Chapter 2

Doc paced the floor of his office, frequently glancing at the video phone on his desk. It had been three hours since he called Doyle with their "plan". Doyle always called back, especially when it involved his little nephew. Something had to be wrong.

'Something is always wrong with Doyle.' Doc joked, but he wasn't laughing. He was worried about his brother-in-law, despite their many disagreements. He was sure Drew worried too, but he also knew that there was something much more important to worry about.

Zak.

Doc's patience was waning as he continued to pace. 'As soon as the Zak situation is over with I'm going to need to have a talk with Doyle. What could he be doing that takes precedence over-'

His thoughts were interrupted by his chirping ringtone. He quickly picked up the phone, but frowned at the Caller ID. It wasn't Doyle, or at least not from his phone.

"A restricted caller..." He mumbled before he answered the phone. "Doc Saturday speaking."

"Greetings, Mr. Saturday. How are you doing this fine day?" A familiar voice purred from the other end.

"YOU! Where are you? Where's my son?" The neutral politeness disappeared from his voice, replaced with true hatred. Argost.

"What, no hello? Where have your manners gone?" Doc clenched his teeth, not believing what he was hearing. 'He's messing with me. Trying to get under my skin. Calm down, Solomon. Anger's never solved anything.'

"My SON! ZAK! Where is he?!" Doc yelled into the phone.

"Ah, straight to the point? Very well. I would like to make a deal."

"I'm listening." Doc replied, reluctance and hesitance in his voice.

"There is a certain project I would like assistance with, and Zak is the only one that can help me. Give me one week with him, and he will be returned to you alive."

Doc was outraged. He wanted another week with Zak?! "And if we refuse these terms?"

"I assure you that any attempts to track or rescue the young Saturday will lead to his untimely death."

"You... you..." But he ran out of words. He did not want to leave Zak with Argost. Absolutely not. He also didn't want to endanger Zak's life. He only knew one thing for sure.

He couldn't make this decision without Drew.

"I need time. I can't agree now."

There was a pause. "I will call this time tomorrow. Don't keep me waiting." The line went dead, the dial tone filling his ears. He set down the phone, hand shaking.

This would be a long talk, indeed.

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The sounds from the airship's engine resonated through the steel walls surrounding Zak. He sat in his cell, slowly picking at the food that he was served. With every movement, pain shot through his body, bringing tears to his eyes. Eventually he gave up on moving and resigned to leaning against the wall, staring at the flickering ceiling lights above him. Zak gave a defeated sigh. Since accepting Argost's offer, his treatment had improved, the torture sessions stopped and the interrogations ceased, but that did not lift Zak's spirits. Not even in the slightest. He felt, if it was even possible, worse now then he did before. He was guilt-ridden at the prospect of helping his most hated enemy. Especially after the hell he had been through at his hands.

"I told you, I don't know where it is!" Zak continued to struggle against the bonds, chafing and cutting his wrists. Argost sneered, shoving him against the stone wall of his cell.

"Don't lie to me, boy! Tell me where you've hid the Kur Stone!" He held Zak by the collar with one hand, the other holding a stun gun against his chest.

"I swear! My parents never told-" His hurried plea was cut short when the gun was shoved into his chest and fired at full blast. Zak screamed, the metallic taste of blood coating his mouth. Argost released him, letting him fall limply to the ground. Zak took one last withering look at his kidnapper before falling unconscious.

Zak put his head in his shaking hands, pulling in his knees. Cold sweat dripped down his forehead from the intensity of the flashback. That was his first night in the Weird World mansion.

'Why did I accept? I hate him! I don't even really know what he wants me to do! All I know is that I have to catch a cryptid for him...' Guilt shot through him again as he remembered the first time he had met Argost. He would have killed Zon for a piece of the Kur Stone! 'Who knows what he'll do to this poor cryptid? If that's even what he's after... I bet Argost would think nothing of lying to me.' Through his racing mind there was one thought he couldn't get out of his head. He was helping Argost. He was helping Argost! Zak stared at the grooves in the flooring, eyes downcast and watering. He felt like a traitor. He was betraying his parents.

His parents. His brothers. His family. He inwardly winced at the thought of them.

'They must be so worried... I've been in Argost's control for almost an entire week. Six whole days. I can't even begin to imagine how they are feeling right now...' He felt the ship shudder as it began its descent. He heard footfalls approach outside of his door and began to sit up. The door opened, and Van Rook stepped inside. Zak noticed that the Russian mercenary was holding something in his hands, but could not tell what it was in the darkness of his windowless cell.

"We have arrived." Van Rook tossed what he was holding towards Zak, and he caught it just before it hit the ground. "You will need this." Zak looked down, and in the dim light he recognized the Claw. With some effort, he rose from the steel floor and followed Van Rook out of the room. The light of the hallway momentarily blinded him, and he threw up his arm to lessen the blow. They met up with Argost and Munya, and Zak tensed at the sly smile on the formers face. He hoped that the hatred was obvious in his eyes as he glared. 'If only looks could kill…'

"Good, good. We're all here." Argost ushered them out of the aircraft and into the midday sun. Zak looked around him, trying to recognize his surroundings. He was in a clearing surrounded by forest, without any signs of civilization. His mind raced, trying to think of what cryptids could live in an area like this. Eventually, he grew to frustrated to guess further.

"What am I doing here?" Zak snapped, not even meeting Argost's eyes.

Argost grinned, "I thought you'd never ask."

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Hope you liked the chapter! Expect chapters with this level of angst or more in the future. (Tis rated T for a reason)

-UltimateShipper2009 ^_^