Songbird

Chapter 18 ~ Downfall

City had been gagged immediately after being taken. It was tight in her mouth, but not unbearable. She was determined to remain strong through this. As strange, burly men took her in an SUV and drove her outside the city, all she could do was hope Jace would find her.

Arriving at the abandoned barn, City was placed on a chair in the middle of the barn aisle, her hands tied behind her. The wooden chair was hard and uncomfortable, but none of the men paid her any attention, so she was grateful for that at least. She still wore her thick winter coat, even though her gloved fingers were starting to turn numb in the cold as evening came. A single lantern was lit in the corner of the barn, casting strange, distorted shadowy figures across the barn floor. They kept City company during that night.

The sun sank slowly behind the barn's wooden walls, the last light of day streaming through the slivers and bouncing off the dust particles in the air. It was all rather quiet and peaceful, and City would've enjoyed herself if she hadn't been, you know, kidnapped, bound, and gagged. Little details.

Quite a few men stayed in the barn (City counted fifteen in total) as the hours passed. They didn't really look in City's direction but a few times just to make sure she was still there, as if she would have any way out. Even if her hands weren't tied, there were far too many of them. A few had guns, but most just stood around the barn with their arms folded, looking serious and maybe a bit bored.

The sun was well set, and the moonlight was streaming through the wooden panels of the barn walls. There was a cool draft that flowed into the barn through the walls, chilling City every so often. City wondered what time it was and how long she'd been gone. Was Wesley worried for her? Did he even know she was taken? Surely Jace had informed him...

And what about Jace? City hoped he wouldn't do anything careless for her sake.

Well into the night and just as her eyes were getting heavy, City finally heard a new sound: a car pulling up to the parking lot space just outside the barn. She was fully awake now, straining her ears to hear. The snow crunched under the heavy wheels, but other than that and a few muffled voices and some scuffling, City couldn't make out anything else. Who was here?

City could not believe her eyes when Jace suddenly appeared in the doorway. He had a black cloth over his eyes, but it was him, and he was surely there to rescue her. But then, Craton's men shoved Jace over the doorway and into the barn. Watching him collapse and not fight back was worse pain for City than anything. Had he already given up hope? What had they done to him?

As they helped him back up, City let out a muffled shout of Jace's name. He seemed to recognize her voice, because he turned his ear toward her. She then saw him wince. Something was very wrong.

But she did notice that he was studying the room. He turned his head slowly and in a few different directions, trying not to make it obvious while still picking up on different sounds around the building. Since his arrival, about ten or so more of Craton's men had come into the barn. City watched as Jace turned his ear toward each group that was staged around the abandoned place. She didn't think anyone else picked up on this, as they were too busy gathering around Craton and discussing plans.

Craton. City realized that he had entered the barn personally. His bald head, beard, and tiny eyes looked menacing in the lantern's light that was hanging in the corner. After speaking with a few men, he walked over to where City was sitting in the middle of the barn.

He crouched down until he was eye-level with City. He smiled, the smile not quite reaching his eyes.

"Your lover Songbird over there has agreed to trade his life for yours," said Craton. He nodded to his men, and they removed the cloth over Jace's eyes.

His dark eyes fell onto City's. This was the first time that City could see genuine, distinct fear in Jace's gaze, and that terrified her.

Craton was watching, too. He let out a cackle and stood, facing City once more.

"I have finally found the great Songbird's weakness!" he exclaimed. Some of his men chuckled nervously as though unsure whether they should join in on their boss's fun. Craton continued, "You know, my dear, I was going to let you go..."

He stepped behind the chair, putting a hand through City's wavy brown hair.

"Don't touch her!" shouted Jace from across the barn. He was punched in the stomach by one of Craton's men holding him up. He doubled over in pain, the wind knocked out of him once more, his breath coming out in a fog as it met the cold air.

Craton removed his hand from City's hair and took out a pistol from the side of his belt. He pressed the barrel of the gun to the side of City's head. She could feel his steady hand, the coldness of the barrel, the metal pressing into her skin... And all she could do was stare at Jace.

"No! Let her go; this wasn't the deal!" cried Jace. He was hit again, this time making him almost collapse, the men being the only things keeping him upright.

"I have waited years for your downfall, Songbird," said Craton. He pushed the handgun closer against City, his eyes hungry with greed. "And seeing you so desperate about something makes me want to take it away from you. I want you to suffer before I kill you," he explained. He loaded the gun with a loud click sound.

City shut her eyes tightly. She tried to block out the cries of Jace, his screams of terror, half begging and half threatening Craton.

Goodbye, Jace.