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If you asked Colt he’d tell you that this was one of the worst days of his life. He could deal with being thrown through a window, a rock, hell even being dropped from 12 feet! But those times he had a safety crew standing by and all the equipment and safety protocols in place in case something happened. And, while yes, those things seemed to have malfunctioned when he did that stunt a year ago, the point is he had people ready to jump in and help him. But now?
This? He was by himself.
No one standing off to the side ready to rush and put him out or see if he was injured because this wasn’t some stunt he was doing for a movie. No. This was real life. He was really tied to a chair. Beaten and bruised. While Tom Ryder was monologuing to him like some villain in a Marvel movie. Colt was forced to listen as he told him and how he needed the phone so they could frame him and keep Tom from the police. At this point Colt was more annoyed then scared…
Well, kinda.
Colt narrows his eyes as Tom leans in closer to him. “Now where’s the phone?” He tilts his head to the side in a way that makes Colt want to punch his face more than normal. Actually, everything that’s happened this past week makes him want to punch Tom in the face.
“Seeing as that’s the only thing keeping me alive right now, I’m not going to tell you.” He says, his glare deepening more.
Tom sighed as he moved away from him, his hands on his hips. “You know Colt,” he started. “I don’t think many people could take a hit like you can.” He turned back around to face the man tied to a chair. “I could get Jody or maybe even Dan, yeah?” He knelt slightly in front of the stuntman. A devilish glint in his eye that Colt had only seen when wanting to make his day at work slightly more hellish than normal. “Or I could bring in someone a little more… close.”
Tom trailed off as he stared into Colt’s eyes. Watching as confusion turned into realization then to anger. “You fucking touch him and you’re dead! Do you hear me!” Colt screamed as he started to pull at the ropes keeping his hands together. He tried to launch himself at the actor, but was held down by Tom’s henchmen, their hands on his shoulders and upper arms.
Tom only backed away laughing. “Oh! You should see you’re face, Colt!” He bellowed. “Fucking priceless!” The actor whipped a fake tear from his eye as he looked back at his old stunt double, smirk on his face and that evil glint still in his eyes. He turned to the henchman standing behind him and nodded his head. Colt watched as the other man turned and walked onto the yacht, seeming to go get something. Tom turned back to him.
“You know Colt, you aren’t really in any position to tell me what I can and can’t do.” His smirk faded into a frown as he took a step closer to the man tied to the chair. Then another. Then he knelt in front of the blonde, grabbing his chin in a not so gentle way, and pulling him forward. “I can do whatever the hell I want.” Tom released his grip as he heard his henchman come back onto the dock with a… special guest. He stands back up turning slightly to look at the new arrivals. “Ah, how lovely of you to join us Mr. Grace.” Tom’s creepy smile appeared on his face once more, but Colt didn’t give a shit. Because, standing just a few feet in front of him was his twin brother.
The two locked eyes and Colt could see just how confused and terrified his brother was. And he couldn’t really blame him. After giving his brother a once over to make sure he was okay and not injured, or rather not too badly injured, he had a bruise on his cheek and a split lip, he turned his gaze back to Tom. “Ryland has nothing to do with this Tom.” He growled. “This is between you and me.” Tom turned to look at Colt, his expression a mix between boredom and irritation.
“I knew you were the dumber twin, but I wanted to give you the benefit of the doubt to at least try and be smart.” He sighed and took a seat in the chair next to Colt’s. He laid his hands in his lap and turned his head to look at the older twin. “Now, I want you to think for a moment, yeah? As to why I tricked your brother into coming here and is standing just out of reach from you.” Colt hated how Tom was talking to him like he was a toddler who didn’t understand a basic concept. Colt glared at him, but thought about it none the less.
Why was his brother here? What could Tom possibly want with his brother? It took a moment before his eyes shifted between his little brother and their captor finally realizing what Tom wanted. “You want to use him to get the phone.” He whispered. Tom smiled brightly and started to clap his hands in a mocking way.
“Ding, ding, ding! Give him a prize!” He yelled. Colt growled when he saw Ryland flinch at the loud volume of Tom’s voice. But Tom either didn’t notice or didn’t care as he stood up and walked over to the teacher, still being held by the henchmen, and grabbed a handful of his blonde hair causing a whimper to escape his lips. “Now that we have that cleared up. I’m going to ask you again.” Tom turned to look at Colt. “Where’s the phone?”
Colt shifted his gaze to look at Ryland, his face twisted his pain as Tom pulled slightly harder on his hair. Grace opened his eyes and stared at Colt, although there was fear in his gaze Colt could see something else peaking just beneath the surface. “Colt, don’t! He’s-" His brother started, only for it to be cut off by a yelp of pain when Tom’s hand connected with his face.
“Shut up!” The actor growled before looking as Colt once more. “Tell me Colt! Where’s the phone!” Colt glared at Tom as the actor snared at the stuntman. The silence stretched between them and Colt could see Tom’s eyes twitching. “Fine.” He turned to the man holding Ryland, releasing his hair as he did. “Why don’t we jog his memory?”
Dread pooled in Colt’s stomach as the henchman grinned before moving his gaze to the younger man in his grasp. It happened fast, one minute Ryland was on his feet, with the henchman holding him by his biceps. And the next his little brother’s left arm is twisted behind his back, while his right arm is pinned to his side. He’s forced down to one knee, a tear rolling down his face while a cry of pain leaves his lips. Colt tries to move towards him, but with his hands tied behind the chair and the men holding him in place all he can do is jerk around.
A scream rips it way through Colt’s throat as Ryland’s arm is twisted a little more, another cry of pain leaving his brother. Tom holds up his hand, signaling for the man to stop his assault for the moment, as he turns to crouch in front of the older twin. “Where’s the phone, Colt?” He asks again, his voice soft like he was asking if he was okay. Colt’s eyes glare at the actor, unshed tears in them. He glanced at his brother locking eyes with him. Despite the pain he was in Ryland shook his head in a silent way of telling Colt to ‘not say anything’.
He glanced back at Tom before moving his gaze to the ground. He heard Tom sigh before he shook his head. “I’m really disappointed in you, Colt.” he said. “Jim.” He called to the henchman. The man smiled before twisting Ryland’s arm again. His screams sending a pang of hurt through Colt. The stuntman bit his lip hard enough to draw blood as his little brothers screams got louder. Just when he thought it couldn’t get any worse Ryland’s screams broke off into sobs as the pain intensified and Colt couldn’t take it anymore.
“Stop! Stop it! I’ll tell you!” Tom signaled for Jim to stop and Ryland slumped a little closer to the ground, small sobs still escaping his lips. Colt looked at Tom, a tear or two rolling down his cheeks.
“What was that?” Colt knew he heard, he just wanted to hear him say it again.
He took a breath and glanced at Ryland before focusing his gaze back to the crazy actor. “I’ll tell you where the phone is just… please. Leave Ryland out of this…” Tom smiled.
“Of course! All I wanted from the beginning was the phone.” Colt lowered his head slightly, licking his lips before locking eyes again with Tom Ryder.
“He shot it.” Colt said, jerking his head in the direction of the henchman standing beside him. “He shot it out of my hand while I was hiding.” Tom shook his head with a… chuckle? Shaking his frame. “Bet you didn’t see that coming.”
Tom walked in a circle, hands running through his messy hair. “You expect me to believe that?” He asked. Colt raised a brow at him.
“You think I’m lying?” Colt asked. “It’s up there! Go see for yourself!” He yelled, pulling on his ropes. Tom shook his head and waved a hand to two of the henchmen. Colt watched as they headed toward the apartment. “I told you where the phone is, Tom. Now let me and Ryland go.”
With a breathy chuckle Tom leaned into Colt’s space. “I never said that I’d let your brother or you go.” Colt’s frown deepened. “But I have to say I did tell Gail that I could get you to tell me where the phone was.” He laughed. “She was a little skeptical, but I reminded her that I was able to get you in your place the first time so,” Colt looked at him in confusion.
“What… what do you mean the first time?” His voice shook ever so slightly. Weather that was from fear, anger or maybe both he didn’t know.
Tom blinked before he laughed. “Oh! Right! I’m talking about your accident.” He said smiling. “Well, I guess not really an accident. Look you were getting too cocky, so, I had to remind you of your place.” He explained. Colt’s ears began to ring a bit as he processed this information. Tom caused his accident. Tom was the reason he broke his back and spent months in PT. Everything slowly started to fade back in, but the ringing, while had lessened, didn’t disappear entirely.
“And you were right,” Tom started with a shrug. “The phone was the only thing keeping you alive.” He stood back up and started to walk to the yacht, the henchman holding his brother forced him down all the way onto the dock, his knee pressing into his upper back, while one hand held both of Ryland’s down and the other reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a syringe with a clear liquid.
Colt could see the other henchman coming closer to him with containers, of what looked to be gasoline, and a plan formed in his head. Ryland screamed Colt’s name as he saw them start pouring gasoline on his brother and started to struggle against one of his captors. “Colt! Colt! Stop! You’re going to kill him! Get off of me!” He yelled. But his screams soon stopped when the needle was stabbed into his neck. Colt yelled for his little brother as he saw this and could only watch as they picked up his limp body and took him onto the yacht. As he yelled for his brother gasoline fell into his mouth. As his brother disappeared from view one of the henchmen lit a mach in front of him.
Something loud is what woke Ryland up. Well, that and the throbbing of his left arm. Something loud, his arm, and something shaking whatever place he was in. It was dark, small, and smelled like a new car. “Oh. I’m in the trunk of a car.” He thought as he shifted his position slightly. He took a few deep breaths before anymore panic could set in. “Okay, Ryland. Think. What’s the last thing you remember?” He asked himself as he closed his eyes, trying to think. Right. Getting taken from his apartment. Seeing Colt tied to a chair as Tom Ryder threatened him.
His arm being twisted behind his back. Hard. The teacher cringed at the thought and pain. His arm is probably dislocated or sprained at the least. He took a breath. “Focus Grace.” He mumbled. Colt yelling at them to stop hurting him. Tom saying he was the one to cause Colt to get hurt all those months ago. Him being pushed to the ground, yelling at them to get off of him as they poured gasoline on his brother. Something being stabbed into his neck and then…?
Nothing.
That’s the last thing he can remember. “They drugged me.” He grumbled to himself before turning his head to the side when he hears more shouts and explosions? What the hell was going on? He shifted his body again and starts to move his left arm around, it hurts like hell, but it’s the only thing he can do at the moment. He needs to get out of here. He needs to find Colt and make sure he’s okay.
As he moves his arm back and forth it takes a moment before he finds what he’s looking for, a smile appearing on his face when he grabs the emergency latch to the truck door. He knew all those crime documentary shows would pay off. He pulled the latch, biting his lip as the motion put more strain on his arm. Once pulled, the trunk opened slowly, sunlight blinding him for a moment as he eyes adjusted from being in darkness.
Once the trunk opened he moved to a sitting position, his right hand grabbing his left arm in an attempt to keep it from being jostled too much. He looked out at the scene before him and it was absolute chaos. Explosions happening in the distance. People yelling. And he could hear Tom and Colt’s? Voice over a nearby radio. Ryland sat there for a moment. He couldn’t hear everything, but a smile grew on his face as he heard Tom confess everything. From Colt’s accident to killing Henry to Gail and Tom planning to put the blame on Colt.
It was seconds after the confession was made that he saw Gail pull a gun on the person who was next to the sound equipment. She was trying to take the confession! He couldn’t let that happen!
He got out of the trunk, his legs shaking slightly the effects of the drug still not having completely left his system yet. He stumbled over to where Gail was yelling and stood behind her, hand still holding his injured arm. “It’s over Gail.” He said, his voice a little horse from hours of none use.
The director turned around, gun now trained on him while her other hand held a black case with the recording inside. She glared when she saw him. “I told Tom he should have gotten rid of you!” Ryland could here someone come up a feet behind him, Gail’s gaze shifted briefly to look. “Jody!” The teacher turned slightly to see that, indeed, it was Jody standing behind him, but tuning was the worse mistake he could make as Gail grabbed him, gun pressed to his head. “No one move!” She yelled at she started to pull him backwards.
Ryland tried to pull her arm away from pressing against his neck, but it was no use. He only had one good arm and even then it still felt like jelly. His eyes shifted around before landing on a terrified looking Jody, when he saw someone sneaking up behind her. “Jody! Behind you!” He yelled in warning before he was dragged around a corner and could no longer see her, not knowing if she heard his warning.
Gail kept move and soon he heard a helicopter. He turned his head just enough to see and fear gripped him once more as Gail forced him into the seat next to hers, gun still trained on him. After Gail climbed in so did Tom Ryder. He sat behind them and looked at Ryland with a raised eyebrow. “How did you get out of the trunk?” He asked.
Gail turned her glare to him. “No one gives shit how he got out, because it wouldn’t have happened if you just killed him to begin with!” She yelled. Tom didn’t get a chance to say anything as the helicopter started to lean to the right. Ryland gripped the seat to try and stable himself. Then Tom screamed.
The teacher turned his head around and saw his brother standing in the helicopter glaring at the producer and actor before his gaze landed on his twin and his eyes softened. Then hell broke out. Gail started to fire the gun while Colt started to fight Tom for the recording while dodging the bullets. When Colt almost fell out the helicopter for the 3rd time Ryland reached over and started to wrestle the gun out of her hands.
As they did Gail pulled the trigger. The gun fired once more before Ryland was able to get it out of her hands and he threw it out of the copter. He moved to stand with his brother, as Colt held the case with one hand while the other wrapped around Ryland in a protective way. “I’ll be taking my brother back, thanks.” Colt said. He flipped them off before falling backwards, taking his brother with him. Ryland screamed the whole way down and only stopped when they hit the inflatable bag that softened their fall.
The two climbed off, not letting the other go. Colt turned to his little brother once they were off. “Are you okay?” He asked as he started to him.
Ryland was holding his left arm again, the falling jostling it a lot, but he nodded at his brother. “Yeah. A little ruffed up, but-” He was cut off by Jody running up to the two and tackling Colt in a hug from behind. The older twin chuckled as he turned to face her completely, smiling.
“You did it!” She said as the two stared into each other’s eyes.
Colt nodded. “We did it.” He corrected her before she pulled him into a kiss. Colt smiled into it. He could stay like this forever, but the moment broke when he heard a pained groan come from Ryland. He pulled back and turned to his brother, brows drawing in concern and confusion. “Ry?”
His brother didn’t respond, but instead started to sway and almost fell if it wasn’t for Colt catching him by the shoulder, keeping him up right so they both didn’t end up on the ground. This only caused the worry to grow. “Ry! What’s wrong?” He asked. Then he heard Dan gasp from behind his brother and snapped his head up to him. The stunt coordinator was staring at the deflating bag with terrified wide eyes. Colt followed his gaze in confusion. “Dan, wha-” The words died in his throat when he saw what Dan was looking at.
There on the bag was a streak of red. Colt stared at it as his breath caught in his throat. Ryland suddenly went limp in his arms. Colt snapped his attention back to his brother as he lowered him to the ground. “Ryland!” He called. Once his brother was on his back and looked down and a small gasp escaped him. There was a bullet wound in his brother’s stomach. He turned to look back at his brother’s face. His eyes were closed and his breathing was shallow.
“Someone call 9-1-1!” He could faintly hear Jody scream from next to him, but all he could focus on was his brother’s pale face. Everything happened in a blur and soon he found himself in Jody’s car following an ambulance to the hospital. The same ambulance that had his brother. His brother who was bleeding out after being shot by Gail.
It’s been 8 hours. 8 hours since they brought Ryland to the hospital. As soon as Ryland was brought in he was rushed into surgery, which took 4 hours because the bullet had cause a lot of damage and Ryland flat lined once on the table for a minute and a half before they got him back. Now it was a waiting game to see if he’ll wake up and its been 4 hours of waiting so far.
Colt was sitting by his bed, holding onto his brother’s hand as he waited for him to wake. His eyes were red from crying and he had bags under his eyes from lack of sleep. He shifted his gaze from his brother chest to the heart monitor every few seconds. “Please, Ry. I need you to wake up.” He laid his head down on the bed. “Please. Don’t leave me like this. You’re all I have.” A small sob racked his frame.
It was quiet except for the beeping of the monitor and his soft sobs. He stayed like that another hour before he fell into a fitful sleep.
At first he didn’t feel it. It was like a feather brushing up against his leg very, very lightly. Then it happened again, a little firmer this time. Colt blinked back the sleep from his eyes and turned his gaze to the hand in his. It twitched. He sucked in a breath. It moved again a little more then before.
He turned to look at his twin and saw his face pinched in a slightly pained expression. “Ryland?” He called. A breath of relief left him and new tears filled his eyes as he saw his little brother blink his blue eyes open. He stared at the ceiling in a daze before turning his head to the side and locking eyes with his brother.
Ryland licked his dry lips. “Colt?” His voice was raspy, but it was the best thing that Colt has ever heard. A teary smile spread across Colt’s face. He leaned forward and hugged Ryland as best he could sobbing a little into his shoulder.
“You’re okay. You’re okay.” Colt repeated as he just stayed there hugging his twin. He was okay. They both were and that was more than Colt could as for.
His brother was going to be okay. He was going to live.