Fan Fiction |
by Jenny Tran
The P.R.A. were getting nowhere near finding out who the third suspect was. With Darren constantly drunk and angry, it was hard for them to communicate in the same room. Erin was completely out of it, she would only give one word answer if she was asked. After an hour of getting nothing, Matt sighed “Team, we are not solving anything if everyone is playing the silent card. I can’t do this on my own.” He said with emphasis towards Darren and Erin.
She shook her head “Can I go home? I don’t feel good.”
Matt frowned “No, you may not! We are not leaving this place until I get some answers!! You all signed up for this, that means you are to be dedicated to it. I don’t want to hear anymore excuses. We have an agent that’s been kidnapped, two clients under ransom and two innocent bystanders. People, there are others to be saved, lives to take back.”
Darren was the first to answer as he looked up “You’re right…We have to work together. Even if some people in this room do not practice that word…I will.” His eyes landed coldly on Erin and Ted. She has yet to tell them about her conversation with Reina.
“She called me…” Erin began, her eyes still glued to the table.
“Who?” Brad asked. Erin has been extra quiet since the incident and he could barely get a sentence out of her. Shelly was worried for her sister when she learned what had happened to Mia but according to Brad, it was not a good time to talk to Erin.
“Reina.” Erin sighed as she looked up, her eyes looked so tired and the dark circles under her eyes told them how many tears she has lost and the lack of sleep she’s had “She told me if I traded myself in, she would let the other five go unharmed.”
“Did you promise?” Matt asked.
Erin shook her head while Brad let out a sigh of relief “She’s just messing with your head.” He advised her.
“What if it’s true?” Darren asked. The group looked at him in horror and he explained coldly “I want Mia back…that’s all. I’m not saying I’d rather have Erin die. But if we could play with their plan and try to find where they’ve held them hostage, it wouldn’t be hard to save Erin too.”
Matt seemed to contemplating the idea “They want to play sly, then we’ll play sneaky. Has she called you back?” he asked Erin, who slowly shook her head.
“Maybe she’ll call me this time?” Darren asked, his eyes full of hope “I’m gonna go home and wait!” he announced and got up.
Matt put up a hand “Wait a minute Darren. All of you guys, go with him. It’s better to have a team than to split up.” He was wise behind his years.
The group evacuated and drove together back to Darren’s home. Little did they know that a gift sat there waiting for them. Darren picked up the box and shook it, which had a heavy object inside “What do you think it is?” Eric asked curiously.
“We’ll see.” Darren opened the door and walked inside. He opened it and noticed it was a video tape. It was just a normal black tape.
Brad nodded at him “Let’s see what it is.” He took the tape from Darren and popped it in the VCR.
The blurry black and white lines flashed on the screen while everyone took their seats. Suddenly an eyeball popped up and eventually the person moved away and appeared to be Chris. He knocked on the lens “Testing! Testing!” he smiled into the camera “Hello, there P.R.A. agents…welcome to my humble home.” He spread out his arms to a darkened room, the walls looked like it was made out of cement “How do you like the game so far?”
“Crazy bastard.” Doug snickered.
Chris laughed humorously despite the fact that everyone in that room wanted to tear his limbs to pieces “I guess you’re wondering what’s the next step? Hmm…I’m having too much fun with this…but let me give you a little hint. Someone…dies!” he gasped and covered his mouth while his eyes moved left and right as if he was hiding a secret.
Darren crunched his fist together “Bastard!!!” he cried at the screen.
Doug patted his friend on the shoulder “Calm down…let see what the psycho has to say.”
Chris waved to the camera person to follow him as he took them through a little hallway and into a room “How about a tour? This is the guest room.” Inside were five people sitting down blindfolded “Eenie, meenie, miny moe…which one should I pick?” he tapped his chin playfully and then reached down to Mia as he pulled her roughly by the arm “How about this one? Since I think Darren would be happy to see her.”
Mia struggled with her gags as she was pulled to another room. The camera settled down as Chris pushed her onto a chair and pulled out her gag and her blindfold roughly “Mia…” Darren whispered while his heart ached painfully.
“Say hi, sweetheart.” Chris laughed viciously as he pointed to the camera.
The glaring light burned her eyes as she turned away, it seems she’s been blindfolded for too long “Hi guys.” Mia managed to smile at the camera.
“Aww…isn’t that sweet?? A reunion.” Chris pouted his lips amusingly.
“Damn psycho…” Brad muttered.
“Go ahead, honey…talk…it’s your last chance.” Chris said wryly while the camera zoomed onto Mia’s face.
She winced when the light was directed into her eyes. She seemed tired and restless “Hi Darren…I miss you.” She smiled through the tears that were brimming her eyes “How are you doing without me? Can’t sleep, I bet…please…don’t be mad at anyone. Erin had nothing to do with this.” She shook her head vehemently.
Erin covered her mouth to hide the cries ready to escape. Her tears running down her face when Mia smiled at the camera again, she continued before gulping back the tears “I know you Darren…you’ve probably picked up drinking again. Don’t…please, it took you so long to get off.” She begged, the tears streaming down her pale face “I want nothing more than to hug you right now…I love you SOO much. Don’t worry about me…I’ll be fine. Whatever happens, we’ll meet again at the grave.” She nodded “You’ll come visit me right?” her eyes widened earnestly.
Darren couldn’t hold in the sobs as he cried “No…you can’t die, Mia!”
Brad turned to Erin who was on his left, she too was sobbing. He reached out a hand as he pulled her into his chest. She cried even harder. Brad blinked the tears back as he forced himself to continue watching the video. Doug sat there silently while the tears began to roll down his cheek.
Mia giggled forcefully “I miss you guys … so much…” she sobbed before continuing “I miss Eric’s one man talk show…I miss teasing Brad until he turns red…I miss joking with Doug and ganging up on everyone, we’ll always have high school …I miss Ted’s sweet smile…and can’t forget Matt’s wit and wannabe authority voice. … I miss the conversation with my bestest girlfriend in the whole wide world…Erin…I don’t blame you for anything and you shouldn’t beat yourself down for that either. You didn’t do anything wrong!” she nodded firmly “And Darren…I don’t know what else to say… but you know I love you more than life itself. Don’t you dare do anything drastic!” she smiled into the camera “Having you love me, it’s this indescribable feeling that I get… seeing your smile, it makes my life worthwhile…knowing that I was the cause of it. Don’t ever stop smiling…”
The camera zoomed out and showed Chris sniffing back the fake tears as he wiped his eyes delicately “That…was so…sweet.” He spat and then laughed hysterically “Well, that comes as a conclusion to our show…until next time. Look in the mail, Erin. Our offer still stands.” He gave a wink of the eye and the picture returned to black and white lines.
“BASTARD!!!!” Darren hailed the control in his hands at the television, it bounced to the ground and broke in pieces. He got up suddenly and paced the floor “I’m gonna kill him…” he muttered like a mad man over and over.
Erin looked up sadly, she turned to the other teammates who too were crying “What are we going to do?” she said weakly. It was the first time in her life, she felt absolutely useless “Maybe I should take that offer…” she began.
Ted shook his head while he wiped the tears with the back of his hand “No! That’s exactly what they want.”
Doug nodded, his tear stained face was drying up “Ted’s right…they’ll win this game if you sacrifice yourself, Erin.”
Brad wiped the tears for Erin as he whispered “We’ll find a way.”
“Find a way?!” Darren asked “What way?? He’s fucking got her in some damn cave! How the hell are we suppose to find her?” Darren looked crazier than before as he reached down to Doug and lifted him with his shirt “What if he really kills her? I can’t… I can’t live without her.” He eyes widened fearfully “I can’t…” he muttered.
Doug pulled Darren’s hand off of his shirt “Calm down…just calm down, Darren. They won’t kill her until they get us.”
Eric nodded “I think so too. He just wants the P.R.A. burned down, he wants us dead and Mia is the only one that can get them into headquarters.”
He seemed to be the only one thinking logically while Ted and Doug looked up “You’re right, why didn’t we think of that?” Doug asked.
“We have to go talk to Matt.” Ted suggested.
“So what are we waiting for? Come on!!” Darren cried as he rushed out of the house.
Brad looked down at Erin, who was had the hiccups from all the crying “Why don’t you go home and rest.”
She shook her head “No…I want…to help…” she touched her neck when a pain shot through her stomach to her throat.
“Erin.” Brad took a hold of her shoulders “You need to rest…come on.”
She continued to shake her head “No…I can’t…I have to…Mia…would want…me to help.” She said through hiccups.
Ted nodded at Brad “Just let her go…at least we’ll keep an eye on her just in case she decides to do something crazy.”
Erin smiled sadly at Ted “You read my mind.”
“Are you crazy?” Brad asked her with his hand on her tiny shoulders “Promise me you won’t do something drastic. Please…I…I can’t lose you.” He said with earnest eyes.
She could feel the blood rushing to her head as the tears began to fill her eyes again “I promise.” She whispered with her head nodding.
Ted smiled at the two and joined the rest out in the van. They reached the headquarters and received a welcome from an unexpected visitor. Brad slowly smiled “Dennis…” he reached out and hugged the old lieutenant.
Matt smiled “Looks like in with the old and out with the new.” He was joking.
Dennis laughed as he patted Matt on the shoulder “No…this is your team. I’m just visiting. Joe asked me to drop by and see the gang.” He turned to the solemn group. His eyes landed on Erin, who had on a forced smile “Erin…come here.” He waved her over.
She fell into his warm hug “It’s nice to see a familiar face.” She said with happy tears.
“Matt told me everything. If I know Mia, she isn’t the least bit mad at you. You were just going with your gut.” He pulled her away and smiled gently.
Erin nodded “I know.”
“How?” Dennis asked curiously.
“That freak sent us a tape.” Eric said as he held up the tape in his hand.
“What is it about?” Matt nodded for him to hand over the tape.
“Get some tissues ready…” Doug snorted sarcastically.
Once again, everyone watched the tape together. Tears continued to fall but this time it was easier on Erin as she promised herself to stay calm. Maybe Mia left a clue in the tape. Even if she did, no one was able to catch it as they were all emotional about the events that’s happened. They didn’t know where to begin searching. It was right back to the drawing board.