To Turn Back
A Criminal Minds Story
Disclaimer: I do not own Criminal Minds
Emily wasn't sure how long they had been down there. The only light in the room came from a small light bulb that was stuck to the ceiling. There had been no word from their captor, no sounds, no nothing. Emily was beginning to think that he stuffed them in a storm cellar in the middle of the woods to rot. Her head still ached and her wrist constantly throbbed, it was also turning an angry red color.
"I'm sorry," Emily abruptly stated as she turned to look at her friend. JJ stopped pulling at her own chain that bound her to the wall and looked at her. Her eyes went wide and she didn't say anything. "I should have turned back. You were right."
"It was just a feeling Em, and you had it to. Plus you had a job to do. We didn't know what was going to happen. It was all so quick," JJ smiled, hoping to comfort her friend.
"I just - I am sorry that you have to go through this so soon after what happened two months ago," Emily said. JJ suddenly was overwhelmed with fear and she put a hand over her stomach and grimaced as if the pain was still there. Emily gave a small comforting smile to her friend because she understood.
Clonk! Clonk! Clonk!
The sound of footsteps getting louder and closer brought their gazes to the door. Emily stared at the handle – less door as it seemed to get bigger and heavier with each clonk of a foot as if it would soon be so close that it would crush her when it opened. But it didn't and the door swung open with a loud screeching sound as metal brushed against metal and Emily had to resist the urge to shield her ears.
A very large man stood at the opening, his face shadowed by the contrasting colors from the well lit room and the completely dark hallway that made it look as if their captor had come from nothing.
"Hello, Agent Prentiss." Emily shot a look to JJ before she returned her glance towards the Unsub. He completely stepped into the room, so that the light hit his entire body and his face was revealed, but with him followed an awful stench that completely filled up the room. Emily had to hold down a gag that was involuntarily finding its way up her throat. Blinking a couple of times as her eyes watered, she again looked at the man. He was big and tall at least 6"2 and no fewer than 230 pounds. His teeth were bright white, but he looked as if he hadn't showered or slept for days. His eyes were a light brown that matched his unkempt hair. "I believe you know where I can find something that I want."
"Where is Mr. Jones?" Emily asked making direct eye contact, "And who are you?"
"He left," the Unsub smiled again, "And don't act like you don't know me Agent. You took my wife from me!" Emily didn't make a sound when his boots made contact with her ribs. "WHERE IS SHE?" Well I found the stressor Emily thought as another hard kick found its target.
"Is that why you killed those women… to get back at your wife?" Emily shot back. The Unsub took a step back, but then he got real close, so close that his nose was nearly touching hers. Emily had to turn away as the revolting, gaseous smell of his breath blew in her direction. Suddenly Emily couldn't breathe and she was being pushed against the wall by a strong pair of hands. With her one free hand she clawed at his fingers, hoping to loosen them enough for some air. A gurgling sound found its way through her throat and out as her vision began to daze. Emily could hear JJ yelling in the background, urging and pleading at the man to let her go.
"Emily!" JJ screamed, tugging the chain that kept her from reaching her friend. She watched as the Unsub got real close to Emily's ear and whispered…
"I killed those women because I wanted to and I am going to do the same to you. And then I am going to do the same to my wife. And you are going to tell me where she is. And if you do… maybe I will spare your friend." Emily, overcome with rage used her free hand and her two fingers and stabbed at his eyes who then release his grip and stumbled back enough for Emily to bring her knee up and kick him as hard as she could in the chest with her foot. The man fell back with a thud. Quickly rising, with clenched fists and a bright red color he stomped out of the open door and slammed the heavy metal door shut behind him.
"Way to go Em," JJ stated smiling, but she didn't respond, "Emily are you alright?"
Emily a bit dazed finally looked over at her friend. "I'm fine Jayje. He didn't hurt you right?"
"No. But –."
"I'm fine; really, I think my nose got the worst of it. He reeked," Emily smiled and JJ chuckled looking down. Silence crept over them like a slow mist that swirled and twirled until it reached every corner of their small prison.
"Where do you think his wife is?" JJ asked breaking it.
"Mostly likely far, far away...," Emily rasped, her breathing returning to normal. Her eyelids were heavy and they begged her to close them for a little while. She leaned her head back and was starting to fade into a needed sleep when she heard JJ's reply…
"That is where I would be if my husband smelled like that." Emily smiled at the comment, but didn't open her eyes. She kept her body still, knowing that any movement would bring a striking pain to her ribs. The sound of JJ's even breath calmed her and soon Emily found herself drifting off. She was glad she wasn't alone. It made her feel guilty, but she was glad that JJ was with her. The team will find us soon.
As the nauseating stench slowly faded, the two friends fell into an uneasy and uncomfortable sleep, but had peace in knowing that the other was near.
At the precinct
"They've just found another body!" The sheriff told Agent Hotchner.
"Where?"
"About 10 miles from the road, buried a few feet deep-"
"Okay, Morgan and Reid go and –," Hotch began looking at his colleagues.
"Wait, the body has already been identified," The sheriff interrupted, "It's Mr. Jones."
Morgan looked at Hotch who looked at the clock on his phone. It was 8:37, and he had a bad feeling, "Call Garcia…"
It was two hours and thirty seven minutes past 6.
Well there it is! Thank you all for the reviews and thank you for reading.
-HCB