Project Liberation (Chapter 1)

Daegal Procoughski, is a young sixteen year old boy, living in the town of Malmö (Southern Sweden) - His family are abducted by soldiers from an intra Swedish militia called the S.D.O. (Swedish Defence Organisation). Daegal manages to escape to a nearby forest, where he learns more of his family's capture and the intentions of the soldiers. It doesn't take him long to discover who is behind it; however, being a wanted escapee doesn't call for an easy rescue mission...

Chapter 1

September 23^rd 2013

17:39pm

‘Ping!’

Daegal Procoughski heard the sound from up in his bedroom. His ears twitched like a dog as his eyes opened and his pupils dilated. He jumped to his feet and ran for the door, pushing it open and passing through the entrance. He attempted to stop himself from falling down the staircase that suddenly appeared, but his socks gave little traction on the laminate flooring. He thudded down the stairs and turned to his left, skidding and sliding before running through the open doorway and into the kitchen. Panting slightly, he plucked a piece of sizzled toast from the toaster on the surfaces to reveal that it was overcooked.

Daegal was quite tall, 6’4” at sixteen. He owned a set of pearly white teeth, medium-length blonde hair and large, grey eyes. He had a well positioned button nose, thick dark eyebrows and reasonably sized ears. He was an extremely clever individual and a talented martial artist, although he suffered a few personality issues.

He slammed his hands onto the work surface “This is the second day running she’s messed with the toaster!” he growled angrily to himself. He stuffed the burnt toast into his mouth and stomped back into the hallway.

Daegal lived in a separate house to his parents. While they lived in the manor, he lived at the bottom of the estate in a relatively large, modern house. It had been like that for longer than he could remember. He didn’t entirely live alone. His house was also the home of his housemaid, Klara, who was consistently busy with repetitive household tasks.

Daegal walked back through the lobby and headed to the living room where he would expect to find the maid eating her breakfast. He poked his head around the corner of the door.

The maid was nowhere to be seen.

He started to become suspicious. He slowly edged his way back into the lobby, listening for unfamiliar sounds. He opened the door underneath the staircase, bent down and pulled on a pair of muddy trainers. He stood and backed against the wall, scanning the corners of his peripheral vision.

The maid was nowhere to be seen.

He walked back into the living room, looking for the classic signs of a break in. None. He sighed, walking over to the fireplace and looking over the shelves above. They hadn’t been dusted, but everything was in place. He inspected the bottom shelf closer, running his fingertips along the edge of the wood. The shelf wobbled and one of the supports fell from underneath. Five porcelain bowls slid across the shelf and fell to the floor with an almighty crash.

A loud thump came from upstairs. Daegal instinctively dived for cover behind the sofa and backed against the wall by the doorframe. He heard heavy footsteps and then the sound of somebody thundering down the staircase. He frantically looked around for a weapon; something he could use to defend himself with. A digital radio or a flat screen television. He flapped his hands about in frustration. A sofa?

“Are you sure?” asked a voice. Daegal froze in shock; he wasn’t familiar with this voice, deep and husky. Definitely male.

“Absolutely; it definitely came from in here!” whispered another, also male, not as deep as the first.

He risked a quick glance around the corner. Two men, one relatively tall, one a few inches shorter. They were both dressed in black military uniform. They had their backs turned to him, but imprinted on their backs, were the letters: ‘S-D-O’, the symbol of an intra-Swedish military organisation. The taller soldier had three green-gold stars embedded on the right shoulder of his uniform. “Captain…” Daegal whispered to himself. The smaller soldier had nothing. “Private…”

“Maybe there were only four of them?” suggested the Private, hopefully.

“No,” hissed the Captain in frustration. “Now find him! That’s an order!”

Daegal turned away from the doorframe in disbelief. These two Agents had set out to capture him. Frantically, he looked around for a weapon. Without thinking, Daegal looked up. An elephant gun.

He lifted it carefully, even though it wasn’t loaded or operational. He primed himself, taking a deep breath and holding the huge gun close to his chest. He turned the corner quickly and instantaneously pointed the barrel down the hallway. Both of the men had gone.

He silently ran through and stopped outside the kitchen. He took a quick second to prepare himself, before he quickly whipped the gun across the corner. There!

“Freeze!” he bellowed fiercely. The two soldiers stopped in their tracks. The Captain turned and reluctantly held his arms up in surrender, but the Private, suddenly finding his courage, whipped out his pistol and aimed for Daegal’s chest.

 “Drop it Amateur!” Daegal roared, rotating and aiming for the Private. “Or you’ll be dead before you can even think about taking the safety off!”

The Private gulped loudly and dropped the pistol. Daegal held his gun at the Private’s face, showing no emotion on his face.

“Hand’s on your head!” ordered Daegal. The Private reluctantly did as he was told. “Don’t do anything stupid!” warned Daegal. He knelt to pick up the pistol, keeping a firm gaze on the Private. He rose, pocketing the pistol. He looked over to the Captain with eyes of flame. “Gun,”

The Captain slowly dipped into his holster and threw the pistol to Daegal. Daegal stepped to one side and the pistol clattered to the ground. Daegal looked back to the Captain. “Name?”

“Alf Hendrikson,” stated the Captain. Daegal nodded and turned to the Private.

“And you?” he hissed.

“Cal Mauricio…” gulped the Private.

“Cal Mauricio and Alf Hendrikson... I am Daegal Marek Procoughski. But you already know that… Don’t you?”

The two men nodded.

“Tell me who hired you,” requested Daegal.

“Both my… Colleague and I were just doing as we had been ordered…” avoided Alf.

“What were your orders?” questioned Daegal, flicking his eyes between the two Soldiers.

“We were ordered to detain you and your immediate family. But that’s…” started Alf.

“Who ordered you?” interrupted Daegal.

“Dagmar Procoughski, of the SDO…” gulped Cal.

“What?” questioned Daegal.

“Dagmar Procoughski!” repeated Cal. Daegal turned to Alf.

“Is that who ordered you?” questioned Daegal.

Alf nodded.

“LIAR! Who sent you?” asked Daegal.

“Dagmar Procoughski. We’re telling you the truth!” begged Alf.

“Prove it!”

Alf whipped out a mobile phone from his pocket and prodded in numbers.

“Put it on speaker phone!” ordered Daegal. Alf did as he was told. The monotonous drone of calling began.

“What?” growled a familiar voice.

“General! It’s Captain Hend…” started Alf.

“What do I care? Are the targets secured?” questioned Dagmar Procoughski.

“Yes, sir… All but one. We’re working on it.”

“Well then… What the hell are you calling me for?” growled Dagmar.

“I… I…”

The call ended. Alf held the phone closer to his ear. “Hello? Hel… Hello?” tested Alf. He shook his head and turned to Daegal. “Please come with us,” he suggested politely. Daegal stood open mouthed.

“I don’t believe it…” he managed, dropping the gun.

“Daegal… Come with us!” Alf prompted. Daegal staggered away from the elephant gun on the floor. Cal slowly edged towards it. “Daegal! Come with us!” ordered Alf, taking a step towards Daegal. Cal’s fingers touched the edge of the elephant gun. Daegal snapped out of his trance. He leant forward and pushed Cal to the ground, sending the gun clattering. Alf took a step forwards, Daegal instinctively turned and kicked the large man to the floor. He quickly fumbled the gun into his hands and pointed it at the two men, now led on the ground.

“Don’t move.” He ordered.

“We’re just doing as we’re ordered! Come with us!” suggested Alf.

Daegal shook his head. “Shut up!”

The house rocked with a massive bang. He turned around, facing the front door. There was another huge crash and the front door rocked, sending small chunks of plaster onto the ground. Daegal didn’t need a third warning. He span back around.

“Get up!” he bellowed. The men got to their feet slowly, their hands above their heads. “Over there!” he ordered, pointing to the door at the far side of the kitchen with the barrel of the elephant gun. Both Cal and Alf moved to the door. Another terrifying bang.

“Open it!” he ordered. Cal quickly pushed the door open.

A second hallway was revealed. A glass roof was supported by four long cross-strips of PVC. Double glazed windows lined the garden on the right hand side of the hallway and two large cupboards were on the left.

“In!” growled Daegal, waving the gun. “Stop!” hissed Daegal. The men stopped and turned to face Daegal.

There was another crash, as the front door was bashed again. Daegal ignored the noise and maintained intense focus on the two men. Cal took a step back. Alf jumped at Daegal. Daegal ducked, but the gun was ripped from his hands as he collided with the floor. Alf went to pick up the elephant gun. Daegal used all his might and kicked for Alf’s kneecap. Alf fell backwards onto Cal.

Daegal got to his feet, kicking the gun aside and taking up his fighting position. Cal and Alf advanced slowly. Daegal launched a kick for Cal’s chest. The Private misjudged the striking area and was knocked backwards. Alf tucked his head and charged with his arms outstretched. Daegal grabbed hold of Alf’s arms and pulled him onto his outstretched leg, before throwing him aside and into the double glazed glass. Cal came back for another attempt, throwing a right hook. Daegal leant back and punched for the soldier’s exposed head. Cal was knocked back down the corridor. Daegal turned and executed a spin kick on Alf catching the man on the side of the head with his left foot. The Captain was sent flying through the glass. He landed on the other side, unconscious. Cal roared and charged for Daegal. Daegal stood his ground and then smacked Cal on the back of the neck with the knife-like edge of his hand. Cal dropped like a stone, falling flat on his face.

There was another gigantic crash.

Daegal turned around, slowly walking towards the kitchen, his hands clenched into a tight fist. He moved quickly through the kitchen, heading towards the front door. He turned and stomped up the staircase

Daegal stopped outside his room.

It had not been ten minutes since he was last here, but it had felt like long, painful hours. Daegal pulled. His bedroom door opened.

The light turned on, illuminating the room.

Daegal pulled a huge, black camping rucksack from under his bed. He yanked at the zip positioned on the side, and opened it.

Daegal pivoted and tugged at the handle on his chest of drawers. A set of neatly folded t-shirts were revealed on one half of the drawer, and on the other, a few pairs of jeans; Daegal grabbed a handful of t-shirts and a handful of jeans and stuffed them into his bag. He turned back to the drawer. A set of soot black clothes were revealed. Daegal sighed and quickly them on. There was another thump from downstairs.

Daegal looked up, suddenly spotting the wall safe.

He jumped over to the safe and twisted the combination lock left, then right, then left again. The safe clicked and opened. Daegal reached inside and pulled out a visa card a USB stick and a huge wad of cash. Daegal turned back and stuffed them into his pack. A cuboid metal box glinted in the corner of the room, Daegal ignored it. He grabbed a notepad and pen and stuffed them into his bag. The box glinted.

Another crash. Daegal took a deep breath, attempting to ignore the box. He zipped up his pack and threw it over his shoulders, ready to leave. The metal box urged him. Daegal stood up. He walked over to the box and grabbed it by the handle.

He closed the door and ran down the staircase. Daegal turned at the bottom and ran through the kitchen. His pack bouncing up and down on his back as he sprinted. He quickly ran through the second hallway and jumped out of the smashed window. Alf’s body was gone, but Daegal took no notice.

Only faintly did he hear the front door fall as he ran. 

That's the end of Chapter one. Please evaluate critically as I could really use some constructive criticism.