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Chapter 17


Brian’s eyes were almost swollen shut when the blast of cold air smacked him in the face. He had been
forced to walk through the humid woods for almost an hour after what had seemed like hours in a dark
van. Away from everyone.

His head pounded harder and harder with each step he took. Brian had contemplated turning back
several times but, there were two men with him. Two men much bigger than he was and he knew he
would never be able to make it alone. And he couldn’t leave everyone behind. Jenn and Nick were too
weak to handle punishment and Sara…he didn’t know about her.

Fresh tears exploded as his heart broke once more. Why hadn’t they just go to the police in the
beginning?

Brian rubbed his face, trying to stretch his eyes so that they would open wider. Damn, his whole body
was stiff. And where were the others?

They had just entered a cool place but, still, a place where he was uncomfortable. A little bit away, he
could hear voices.

“I don’t need that lip from you, Carter!” It was Rick’s voice that made Brian want to hurl and, when he
heard a snap that followed the sentence, that’s exactly what he did.

“C’mon boy! We don’t have all day. We have families to go home to.” One of the men kicked him in the
side. These men had families? They were going home? Visions of Emily and Sara passed through his
mind. Home. The word seemed to echo in his head until he was kicked again.

And a scream pierced the air around him. His wife’s scream.

Brian picked up his pace, almost to the disliking of his two guards. “I swear to God, if they hurt any of
them, I’ll…”

“Mr. Littrell, so good of you to join us.” Rick spoke with a smirk crawling across his face. The large room
was lit by candles, illuminating the figures in the room but not much else.

“Shut up, bastard.” Brian spoke through clenched teeth.

“Oh, such brave words for such a small man.” Rick snickered and then gestured towards the opposite
wall. “I was being nice, really. I just thought you would want to visit your little friends.”

And then, Brian saw them. Jenn was on the end, collapsed onto the floor, still not quite conscious. His
insides began to pain at the sight of Nick who, with uncontrollable tears streaming in rivers down his
face, had a red line forming across the side of his face and across his bare chest. That was the snap. His
best friend had been whipped. Brian began to feel his own chest burning, just taking in the image.

Then, there was his wife. Sara, however, wasn’t tied up as the other two were. Her chocolate eyes had
turned a muddy color and Brian became disturbed by the look that was within them. They were empty.
Lost. She hadn’t even noticed that he had entered the room.

“What the hell did you do to her?!” Brian’s voice cracked with emotion before he took strides toward the
woman. “Sara?”

Her head snapped in the direction of the voice. Makeup streaked her face and her lips were without
color. At the sound of his voice, her chin had begin to quiver. “Brian…”

Without any words, Brian wrapped his weak arms around Sara’s body. They both released new tears
and held onto each other tighter than either of them could remember doing before.

“We have to get out.” She whispered into his ear.

“I know, baby. We will. I promise.” He began to kiss her face, their tears swirling together. “Please don’t
cry.”

“I don’t like it here, Brian.” Her voice was just as lost as her eyes.

He was just about to respond when a hand grabbed the back of his neck and jerked him backwards.

“What did I tell you about being with her?!” It was Kara who spoke this time, another voice that made
Brian want to puke. She loosened her grip on his neck and began to gently rub his back. “But, I guess
you can touch her one more time…because you won’t be able to…for a long while.”

Before him, Rick held out his hands and in them, two ropes were revealed. “Tie her up, pretty boy.”

“Oh my God.” Nick gasped, knowing Brian would be too weak to handle the task placed before him.

Brian began to back away, everything becoming too much, the world was turning hot. He lunged
forward, heaving dryly. “I….I can’t.”

“It’s your last chance. I don’t blame you though.” Kara came over to touch him. “I wouldn’t want to
touch her either.”

“Give me that damn rope.” Brian was back to talking between his teeth again, shooting a glare towards
Kara at her words.

“Rok…” Nick spoke in a warning tone.

“I have to do it, Nick. If I don’t, they could take her from me. They could take me from her. It can’t
happen right now. We need each other.” He replied, his eyes focused on his lover.

Nick’s lips fell silent as his vision turned back to his wife. He was torn. If she woke up, she would have to
go through all this misery that they were experiencing. But, if she stayed like she was, he could lose her.
“I miss you, Jenn.” He whispered in her direction.

“I’m sorry, baby.” Brian cried as he saw Sara’s face twist with pain. Her wrists were already burned a
shade of red. He didn’t want to know what had happened in that room. He didn’t want to look at her. He
didn’t want her to remember any of this. He was ashamed that he was doing this to her.

“Why…” Sara licked her dry lips. “Why are you…you and Nick so…so bloody?”

The shorter man’s lips curved downwards and he looked towards Nick, who had blood stained pants. He
then looked at himself, his white shirt was stained his brother’s blood.

“Hm. They should be finding THAT body soon.” Rick spoke, lighting a cigarette.

“AJ…” Sara breathed in a knowing voice. Her body began to shake.

“No baby. No. He’s okay.” It was the first time he had ever lied to her. His hands suddenly became shaky
too and only still when Sara bent her wrist just enough to grab his hand that still held on tightly to the
rope. Brian licked his own lips and looked into her eyes, surprised that they had met his own
immediately.

“Don’t be sorry. I still….I still love you.” She whispered. She closed her eyes and opened them again
slowly. “We’ll make it.”

Brian leaned in to kiss her at the same time he was jerked away again. This time, by Rick, who had
enough strength in his pull that Brian landed o­n the floor, the breath knocked out of him.

“Damn, Littrell,” He spoke angrily, tying the ropes tight enough to make Sara whimper. “First you
couldn’t drown her. Now you can’t even tie her. What a sissy! You know, this could’ve been avoided if
you had done it right four years ago.”

But Brian couldn’t hear him. He couldn’t even catch his breath.

“Nick…I miss…you…too…” The voice came from the silent figure that had been lifeless this whole time.

“Baby…” Nick bent as much as he could to try and talk to his wife.

“Good evening, honey.” Rick sauntered over to Jenn’s body as her eyes opened just a bit. For a
moment, she thought it was Nick but the smell that filled her nostrils was everything her husband wasn’t.
This caused her to gag.

“Get away from her!” Nick struggled with the ropes that confined him to the wall. He tried kicking his leg
out but, found himself too weak and almost losing his balance. “JENN!”

“Nick…” She moaned. She was in so much pain. And where the hell was she?

“I’m here, honey.” His turn to cry. “I can’t…I can’t get to you right now.”

“Sorry fucker.” Rick snickered, bending down beside Jenn with a glass of water. “Here, baby, take this.”

Her throat was so dry. Even if it was from Rick, she needed something, anything. Her throat stung with
dehydration. He put the glass to her lips and she gratefully accepted.

“JENN! NO!!” Nick cried, not trusting Rick at all with what he was giving her.

And he was right. Within moments, Jenn’s screams of pain turned quieter.

“Had to shut her up somehow, Nicky.” He stood and got close to the blonde. “She’s a screamer, you
know?”

Nick’s watery blue eyes stayed with Jenn. “I’m so sorry, Jenn.” He whispered. “I love you.”

And with a raspy voice, she managed to whisper back. “I love you too, Nick.”

Standing up, they managed to touch fingertips for a moment. one moment before it would all come
down again.

Seeing Jenn standing up and attempting to touch Nick made Rick see red.

"Fine!" Rick yelled out as he stalked back towards the couple. "I was trying to be nice to you and let you
be comfortable. But since you decided to touch HIM, you can stand up just like him."

Jenn began to struggle, doing anything she could just to keep the man away from her. She managed to
rake her nails across his face, drawing blood.


"You little bitch!" Rick growled as he grabbed his face. Fire burned in his eyes, and he quickly put his
arm across her throat.

"No!" Nick yelled out. He had been fighting against his binds, but to no avail. He could feel the skin
around his wrists opening up, but he pushed that feeling aside.

Rick brought his face to Jenn's ear, "If you EVER lash out at me again, I will kill him. UNDERSTAND??!!"

Jenn was still struggling to get in a much needed breath of air as she tried to nod her head. Everything
was starting to blur together.

Rick released his grip on her after some hesitation, and Jenn immediately went into a coughing fit. She
went to pull her hands in front of her, then Rick harshly pulled them back up against the wall. She
continued to cough as Rick restrained her arms above her head. He wanted to make sure that she
wouldn't be able to reach Nick.

Jenn's coughs subsided, and a look of shock crossed her face. She tasted blood. That caused her to look
down at her shirt. She went to cry out at the sight of blood dotting her shirt, but no sound came from her
lips.

Rick smugly looked at her, "There's no need for words, only what I have to say matters."

Suddenly his eyes turned loving as he slowly began caressing Jenn's face. Jenn just coldly looked away.
"Aww, don't be mad baby. This is all for the best. Soon, soon it will be just you and I." That was when he
began softly kissing her neck.

Nick once again began pulling against his restraints. "Don't touch her you fucker." Nick said though
clenched teeth.

Rick only continued, paying no attention to him. "I know you forgive me, you can't stay mad at the one
that you love. I already forgave you for earlier." Rick was still continuing to kiss her where ever he
could.

Jenn continued to look away. As much as she wanted to look into Nick's gaze for strength, she just
couldn't bring herself to. Suddenly she was very aware of Rick's hand beginning to make it's way up her
shirt. That's when the tears began to fall.

"Shh baby, don't cry. I'm just making up for earlier. Shhh..." Rick said in a soothing voice as he
continued on.

Brian had seen enough. He was just trying to regain full clarity before he tried to do anything that could
very well get him killed. But once he saw those tears falling down Jenn's face, and Rick beginning to
remove her shirt, he couldn't take anymore.

He gave Sara one last loving look before he jumped up and ran as fast as he could at Rick.

“Brian!” Sara’s shrill cry filled the empty air as she saw her husband catapult from the floor onto the
back of Rick Cartier.

“What the fuck is wrong with you, pretty boy?!” Rick said in response to the pressure he felt on his back.
His attention was immediately diverted from Jenn to Brian. Nick let out a small sigh of relief but sucked
in a new one as he felt fear rise in his chest of what would happen to his best friend.

“I…I never told him I was sorry.” He spoke out loud to himself, remembering that he and Brian hadn’t
even been talking before tonight. A small whimper from his wife, though, who lied shivering on the
floor, stole his attention. “Baby…” Nick struggled once more to reach her. “I love you.”

“I love…I love you too…” She swallowed, struggling to keep her surroundings from blurring again.

“Bri..” The cry was quieter now. A whispered scream of fear.

“He’ll be alright, Sar.” Nick swallowed, not knowing what to say as he winced with every punch Brian
took.

“No, he won’t, Nick.” Her voice shook. “He’s….he’s bleeding.” She gagged on dry air.

“Stop it!!” The blonde found himself yelling. He couldn’t watch this anymore. If anyone, it should’ve
been his own self taking the pain for his wife.

“He’s right, Rick.” Kara spoke up now, smirking as she did so. Rick dropped Brian o­n to the floor with a
slam that made everyone shut their eyes for a moment. Brian whimpered a bit but feared anything more
would cause more trouble.

Kara rolled Brian over onto his back and put a leg on either side of him, providing him with a clear shot
up her skirt. He shut his eyes and felt her sit lightly on his stomach, causing him to cry out.

“Aww, my poor baby got hurt?” She scooted down and began to raise Brian’s shirt, revealing wounds
caused by Rick. “Oh my goodness.” She faked a gasp and leaned down to kiss the laceration.

Brian shuddered with disgust and pain as he felt the lips upon his body. Soon, she had completely
removed the shirt and was kissing his jaw. His jerking away was not pleasing her at all. And she knew
whose fault it was.

“Brian! You’re only acting like this because that little bitch is standing right there.” Kara cast a glare in
Sara’s direction. “I don’t know what you see in that whiny whore…”

“Shut up, you bitch. That is my wife!” Brian spoke through pained gritted teeth.

“Oh darling, you’re so confused.” She put a cool hand on his cheek and a smile curved her lips. “We
should go get you cleaned up.”

“Just leave me the hell alone!” Brian responded softly, his mind beginning to spin. He tried so hard to
fight against her grasp, but he found his strength leaving him.

Sara cried out as she watched Kara and Rick dragging her husband out of the room. She was terrified
that she may never see him again.