Coming From the Shadows Series
Coming From the Shadows: Lydia
Previous Instalments: Missing
- Missing – Part 1 / Chasing Shadows: The Mystery of Lydia’s Disappearance
- Missing – Part 2 / Desperate Calls: A Tale of Kidnapping in 1910
- Missing – Part 3 / Unraveling Secrets: The Search for Missing Lydia
January 1910
Salford Hundred, Oldham
The frosty winds whipped around George Smythe as Sören, the German cultists led him through the corridors of their Oldham base of operations; the air was thick with the stench of rot and something acrid; a hint of blood and fear, George ignored the greetings from the Cultists, his gaze was fixed on the scene ahead of him – there, he saw her at last, his daughter; Lydia
She was laying on the damp floor; her arms tightly bound behind her; rough rope dug into her flesh as it bound her around her elbows and around her wrists, it rendered her completely helpless.
He noticed the bruising on her forehead; the result of when she had been attacked in the streets before she had been discovered by the Cultists in the area.
Lydia, noticed a new presence within the room, her eyes drifted over to the figure in the doorway; her eyes, now widened – she was already feeling fear, the creeping sensations of terror snaked its way up her spine, but now…, what she felt right now sent her spiralling back to her childhood; she recognised her father in an instant; terror escalated into a silent scream, helpless she was now not only at the mercy of the Cultists or the German Cultist; but her father.
It was the culmination of all her worst nightmares manifesting right in front of her.
Chapter 1:
Manchester’s train station was a hive of activity, steam hissing from locomotives, porters shouting and the clattering of luggage filled the air; the British officer; Wilson, strode through the chaos – his face was grim as he glanced about, a handful of men accompanying him; they were breaking so many rules by doing this, but Thomas’ urgency in that call was enough for Wilson to throw caution to the wind.
Wilson and his group travelled from the station to the address provided by Thomas during their talk; upon arriving, Wilson banged his fist against the wooden door, it took a moment but it soon opened – Miquel, a hulking Kenyan that Wilson quickly recognised and smiled warmly had opened the door; behind him, Wilson noticed Norina, he recognised her from their encounter in the Himalayan mountains years ago, Wilson’s eyes returned to Miquel
“Thomas went ahead” Miquel said; his voice was low, with a grave tone “We found out where the Cultists are operating from; he went off on his own to Oldham; he didn’t want to risk waiting if Lydia is being held there”
Wilson shook his head, cursing under his breath; Thomas was being his old usual self, brave, but reckless; they had to get to Oldham, prevent Thomas from getting himself killed and to help rescue Lydia if she really was being held by Cultists.
Chapter 2:
Elizabeth hurried along the streets of Stockport, she was exhausted, but she was determined to reach her mother; desperation was pushing Elizabeth forwards; her heart was pounding in her chest.
When Elizabeth finally found the discreet warehouse that Cathryn was at present operating from along the outskirts she burst through the door.
Cathryn; typically sharp and aware of everything going on around her was startled when the doors slammed open; her daughter, Elizabeth standing in the open doorway a picture of exhaustion “Elizabeth?” her voice was laced with confusion “What are you doing here; where is your sister, and Thomas?”
Elizabeth shook her head; her voice trembled “Lydia is missing, Mother; We think the Cultists have gotten her”
Cathryn’s faced hardened; the coloured seemed to drain entirely, leaving her pain, the entire operation she had been working on vanished from her mind, her daughter was in danger, she span around “Xian!” she shouted “Pack up, now!”
Xian, shifted his attention towards Cathryn, he wasn’t pleased with the order “But…, Cathryn…, we’re so close to our target!, all of this planning…”
“My daughter is far more important!” Cathryn snapped; her voice left not room for any argument, the Monk, a silent figure stood observing the unfolding situation, he simply nodded as Cathryn looked towards him, he needed no instructions, he understood Cathryn’s concern
Chapter 3:
Despite the difficulty, Lydia had managed to sit up; her eyes fixated on her father, she used her feet to try pushing herself away from him, but with the wall pressed firmly against her back, there wasn’t anywhere she could go; the pushing has also begun straining her arms which she now trapped in an awkward position; but right now, her entire focus was George; the entire situation sent her reeling in terror, she felt as though she had been sent all the way back to her childhood, she was helpless – George was once again in a position of power over her, it made her whimper, her breathing rapidly increased; heaving her chest up and down rapidly.
George’s presence radiated an aura of controlled power; an unsettling blend of paternal familiarity and something far more sinister.
“Lydia” he said with a grin, his voice was smooth like silk, yet it was laced with an undercurrent of coldness “Don’t struggle; it is futile” George gestured towards Sören; her eyes flicked towards him as he approached with a length of chain, Lydia felt as though she was going to give herself heart attack with how fast and heavy she was panting in pure terror; her panic was escalating
George took the length of chain, securing it to a heavy iron ring bolted into the wall; before it was soon around Lydia’s neck; it tethered Lydia to the spot, as he stood over his daughter he grinned “I’m taking you home Lydia” he continued, his eyes gleaming with a disturbing light “Back to the estate; any further attempts to resist…, they will…, be regrettable”
As he lowered himself down, leaning forwards towards her; looking directly into her eyes his lips curved into a sinister smirk; his breath ghosting across her face “You misunderstand your place Lydia; you no longer have any say in your future” he tells her “You are now the property of the Imperium”
Lydia just stared; she couldn’t gain any control over her breath, her chest kept heaving.
“You will serve the Imperium’s design” George hissed “Once…, I have broken you; moulded you into the vessel that they require”
Tears finally began blurring her vision; she was trapped, helpless and at the mercy of a man who was supposed to be her father; her protector; but he was nothing more than a monster, the same monster she remembered growing up as a child, the cruelty she had to endure then, seemed she would have to endure once again – he stood back up, looking over her, he was ready to break her, willing to allow the unspeakable if it meant she serves the Imperium.
Lydia now, was suffocating within the darkness – as far as she was aware, no one would know where she is; she was alone with a monster.
Chapter 4:
Oldham was a labyrinth of grimy streets and looming buildings for Thomas; he navigated the streets with a determined intensity, searching for the place that the thug had provided information about; when he finally spotted it, he stood taking a deep breath in – finally, he would be able to find out if Lydia was being held captive, and hopefully; he could rescue her.
Spotting a loading bay at the old mill; he moved with a soldiers practised stealth; while the sunlight of the day offered little to cover his approach, he made his way forwards regardless.
When he did reach the loading bay, he was surprised how little trouble it had been so far, it made him doubt that he had the right place entirely; but he needed to be certain; he could smell the stench of rot and something acrid – he positioned himself with great caution he could see inside.
He saw her; Lydia.
She was chained up like some animal; arms behind her back, rope tightly tied around her elbows and wrists; he could see the utter panic in her face, this was not the Lydia he had come to know, what he could see seemed like an entirely different person.
A guttural cry escaped Thomas’ throat, quickly though he suppressed it; he wanted to rush in, to tear the mill down brick by brick if necessary; but he knew he had to be smart about all this; to be calculated; he had to save her.
Chapter 5:
Suddenly as he was deep in thought, trying to plan a sharp crack echoed out followed by a sound he had never heard emanate from Lydia before; the sound of screaming followed by sobbing, his attention refocused on Lydia his fists now clenched, knuckles white; they were hurting her.
Sören had followed George’s command; using a whip, he struck the defenceless girl sending the sound echoing followed by her scream and sobbing; Lydia’s body writhed; she saw the second strike coming – upon its impact she let out a far louder cry of pain as she screamed for her mother – raw and filled with unimaginable pain
The sound galvanized Thomas into action; he couldn’t stand by and watch; he had to do something.
Chapter 6:
Cathryn’s face was a mask of fury as she, Xian, the Monk and her daughter; Elizabeth arrived to the safehouse in Manchester; the Monk provided a silent reassurance simply by being there, his calm demeanour was a stark contrast to her simmering rage.
The moment the door opened, Norina burst into a flood of frantic Italian and wild gestures; it took a moment, but she grasped what Norina was trying to tell her without too much difficult; that Miquel had instructed her to stay while he went with Wilson and some soldiers to chase after Thomas to Oldham where Lydia could be being held captive.
“Oldham” Cathryn said with supressed emotion “Then that is where we are going”
Norina nodded vigorously, relief flooding her face as she grabbed her coat; eyes filled with a desperate hope.
The small group was now leaving Manchester for Oldham; if George and his Cultists really had Lydia; then nothing would be stopping Cathryn – not even George, regardless of her past feelings.
Chapter 7:
The screams finally stopped; Thomas, shifting his position tried to move, but the deadly silence that followed was even more unnerving, preparing to make his move – he was about to throw caution to the wind, to make his move regardless of the danger, but, a commotion erupted within the mill.
Voices, harsh and authoritative echoed in the space – the Cultists had brought someone else.
Thomas took a peak to see what was going on; he saw two cultists shove a young man towards the centre of the room; towards George who seemed to turn around with an irritated expression on his face, the interruption was most unwelcome.
The young man, he was a dishevelled mess, his eyes were wide and unfocused – this was the same man that had struck Lydia on the back and front of her head; the one responsible for Lydia’s current predicament.
When George learnt that it was this man that attacked his daughter he grinned; he offered his name as Owen, George began circling him like a predator, he surveyed his new captive with a chilling detachment, asking various questions, it was clear Owen recognised Lydia.
Thomas’ eyes flicked back to Lydia; her body was barely holding itself upwards; the chain was what prevented her from completely slumping forwards; and it was pretty clear her limpness meant she now had an increasing pressure on her throat as she struggled to keep herself up right.
Lydia’s eyes flickered open, glazed with pain and exhaustion, she was no longer only fighting a concussion, but so much more pain than she had ever imagined possible; she felt the metal around her neck choking her, but she could do nothing to stop gravity pulling her body downwards, she was far to weak; as she struggled to focus, her gaze drifted across the room – she saw Owen.
Recognition seemed slow to dawn, her lips moved, forming a silent word; a question perhaps.
Then, her body went limp entirely as her head lolled forwards as she slipped into unconsciousness, the chain that held her by the throat gripped tightly as it rattled from her body suddenly dropping down fully, no longer held up by any effort, it was the only sound within the oppressive silence.
Thomas felt a surge of pure unadulterated rage; he could wait no longer, he had to get to her.
Chapter 8:
A hand clamped down on Thomas’ shoulder – ti stopped him from taking action, he whirled around, ready to fight and instead saw Wilson; his face grim, behind him stood Miquel and a handful of British soldiers – their faces were etched with concern “We’re here lad” Wilson said, his voice low
“We’ll get her out” Miquel said quietly
Thomas nodded; grateful they arrived; after all, he couldn’t do this alone – he needed their help.
Written By: Westley H.
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