He didn’t dare to move. He listened, holding his breath, as the sounds faded away. Silence fell on the abandoned storage house where he was right now, but he still didn’t dare to move yet. Not before he was absolutely sure the fight was over.The nightmare had started from a surprise attack. Yiskah had warned them that they were never completely safe, but the attack was still unpredicted. Yiskah and him, Tarasqe, got attacked by the members of a criminal organization where Yehochanan used to work. They were forcefully taken with them and made unable to protest with brutal violence. That all was for one reason: to lure Yehochanan out. He was a man who didn’t stay long in one place, so he was challenging to track down. So the organization attacked the most vulnerable parts: his sister and friend.
They were separated during the transport, and worry started to eat Tarasqe from the inside out. He heard voices echoing around the dark building, hearing Yiskah from somewhere. He hadn’t ever heard her sounding so distressed, scared, as she had a heated conversation with the captures. She was usually very well collected woman, in control of how she presented herself. But the power these people had over her were stronger than her self.
This was the notorious organization what Khanan had been running away from years now. For years he had traveled across countries, not stopping for any moment, living constantly looking over his shoulder.
Tarasqe felt angry for himself. He felt guilt for getting caught and be used as a lure like this. He also felt angry for himself for feeling slight doubt. He wasn’t sure if this would actually make Khanan arrive, and that little doubt was eating him. He knew he held his freedom his top priority, but would it go over his sister and friends lives?
Well, it didn’t. It was not a relief to hear him arrive, it made everything more horrible. The members of the organization started an immediate attack to capture him, but he was able to stand up against them. It wasn’t only when the fire arrived that the fight took a turn for worst. From the spot where he was tied, Tarasqe saw the man. Even if he didn’t know back then who he was, he was in fearful awe. It was a rumored magic wielding human apparently, with flames dancing around him as he walked to Khanan. His voice echoed everywhere in the building, with a maniac tone and horrible words. Tarasqe felt anger peaking in him as he heard the mage speaking to Yiskah too. They knew each other. She was scared, but clearly also angry. She spit on the mages face mask, earning a slap across her face with a flaming hand. Tarasqe was able to hear the raged call from Khanan and the noises of battle continued. Â
It was quick, yet brutal. But in the heat of battle, no-one kept an eye on Tarasqe and he was able to work his hands free from his ties. The skin around his wrist was scraped open and blood trickled down his palms, but he did manage to free his hands. He kept himself hidden, keeping low profile.
It seemed that the criminals focus was only on their leaders goal: Yehochanan. And Tarasqe listened from the shadows as they managed to drag silence him. The sounds of fights were dying out, and slowly silence started to land on the building.
When he finally dared to move, the view that welcomed him made his heart skip a beat. The floor was dirtied with splatters of blood, and there was bodies lying silently. They were dead. This wasn’t the first time Tarasqe saw dead people lying on the scene of battle, but that didn’t make it any easier.
He walked as quietly as he was able, looking around the large building. He didn’t hear anything else but faint sobbing.
”Yiskah, where are you?” He carefully called, still being wary if there’d be anyone organization members left. But luckily he didn’t hear anything else but a silent reply. He followed the voice and found Yiskah, and the sight of her made Tarasqe forget his own pain. She had been beaten, bruises and bleeding wounds all around her. She was hunched over, hands tied to a column behind her back, and she was sobbing so hopelessly.
”I’m here, I got you.. ” He assured her as he went behind her to get her hands free.
”They got him…” Yiskah was able to say through her sobs. ”He has him now, he, oh god”
As Tarasqe got Yiskah’s hands free, she almost collapsed to the ground if it he wouldn’t be right besides her to catch her. He wrapped his arms around her and held her, letting the tired woman to lean on his shoulder. ”You’re safe now, I.. We..” But he didn’t know how to finish his sentence. Yehochanan was gone. How could they go after them?
They were only the two of them, and a world-wide criminal organization’s leader holding Khanan. Tarasqe encouraged Yiskah back to his feet, as this area was not dangerous. They would need to find their way to a safe place and recover, before they could even dream about getting Khanan back.
