Sheila pulled her car into the staff section of the parking lot, the heat from the car providing a comforting atmosphere and escape from the outside world. Knowing it would have to come to an end eventually, she turned the key, shutting off the engine, and mentally prepared herself for the day ahead. With the holiday season just ending, many families would see the preserve as an opportunity for a wholesome recreational activity - one last event before school began.
An electronic chime played as she entered the building. The sound rang through the empty building, accompanied by the clicks of light switches and the radiator heating up. With all needed tasks for opening done, Sheila turned to walk to her office when her eyes caught on something unusual: The phone on the counter had a bright red light shining, signifying a message had been left.
During any other time of the year, this would be expected. There were always families looking to know when the building was open, a scant few prank callers, as well as one occasion where someone had mistaken the place for a pizza location and left an entire order as a message. She still wasn't sure exactly how the caller had mixed that up, but it certainly made for an entertaining story.
But this…this was strange. Most were too preoccupied with their families and the festivities of the season to bother calling here. Not to mention, they'd been closed the previous day, so who would bother calling, much less leaving a message?
She sighed as she pressed the "message" button on the phone, hoping it was something important.
You have one unheard message. Message one…
Immediately Sheila's ears were greeted by the sounds of a voice she recognized all too well. The message provided both a sense of pride at the decorating job she and her staff had done, but also (and more importantly) hope that Mark wouldn't hold her husband's actions against her.
It was only a few moments later that a vehicle pulled up beside hers, the man driving stepping out to reveal the other person preoccupying her thoughts.
"You forgot your lunch, honey." Carter weakly stated, indicating a paper bag.
"Thanks." Sheila replied, taking the bag from his hands.
An air of silence filled the room for just long enough to make the occupants uncomfortable.
"I'm…I'm sorry, Sheila." Carter whispered, not for the first or last time.
She shook her head. "I know."
Carter risked a glance up at her. "Is the morning going okay?"
Sheila didn't respond immediately. She questioned whether it would be wise to say anything of how her morning had really started. It was so soon after the events of Mark and Fluttershy's last visit.
But then, surely there was good in her husband. This was the man who had cared for the family for so long, who had loved his children to the point he went to these lengths to protect them. As repulsive as said lengths were, she could still understand his love for his family.
But would that justify telling him anything?
She made a final decision. "Mark called yesterday."
Carter's surprise was poorly hidden in both his face and voice. "He did? Is he okay? Is his friend okay?"
"They're both doing fine." She reassured, "He'd just wished us a Merry Christmas and said he'd like to talk to me some time."
"Got it." Carter replied, his gaze averting away from his wife once again.
Silence filled the air once more.
"I guess I'll be off." Carter eventually spoke up.
"Drive safe." Sheila responded, her voice notably weak.
The two parted to take on whatever the day would bring each of them.
Carter pulled into his driveway, noticing the familiar truck of his…well, he wasn't sure what to call them anymore. They certainly weren't coworkers, or rather they wouldn't be for much longer.
"Carter!" A man called, stepping out of the truck. "You said you needed us?"
Carter sighed. "Come inside, Jack. We need to talk."
A second man stepped out of the truck, eyeing Carter.
"You too, Frank." Carter called as he turned to enter the home.
The three soon found themselves seated around the coffee table, tension slowly growing in the air.
"What's this all about?" Jack asked.
Carter sighed. "I think it's time we parted ways."
Jack and Frank shared a glance before the latter leaned forward, his face turning to a scowl.
"What?" Frank growled.
"I need to move on." Carter continued, "You can keep doing what you do, but please leave me out of it."
"That's not how this works." Jack explained, "You joined in because you needed financial reassurance. Now that we've given it, you're with us through thick and thin. You don't just 'move on'."
"Well I am." Carter replied defiantly, "My family needs someone who will be there for them no matter what. They need a good and honest figure, someone who practices what he preaches. My wife needs me, and I won't undo the work she does every day, even if it makes me feel slightly safer at night."
Neither Frank nor Jack replied immediately. After the silence had grown uncomfortable, something unexpected broke the silence…laughter.
Jack belted out a good-natured laugh about the ordeal, yet somehow it provided little comfort to Carter. He then provided a light round of applause before drying his eyes.
"Very good, Carter." He stated, "You're quite the entertainer."
Just as quickly, the man drew a pistol from his side, pointing it at Carter. Jack's smile quickly disappeared, replaced by a look of pure anger and malice.
"Now, here's what's going to happen:" He growled, "You're going to help us track down that pegasus tonight." He indicated the gun in his hand. "You and your wife don't want to see what'll happen if you don't."
Sweat began beading on Carter's brow. "I- I don't know where she is!"
"Well you definitely know something." Frank countered. "So why don't you tell us what that is?"
Carter swallowed deeply, trying to assess his options. Seeing none else, he complied. "Her friend called my wife's work over Christmas."
Jack lowered the gun slightly. "And?" He prodded.
"And he wants to speak with my wife." Carter continued, "That's all I know, I swear!"
Jack and Frank shared another glance, this time with both smiling. The looks froze Carter's blood to ice.
"That's better." Jack finally spoke, "Now, we've got some work to do. Why don't you join us?"
Before Carter could speak up again, he was grabbed around the throat by Frank, with Jack joining him at his side.
"We're going to teach you something very important today." Jack explained, "You're going to learn what happens when you try to be the good guy."
The statement was the last thing Carter remembered before he was hit in the head with the butt of the gun.
Sheila's workday was soon coming to a close, the clock ticking closer to 4 PM. Ordinarily the location was open much later, but as the Christmas season was still around, and most staff had already left early due to low customer numbers for the day, she was left alone to close up.
Finally, her phone alarm went off, the generic ringtone signifying the day had finally ended. She got up from her desk, grabbing for her keys to lock her office. After doing so, she heard the main entrance open, accompanied by the familiar electronic chime.
"We're closed for the day." Sheila called out, walking to the main entrance…only to find it completely empty.
Something deep down told her danger was near. The hairs on the back of her neck began to stand up as she listened carefully for any sounds of movement. Something swift came from behind, but she was too slow to react properly.
She fell to the floor, the sound of a faint ringing in her ears fading as unconsciousness took over.
"Okay, so I have something I need to show you. I know it'll be surprising, but I need you to please hear me out." Mark explained, glancing at the staircase leading upstairs. "I'm going to go get it now. Just please don't scream- no, that's no good."
Mark sighed, prompting Fluttershy to walk over and place a comforting wing around his arm. "I think you sounded just fine."
"Yeah, but they won't see it that way." Mark countered, "If I tell them not to be afraid, they'll be even more so."
"Maybe we should break for dinner," Fluttershy suggested, "we've been at this for an hour now."
Mark nodded. "Okay, that sounds good."
Before he could walk to the kitchen, however, he was stopped by the sound of his phone ringing. Checking the screen, his eyes were greeted with a "Private Caller" ID, which he swiped down to decline.
"Spam caller." He explained to Fluttershy, flashing a smile.
A smile which disappeared when his phone began ringing again.
The same caller ID displayed, "Private Caller". Once more, Mark declined the call, this time failing to resume his relaxed demeanor.
His anxiety spiked when he felt his phone ringing once again. This time, he answered the call: "Hello?"
"Hello Mark." Came a voice from the other end, "I'm glad I could get a hold of you. You're going to want to hear what I have to tell you."
"Who is this?" Mark asked.
"Someone you stole something from." The man explained, "Now I need you to return it."
Mark glanced at Fluttershy, who at this point was growing more concerned by the moment. "What are you talking about?"
"I think you already know," The man replied, "but in case you don't, I'll let your friends explain."
There were sounds of rustling before a voice, clear and recognizable, rang out through the speaker.
"Mark, don't listen to them!"
"Sheila?" Mark yelled.
"That's right," the man confirmed, "we've got a friend of yours here, and that's not all we have. Let her speak!"
Mark's ears were then treated to a voice he feared hearing even more.
"Fluttershy, help!" Sounded off a familiar female voice.
Mark and Fluttershy shared a glance, with that telling the two all they needed to know: It was Twilight.
"So now I think you understand what's at stake here." The man continued, "So here's what's going to happen: You're going to bring your friend down to come see us, and we're going to have a little chat."
Mark stood in petrified silence.
"If you don't, you'll never see any of them again." The man added, "You have two hours. Make the right choice, Mark."
The call ended abruptly, leaving the occupants of the home in silence.
Neither spoke for what seemed like hours. Mark eventually sat down on the nearby sofa, joined by Fluttershy shortly afterward. Despite the two deeply entrenched in thought, neither could think of a good solution to their current predicament.
"So…" Mark whispered, his voice weak, "I guess this is it then."
Fluttershy glanced over at him, though she didn't say a word.
Mark glanced into her deep cyan eyes. "We don't have much of a choice. They have Sheila and her husband, and they have Twilight. They're holding all the cards."
A tear began to run down Fluttershy's cheek. "So that's it? They won?"
Mark's eyes began to similarly grow misty, his voice . "I'm sorry, 'Shy. I couldn't help you after all."
He covered his face with a hand, sobbing bitterly. Everything they'd experienced, all memories and wonderful times they'd had together…all of it was for naught.
This was the end.
The only comfort was the familiar feeling of a wing draping itself around his back, the pegasus leaning against him. Though she was sniffling, a clear symptom of her own distress, the very fact her first thought had been to care for him…it warmed Mark's heart to the core.
He glanced over, offering a weak smile. It was all he had left. In response, Fluttershy offered up a smile as well.
Mark's phone rang, breaking the moment. When he checked it, sure enough, it was an address to the meeting they would have in 2 hours. It was as if the world itself were playing a cruel jest on the two, not even allowing a moment's peace.
"What are we going to do?" Fluttershy asked.
Mark thought for a long time before responding. "I don't think we have much of a choice, 'Shy. Not if we want Sheila and Twilight to live, at least."
"But if we go there, there's no telling what they'll do to us!" Fluttershy cried.
"I know that!" Mark replied in kind, "But if we don't do something, lives are going to be taken tonight. Twilight is your only chance of making it home, and she's your friend. Do you really want to put her life at stake?"
"This will put both of our lives at stake!" Fluttershy countered.
"If you have a better idea, I'd love to hear it!" Mark replied.
Neither added anything further. The two caught their breath for a moment, allowing the tension to ease.
"Do you really think this is the best way?" Fluttershy finally spoke.
Mark sighed. "I don't, but we've run out of options."