Episode 8

Shannon ran as fast as she could.

Thomas was over the other side of the building, but where? There were so many terminals at this airport how could she make sure she was at the right one?

She hung back by the entry doors, moving down, scanning the crowds, all the time searching for the face that she had longed to see again over the recent months.

She had hoped that his homecoming would have been a bit more welcoming, but things seldom went as planned with Thomas around and a happy ending was rarely on the cards as he stumbled from one mishap to another.

Thomas had the kindest heart she knew and all he wanted to do was make the world a better place.

She knew from experience that there was a very real danger to Thomas' existence from some mysterious people who were always chasing him. That was how they met after all.

That fateful night when Thomas had flown into the middle of a church service. It was only a few years ago and she stil remembered it vividly. It had been the beginning of her new life.

She missed the excitement he brought.

Things hadn't been the same with him gone. He had become more of an echo as reality seeped in to every day life again. That her job had become her life now instead of a means to finance it grated her nerves.

She would be happy to throw it all away and follow Thomas wherever his whims took him next.

She caught herself thinking like the schoolgirl she had never been.

Their relationship had started off as one of conflicting opposites as she recalled the many long nights and summer days spent debating the very basis of life itself. Now here she was acting as if he was all that mattered. They had spent most of their time together on the verge of breaking up, so she was angry with herself when she realised how important he'd become, but it made her no less determined to find him.

Thomas had taught her a few tricks about scanning crowds. You didn't need to focus on every individual face, just take it in chunks at a time, pull your focus back and your sub-conscious will let you know when you've found what you're looking for.

As if on cue her attention moved to some doors near the far end.

They seemed to bypass the normal check in/out entrances and because of that she didn't notice the first few people make their way out until the familiar frame of the man she loved appeared too and started making for the exit surrounded by what appeared to be guards.

"Thomas?" she whispered to herself.

She dove out through the nearest exit trying to see above the throng. She caught sight of him again. A car was pulling up. They were taking him away!

"Thomas!!" she screamed.

Thomas lifted his head, turning to see her.

As soon as their eyes met, he came to life, "Shannon!"

A few people stopped to see what the fuss was about, most just hurried on, more worried about missing whichever flight they were they were there to catch.

Thomas turned to run to her, but as soon as he tried to make a move a guard in a bandaged hand grabbed hold of him.

Shannon continued to make up ground between them, dodging the moving mass between them.

"Shannon! They're taking me away!" Thomas shouted.

At that another guard grabbed him, then something else caught her eye.

A car had pulled up behind theirs and a man had gotten out.

"Thomas! NO!" She tried to warn.

Too late!

The man calmly held up a gun and fired. Twice.

Thomas slumped into the arms of the bandaged guard as the others whirled to face the shooter who was already making his way back to his car.

"NO!!" She arrived beside him and held his hand. All she could see was the blood pumping out of his chest.

She tried to look him in the eyes, she was shocked to see them smiling.

"Shannon it's going to be alright." Thomas said between ragged breaths. She didn't believe him though.

The man was no random stranger, she remembered him from before.

A few years ago in Edinburgh he had tried to kill Thomas Carter for the first time.


----------------
Now playing: Mason Williams - Classical Gas


via FoxyTunes