Bellicose

A Criminal Minds Story

The room was damp and dark, creepy crawlies scurried across the floor in a blackened flash. A single light bulb hung from a cord in the ceiling, casting shadows that danced as it swung back and forth. Two identical doors rested ominously on different sides of the room. One locked, the other unlocked. The room was empty and bare of all things, no furniture, no pictures, no nothing. But there were four figures in the room, four people, four living people. Each sat curled up against the wall, placed almost equally apart. They've been there for three days.

They rarely talked.

They rarely moved.

And when they did, it was usually to go to the one unlocked door which held a bathroom. Which was a small blessing bestowed upon them by there ever courteous captors. The locked door remained locked, only opening from the other side. Usually it only opened to deliver food, but other times the bad men wearing masks would take one of them.

And when they brought them back, it never is a pretty sight.

But no one talked about what happened beyond that locked door.

Beyond that room.

It was their unspoken rule.

The locked door creaked open before large menacing hands threw the fifth and fellow prisoner inside. The young woman stumbled in her hand placed wildly in front of her as she tumbled to the floor. Her blond hair fell in clumped strands across her shoulders as she brought herself into a crawling position. Blood covered the left side of her face, as she lifted a shaky hand to wipe it away from her eyes.

She didn't make eye contact with the others as she slowly stood up and staggered to her designated spot. Collapsing into the wall she slid the rest of the way down to the floor, where she curled her shaking body into itself and placed her head between her knees.

No one said anything.

It was how they kept order. It was how they didn't break down. As if their silence kept them strong.

But one couldn't take it anymore as she looked over at her injured and bleeding friend. They needed to know that the other was there. They didn't need to speak about the room, but they needed to speak to each other.

"Jayje," The brunette spoke softly, her face barely visible through the dismal light, "It's okay."

She didn't know what else to say as she held her breath waiting for the blond's response… If she would respond at all. Emily counted her slow breaths as she watched the blonds back rise and fall irregularly. She and JJ had been beyond that door more than the other three. It was a terrible place.

A terrible, terrible place.

They much preferred the room.

The room with the single lightbulb and a bathroom.

"It isn't…," The sudden reply caused Emily to jump as she looked back towards the blond who now had turned so that their eyes met each others.

Hers were sad.

But she imagined, her own weren't much different.

"What?" Emily asked a gasp etched in her voice.

"But it will be," JJ shared a red smile, as her teeth were smothered in blood. Emily couldn't help the uneasy grin that formed as she shook her head slightly.

"That's a beautiful smile you have there," Emily chuckled, "I mean wow."

JJ smiled again, red teeth and all, "It really is. But not as beautiful as your face, that, that is wow."

They both laughed, before Emily looked at her,

"What's wrong with my face?"

Derek Morgan's anger rose severely as he listened to the two giggling girls in front of him. He wasn't angry at them though, he was angry that they were in this situation. And that he was never chosen to go beyond that door.

Chosen…

Taken more like.

And then it hurt that they didn't tell him what happened. But seeing their injuries he knew it was bad.

Real bad.

Their captors wanted to know something. Morgan knew that much.

Morgan glanced over at Reid who was sleeping fitfully in his corner, curled tightly into a ball. He was cradling his injured arm protectively. He then glanced at Rossi who was on the opposite side a few feet from Emily, fiddling with a ring on his finger. A very colored bruise blossoming largely on his forehead.

The room sucked.

And he wanted out.

But they would find them, he knew they would find them.

He just hoped they would hurry.

But as the locked door opened again and three men forced their way towards him, the giggling stopped, the snoring and the thinking did too.

And then as they dragged him out, Morgan would wish he never had to go beyond the room.

After all, the room really doesn't suck that bad.

OKay so I know I haven't written in awhile and I know I have another story that still needs finishing, but I couldn't let go of this idea. Please let me know what you think! And thank you all for your continuing support. You're the best!

Thanks!

-HCB