A cool breeze caused by the heavy rains swept through the opened windows in the kitchen of Teton manor, causing a shiver to slice through Cedar's body despite how warm and humid it still was.
Once Hannah stopped in front of the long wooden table she gently squeezed Cedar's arm, prompting him to not only look up into Alden Wright's eyes, but also Raya Reyes's...
"Raya...". He murmured as he locked eyes with the woman, feeling the air get knocked out of him as Carlos walked over and punched him in the gut.
"I asked you to return him to me unharmed". Rata snapped as she rose from her seat a bit, taking notice of Cedar's missing finger.
"He was like this when we found him boss". Carlos replied, a hint of fear seeping into his voice as Alden stared him down.
"In that case I'll have to thank whoever did it". Alden cut in with a smirk as he sat back in his chair and gestured for Hannah and Carlos to do the same. (Isaiah was not in attendance since Alden had sent him back outside to keep watch)
Cedar was about to sit in the chair on Hannah's left side but stopped when Alden nodded at a cushion that had been placed on the floor at his left side. "Over here".
Holding back angry tears, Cedar silently and swiftly walked over to the spot and positioned himself so that he was knelt at Alden's side, just like Hannah had said.
The meal dragged on until well past nine o'clock, and Cedar's legs were just about to fall asleep when Isiah came rushing into the manor with a panicked look. "Boss! We have a problem!".
"What is it?". Alden asked coolly.
"Boone's on his way, I spotted him and another man a few miles out". Isaiah reported.
Alden looked totally unfazed as he grabbed his Walkie - Talkie, looking down at Cedar's kneeling form with a smirk as he pressed the Hold To Talk Button "Let's give your daddy an update...".
- Five Miles From Teton Manor.
"How much further?". Boone asked anxiously as he and Tommy kept walking.
"An hour and forty minutes to go". Tommy replied. "Were getting there, I promise".
Boone nodded and jumped a bit as his Walkie Talkie crackled to life. "Hey Booney".
Boone's remaining eyes went wide with fear as he looked at Tommy, unsure of what he should say back.
"Make Cedar sound like a person to him, we both know he'll dehumanize him as much as he can to taunt you, don't let him get to you". Tommy instructed.
Boone nodded and pressed the HTT button on his own Walkie. "Alden, I know you have Cedar, I just wanna know if he's alive".
"He's alive, for now". Alden replied nonchalantly.
"I know you're doing this to get back at me, but you don't need to hurt my child! If I come to you, I swear I won't try to get away again, please... just let my son go". Boone pleaded, trying to keep his voice from shaking.
"He's not hurt Booney, he's actually been quite cooperative". Alden replied as he reached down with his free hand and stroked Cedar's cheek.
"Please, he's an innocent kid, he's nothing like me!". Boone cried, feeling his resolve start to break as Tommy tried to comfort him.
"You're right about that, he's not weak like you, he reminds me a lot of myself actually". Alden taunted. "Both of us have violent hearts".
"Alden please, I just want to speak to him". Boone pleaded once more.
Alden was unable to respond as Cedar suddenly unsheathed his blade from his sock and plunged it into Alden's thigh, causing him to hiss in pain as Cedar got up, grabbing the Walkie and Alden's pistol before running out the front door.
Boone jumped as he heard the commotion on the other end of the Walkie. "What the hell just happened?!".
"It sounds like Cedar knifed him, that's good". Tommy replied as the Walkie once again crackled to life.
"Daddy?". Came Cedar's shaky voice over the microphone.
"Monkey, are you okay?". Boone asked.
"Not really". Cedar admitted as a gunshot rang out, followed by a cry of pain.
"Cedar, I need you to describe any buildings that are near you, can you do that?". Tommy asked calmly.
"There's a barn near the pond in the back of the property". Cedar rattled off.
"That's good, I need you to get in that barn and stay there okay? Your daddy and I'll be there soon". Tommy instructed.
"Okay". Cedar replied shakily, holstering the Walkie at his side as he started jogging towards the barn.
He got about ten feet away from the structure when he was pushed from behind, landing on his stomach in the wet grass as his arms were pulled behind him and a searing pain erupted from his left pinkie, index and ring fingers.
He yelped in pain as he was roughly turned onto his back, coming face to face with Carlos Vasquez, who was armed with a pair of bloody bolt cutters.
"Get up!". Carlos demanded, tossing the cutters away as he roughly yanked Cedar to his feet, who in turn finally noticed the bloodied stumps that used to be his left index, middle and ring fingers before promptly passing out.
When he awoke it was to his already battered body being tossed onto the wet ground, he looked up and saw that he was laying at the base of a large shade tree.
Seeing that Cedar was awake, Raya stepped forward and gripped his chin, forcing him to look up at one of the thick branches, where Hannah's body was limply swaying with a noose around her neck.
"Who killed her?". Raya asked, pointing up at Hannah's body.
"Y - You did". Cedar replied defiantly, knowing that Raya was trying to play the blame game with him, just like Emily did with Rocky when she had Aaric and Beau killed.
"Who killed her?". Raya asked again as Carlos came forward and yanked Cedar's head back up, forcing him to look back up at Hannah's body. "Answer me Cedar!".
"Raya, we're wasting time here, we need to move him". Alden piped up impatiently.
Raya just ignored him as she looked at Cedar's missing appendages and cocked her pistol in Carlos's direction, pulling the trigger and shooting him in the shoulder as he collapsed in pain. "Maybe you'll think twice before touching my property again".
"Enough Raya!". Alden attempted to cut in.
"Who killed her?". Raya asked, turning her attention back to Cedar as she once again pointed at Hannah's body.
"Rio's dead". Cedar suddenly revealed as he lifted his head and glared at Raya. "And It's your fault!".
Something flickered in Raya's eyes before she regained her composure and once more pointed up at Hannah's corpse. "Who killed her? Answer me Cedar!".
"I did". Cedar finally admitted as tears poured down his cheeks.
"Who made her go against the Prophet's laws?". Raya asked.
"I -". Cedar trailed off.
"Cedar!". Raya snapped in a stern voice, almost like she was scolding a child.
"I did". Cedar admitted in a slightly louder voice.
"Such a selfish little boy". Raya taunted as she then looked over at Carlos. "Clip his wings".
Knowing that this was Seraphite talk for getting his arms broken, Cedar quickly whipped his head back so it connected with Carlos's (Who had regained his composure from being shot) chin, making him fall to the ground.
Without thinking, Cedar hurriedly bent down and grabbed Carlos's pistol, aiming it at Raya before she could react and shooting her in the chest before running towards the second barn in the distance.
He was able to make it into the barely lit barn successfully before Alden caught up with him a few seconds later, pinning him against the dusty wall as he struggled.
"Thirteen years I've been imagining what I was gonna do to you when I had you again...". The man snarled, his arousal pressing up against the back of Cedar's leg as his hands expertly unbuttoned and unzipped his jeans.
Cedar just whimpered and cried, not even bothering with trying to escape anymore as Alden effectively sandwiched against the barn wall before unzipping his own fly and hooking his hands into the sides of the young man's jeans, preparing to slide them down just as a familiar voice spoke up. "Get your hands off my son"....
