no one moves, but they all look at me. They're waiting for me to do something. But, I don't know what to do.

"Who are you, and what do you want." I pause, "Whatever it is, you aren't getting it."

"Well don't you just know how to hurt a man's feelings. You don't remember me? As for what I want, I guarantee you will comply to my demands, otherwise your employment is going to take a big drop in numbers. For every hour, a new position will be opened in your company. I would hope that you would just come up and meet me in the lobby, I don't want to go to the basement and get you myself. Feel free to take your time, it appears we have all the time in the world."

He's right, with the storm no police can get here, no calls can be made and the only fire power we have is John. There's nothing I or anyone can do besides me to agree to his terms.

"Stay here, keep thinking of ways to get the power on, I don't care how. I'm going to go, I can't let anyone get hurt because of me." I start to walk towards the door but John stops me.

"Listen Luke, you know we aren't just going to let you just run out there and get yourself killed, not on our watch. Let's take a minute, think of something and execute the plan."

"You heard the man, one hour and a person dies, besides if he wanted me dead, he would have killed me already or would be heading our way as we speak. He obviously needs me for something."

"Look I know you are trying to do the right thing, my priority, all of our priority," He looks at Shawn and Jillian, "Is to keep you safe." They both nod.

"Yea boss, we need you for everything, no one knows this place better than you."

When she says this, it gets me thinking about the company itself, no one knows the rooms better than I do, I studied them for months trying to make it as efficient as possible. What advantage this gives me, I don't know. The generators don't work, no police will be here, and we have one person with military training. Our odds are not good, and I know it. I just keep going back to the man, asking myself so many questions. How did this man get in here with the storm? Why were the generators already cut? So many of these questions not answered and I hate it. There's only one way I'm going to get answers and that is meeting with this mystery man.

"Okay, first step, we need to make sure what little light we have, stays put, so we need batteries. Go and find all double A batteries, there's some in the hand dryers in the bathroom, some in the fire alarms on the walls. Just anywhere you think there might be some, go for it. Get some screwdrivers." I can't believe I am about to do this but I have to. "We have to get moving, that's one advantage he has over us, he knows where we are. What we do is change that, we go to the 2rd floor, that has the glass walk way, we might get to position ourselves in the right spot to see what's happening, that is if my assumption is correct and he's hold up in the lobby. We get a top view, and then create a plan. Any questions?"

They all agree and begin their search in the basement for the batteries, they find some in a small fan, one in a tool box. When we get done, it's been fifteen minutes and we're wasting time. We split up, me and John, Shawn and Jillian, they go towards the north side of the glass walk way, while we go to the south side. Shawn found some nylon rope in the basement so he gives that to John trying to create a tripwire, it's not much but they're trying. But I know the only way this is going down, is me and this man face to face. That's my plan, but I continue to help and support this little idea of attack and defend with John. As we talk on the walkies, staying on a totally different frequency than what we originally were on so no one else can hear us.