Take Back The Image of the Invisible, chapter 3

Tré slowly came back around opening his eyes and looking blearily around. Where was he? His vision cleared bit by bit and the memories of what had happed the night before flooded back. A wave of dread flooded over him. He hoped to God that Frankito and Ramona had made it to the hiding place and where out of harms way... The drummers head throb as he looked around trying to figure out where the hell he was. A thin strip of sunlight poked its way under the door allowing him to register the shadows of objects around him. It was cramped and full of what looked like cleaning supplies. The realization hit him. The fucking nappers had barred him in the Goddamn hall closet! He kicked at the door and gave a muffled yell of frustration. They'd also replaced the gag.

He sat there in silence for what seemed like an eternity kicking himself for being so stupid and wishing he new what had happened to his kids. The sound of voices broke him from his thoughts

"What the fuck happened here?" Tré recognized Billie's voice immediately.

"TRÉ WHERE ARE YOU?" that was Mike's voice yelling.

The drummer yelled as loud as he could through the gag. They didn't hear him. He listened to their footsteps as they made their way around the house.

"What is the reason for all this crap blocking off the hall way?" That was Jason. Tré started kicking the door as hard as he could and a split second later Jason's voice rang out again.

"Billie, Mike! I found him! He's barred in the hall closet!"

Tré heard footsteps coming down from upstairs and into the hall. "Hold on Tré we'll get you the hell out of there." That was Mike and the statement was soon followed by the sounds of scraping and thumping as the three started moving what sounded like half the furniture in the house out from in front of the door.

Minutes went by and Tré began rocking back and forth in his chair with boredom. Unfortunately he went a bit too far forward and ended up falling against the door half a second before Mike opened it. The drummer toppled out, still bound and gagged to that damn chair. He decided that once he was out he was going to burn it.

Billie pulled the chair upright.

"Shit Tré what happened?" Tré glared up at him and Mike shook his head.

"Kinda hard to talk through a gag isn't it?"

The drummer rolled his eyes and Jason obliged by ripping the duct tape off. The sock followed right after and the drummer spat a bunch of fuzz out of his mouth.

"God am I glad to see you guys!" Tré breathed as Mike slipped behind him and started attempting to undo the knots in the rope.

"Tré, where are Ramona and Frankito?" The question came from Jason.

Tré blinked up at him and took a deep breath... well, as deep a breath as he could with the ropes constricting his chest. He then rattled off the events of the prior night. Mike had stopped working on the ropes as he listened and sighed deeply before continuing his efforts. Billie just stood quietly and Jason stared down at Tré, shocked into momentary silence.

He then shook his head as if snapping out of a daze and said, "Where is this 'hiding place' Tré? There might be a chance Ramona and Frankito weren't found after you where knocked out." Tré's heart gave a hopeful leap as Jason said this.

"It's a crawl space down in the far corner of the basement," answered Tré. We put emergency supplies down there like cloths, dried foodstuff, blankets and the like. Its one of the safety precautions Claudia took just in case there was ever a tornado and we ended up staying down there for awhile."

Jason nodded and headed towards the basement door, climbing over the furniture in the hall. Mike suddenly punched the back of the chair in frustration and Tré started as Billie looked over at him.

"Take it easy their Mike, I'm kinda still tied to the chair your punching!" Tré said, turning his head to look back at the bass player. Mike looked up.

"Sorry man, these goddamn knots are fuckin' tight!"

Tré paused for a moment, head down in thought then he looked from Mike to Billie and back again.

"Well, were either of you two planning on saving this rope for some reason?" Billie and Mike looked at each other and shook their heads. "I didn't think so. Well, you both know your way around my kitchen, so why doesn't one of you go grab a knife and cut me loose for fuck sake!" Tré didn't mean to get pissy, but he couldn't feel the lower half of his body and he was sick of being tied up.

Billie clambered over the piled up furniture, making his way to the kitchen as Mike walked over to the front of the chair and leaned up against the wall. Tré stared blankly at the floor.

"Tré, try not to get to bent out of shape, okay?" said Mike. "I know that you're worried about Frankie and Ramona, but even if those creeps did take them, we'll find them."

Tré looked up at the bass player and forced a weak smile. He new his friend meant well, but he was still extremely worried.

Billie returned at that moment carrying two serrated knives and the two began cutting away at the ropes. A few minutes of working in silence and Tré finally found himself free. He stamped his feet on the floor to get some of the feeling back into his legs and made an attempt to stand, but fell right back down in the chair. He sighed and shook his head. "Maybe I'll just wait a couple minutes."

Jason returned at that moment and handed Tré a small bundle. "This is all I found. Tré...I'm sorry."

He, stepped back, hanging his head, and Billie stepped forward, placing a hand on the drummers shoulder. Tré felt a lump rise in his throat and he swallowed hard as he unwrapped the bundle in his lap. Two stuffed animals flopped out onto his lap. He bit his lower lip, picking up the two animals, one in either hand.

"Nim and...Sandy." Tré let his head fall to his hands, burring his face in his kids favorite toys... they we're gone.

Minutes ticked by and the four men stood there in silence. Mike suddenly spoke up after a time as he picked something up off the floor.

"Look, what's this?" He held a small piece of paper.

Jason looked over Mike's shoulder at it and said, "Looks' like some kind of note."

Mike handed it to Tré, who had lifted his head to see what had been found. "Open it." He took the paper from the bassist and ran a hand through his hair, sighing heavily as he unfolded it. His head throbbed painfully, yet again reminding him of the heavy blow he'd received.

"Could one of you get me a bag of ice and some kind of pain killer?" he muttered and lapsed into silence.

Mike nodded and went to grab what he'd asked for as the drummer read through the note.

He returned less than a minute later and handed Tré some water along with the ice and painkillers. The drummer nodded his thanks and took a swig from the glass before taking the meds and gingerly placing the bag of ice over the lump on his head.

"So what did the note say?" Billie asked, taking a seat on the floor in front of Tré and leaning his back against the wall.

The drummer took another swallow of water before answering. Having that damn sock in his mouth all night had left him extremely thirsty. "It says

'Your kids are safe and out of harm's way and you'll hopefully see them again someday.
For now we have a game to play.
I enjoyed writing this little rhyme but now here comes a riddle.
Two will become four when we come knocking at a different door.

P.S. You call the cops, we kill your kids. This is a little game between you and us. So don't call the cops and your kids will remain safe.' "

Tré finished reading and stood up angrily. "I don't like the sounds of this one bit and those fuckers have got another thing coming if they think they can make Tré Cool their bitch!" He made to head out the door but Mike caught him by the arm.

"Don't you think you should maybe put some actual cloths on before you go to find them?"

The drummer nodded and disappeared up the stairs, coming down a few minutes later dressed and with his hair back up in his fohawk. "Let's go."

The four headed out the door and everyone climbed into Billie's car. They drove a few minutes in silence. Dusk was settling and the sky was getting dark. Tré gave a start.

"Billie, where did we plan on going?" Billie glanced at Tré in the rear view mirror his face was contorted with worry.

"I thought we'd check along the beach with what little light we've got left. Why?"

"I was just thinking about that stupid riddle 'two will become four when we come knocking on a different door.'"

Billie's eyes bugged when he realized what the riddle meant and he immediately turned the car around and sped off towards his house. If the riddle meant what they thought, then Joey and Jacob where in trouble.