A New Beginning

Chapter 91: Suffering Conscience

Chapter 91: Suffering Conscience

The treacherous car ride continues to drag on, but Rose's grasp on Jack's hands never waivers, not even for a moment. Whenever there is a turn, their two bodies are shoved to one side of the vehicle or the other, neither able to somehow protect themselves from hitting their heads or other appendages against the cold metal surrounding them. It truly felt like a prison from which they could not escape.

While Rose had managed to free her mouth from the gag, she had little strength to speak. Even if she did find the courage to scream out, it would be lost over the roar of the engine. The only sounds she made were of crying, the burlap bag over her head soaked with the tears that she had shed. It was uncomfortable to be lying on a cold steel surface with wet fabric over one's face, but the redhead knew that this was the least of her worries. The stiffness in her joints added to the discomfort, but no matter what happened, she would not let go of Jack.

Eventually, her sobs went silent and her eyes dry and she just lay miserably within the confines of the car. She had cried herself dry, at least that is what it felt like, and her body was now struggling to stay conscious. Exhaustion is overcoming her being and she was willing herself to stay awake. She cannot think about what could happen to them if she fell asleep and Cal finally brought the journey to an end, their guards would be down and they would truly be helpless. While this feeling was nothing new to Rose for the past few weeks, there was still a sense of dread deep down in the pit of her stomach. Her former fiancé was not taking them for a leisurely drive.

All sorts of potential scenarios whirled around in Rose's brain, attempting to keep her conscious and wary. Perhaps he was looking for a cliff to toss both of them off of or a place deep in the woods where he could bury them alive or he could be driving up into the mountains to leave them there to freeze to death. She knew that Cal wanted to be rid of them... especially Jack and it sickened her to think about how he might go about doing this. For a moment she remembers the man she'd once known; respectable, polite, and seemingly charming. Fortunately, she'd seen through this façade and knew that he was a selfish and abusive man, but... this was beyond anything she could have imagined. He'd truly lost all sense of reality and become a monster... something to be feared and destroyed.

The baby in her womb kicks a few times, likely sensing the tension in her body, plus it was probably very hungry. Rose cannot remember the last time that she'd eaten and nourishment for the unborn life could be added to her laundry list of worries.

Her eyes begin to close, heavy with fatigue, every passing mile was leaving her drained with less energy. She tries to stay awake... she had to! But it became a losing battle and soon she drifted into dark and partial relief.

...

Cal keeps his eyes on the road, driving towards a destination known only to him. Despite it being hours since they'd left, the smile is still plastered on his face. Riptide wonders if his face must be sore by now... the same wicked grin had not left his master.

The manservant is beside himself in his own kind of fear. He can not believe how far he'd fallen from grace; being an accomplice in yet another kidnapping and now a fugitive on the run from the law. He has pinched himself multiple times over the last few hours, wishing that it was all some crazy nightmare, one that he would wake up from and continue a daily life of being a respectable human being.

He curses himself under his breath, wishing he'd left the advertisement for a manservant alone. Even if the pay was excellent and he was living in a lavish house with every comfort he could imagine, it didn't seem worth it in the end. To become the Igor to the Dr. Frankenstein of literal madness. His world had been torn down and destroyed with his participation in his master's schemes for... revenge? Pleasure? He is not sure anymore.

Initially, the spying didn't seem that bad and it didn't hurt anyone. It did not corrupt his morals and was not illegal. But then being with his master as he paid the Mob to kidnap an innocent woman, who was about to get married and was also pregnant. Then participating in the torture of this woman and also her child and then the further abduction of another man. Now, running from the law. How had everything become so bizarre and criminal?! Is this what his mother had wanted for her little boy? To become a monster.

Riptide swallows heavily and gives several more sideways glances at Mr. Hockley. His eyes then go to the silver pistol tucked into the business man's overcoat pocket. The gleam of it is almost mocking the manservant, taunting him for his poor choices. It wasn't about helping his employer anymore... it was more like survival.

The man had snapped, plain and simple and nothing the "accomplice" could do or say would change the twisted plot swirling around in this... stranger's mind.

The car has to stop at one service station to refill as their journey drags on further and deeper into the night. Cal has ordered his manservant to act as casual as possible during this stop before getting out to smoke a few cigarettes.

The attendant was curious as to why these men are out driving so late at night, but he becomes more interested in discussing the amazing car that they had arrived in. He and Cal talk for a little while about the model and its original price, all the while Riptide is sitting quietly but is screaming in his mind.

There are people in the trunk! There are people in the goddamned trunk! His mind shouts so loudly that the unsuspecting person must have heard it. We're wanted men, please just call the police... end-all of this! PLEASE!

Please hear it. He begs to the attendant. The poor man ridden with guilt can feel his heart pounding and each thump is like the echo of an empty cavern. Empty as his conscience.

Eventually, the car is filled and Cal climbs back into the vehicle, still as happy as ever. He takes a long drag of a cigarette before putting the car back into gear and driving away.

"Lovely fellow," he says, speaking for the first time in hours. "Sure knows his cars."

Riptide gazes at Mr. Hockley. How could he be so calm and casual? How could he... how could he?!

The manservant swallows thickly before opening his mouth.

"Where... where are we going, sir?"

"To my father's vacation home," is the answer. "We can finally end all this eternal suffering."

Ours... or theirs?

A/N: Hello to everyone. I'm sorry that it's been so long since I've updated this story. I got busy with other ones and I wasn't sure where I wanted to take the story next. I do want to thank everyone who has stuck with the story and who has followed and favourited it. Special thanks to a brand new fan, ColonelBeanBags, who has been reviewing non-stop and it's amazing. Please follow and review.