Unraveling Secrets: The Search for Missing Lydia

Coming From the Shadows Series
Coming From the Shadows: Lydia

Previous Instalments: Missing

Missing: Part 3

January 1910 A.D.
Manchester

The city was a monochrome canvas of grey and blacks; a biting wind howled as the stench of acrid coal smoke whipped through the narrow streets, clawing at exposed skin.
An oppressive atmosphere clung everywhere, a palpable dread that seeped into the very bones; January brought a relentless winter, mirroring the chilling unease that had settled in the safehouse.

Chapter 1

Sat on the ground with her legs crossed, Elizabeth had been deep in thought, contemplating on the very idea of contacting her mother; a sickly scent of tobacco wafted as Miquel leaned forwards putting out a cigarette into the ashtray on the table in front of him; Norina, shifted her eyes a moment to him, before her eyes drifted towards Elizabeth.

A feeling of despair seemed to be settling in for Elizabeth “There isn’t any other way” she finally stated, breaking the silence – her voice was tight “I need to tell my mother; she needs to know that Lydia is missing”

Thomas understood; but, there was a risk with bringing Cathryn to Manchester – but, the commanding officer of his and Miquel’s regiment; Wilson, would take time to arrive, time that they might not have; Wilson still needs to gather people before he can even set of, were as, if Elizabeth found and informed Cathryn; there would be no hesitation, she would be there immediately.

“I’ll get going” Elizabeth said, leaning forwards a moment before repositioning herself then raising up to her feet “I’ll take the next train to Stockport; inform my mother and bring her back here, hopefully that Monk and Xian person will be with her”

Thomas slowly nodded; Norina, her eyes were fixed on Elizabeth – she was watching her in silence, watching as she began to leave, the silence returned to the room when Elizabeth had left; Thomas, Miquel and Norina were left uncertain, they simply listened to the hammering rain against the glass – the grey morning sky did little to lift the mood, if anything, it amplified the feelings they already felt.

Despite facing enemies on a battlefield; it was his concern and worry regarding Lydia that was haunting him, he knew what she was capable of, for her to disappear indicated something serious must have happened, surely she would be back otherwise.

“We need to focus” Miquel said; his thick Kenyan accent breaking the silence “Perhaps, if we continue with the original reason we even came here, it may help us find out if the Cultists are responsible” Thomas looked towards Miquel, though he was uncertain about the suggestion – after all, they didn’t know if the Cultists that Lydia had been fighting against had anything to do with her disappearance, and if they hadn’t, they would be wasting time going on the wrong direction

Miquel could see Thomas’ doubt “I know we do not have any evidence suggesting it Thomas; but we don’t have much else to go off, we did agree to helping Cathryn and Lydia with what they do; we came here to get information on those Cultists; so…, what if they caught her” he watches Thomas carefully “Not many people would be capable of snatching up Lydia”

“True” Thomas nodded his head; he agreed with that, Lydia had often demonstrated her deadly skill with that sword she carried and a remarkable talent for moving undetected – though, being as quiet as Lydia would help with that, she could often make people jump just by being there – they would never have noticed her if she didn’t make her presence known “Alright” Thomas puts is hands against his knees and pushes himself upwards

“We’ll start with the warehouse me and Norina were keeping watch over” Miquel suggests, taking a quick glance to the window; in the direction of the warehouse not far from their position, then returning his gaze to Thomas

Norina, still sat in silence, knew what they were saying; but being unable to talk their language, being able to communicate would prove difficult; she was reliant on Lydia – the two shared a sisterly bond, and it was through Lydia she was learning to speak the English language “Io Vado Con” she said quickly

Both Thomas and Miquel looked at her with confusion; they quickly worked out what she meant when she pointed to herself before pointing back towards them “Are you sure that’s a good idea?” Thomas wasn’t sure, but she was insistent on joining them, he knew it was because she wanted to do whatever she could to help, instead of sitting around and waiting

“Alright; then let’s get going” Miquel said

Meanwhile, Elizabeth, she would be making her way to the train station; on her way, she took notice of something odd, taking a moment, she stepped out of view by moving into the shadow of an alleyway; peaking around, she observed two large men collecting something from a shop; but it didn’t seem like some typical over the counter deal, the way everything was happening, despite being in the open was still suspicious – the way they were moving and holding themselves indicated something different was going on; though, she needed to get back on the move, with reluctance she continued on to the train station, but kept what she saw in memory for later.

Chapter 2

Lydia’s world was a blur of pain and terror; a feeling, an emotion – she was not use to feeling, laying on a damp floor offered little help, if anything it intensified the feelings she was feeling with ropes binding around her wrists and elbows; she had no means to fight back; the concussion though, that made things difficult to focus – to think, everything felt like a haze, she was disorientated, her head ached from the two blows she had suffered.

These feelings of a primal fear; it stripped away all pretence, left her exposed and vulnerable.

A shadow fell across her; her eyes shifted; she looked to see a figure coming to loom over her, the German that had commented on her waking up previously; she felt her heart beat increasing, thumping against her ribs “Guten tag, Lydia” he said with a grin curving his lips – his voice was smooth, almost silken

“My name is Sören; I am going to ensure that for the duration of your stay, you are comfortable”

She tried to shift her positioning, tried moving away; but as he knelt down, his hand stopped her struggled shuffling, preventing any further movement; he leaned across for a moment; clearly checking the bindings keeping her arms secured behind her back; moving to reposition, he looked at the bruise on her forehead – the way his eyes lingered though was unsettling, in this vulnerable position she felt her stomach churn.

He again leaned across her; Lydia could feel him checking the ropes by hand now, then, it felt as though it got tighter, her wrists already felt uncomfortable; now, the ropes felt painful, he ignored her whimpering – she noticed a possessive glint in his eye as he repositioned yet again.

An unsettling smiled curved his lips as he rose to his feet “Be good, Fräulein Lydia”

“Sören!” a voice shouted from the back room “Get back in here!” someone ordered loudly

He hesitated a moment, his eyes flicking to Lydia before he let out a sigh; he slowly turned, walking back to the back room, leaving Lydia were she lay – as Sören returned to the back room, he looked at those gathered.

The room stank of its usual stale beer; but, there was a nervous energy present – it had been since Lydia had been discovered, and word has been sent to George Smythe; their infamous leader had changed all his plans once he had learnt his daughter had been found and was now on his way to collect her.

“Sören” a larger man said “The train should be arriving within the next hour; you’re to meet him; be respectful, he does not take kindly to fools”

Sören nodded, his expression carefully neutral; he knew George’s reputation, across Germany George Smythe was regarded as someone to avoid, regardless of the shared loyalties to the Imperium – he was dangerous.

Chapter 3

The warehouse reeked of damp and decay; crates were stacked haphazardly as they reached towards the grimy ceiling, casting long ominous shadows – Thomas, with Miquel beside him moved with a practised silence, their military training honed to a razor’s edge

Outside, Norina was observing – Thomas and Miquel had felt it would be too unsafe for her, and being unable to communicate effectively, would create unneeded difficulties, so, with reluctance, she was stuck simply as a lookout; she took notice of movement, watching as a group of rough looking men were making their way through the front entrance.

Inside of the warehouse; the movement caught the attention of Thomas and Miquel who stopped their own movements entirely “They’re here” Miquel whispered; he caught sight of a group, they seemed completely ignorant of their surroundings as they just gathered up chairs and huddled around a table at the far corner

“This…., might be easier than we thought” Thomas whispered; his gaze shifted onto his friend

“Maybe” Miquel shrugged his shoulders a moment; the two observed carefully a little longer

A swift takedown would soon follow; Thomas and Miquel moved with brutal efficiency, they acted before the thugs could do anything to respond to the threat; the warehouse would remain silent save for the groans of the defeated party

As Thomas knelt down by one of the thugs; Miquel went to go and collect Norina, believing it to be safe enough for her to come and join them inside the warehouse; Thomas, pulling a knife outlooked at one of thugs; he was a rather greasy character with missing teeth “Where are the Cultists; we know that you are operating on behalf of the Imperium”

Seeing the knife, the thug stammered fearfully “They’ll kill me if I tell you anything”

Thomas raised the knife up a moment, he seemed to almost inspect his own weapon with a rather confused expression, before his returning his gaze to the thug “You do realise this is a knife?”

“Yeah; I am getting the message with you holding it, but, I have a family that you can’t target” the thug says quickly “They can; it is them I am most afraid for, that is how they work”

Thomas rose an eyebrow a moment “So, you aren’t afraid of what happens to you; just what they will do to your family?” Thomas nodded head, understanding perfectly well, he would most likely feel the same…, no…, he does feel the same; his current concern was Lydia, the relationship may be different, but, he is willing to risk anything to find her, and its these thoughts renewed his need to find her; he narrows his eyes, turning the knife and holding it in reverse as he swings it down, a scream pierced the air

Miquel and Norina stopped when Thomas took his swing, at first, Miquel thought he had actually done it, that he had committed to taking the mans life; but, he hadn’t, he had hit the ground purposely, the blade had been so close that it had caused the man to scream out in a terrified panic.

“My next strike wont be hitting the floor” Thomas said, there was a coldness to his voice, his eyes dark as he eyed the thug carefully, the thug could see the seriousness in his eyes “You could walk out of here; go get your family and flee, or…, well…”

As Thomas raised the knife back up; the thug started speaking quickly; the suggestion he could flee – it offered only a small hope to survive, but it was enough; he revealed details of the Imperium’s operations across Manchester, using old networks that had been long stablished for decades…, George Smythe’s business empire benefitted greatly from the activities undertaken, the movement of goods; contraband, it ranged from firearms to drugs – the revelation of how the Smythe business ventures and the illegal trading of goods across the Empire would funnel money and power to not only George but the Imperium – he finally revealed a location, a recently acquired property in Oldham.

Satisfied, Thomas approached Miquel as he processed the information – then it sank in, ‘Oldham’ Thomas looked at Miquel as the realisation settled, visibly on his face “You don’t think she could have been taken to Oldham do you?” Thomas questioned

“If she is…., what do we do?” Miquel questioned, his voice filled with concern “If we leave, Wilson wont know where we have gone; and if Elizabeth returns with Cathryn; they won’t know either”

“You wait for them; I am going to go and check this property in Oldham” Thomas said

“Alone?” Miquel shook his head “No”

“Not much choice available to us Miquel” Thomas said, making his way past “Lydia could be in serious danger; I am not waiting around, I am going to go and find her, you two wait for Wilson and whatever lads he brings with him, and for both Cathryn and Elizabeth, then you can bring them to meet me in Oldham”

Without another word, Thomas just set off; Miquel looked to Norina, she simply looked at him with a defeated expression; she knew he was concerned, she could see something had been forming between him and Lydia, and like her; she knew how worried he was, for now, she understood what was needed, so, she pointed; she made gestures to settle Miquel’s mood, they set off to return back to the safehouse while Thomas travelled to Oldham.

Meanwhile; in Oldham Central Station was a swirling vortex of steam and shadows, the air thrummed with anticipation; Sören stood on the platform, he adjusted his coat as he tried to maintain an air of calm composure.

As a train screeched to a halt; it’s brakes hissing like a wounded beast, a cloud of steam billowed in the air, it momentarily obscured the platform, and when it cleared; a figure emerged from the train.

George Smythe had finally arrived.

Sören realised just how true things about him were; he already began to feel change in the air, the feeling of intimidation setting in; George simple exuded an aura of power, a dark charisma – despite the air of horror about him, it still drew people in, like moths to a flame.

George looked at Sören as he came towards him “Welcome sir; I was sent to bring you to our new bureau” Sören said

George slowly nodded; he glanced around for a moment; then returned his gaze to him and gestured for him to lead the way “Let’s begin”, his voice was a low rumble; the predatory gaze that George held, the authority behind his voice; it sent a disturbing signal for Sören, the cold fist of dread began to grip his insides

The air just crackled with unseen energy, a dark current that had just become more pronounced with George’s arrival.

Written By: Westley H.