Frank Longbottom is going to kill the doctor. (perfectlyfrank) wrote in an_ill_wind, @ 2009-09-20 23:54:00 |
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When Frank and Alice made the leap to move in together it had been a long and arduous process. They looked at house after house all over England, trying very hard to find a suitable place in London. When Augusta mentioned a property just a few miles away from Frank's childhood home, he was sceptical. All it took was one look at the outside and they were in love. Frank had never wanted anything big or modern and the cottage was absolutely perfect. The property used to act as a farm and there was an old stone shed not far from the main building that Frank had claimed as his own. That was the place that he went when he needed to be alone for whatever reason. At the moment he had one very good reason. The counterpart to Dorcas's listening device sat on the work bench in front of him, along with a few sheets of parchment that were covered with notes that had no semblance of organisation. She had given him descriptions of where she was being held and he had scribbled the words frantically but was he was having trouble getting anything useful from them. Smelled like nothing. What sort of stable smelled like nothing? Of course Yaxley would be smart enough to cover his tracks. Frank held on to a glimmer of hope that he could be that careless. There was the listening device and that kept them at least one tiny step ahead and Frank tried to tell himself that was all they needed. Frank leaned back in his chair and sighed. He had already heard more than enough because of the small hidden marble. It was quickly becoming apparent how completely unhinged their Mr Yaxley was. Dorcas's screams had filled the small room where the receiver was being kept and Frank had immediately turned the volume down and relocated the device to the farmer's shed. The sound ran on a loop in the back of his brain and imagining Dorcas in that kind of pain made him want to be sick. Honestly, what sort of person could do that to another living thing? The only thing that put him even slightly at ease was that Al had been sleeping and hadn't heard anything. He was sure it would have broken him completely. And then there was the list, which confirmed all of their worst suspicions and added a whole new level of fear. Family members were not off limits, which had been proven multiple times before, really. Frank silently willed Dorcas to remember the information in front of her so that they would have it once she was back with them, safe and ridiculously overprotected. Her voice was clear and scared and she was begging him to help her. Everything came to a halt at the sound of Yaxley's voice and Frank immediately tensed up. He would not turn the receiver off but he wasn't sure if he could listen to Dorcas cry or scream any more. To Frank's surprise, and disgust, Yaxley sounded less like an insane person and more like a gentleman. It was unnerving. Frank gathered that he was trying to feed her and that Dorcas was wary. She had every right to be, Frank thought. It was quickly established that it was Yaxley's birthday and Frank thought of his own celebration just days before Dorcas had disappeared. His home had been filled with friends and food and laughter. Frank promised himself that it would not be the last happy gathering that they all had together. The direction of the "conversation" quickly turned and Yaxley was yelling and moments later the foul sound of Ben's unforgivable ripped through the speakers and Dorcas's screams followed. Frank clamped his hand over his mouth and stopped himself from reaching forward to turn it off. He couldn't tune her out, not now. Eventually he would be given the one clue that would tie everything together but he would have to sit through the torture to get it. He felt sick again. "What is this?" Frank stared at the receiver as Ben asked his question and he thought of a million different things that the other man could have been referring to, each idea more terrible than the ones before it. There was a long period of silence and Frank slid forward in his chair. "It's a marble." Her response was quiet but he could hear it. His heart pounded in his chest as he waited for Yaxley to attack her again. He wasn't left waiting long and the screams were mixed with pleas that broke Frank's heart. The only things that he wanted to do just then was bust down whatever door she was being kept behind, teach Yaxley a lesson, and then take Dorcas home and hug her for days. They had to get her out of there. Yaxley asked her again about the marble and the question was followed with silence. Frank didn't notice the tears that had welled up in his eyes, even as he stared at the receiver. "Tell him what it is, Dorcas. Just tell him. It's fine. Tell him anything he needs to know and he'll stop hurting you." He knew she couldn't hear him but he tried, because really that was all he could do. There was more conversation in which Dorcas did tell him. He asked about the receiver and she told him. Frank was glad for it. If Yaxley wanted to come to the cottage Frank would invite him in with open arms. He would likely kill him as soon as he crossed the threshold, but that was a moral issue he didn't feel like dealing with just then. He didn't have long to chew things over before the conversation took yet another turn. Frank was being spoken to. He was being challenged by this pretentious Death Eater and he laughed. It was a sad, scared laugh, but a laugh just the same. It was at that moment he realised that there could be no more talking about making the next move. Things had to change and getting Dorcas back was not something they could do by tattling or bartering. This was going to require something a little less proper. Dorcas practically whimpered his name, another plea for them to come and rescue her. He didn't know what he was supposed to do and there was a darkness washing over him that could not be explained. He sank back into his chair and he continued to listen but it was all just background noise now. He wanted to hear what they were saying because it could lead them straight to her, but each sound that came from the speaker caused him physical pain. No one else would have to know how Dorcas was suffering. It was a burden that Frank would take on his shoulders until it was appropriate to share, and even then he wouldn't really tell them. Frank slid his hands up over his face as Ben said goodnight and he could feel the moisture against his palms. He sat still for a handful of minutes, listening to Dorcas's dead air, willing her to say something. Anything. She could have denounced the Order and he would have embraced it. He just needed to know that she was all right. Finally he leaned forward and took the electronic up. He stared at the black device and he managed a smile. "We're coming for you. I promise. Be good. Be strong." He set it back down on the table, tucked away his notes, and then snatched up his journal. It was time that they fought back and he knew just the person to ask, damn his pride. He needed a lack of morals and he knew that he could count on Fabian Prewett for exactly that. |