He ran down the corridor, sharply taking each turn. He had to find them... Find them before it was too late...

The man sat shackled to the chair in the middle of the room. Something had knocked him out from behind and his mind was still foggy. He raised his head slightly to survey his surroundings. He had dark, chocolate brown hair and deep blue eyes. He wasn't too bad to look at, if he did say so himself. He didn't know how long he had been down here. It was dark and cold and smelled of mould.

The door in front of him slowly creaked open to reveal a man with hair as black as sin and emerald green eyes that bore into his.

"Aah Skulduggery, my old friend, how have you been?" Asked Serpine.

"Where are they?" Skulduggery hissed back at him.

"Where's who? What are you talking about? That must have been a nasty blow to the head," he teased.

"WHERE IS MY FAMILY!" Roared Skulduggery, straining against his shackles, trying to get at Serpine.

"Temper, temper Skulduggery. Wouldn't want to wake your little angel, now would you?" Said Serpine, moving slightly to the side.

Skulduggery looked down and saw that when Serpine came in, he had also dragged in his daughter, who was slumped against the door. The little girl had dark blonde hair and her clothes were ripped and bloodied. Skulduggery made a faint choking noise.

"What have you done to her? And where is my wife?" He asked quietly.

"Oh don't worry about your daughter, this is nothing compared to what I have in store for you. And as for your wife, she'll be with us in a moment, as soon as I've finished with your little darling here."

"You leave her alone, or I swear to god I will tear you apart," threatened Skulduggery.

"Big talk coming from the man in the shackles. Now, back to business," Serpine said, and kicked his daughter in the stomach, causing her to wake and cry out in pain.

"NO! I said leave her alone!"

"Fine, fine, I'll leave her alone," he said, and pointed his red right hand at Skulduggery.

He felt his insides quiver, then unimaginable pain. He tried to hold back his screams, but it was no use.

"Daddy? Daddy, are you ok?"

Skulduggery briefly stopped screaming and looked down at his daughter. She had tears in her eyes, he had to stay strong for her.

"It's alright sweetie, daddy's here, I'm ok, everything's going to be ok," he tried to reassure his daughter.

"Oh, I highly doubt that," joked Serpine, moving back to his daughter and grabbing her by her hair. "I'll tell you what Skulduggery, just because you're my favourite enemy, I'll make it quick for her," he said... And slit her throat.

"NO!" Skulduggery screamed, tears running down his face. "You monster! She was just a little girl! When I get out of here I'm going to murder you, and it will be slow and painful. So much so that you will be begging for death!"

He pulled even harder against his restraints. By now the shackles were digging into the flesh, drawing blood.

"Wow, if that was your reaction just for your daughter, imagine how good it will be when your wife gets here," Serpine said as he left the room and locked the door.

"No, NO!" he screamed at the door, then blacked out.

A/N: oh my god I can't believe I just wrote that... Anyway, reviews would be appreciated, and feel free to check out my other story 'the beginning of the end'

Thanks! :D