Review and I might update.

I do not own Gone. The characters belong to Michael Grant, and used here for entertainment purposes only. I do own all the Gone books and continue to be a fan.

Chapter Two.

Never Make Promises.

Sam:

Sam flicked off the TV and sat back in his chair. He let out a strangled sigh betraying his anxiety. Drake was out. This was very bad.

Flashes of the room in the power plant filled his brain. Where the nuclear core was kept, that place where Drake tortured Sam. The never ceasing whip lashes, the blinding pain so bad it was impossible to think of anything other than death and how pleasant it sounded. He had wished for death in that room. He would never forget how it felt to pray for his own life to end. When under that pain, there where only two things that made living bearable. The first thing was Astrid. Her face, her smile, the way she made him feel. She could bring light to the darkest of situations. He had forced her face to fill his mind as the lashes continued. His will to live only persisted with the hope that he would see her once more. With every searing strike her face was all that kept him from begging for Drake to end his pain and his life.

The other thing that kept him going during the endless hours of torture was the malicious thought of revenge.

As he lay on the cement floor of the reactor room, Sam let his imagination run wild with all the things he promised to do to Drake if he lived. When the pain became too much for even Astrid's face to keep him sane, he vowed to extract revenge on his tormentor. It became the reason to persist. His goal if he lived, would be to kill Drake as slowly and as painfully as possible. Even now, seven years later, Sam still thought about his plans for payback. He imagined Drake, lying on the floor, writhing in pain. He imagined burning his skin until he could smell cooked flesh. He imagined using his power to obliterate Drake's snake arm. His fury could not be quelled, not until nothing remained of Drake but a pile of ashes.

But his motivations were not all self driven. Drake always had his eyes on the woman Sam loved. It made him want to wretch, the things he'd promised to do to her. Right up until the FAYZ wall came down, he'd sworn he'd have his way with her. And that was all that Sam could think of now. Now that Drake was out, he would try to go after Astrid. He would never let that happen. Ever.

Drake was the primary cause of many problems in Sam's life. Most, actually. Many of Caine's schemes for power had been assisted by the one armed freak. Sam wondered how many of his estranged brother's plan had been successful or almost successful because of the snake's involvement. He had been crucial, if only as a threatening technique, in Caine's rise to power but Drake was never the leader. They might be near even match in a fight, as a matter of fact, Sam's money would be on Drake, but when it came to who was in charge, Drake lacked the confidence, charisma and blood chilling ambition that the telekinetic possessed in spades. But without his leader he was dangerous, a wheel spinning out of control, a blood thirsty dog loose from his leash. Sam would never be rid of the pain Drake had caused him. Physically he healed, with the help of Lana, but mentally, he still bore scars from his time in the reactor room.

Drake was the cause of Sam loosing Astrid.

Astrid! She would need protecting now that the bastard was loose, and Sam would relive being tortured ten fold before he would let the worst happen to her.

He had a reason to live now. As long as Drake was alive Astrid would never be safe. So Sam would find him, and he would kill him. Not quickly, no, unless there was some need to eliminate Drake hastily, Sam would take his time in killing the deranged fuck. Suddenly, he felt more alive with a purpose than he had not ten minute ago.

There was a knock on his door. Sam groaned as he got up from the couch. If it was that girl again, Miranda or whatever it was, Sam wasn't sure whether or not he would have have the brain power enough to deal with her. Although he couldn't imagine why she wold return, Sam wasn't sure who else knew where he lived. His heart sank at the thought of some religious group trying to convert him, or a sales person shoving some random object at him. Unless is was girl guides with cookies. Sam had a liking towards the cookies not to mention he had a bit of a soft spot when it came to children. Understandably, since his own childhood had been yanked away by the realization that he could shoot hot blue light out of his hands. Since the FAYZ ended, Sam hadn't seen any new freaks. It lead him to believe that it was in fact the FAYZ that had nurtured these super-human powers into him and his peers. It was a comforting thought that after the FAYZ ended, there would be no new powers in the world. Astrid had a theory once that it wasn't the FAYZ that caused there powers to emerge but natural evolution. With the help of the Giaphage's DNA, evolution could take humans anywhere. It was all in theory of course. After the FAYZ ended, the authorities quarantined Perdido Beach and the surrounding area. The ten mile radius which surrounded the power plant was now inaccessible to everyone under any circumstances. So, no more contamination from the Gaiaphage, no more powers.

With each passing day that Sam didn't hear about the freaks, his heart felt a bit more at peace. True, the freaks from the FAYZ where still stuck with their abilities but the government had kept their secret. They said that allowing the general population to know about them would cause widespread panic and discrimination. They were right of course, having the normal kids of the FAYZ know about them was enough to convince anyone about the prejudice that faced them. Even if someone didn't want to keep the secret, who would believe them if the government didn't back them up? No one, that was the simple truth. They would be called crazy, clinically insane and put away for their own protection. Probably.

Sam was more than happy to keep the secret. Who needed "freak" branded across their forehead anyhow? Best just stick to the shadows and stay unnoticed.

Sam brought his attention back to the door and the uninvited visitor that awaited on the other side.

He looked through the peephole, and was both relieved and wary of the identity of the person who waited, non too patiently on the other side.

"The sign says "No Solicitors". Can't you read?" Sam said, feeling an uncharacteristic urge to be humorous.

"I guess it's a good thing I'm not here to sell you anything, isn't it Sam?" Was the cheeky reply from the female from the other side of the door. "Besides, you know the only thing I can offer you, I'd give you gladly for free."

That was too true, Sam thought as he opened his door to greet his visitor face to face. "It's been a long time, Taylor. Tell me, why didn't you just bounce right in?"

"I've hence learned that bouncing into people's apartments unannounced creates quite a hostile reaction. Is it so hard to believe that I actually want to get on people's good side for once and not purposely anger them before I get a chance to talk to them?" she replied innocently.

"As a matter of fact it is" He replied curtly.

"Well its the truth nonetheless. Why? Do you miss my sudden rude appearances?" Taylor smirked flirtatiously.

"Not in the least, thanks or whatever, for not shattering my privacy"

"Always Mr Sunshine aren't you? For a guy who can shoot hot light out of his hands, you could lighten up a bit,"

Sam was a bit annoyed by her attempt at humor, although he had to admit that it was good to see a familiar face. It seemed that Taylor was the only one of his "Old Friends" That actually didn't mind being within a ten mile radius of him. Maybe she loved him, or at least used to love him. Whatever feelings she might have or used to have were immaterial to Sam other than those of friendship. He considered having her as more than a friend on more than one occasion, but he never acted on his impulses knowing they would only lead to another broken heart and he would be damned if he let that happen again on his watch. And besides the point, Taylor was not and would never be Astrid, and to say so was an insult to the woman he loved. It may sound harsh but as far as Sam was concerned, it was the truth. The truth could be denied if you were the type who lived inside fantasies, but that was not him. He always knew the situation and prided himself on making decisions objectively.

Sam gestured for Taylor to come in before he realized that she was already inside and lounging comfortably on his couch. Sam wasn't surprised.

"You want a beer?"

"I'd love one. The trip here made me thirsty"

"Where'd you bounce from this time?" Sam asked uninterstedly as he retrieved two beers from his tiny refrigerator which contained cans of said drink, expired milk, and something which might have once been a watermelon.

"Las Vegas. Two hundred and thirty miles in twenty nine and a half minutes. A new record I might add, and all for you." Taylor babbled excitedly.

"I'm honored," he relied with a...was that a smile on his lips? It must be some itch in his cheeks making him to raise the corners of his mouth upward. Either that or he really did miss talking to a friend. A real conversation with real topics with someone who understood him to some degree. Or an itch, either one. "Something tells me your not here just to chit chat about the weather," He said as he tossed her a beer which she caught and proceded to open and drink.

Taylor enjoyed a long slurp of her drink before facing Sam and his question. Her face lost its bright optimistic spark.

"Drake."

"I know, I just heard about it on the news." Sam said, sitting down next to her with his own beer. Something told him He'd need the alcohol for this conversation.

"It's on the news already? That was fast," Taylor said in a strange voice.

"What do you mean, already? How did you find out?" How could she be surprised it was on the news? Unless she found out from another source but how was that possible unless...

She sighed before answering. "I saw him. He came to find me. "

Sam was lost for words for a moment. Drake found Taylor. How and for what purpose? Was it possible that he needed her for some plan he was hatching? or was he using her to send a message? Sam suddenly was filled with fear and fury. Fear that the one armed cretin had harmed his friend somehow. Which would only add to his very long list of reasons to hate Drake.

"When?" he asked without even thinking about it.

"About an hour ago. He...told me things. He wanted me to know his plan. I don't know why he told me but he did and I..." she closed her eyes, shaking her head. "He said the government hadn't killed the Gaiaphage yet because they want to study it. He said so many things. I can't tell you how much of what he said was true but...He looked so" Taylor stopped her monologue seemingly deprived of the appropriate wording. "I don't know, he looked excited. Like he was going to do something fun. Fun for him, I guess"

Sam was trying to process this. If Drake could find Taylor so easily, and Taylor was a hard person to find at the best of times, then he would find...

Sam was out of his seat in a flash, grabbing his cell phone off the counter where it had previously lain undisturbed and dialed the forbidden number. It was the number listed under Jack and Brianna Thompson. It was the number that Sam had sworn he would never dial. Ever.

That's the problem with promises. You know when you make them that a time will come along where you have the temptation to break them. And when that time comes, you learn that promises are made of nothing. Just air, not even that. He heard the phone ring once. Damn it, Sam had promised he would never hurt Astrid, but he did. The phone rang twice. He hurt her when they were together, and he did by leaving her. The phone had rung three times now. He had left her in hopes to spare her the pain he knew he was causing when she was around him. But justifications meant as little as promises. Just words and air to fill our guilty souls.

The phone was answered on the fourth ring.

"Hello?" That was Brianna.

it took Sam a moment to think of what to say.

"Brianna it's me, Sam."

...

"What the fuck do you want?" Was the predictable response.

"Brianna I don't want to cause trouble I just need to-"

"It's too late for that, you're lucky I don't know where you live, cause' if I did, I would breeze over there and kick your ass for even thinking of dialing our number-"Brianna continued her rant for some time before Sam interrupted her.

"Brianna, I don't want to talk to her. I don't want her to know I called, I just need to know if she's okay. I need to know she's protected. You tell me that your 100 percent sure that she if safe from Drake and I'll hang up the phone and you can forget I ever called. "

There was silence for a few moments. It was incredible, Brianna almost never stayed silent for so long. She must be talking to someone else.

"We can protect her fine without your help. You've done enough on your own, just stay away or I swear I'll kill you. Understand?"

"Fine I understand. You have my number in your log now, please write it down. Call me if Drake shows up, or if you need help in any way. You know I'm one of two people alive who can defeat him."

"Fine whatever, I'm hanging up now, don't call again."

"I promise I wont."

Sam pushed the red button on his phone. Promises are made of air. Words meant to comfort, lie to yourself, or gain the trust of the one your promising them to. Promises meant nothing because anyone could make them of any subject to anyone at any time of day. How much could that mean? How substantial does anyone expect that to be?

People expect far too much from their friends and from themselves.

And Brianna was one of those people. She expected to protect Astrid with nothing but her speed and her strong but weak-minded husband and a lost boy still hurting over the healer who broke his heart. That wouldn't work, it was a plan doomed to fail.

"Sam, Drake isn't going after Astrid. At least, not yet.'

He had completely forgotten that Taylor was still here. "What do you mean, what do you know?"

Taylor's face grew serious. "He told me where he was going in case I wanted to join him. At least that's what he said. I pretty sure he wanted me to know so that I could tell you so you'd go after him. "

"Where is he?"

Taylor shook her head. "If I tell you, your going to do exactly what he wants you to."

"I don't care, Taylor, Damn it tell me where he is." Sam was yelling now.

Taylor closed her eyes and swallowed.

"He's going back there. To Perdido Beach. He's going back there to his master so he can get orders again. "

Sam's stomach flipped thrice over. He hadn't been back to that god-forsaken place since they were rescued. But if that was where Drake was, Sam would be there to meet him.

"If your going to see our old friend, I'm coming with you,"

Taylor smiled but her face shows determination and stubbornness. To argue would be pointless. Even though Sam would rather not have to worry about another person, he recognized that if he forbade her from coming, she would do so anyways.

"Okay then. But we're gonna need some artillery, and I think you know who we need to see for that kind of thing."

"Caine." Taylor answered.

"Caine." Sam confirmed. This was going to be very interesting indeed.

Review. I like them more than chocolate.

Well, maybe not as much as chocolate, but you get my drift.