A/N: Heh, when I noticed the response you guys gave to my suggestion of making a sequel I just couldn't hold myself back. (grins) Soooo, here we go…!
BUT, first of all… Thank you so much for all the love and support you gave the prequel! (GLOMPS) You can't even imagine how much that means to me. So THANK YOU!
Here's the basic info for this story:
SUMMARY: Four months have passed, and the team is struggling to cope without Spencer Reid with a new girl, Ashley Seaver, having taken over his place. But then new traces of Liam appear, sending them to his tracks once more. But Liam is already one step ahead – the man finds out Reid is alive, and does the unthinkable to smoke the genius out of hiding. How will this new nightmare end? Will Reid and the rest of them walk out alive this time?
TAKES PLACE: Four months after 'And Then There Were None'.
PAIRINGS: None. I know, several of you find that part disappointing (and I personally love creating pairings). But somehow it'd feel a bit like cheating to throw in one now. (winces) But no worries, there'll be romance stories from me later (if you want to read such, of course)! And there'll be A LOT of family-bonding/loving. (grins)
WARNINGS: As you've probably come to notice my stories are VERY brutal. So there'll most likely be blood, torture, gore, at least mentions of child abuse, quite a bit of sick games created by a sick mind… (glances around) Hey, where'd you all go?
Awkay… (takes a deep breath) Let's get going, before I change my mind. I REALLY hope you'll enjoy the ride!
And Then There Were Two
Prologue
There were times when a forty-five years old criminal coroner Misha Elling understood why some people seemed to consider her a freak because of her job. Today was such a day.
On the table right in front of her lay a young man with black hair and a tall, thin body. It was obvious that he'd been tortured, battered and abused for days, until his body finally gave in and he was ditched to a local dump. But none of that was the worst part for Ellis. The absolutely worst bit was that she'd seen this before.
Her eyes refusing to leave the corpse before her, she emitted a shuddering sigh before bringing a tape recorder to her lips. "The victim's a John Doe, approximately thirty-one years old. Multiple lazerations on upper torso, which have caused significant damage. Several burn marks and what looks like whip marks all over the body. Also signs of malnutrition, dehydration and internal bleeding. The cause of death, however, appears to be a blunt force trauma to the head, which caused massive hemorrhage." She grit her teeth, feeling her stomach knot. "There also seems to be some signs of sexual abuse, but it'll require more examining to be sure." Misha sighed, finding it surprisingly hard to breathe. "Approximate time of death…" All of a sudden she trailed off, and the recorder almost fell from her grasp. Because just then she saw what'd been engraved to the victim's shoulder, right above one burn mark. Whoever had created the sickening tattoo had used a uneven, dull blade.
'Stay dead', it said in bloodied letters.
Misha had seen similar on two more victims over the past three months. They'd all died under similar circumstances, they'd all been left to a dump – and they'd been almost identical to this victim.
The first two times Misha had thought that maybe it was a strange, twisted coincidence. Now she was convinced it wasn't.
Lightning may strike twice. But thrice?
Misha stood dumbstruck for a couple of moments, staring at the man who'd been through a nightmare she couldn't even imagine. And then she was able to function once more.
She took off her bloodied gloves, then swallowed while taking her phone. She owed one Aaron Hotchner a favor. Hopefully helping him find some new leads was a good enough payback.
Ashley Seaver took a deep breath, as though she'd been preparing for a dive, as she noticed that the elevator doors would soon open before her.
Before she ever joined BAU, she'd known to expect that it wouldn't be easy. She'd been explained that the team had recently lost one of their own – they'd been through the worst possible trauma. They were all hurting, and it didn't make things any easier that the UnSub responsible had gotten away. The last thing they wanted was someone filling to spot of the one they'd loved and lost. And then she walked in, with the weight of her past and inexperience. None of them was openly hostile towards her. But it didn't take a lot of profiling skills to realize that she wasn't a part of this grieving, struggling family.
After well over two years Ashley would've expected things to change. They hadn't.
There was a soft 'bling' that woke Ashley from her thoughts. She opened her eyes and managed to create a smile just as the elevator doors slid open, opening her a view to the bullpen.
Quite unsurprisingly the team was already there. She blinked twice and frowned upon realizing that they'd all gathered together and were staring intently towards the direction of Aaron's Hotchner's office. "What's… going on?" she inquired.
Emily unleashed a gruff sound, Derek Morgan's frown deepened and David Rossi shrugged with a troubled look on his face. "Your guess is as good as ours", Jennifer Jareau said in the end, her voice tighter than usual. "He's been on the phone for the past thirty minutes."
They were all startled when the unit chief's door opened all of a sudden. There was a unreadable dark look on Aaron's face as the man began to walk towards them. "Let's go to the conference room. There's something I need to tell you."
They exchanged looks before following the man. This couldn't be good.
As soon as they'd all taken a seat Derek spoke, his voice carrying a shiver of impatience. "So, what's up?"
The grim look on Aaron's face didn't promise anything good. "Because of it's nature I wanted to brief this case myself." The man's eyes scanned through the team, as though preparing them. "There's been two more murders. We've got leads of Liam."
Derek's eyes immediately narrowed and filled with such fire that chilled Ashley to the spine. David also stiffened, and Emily looked fully ready to tear someone to shreads.
It was, however, Jennifer – the same JJ who was always kind to everyone, the same JJ who always watched over the group like a mother or a big sister, the same JJ Ashley had never even heard swearing – who finally hissed out the words. Her voice was so filled with uncharacteristic venom and seething rage that everyone else in the room gawked at her. "So let's go and nail that son of a bitch. We've been waiting too long."
While the others started making plans on what their next move would be Ashley leaned back in her chair and swallowed, feeling sick to her stomach.
She'd seen all the pictures and reports – she knew exactly what Liam was capable of. She knew what kind of a monster they were up against. And she didn't have the slightest clue if she was ready to face it.
Ashley's eyes darted around, quickly spotting all the grief and wrath.
She didn't think she was the only one who should've had those doubts.
In Chicago Spencer Reid – or no, Oliver Wilson now, as he quickly corrected himself – was deep in thought while he sat in his office, his unseeing eyes directed towards the mountain of unchecked essays that lay before him.
This, apparently, was one of those days when Spencer's storm of thoughts made it increasingly hard for him to focus on being Oliver. It didn't make matters any easier that his once injured shoulder was throbbing. The pain gave him a nasty feeling that Liam was breathing down his neck once more.
He stiffened when someone touched his shoulder. "Penny for your thoughts, Wilson", the familiar voice of Dr. Tianna Wargas – a professor who shared the office with him – urged him. She shrugged upon seeing his surprised look and cast the mug of coffee she was carrying a far from pleased look. "This stuff tastes like something taken from a drain. I bet you'd do a much better job at waking me up."
Spencer swallowed, directing his gaze to the window. Somehow the day felt colder than before. "Do you… ever get this feeling, that something really bad is happening? I know it's scientifically improbable, at best, but…" His lips kept moving, but somehow he couldn't make a sound.
With the warm hand still on his shoulder, he felt her shrug. In a moment she walked further and took her own chair. "I don't believe in premonitions until I see more than one come to pass."
For a moment Spencer felt tempted to comment that he had seen the darkest of his omens become reality. Instead, however, he found himself creating a tiny smile. Somehow it was easy to feel at least a little bit lighter with Tianna around. "Guess so." He then focused his attention on the essays before him and emitted a far from mature sound. "I really should get these done. I've already been stalling too long."
Tianna gave him a amused look. "How long is that gonna take you? An hour and a half?"
Spencer shrugged and felt a tiny bit of heat on his cheeks. "An hour may do."
Tianna grinned, some almost child-like mischief flashing in her eyes. "Do it in forty and I'll get you some real coffee."
Still tasting the horrendous aftershock of his own coffee Spencer was quick to accept the challenge. For just a moment the monsters in the back of his head felt like something he'd be able to keep at bay.
In the darkest corners of a years ago abandoned two story house the dial tone of a cell phone pierced through the absolute silence.
On the dusty, mouldy floor deathly pale Liam lay absolutely still for the longest time until his fingers twitched before taking a fumbling hold on the phone. His hazy eyes barely stayed open as he answered the phone. "Talk", he barked out.
"Listen up good, because this is big." There was a pause, as though the other one had been waiting for him to sober up. "Cody's still alive, Liam. He's still out there. He's in Chicago."
In a flash all traces of drugs faded from Liam's bloodstream. His eyes weren't anything human while his fist squeezed the phone so tightly it almost broke. "Get me on a flight there, or you'll never see your wife and daughter alive again." Suddenly, for the first time in years, Uncle John's voice whispered in his head, giving him another plan. His eyes changed once more. "Or no, wait. Get me to Quantico instead…"
The following morning Will LaMontagne had a rare day off. That's why he decided to spend some quality time with his son. Henry's eyes shone with excitement when he suggested his son that they could go to a park.
They got to have fun together for about twenty minutes before Will's cell phone came to life. Upon seeing who the caller was Will swore under his breath, careful to keep his tone so low that his son didn't hear, then picked up. "Oh come on, Thompson! This is my first day off in ages. You promised not to call me."
"I know, I know", a clearly apologetic male voice replied. There was a sigh. "Look, this is only a quick thing, and this is a case of emergency. Finley messed up some paperwork, and now DeSalle may walk." There was a second's pause. "We've been working on nailing DeSalle for the past five months, and now you could finish it all in a two-minute phone call."
Will sighed, knowing that he didn't really have a choice. "Just a sec, okay?" He gave his son a stern look. "I've gotta get something from home, but I'll be back in a minute or two. Stay right here in the meantime, alright? Don't go anywhere. I'll be right back."
Henry nodded. "Okay, daddy."
As Will turned and walked away this coldness he couldn't explain spread through him. What he couldn't possibly know, was that Henry wasn't alone very long.
Since he learned how to walk Henry Jareau- LaMontagne had been taught to be aware of strangers. That's why his small body tensed up completely when a tall man with bleached hair and eyes he immediately disliked stood before the swing he was occupying.
The man gave him a smile that made him start to shake. "Hello, Henry. My name is Liam." The man brushed his face with one hand. "We'll be having some fun together…"
Henry looked around with wide, frantic eyes, but couldn't see his father anywhere. His tiny heart thumped beyond any limitations while his mind sped through options. And then he chose to do exactly what his parents had taught him.
He jumped off the swing and started a mad dash towards the direction of his home.
He might've even succeeded. But the man was faster than the child had even known to expect. And although Henry had always been complimented for having fast feet in the end he was bound to lose the game.
Henry's mouth opened, but before he could emit a sound a huge hand covered his mouth and one third of his face. A large arm wrapped around his waistline, crushing him so hard that he could only comply while the hold pulled him towards the nearby bushes.
"Stay very, very quiet when I take my hand from your mouth. Do you understand? Stay quiet and be a good boy, or I'll have to hurt your mommy and daddy."
Panic shot through Henry, stinging like flames as it coursed through his system. His eyes were impossibly wide and filled with tears as he stood paralyzed to the spot, shivering like a leaf.
Suddenly something sharp struck his neck, making him yelp with pain and startle. In a few moments everything became black.
JJ didn't know how long she'd been sitting on the rooftop of the headquarters, letting cool wind caress her cheeks that felt hot from the tears that'd just spilled, when she heard a door opening, followed by steps.
For one heartbreaking, desperate moment her heart stilled with anticipation when she could almost feel Spencer's familiar presence, and her skin was sent crawling. But then Aaron spoke, shattering the illusion. "I had a feeling you'd be here." There was a brief silence, mostly because she didn't say anything. "I'm going to let you work on the case. But I'm sure you understand why I have to consider if I'll let you do fieldwork."
JJ's eyes narrowed. She knew it was cruel and uncalled for, but she couldn't help feeling a hint of resentment. It exploded before she managed to restrain her tongue. "Even if you're able to bottle up all your emotions, it doesn't mean the rest of us are as good at it", she bit out. Instantly regret flowed through her veins, like morphine after a thunder of pain. She swallowed thickly, a stinging sensation taking over her eyes. "Sorry. I…"
There was a microsecond of pain in Aaron's eyes before the man shook his head, looking away. "I wish I could say you'll learn to be as good, eventually. But honestly… I don't think I want you to be."
She nodded, wiping away tears she hadn't realized were spilling. The silence around them wasn't loaded anymore.
They may have stood there for ten minutes until Aaron spoke, much more quietly than before. "JJ… There's something I have to ask you." The man's eyes were sharp as they became locked to her. "If we find Liam… What are you planning on doing to him?"
That question, albeit simple, struck JJ stunned.
What would she do? Would she really be strong and restrained enough to keep everything that was bubbling right under her skin from becoming unleashed? If it came down to it… Would she be strong enough to let Liam live to face his proper punishment?
After a endless silence she opened her mouth, but before she managed to squeeze out anything her cell phone began to ring. She frowned upon realizing that the caller was Will. "Hey. Is something wrong?"
She got the first warning when she heard how Will started to cry. It took a torturously long moment before the man finally spoke in a barely comprehensible voice. "I'm… I'm at the police station, Jayje." A couple of more sobs rendered the man speechless. "Someone… Someone took him. Someone took him."
JJ's entire world became colder than any winter, and she could've sworn that her heart stopped for a mighty while. And then she ran, dropping the phone as she went.
TBC, OR NOT?
A/N: Sooo… (glances around rather nervously) Was that any good, at all, to you guys?
PLEASE, leave a review! It'd mean the world to me, especially with how insecure I always am at the beginning of a new story (even if it's a sequel). (rolls eyes at oneself)
Thank you so much for reading this!
Who knows… Maybe I'll be seeing you around?
Take care!
ari: (chuckles) I ended up doing it this soon. I really hope you'll like the story to come!
Huge thank yous for the review!
cmsp : I'm happy to announce that the sequel WILL be out in just a few hours. I really hope you'll find it worth the wait!
Now let's hope Henry and Reid will both survive this new ordeal. And Liam really should have to pay for everything he's done. (snarls)
Colossal thank yous for the amazing review!
vetgirl1231: The bunny did it again. (grins) I'm on my way to posting the first chapter of the sequel.
Oh, you poor thing! (gringes, and offers tissues)
Those poor people, no? Especially Reid. (winces) Let's hope the poor thing gets to go home, to where he belongs.
I really hope I'll see you (and the bunnies) soon!
Gigantic thank yous for the review!
: A sequel there shall be. (grins) I hope you'll stay tuned for that.
Tons of thank yous for the review!
