Torn Shadows Part 8

Major Hall sat next to Lydia. He knew who Aiden was by Lydia's description the night of her father's murder, and also by how Lydia did not take her eyes off him. He could not decipher her gaze. It seemed to carry elements of so many emotions all pushed together that he could not pick out any individual from the group. He wondered how she would deal with meeting her father's killer for the second time.
Aiden was wondering about Lydia as well. He had so many things to think about and plan in order to make the operation go smoothly but his mind somehow always found it way back to that girl. He still did not know her name. He had over sixty men setting up defenses all throughout the capital building. He had to make this place a fortress. Of course this whole operation would be hopeless without the hostages. they were the key. Each one was leverage to keep the federal forces at bay, and what a great selection of hostages; twelve federal delegates, seven legislative advisers, and an assortment of guards and maintenance staff.

Then there was Lydia.

Aiden had never dreamed that she would be here. He did not yet know what to do with her. He could not simply let her go. She knew too much. He decided to deal with the girl later, right now he had work to do.
Lydia was paralyzed. She could not think, she could not speak. All she could do was look at Aiden and remember. Gunshots ringing through a ballroom. Dancing with a handsome stranger. Her father's blood on her dress. Aiden's face when he saw her at the bottom of the stairs. Aiden ordering her capture. All this swirled in her mind. She needed to do something or she may go mad, but what?
"You there." a rebel guard pointed at one of the delegates who slowly stood. Two rebels grabbed him roughly and led him out of the room.
Aiden was now peeking out one of the upstairs windows. Federal troops were arriving in trucks. So far over ten trucks filled with soldiers had surrounded the front of the capital building. Aiden had to keep them away. That is when his men arrived with one of the delegates, bound, gagged, and blindfolded.
"Good, bring him out on the balcony."
The rebels brought the hostage out and held him up for the soldiers below to see. Aiden came to the front of the group and shouted at the now silent troops below.
"This man is a delegate of this corrupt government that is killing our people! He is one of many hostages i have inside this building! If you want any of them to live, you will not send a single man within ten feet of this building! In order to show you i mean what i say..."
Aiden took a bucket from one of the men and doused the hostage. He then pulled out a candle and lit it.
"This man is covered in gasoline! One of my men will hold this candle and if he sees anyone come too close he will drop it! If you shoot my man he will also drop the candle, either scenario will end in the burning of this delegate!"
Aiden's declaration pushed the soldiers back. Now for Aiden to contact his superiors and inform them of this victory.
"Sir!" one of the rebel guards ran up to Aiden.
"What?"
"Sir, one of the hostages, a girl, she has a knife and she is threatening to kill herself!"

To Be Continued