Compelling Science Fiction Issue 1 by Joe Stech & Lawrence Buentello & Aaron Wright & Marie DesJardin & James Beamon & Robert Dawson

Author:Joe Stech & Lawrence Buentello & Aaron Wright & Marie DesJardin & James Beamon & Robert Dawson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Compelling Science Fiction Ltd.
Published: 2016-04-10T23:58:46+00:00

Opportunities for Lost Children

by James Beamon

Edward Rothschild Lewis wasn’t a pro at getting kidnapped, but he was familiar enough with the process to recognize the signs. An adult-sized hand covered his mouth, muffling his protests. The stranger pulled him from a familiar location, this time from his lavish bed inside the Playhouse, to a destination unspoken and unknown. Ed saw, in brief flashes, the guy he struggled against wore black clothing and ski mask like he was auditioning for the part of Bank Robber #3.

All the signs were trademark. But this kidnapper was far from veteran. No real kidnapper hauls around a struggling, scream-seeking captive when tranq’ing makes for more manageable cargo. This kidnapper breathed in rushed bursts as he half-pulled/half-carried Ed down dark hallways, making it obvious he was panicking; perhaps he forgot his exit strategy in the excitement or got lost now that it was dark in the Playhouse.

Ed remembered seventy-eight years ago when the Venezuelans had nabbed him. He was a real kid back then, in a body two years older than this one now and a lot more scared. Those Venezuelans were real pros. He had lost a pinky to their sharp knives so they could box it up and express mail it to his father.

Speaking of fingers, it was almost time. While distracting the kidnapper with futile pulls in his puny, eight-year-old body, Ed had slowly worked at the hand clamping his mouth. As long as Ed didn’t make too much noise, the kidnapper had no reason to reposition. Now Ed’s mouth, one of the strongest muscles in his new body, was poised around the kidnapper’s finger. This was his real escape plan.

Ed bit for freedom.

Just as Ed expected, the half-pulling/half-dragging stopped right there. What he didn’t expect was the high-pitched scream under the ski mask. His kidnapper was a her. And she had seemingly lost all interest in exits as she desperately pushed Ed’s face to get him off her finger.

Wherever she pushed his head, her finger followed. She was about to learn how he had earned the nickname “The Bulldog.” Once he got a lock on something, anything, he shook the life out of it. It wasn’t just how he dismantled companies.

Ed tasted blood. He heard commotion along with this woman’s anguished screams. People were coming, staff or other Assumed children.

The woman’s scream changed into a clenched-jaw grimace. Just like kidnappings, Ed was no stranger to this transition. Desperation drove now, fueling her desire to escape with adrenaline and painkilling endorphins. She had become a cornered animal.

Her pushes to his head became punches. Hard haymakers. An eight-year-old body wasn’t built for heavyweight bouts… there’s a reason they made laws to prevent child abuse. Ed lost the capacity to cohesively count blows in the stinging aftermath of the second punch, but he was sure it wasn’t many more before his jaw loosened and he collapsed to the floor.

Flat on his back, Ed didn’t see her escape so much as feel her rushed footfalls down the hall, hear the fire escape doors erupting outward and the sounds of night filtering in.

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