Snippet #1801221

"Deme?"

Silence.

Frowning, Mrs. Ashling began to tiptoe upstairs, calling out her son's name. As though that would make him respond. But if it comforted her, that was probably for the better, considering that her son had just-

"Deme? Are you doing you homework in there? Come out, it's dinner-"

The door swung open, propelled by the wind from the window that had been left open. As Mrs. Ashling stared, stunned at the emptiness, her son struggled on the roof with his kidnapper. Daz had one hand in his mouth, with the thumb nearly pressing into the base of the uvula, just hoping to maintain silence for a bit longer. He couldn't risk knocking the kid out just yet, or the sudden shift in body weight might throw them from the ledge, but he had to immobilize him, at the least. Until he could find a more stable position.

Mother had come at a bad time. As Deme wilted, Daz took the opportunity to throw him against the roof (hand still gagging the mouth) and place the tranquilizer dart at the back of his neck. The kid would probably be out for hours, considering his size. Pushing away the last remnants of his guilt, he hoisted the target onto his shoulder and found the rope that would take him back to the ground.

It was done. Just like he told Matt, there was nothing he could do about it now.

The kid breathed quietly and deeply, like he was only sleeping.

They arrived at Renshaw Manor an hour later, though it felt like days to Daz and probably less than seconds to Deme. Opening the doors to the foyer, Daz glanced down at the kids who had already been deposited - Matt, obviously, was done. As for the other, Daz felt a pang of guilt at seeing Renée imprison a girl. But there was nothing he could do to release her, anyways.

So he walked upstairs instead, and found Tom there already, knocking at Renée's door.

"Miss Renée?" He called in, joining in the wait. "We're back."