Chapter 1 Bonds
There are bonds between family, bonds between captives, bonds when people are under stressful conditions, bonds between abuser and abused.
WARNING : Rated M as there will be reference to physical and sexual abuse in later chapters
A/N In this story I have included OC – Michael Bridger who is Nathan's younger brother, Cara Bridger his wife and Freya and Kit Bridger who are their two daughters.
Thanks to darkin520 for guidance on improving the story introduction and for all other advice which is really welcome.
"I can't decide whether to have a raspberry ripple or a caramel crunch," Cara pondered out loud as she walked along with Lucas.
"Have both," he suggested.
"No that would be greedy….OK you persuaded me… let's wander." They both laughed and Cara put her arm in Lucas's.
"I can't wait to show Freya the new adaptations to Darwin's program." Lucas announced, "She will thinks its so cool."
"Are you ready for Kit?"
"As always."
"You are so good with them, you spend ages with them. Infact they never let you alone!"
"I love it, I love them." He smiled.
Being part of the Bridger family had meant so much to him. His two cousins, Freya and Kit, he supposed he could actually call them that now, were the loves of his life. He adored spending time with them and time with their parents Cara and Michael in England. He waited for their visits back over to the Seaquest so he could show off a bit. He didn't think it was too pretentious and they loved it.
"Let me take a quick photo to send to Dad." Lucas smiled; he held out his vid phone and put his arm round Cara – say cheese!" They both laughed.
They were having such a good time they did not see the man watching them and slowly coming up behind them.
Suddenly they heard someone talking, whispering menacingly into their ears and Cara felt something hard in the small of her back.
"Move towards the motor home – don't say anything, don't turn round or she will have a 22 in her spine." Cara froze as she felt Lucas's whole body stiffen. They were manoeuvred over to a motor home parked just off the beach; Cara noticed all the blinds were down. They walked up the stairs and went in.
It was dark inside and Cara initially couldn't see until her eyes became accustomed to the dark. She held onto Lucas's hand. It was quiet; she only heard the lock being turned. After what seemed an endless time two words broke through the silence that froze his blood.
"Hello Lucas."
Silence.
"Have you missed me?"
Silence.
A hand was raised and brought roughly down across Lucas's face. The power of the blow sent him to the floor.
"No!" Cara yelled, before she could think, "Leave him alone!"
Lawrence Wolenczak turned to her. "Well, we can't be having that level of noise in here can we? Hello Mrs Bridger." With that she felt a sting across her face which took her breath away. He had slapped her. "Tie her up and gag her." Rough hands forced her hands behind her back and something was put into her mouth and secured. As he tied her up he let his hands move up and down her front, he was rubbing and squeezing her, his hand inside her top. She felt sick. Her attention went to Lucas who was still on the floor obviously traumatised with what was happening.
Wolenczak delivered a couple of rough kicks to Lucas's side. Lucas gasped.
"Get up you useless piece of garbage."
Lucas slowly got up, the side of his face red from where he had been hit. He looked terrified.
"Have you forgotten your old Daddy now you have a new one?"
Lucas shook his head.
"I think this will be a nice time to remember all the good times we had together and for me to get to know you again. Wouldn't that be nice?"
Lucas didn't say a word. Perhaps he knew what was coming next, but Cara certainly didn't. Wolenczak delivered two hard punches to Lucas's stomach. He then grabbed his neck and punched him in the back. She was horrified and tried to get over to Lucas. She didn't know what she thought she could do. She just wanted to be with him.
Wolenczak turned to see her trying to come over. "Curtis, hold her and if she so much as squeaks, silence her."
She was roughly pulled back, hands moving over her body until they reached her throat.
"Stay still pretty lady, I want to be around for a while so you and me can get acquainted."
"Let's get going." Wolenczak said impatiently.
"Tie this kid up." He pushed a very winded Lucas towards the man who forced Lucas's arms behind his back and then pushed him down onto the ground.
Wolenczak turned to them both. "Not a sound while we are driving or you will regret it. Understood."
They both stared. Lucas nodded. He turned to Cara and came towards her."
"She understands," confirmed Lucas. Wolenczak turned to him. "Make sure she does."
The two men left to get into the front and Cara felt the van start. Slowly she moved towards Lucas and him to her. He came really close and managed to pull her gag down with his teeth.
They sat looking at each other. The terror in Lucas's eyes frightened her.
She knew that Lucas had suffered abuse from his father for years and that it had only been discovered when Lucas was fifteen, infact when he had been staying at her house. Wolenczak had been discredited and jailed and Nathan had adopted Lucas. He became part of their family and slowly he began to understand how wonderful real family could be. She had no idea why Wolenczak was here now, she had no idea who the other man was, and she had no idea what they were going to do, but she knew she had to be strong for Lucas. Cara's arms began to go numb and they seemed to be driving forever.
Lucas had his eyes closed. He just couldn't believe it, he thought he was safe but the pain in his side and face and stomach told him he wasn't and he began to feel the dread again that he used to feel when he was waiting to be punished by his father, the muscles that were not recovering from his encounter with his father were now tightening into a knot.
All she could do was move closer to him. He opened his eyes and smiled at her. The journey was now taking place over rough ground and they were being thrown around the inside of the motor home, finally it stopped. Cara saw the man Curtis coming towards them.
"Home sweet home, hey where's your gag? How that happen?"
"I pushed it out with my tongue," Cara said not wanting Lucas to get into any more trouble.
"Wow some tongue, I'll have to get me some of that." He picked her up and began to move his hands up and down her body. She felt sick again and wanted to run, but she couldn't.
"Curtis!" Wolenczak cut his actions short, "Get them both out." Curtis picked Lucas up and pushed them both to the steps. They were standing outside a large old house, in the middle of no where. She started to feel panic in the pit of her stomach.
"In." Wolenczak pushed her up the steps, she found it hard to manoeuvre with her hands tied behind her back. He was holding onto her as he unlocked the front door. A musty smell invaded her nostrils that made her cough. "We'll have to see what you can do about this place." Cara had no idea Wolenczak was talking to her and was only notified by a sharp pain in her back where he punched her. He turned her round to face him. "You are a very disrespectful person, and I hate that," he said following it by two punches to her abdomen which made her double up and cough. She felt gentle hands pulling her up, it was Lucas.
"Please," he said looking at Wolenczak, "She has no part in this, let her go."
"So you are now the brave hero with his new family, standing up to his old Dad." He turned to Lucas, "She stays," then after a moment he said one word to Lucas, "Strip." Lucas looked at him and began to take off his clothes, devoid of emotion. He took them all off folded them and stood infront of his father. His pang of embarrassment to be naked infront of Cara was far outweighed by the fear he felt from his father.
"No!" She gasped.
"You, Mrs Bridger" he came over to Cara, "Are going about the right way to be the first one to feel my wrath," again he backhanded Cara, who this time did not fall but just stood facing him.
"Let her go, she isn't used to this," said a voice.
"Oh my son the hero is it, or is it my son the worthless piece of dirt who has caused me so much grief?"
"He's a boy," Cara heard herself say, "Your child, how can you do this to him?"
Wolenczak was now very quiet. Lucas knew the sign. Wolenczak turned to Curtis.
"Bring her I think they can learn their first lesson together." With that he grabbed Lucas's arm and pulled him towards a door. He opened it and Cara saw stairs leading down from it. She felt herself being pushed towards it. She was very, very scared.