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But it hadn't ended there. Almost immediately, that lunatic Stevens started hollering about incompetence and kicking against the wall, frightening the little girls down the hall into fits of screams of their own. The son of a bitch even had the nerve to order them to be quiet, threatening the parents of what could happen should they not be able to silence their children. The terrified couple and the nearby hotel employee immediately took to hushing the wailing trio.
The heartlessness it would take to be so unfeeling to children... AJ couldn't even imagine it. All he knew was that at that moment, some miracle had shoved the strength into him that it took to suppress any physical retaliation against these madmen. Knowing what any outcome would have been like, AJ sent a prayer of thanks to Heaven. For the Lord surely knew what thoughts had been running through his mind just then. And AJ also gave thanks to God for the girls' silence and for the lives of his friends. For that one kick the leader made at the wall that apparently had been hard enough to hurt.
He really did hope that God knew the depth of his appreciation.
The next several minutes were all a blur to AJ as his eyes slowly started drooping from his mind's fatigue. The terrorists tried calling the elevator down to the fifth floor with the pick-up button, only to have the thing stop on them. That clearly proved that its passengers were still aboard; but if Kevin and Nick were on that elevator, how were they ever going to get away? Obviously the gunmen didn't plan to let them, as Stevens once again ordered Kirshey to bring them down. "This time," he had added to his subordinate, "don't fuck it up."
As the two men set off down toward the far north end of the hall, AJ wondered why Howie kept bumping his right side. Maybe it was the exhaustion now getting to him, or perhaps the shocks of the day were wearing on his awareness; but in any case, the fact that Howie was finally waking and reacting to what was going on didn't seem to register to AJ just then.
Sparing a glance over at the cause of the interruption on his attempted dozing, AJ was taken aback to realize that Howie wasn't even awake. Instead, a man they'd earlier recognized as an employee of the hotel was fumbling with the sleeping Latino, feinting checking for pulse and the other vital signs. His eyes, however, were fixed on AJ, jerking the man out of his little haze.
"Shh... I just wanted to talk with you and your other friend over there," the new stranger admitted in a low whisper, hoping to assuage the alarm he'd glimpsed in AJ.
AJ gave the young man a quick look-over, taking in his average height and complementary broad shoulders and strong arms. Courage and strength radiated from his overlarge eyes as he stuck out his stubborn chin. Something about the way this man moved spoke of someone who knew what he was doing. AJ silently confessed a liking for the stranger and nodded his head in willingness to hear him out. Holding up his right hand to be given a moment, AJ turned toward Brian only to find that his friend was already listening in and immediately returned his attention to the newcomer.
"I don't know how you guys didn't get out of the building on time, but that really doesn't matter now," the man began. "When I was sitting by the couple several feet down the hallway, I couldn't help hearing their three girls chattering amongst themselves. They know who you are," it was then that AJ and Brian saw the recognition of their identities in the stranger's green eyes, "and the smartest idea right now is to make sure that these terrorists never figure it out for themselves. They aren't asking for money for any of us right now, but should they realize how much you three are worth, you can bet that they WILL be demanding a ransom for your lives. It's possible that they could even hold the rest of us until they get their cash," he finished, his nod for emphasis only causing more dishevel to his mop of chestnut hair.
Brian and AJ exchanged a look of unease. This idea of a ransom on their lives wasn't new, but neither of them had ever considered the danger that they could be placing on the other lives present. It was one thing to have to worry about oneself, but to be responsible for others' lives? That thought did NOT sit well with the two.
Brian returned his ice-blue eyes to the stranger. "Is there any specific plan of action you got for us, or is this just a caution you wanted to bring to our notice?" he wondered.
"No... more just like a warning if you will--" he stopped abruptly to peak over his shoulder, obviously startled at the rustling of pants from the other end of the hallway. Panic etched across his face when he realized that the noise must have been the sound of the leader on his way back toward them. Crouching closer to Howie's still-unmoving body and keeping his eyes cast downward, the man continued in a much quieter tone. "I'm not trying for a rescue here; and I think it's a safe bet that we don't have a chance. I only wanted to make you aware of the problems that could arise. There isn't really much else I could do, and not much you could do either..." he lifted his eyes, now a dark emerald full of fear, to meet both Brian's and AJ's, "except pray that we all make it out of here alive." The expression on his face as he spoke those words showed more vulnerability in him than he probably would have liked.
They'd known all along how dangerous their situation was, but hearing those words was more than a shock to both Backstreet Boys. Brian instantly wondered about the other two members of the group that weren't present. "And Nick and Kevin, our friends? You've been sitting closer to the gunmen... have you heard any news?"
The employee shook his head -- more a gesture of despair than anything. "Just that they got away from being shot once and are now trapped between floors. I honestly can't see them escaping the building by elevator. Actually.." he trailed off.
"Actually what?!" Brian urged, a feeling of dread coming over him.
"... I can't really see them escaping a second time at all. And I highly doubt they'd just be captured," the man confessed. It was obvious that he hadn't wanted to admit those thoughts to them; and, having nothing else to say, he slowly tried to slink away unnoticed.
Brian could only manage to gain composure it took to choke out an inaudible "thank you" for the information. AJ swallowed the lump in his throat, reaching out to place a hand on the younger man's shoulder to catch his attention for one more moment. "What's your name?" he wondered.
"James... my name is James," the man supplied when he glanced back, gesturing to the name tag pinned on his shirt.
AJ gave a shaky smile. A riot of emotions crossed his face as he tried to concentrate on his gratitude for the man, rather than the hysteria he felt rising in himself. "Thanks James."
James offered the two stunned men a slight nod before he set off down the hallway to resume his position with the scared children.
***************
Angie considered Kevin's explanation and query while estimating the distance to the barely-visible outline of a door above her. There was no uncertainty in her mind that, while far-fetched, their only hope probably was to escape through that hatch on the ceiling. Her best guess was that the ceiling was atleast nine feet high, though more like ten, which left more than three feet of air between it and the tallest of them. Not one of the three would be able to stretch that high in order to open the hatch, which meant that they needed to work together to reach it. As to Kevin's question: no, she highly doubted she'd ever be able to jump up and out without help, even once the door was open.
"No, I can't leap that high, sorry," Angie replied at last, shaking her head for emphasis. "But, you must realize that we can't just jump out of here; we need to first get someone up there to open the thing. And, if you'll notice how much space lies between even one of you and that door, you'll see that jumping would be rather inadequate for that as well. I'm the lightest one here. One of you could lift me up while I open the hatch, then lift me out of here. Then with me pulling from above and someone still down here to push from below, the next one of you could make it out. The last person is gonna have to have strong arms, and us on the top can help pull you out."
The two men nodded at her plan. It was the best shot they had, after all.
Nick stepped forward. "I can lift you up. How exactly do you want to do this? Piggy-back style?" he wondered.
"Sure. Why not?" Angie shrugged, only admitting silently to herself that she was more than a little uncomfortable with the intimacy of wrapping her legs around a stranger. Ok, he's a very attractive stranger, she conceded. You still don't know him, though! a part of her protested. Disgusted with her turn of thought, Angie quietly chided herself quietly. She put on a no-nonsense mask, intent on doing what needed to be done and not thinking of anything else, and lunged herself onto Nick's back as he hunched over. Quickly grabbing onto his shoulders for leverage, she hooked her calves around his hips and gripped his body with all the strength in her legs -- once again thanks to kick boxing class. She felt her whole body tense at the touch of his hands on the undersides of her thighs. It was ridiculous, really: he was only trying to hold her up. Still, Angie thought wryly, I probably wouldn't mind getting to know him. Stopping the idea before she had a chance to consider it any longer, she switched her attention from the man under her to the task above.
Stretching her arm for all she was worth, Angie was angered at the discovery that her small frame still couldn't quite reach the ceiling. "Nick, can you stand any straighter? Or even stretch any?" Angie wondered with a resigned sigh. She was sickened at her inability to do anything right: she couldn't stop her father's death, or save her brother from capture... Hell, she couldn't even save their friend Brian from capture when he was within her reach, and now she couldn't reach the damn escape hatch that waited just inches above her fingertips.
"I'm trying, Angie. You aren't exactly a feather," Nick defended, immediately apologetic of his words. "I'm sorry, just, give me a second to readjust my balance..."
Angie accepted the apology, though slightly injured by his rash words. It wasn't the jab to her weight, which was unfounded, because she never did let superficial insults bother her. No, it was the tone of Nick's voice, the underlying words that said "I'm doing my best; YOU'RE the one who isn't tall enough." Fine, so he probably HADN'T meant that when he'd complained, but somehow, it still felt that way. And there she was again, convinced that she just wasn't good enough to do anything. Might as well get swallowed up by your self-pity, Ange. You just can't seem to pull yourself out of it, after all.
Her attention returned to the present as she felt Nick straighten up. Thankful for the disturbance, Angie rolled her eyes at her own wandering mind and lifted them back to the hatch. This time, when she extended her arm upward, she was surprised to feel her hand contact with the cool metal. Excitement coursed through her as her fingers worked the simple lock. Once that was completed, Angie paused to take a breath just before she gave a hard shove.
Unlikely Allies