Generation 1, Chapter 57

Peter stood there stunned by the obvious malice he heard in Vallari's voice.

"Peter was that, that woman?" Jean asked concerned at the unfocused stare that Peter was giving her. Peter nodded explaining what she had instructed him to do. Jean leaned into him and he drew her close realizing this may be the last time he would hold her. "What are we going to do?" she cried into his shoulder.

Kissing the top of her head, Peter tried to sound confidant as he said "I'm going to do what she told me. I can't take the risk with Elliot's life at stake."

"I know. But what about you?" Jean searched his eyes for reassurance that she would see him again. Silently Peter wiped her tears away, cupping her face in his hands he kissed her. They pulled apart as Peter sighed "I'll do what I have to do to get Elliot home." She nodded her head in acceptance and blindly walked away.

Peter watched her go, wishing he could reassure her that he would be back. He knew that he would do whatever Vallari demanded if it meant saving Elliot. If it took walking into a trap, then that's what he would do. From the corner of his eye he saw Adam gesturing to him.

"What is it son?" Peter asked as he put a hand on his shoulder.

"That was Vallari wasn't it?" Peter nodded. "What does she want you to do?" Adam listened as his father explained. "Don't do anything yet, I've got an idea. I'll need Brian's help." Adam said walking away to find Brian.

"Wait," Peter called after him but Adam ignored him. A few minutes later they both approached Peter with their plan.

"So we figure if you dropped Pat on the ground where you leave the trail, she could tell us where you went."

"That could work," Peter said considering the merits of what his son suggested. Looking up at them he voiced his concern "Boys I know you want to help but I don't want to put you in harms way. It's bad enough that Elliot is in her clutches, I can't put you into danger too."

"But Dad..." Brian began but Adam cut him off. "We'll follow you anyway with or without Pat's help. It'll be easier and safer with her help."

Throwing his hands up Peter said "I give up. But at the first sign of danger I want you to get your brother and run to safety. Ok?"

"Alright," Adam agreed without any intention of obeying.

Later that night Peter followed Vallaris' instructions exactly as she gave them. Except for one minor change, Peter left a ragged old doll in the snow at the point he left the trail.

After drinking the contents of the vial Peter's stomach had become queasy and he had attempted to purge his stomach, hoping that it would help slow whatever poison he had consumed. Even so his vision was becoming blurred and he couldn't walk straight. He was sweating profusely by the time he came in sight of a cabin in the woods. Panting as he approached the cabin, the door swung open, he had to blink the sweat from his eyes as he tried to focus on the image that assailed his senses. Vallari was in the door grasping the arm of a scared, struggling little boy.

 

Clearing his throat he called "Vallari let my son go. I've done what you asked." Peter stepped forward falling to his knees. Elliot seeing his Dad struggled harder to break Vallari's grip. He watched his Dad fall, Elliot kicked Vallari as hard as he could and ran to his Dad. When he reached him, Elliot fell crying into his arms. Peter pulled him close and whispered in his ear "Elliot run and don't look back." Peter pushed Elliot away from him as he saw Vallari advancing on them. "Run Elliot run," he shouted.

 

For a moment Elliot was paralized, torn between staying and helping his Dad or doing as he was told. At the urgent pleas for him to run, his feet unglued themselves and he ran. He ran until he could hardly breath but his feet kept going, he screamed in terror as someone grabbed him, pulling him behind a tree.

Breathing hard he burst into tears as he was hugged by this brother. Calming slightly he spoke "Adam Dad needs help." Grabbing his hand Elliot tried to drag Adam in the direction he had come.

"Whoa slow down Elliot, you're not going."

"I can show you where the cabin is. We have to hurry. That lady's crazy and she wants to hurt our Dad and he isn't feeling well."

Grabbing Elliot by the shoulder, turning him around Adam asked. "What do you mean?"

"He couldn't walk and he was having trouble breathing."

"Could be some kind of drug," Brian suggested from where he was conversing with Pat.

"I think you're right. Vallari would have needed a way to subdue him. It must have been in the vial she had him drink."

 

"He's a sitting duck," Brian said nibbling on his lower lip.

"Come on let's go," Elliot demanded determined to go back.

"Brian and I are going but you're going home."

"No I'm coming with you. He's my Dad too."

Brian looked at Adam shrugging "He's just going to follow if we leave him behind. It'd be better to let him come. At least we'd know where he is."

"You're right but we promised Dad that we'd get him home."

Brian smiled in determination stating "I'd rather we all go home together. So let's go get our Dad."

Peter slowly opened his eyes, blinking quickly to adjust to the bright light. He was uncomfortably tied hand and foot to a chair in what he supposed was a cellar. His eyes were  riveted to pictures of a little girl with dark hair playing with someone who looked a lot like his father, Henry. Vallari was standing before the pictures lightly brushing her fingers across the face of Henry in the pictures. Turning she looked at Peter in a way that he doubted she was really seeing him.

In a high girly voice Vallari said "Daddy, do you like my new dress? I bought it just for you. I knew one day you would come home."

Vallari kept pacing the floor in front of Peter, waving her arms about and moving erratically. As he watched she threw lighted matches at a bundle of old rags in the corner. The fire quickly spread up the wall and across the ceiling.

Turning to Peter she said "You'll never leave me now."