Chapter 2 – The Unknown

The thick lump in Fi's throat wouldn't dissolve. Her mind and body shaking from fear. Apart of her thought it was a joke, but the other knew it was far too real to be a joke.. It practically explained why Michael had vanished. Sam pulled Fi's cell from her grip and took a closer look at it. Turning his stomach, he closed his eyes for second. It was only now that he heard Madeline asking of them to answer her question. She was soon coming closer to them. Sam quickly reacted.. this was something she couldn't see...

"It's fine Maddie, we'll need to get going! I'll give you a call once we know anything about Mike... it's Fine, Maddie! He'll be fine"

Sam gave her a chirpy reassuring smile and tapped Fi on the shoulder, gesturing her to jump up and flee the scene with him, keeping what they knew from Madeline. The impact it had on them, they couldn't let Madeline go through it, it'd be almost one hundred percent worse for her, it was her son.

"Umm, Ok. Fine.. but you call me as soon as you know? Got it Sam?"

Madeline had her suspicious, her eyes narrowed on Fi. She could see the pure fear that struck her. Madeline smiled slightly and nodded at him, giving him her strict orders.. She wanted to know as soon as possible, no matter what.

"You got it, Maddie!"

Sam shouted out as he and Fi exited the house... Fi felt she could somewhat breathe, her emotions were everywhere, she couldn't quite understand her own feelings. Sam held the cell phone in his hand, his free hand on Fi's shoulder he and Fi moved towards Sam's car and jumped in. As they moved inside the car, their minds collided with thoughts and dreadful images... but the contents on Fi's cell were far worse.

Sam broke the silence..

"Fi... Who sent it to you?"

His hands on the wheel, he was uncertain of where Fi would want to go, but his first thought was Michael's loft.

Fi looked to Sam as he asked, so sweet and carefully. He was hurting just as bad as Fi was. He needed to start figuring things out, he needed to clear his mind of all the questions he wanted answered.

Even though he held the phone himself, he had to break the silence and get Fi talking. Distract her from whatever haunting images and thoughts she had..

Fi narrowed her eyes on her cell in Sam's hand and looked back to him. Insisting he take a look.. Not her.

Sam took a look at the message and sighed deeply as he read who it was from; It was from Michael's cell, scrolling down the message, he noticed the caption in capital letters. It sent shivers down his spine...

"The Image wasn't the only thing..."

Sam started before hesitating on his choice of words...

"Fi, did you see what was written?"

Sam asked, softly. He expected her to have read it. But he was also very confused whether or not she did, unsure of her at the moment. She was far too quiet.

"All I saw was... a photo taken of Michael, unconscious and almost beaten to death... "

She struggled to let out before realising there was more to it. She turned to Sam and practically begged that he tell her what he had read...Her face so bitter-sweet and torn.

The Image was of Michael laying on his back, his arms loose and limp. His left hand over fell over his stomach. His head tilted up. Blood drenched and stained the left side of his face. His hair wet from his own blood. His eyes closed and practically left for dead on a rusted steel surface.

Sam knew what she wanted him to do, clearing his throat he looked at Fi's Cell and started to read...

"Alright Fi... It read...

Sam started before clearing his throat again and reading the words aloud to Fi..

-FIONA. HE'S ALIVE, WANT TO KEEP IT THAT WAY? REPLY-

He turned to Fi, he was somewhat relieved that the mysterious person behind this had let Michael live. But he couldn't fight the strong feeling that this wasn't the end of it...

A question struck his mind...

"Fi, why did they send this to you? Why not Maddie?"

Sam finished his question and line of thought..

"Michael.. has a lot of Enemies.. you should know that"

Fi replied, a true fact in her statement as she thought about it more..

"They probably noticed he was last talking to me, so they thought I'd be a quicker way to get attention..."

She was still looking down at this time. She wasn't sure what she'd say in her text or call. Unsure what to do. What she was capable of doing. She was scared she'd say or do the wrong thing and the whole thing.

"What do we do, Sam?"

Fi asked him. Her voice shook. She took a glimpse at the time. It had almost been an hour since she received the Image and text. She was so uncertain on what to do, hoping Sam had any ideas..

"Just reply... and we'll figure it out once we get a reply.."

Sam answered her. Hesitated on his own words. He too didn't quite know what to do. He started to hand over Fi's cell before pulling it back towards him, a thought sparked..

"I've got an idea, Fi... get the image on the computer and take a closer look at the background and surroundings"

Sam insisted, giving her the cell. Sam started the car and headed to Michael's Loft.

As Sam drove and made their way to Michael's Loft. Fi stared at a blank reply screen on her cell. Still lost for words and thoughts. As Sam pulled up outside the gate, he hopped out and opened the gate. Jumping back in, he slowly moved his car in and parked. Slipping out of the car, he shoved his keys in his pant pockets and rushed to shut the gate behind them. Fi still sat in the car lost in her own thoughts and confusion.

"Fi.."

Sam shouted out to her as he placed his hand on the rails of the stairs. Realising Fi was still in the car. Looking into the car, seeing her sitting in utter silence.

She looked over to Sam and slowly moved out of the car, the cell still in her hand. They moved up the stairs and Fi opened up the Loft. The sounds of the door swinging open echoed through the Loft. Empty.

Fi received large shivers down her body as she and Sam walked in. Sam instantly darted for the stairs and onto Michael's stone age computer. He expected Fi to follow but she slowly placed herself down on Michael's bed.

"Fi, I need your cell"

Sam started coming down the stairs. Seeing Fi almost curled in a ball hugging one of Michael's pillows. She was in a daze, lost and confused. Fi moved from her position and straightened herself, gathering herself. She was astounded that she hadn't shed any tears, she expected it. Although; it never happened. She gave Sam her cell and walked up with him... Hoping they'd be able to find something, anything that'd give them Michael's whereabouts.

Sam sat down and connected Fi's cell to his laptop, as he had left it here a few nights ago. Fi stood behind him and leaned in, getting a close look as Sam brought up the image. Fi cringed and looked away...

Sam also cringed, looking back to see Fi struggling to remain her sight on the screen. Sam swallowed and opened up a Photo editing software. Using the shape tool, he created a large black box and placed it over Michael, covering him. He couldn't stand the sight of it, and he knew Fi couldn't either. Once he finished with covering Michael up, He nudged Fi softly and told her to take a look...

She turned her to head to see a black box, where Michael would have been. Giving Sam a sweet smile in return. They both focused on the surroundings.

They studied hard, taking down notes on the loose pieces of metal, rusted steel surface and walls. Fi lost her thoughts as she began to reach for her cell, taking it in her palms. She started to reply...Her heart told her what to say.

She typed in her reply and stared at it for a moment...

-Prove me he's alive-

Sending it, she looked back to Sam then back to the screen. Her eyes moved to the notes Sam had jotted down. No new ones had been written. Her body shook, anticipation drained her as she waited for a reply.. Proof that Michael was alive.


Michael lay on his back, dehydrated and covered in bruises and deep wounds. He was almost paralysed.. He was left on the ground to heal. Darkness was all Michael could see, silence filled the room. He was uncertain of where he was and how he got there. Trying to move, Michael moved his arms around slowly, trying to pick himself up. The agony struck through his entire body causing him to scream. His left palm pressed against his forehead as he could feel a stinging, blood tickling his face as it crawled from the fresh wound. It wasn't long before Michael remembered what had happened as he stayed focused. Michael slowly and carefully sat up, his chest and ribs aching as he moved. Without any warning a large screeching sound reverberated through the room, Michael cringed as the sound almost split his eardrums. Light shined down on him, he couldn't look back... the light would blind him and destroy his cornea. He had been in this darkness for far too long. His eyes stung for a moment before four men walked in, one of them instantly grabbed a hold of Michael and swung him up to his feet. Drowsy, Michael stood there for a moment, his eyes wincing as he tried to regain focus and strength in his sight. The man before him, slapped him across the face. A loud slap is heard before Michael swiftly pulled his arm up, blocking the man's next attempt to slap him.

Stepping back, the man chuckled. Still hidden within the shadows. He wore a black long sleeve shirt with his sleeves rolled up. Thick leather gloves, white cargo pants and old combat boots.

Michael awaited another attack, but watched the other three men start equipping things and setting something up. Michael looked past the front man, trying to take a peak at what was happening...The man stepped out from the shadows, He too had bruises but minor cuts to his face... Michael obviously put up a fight. Yet, he couldn't quite remember it. The man had a thin goatee, black thick hair brushed back. Strands fell over his face. He wore a devious smile.

His light green eyes stared deeply into Michael's blue eyes...

He caught Michael trying to see what was happening behind him, moving forwards he struck Michael in the stomach, hard. Michael cried out with a large groan and fell to his knees.. he was already bruised in that area, it was still raw and tender...

Kneeling down, catching his breath. The man watched Michael for a moment before clearing his throat and stepping away, back into the shadows to help his men. Michael stayed down on his knee, gathering his thoughts as he took a glimpse at his hands, red an sore.. But unbound...He found it rather strange that he wasn't tied up.. After all, he could take them all down, unless they had a pile of weaponry back there, ready to fire upon him at any sudden attempt the escape. Michael knew better and stayed there, coming up with ideas to flee the scene when it was right...

Moving out the way, the front man stepped aside for Michael to see a tripod with a digital recorder placed on it, aimed at him as he dropped his other knee, staring at the lens' for a moment before the front man cracked a smile...

"your girl, wanted proof you're alive..."

Michael gave him a soft dismayed look as he made his statement, He had no idea Fi knew what was happening.. it helped thinking she didn't know, but now the table was flipped. It made him feel far worse than he already was now that he knew, Fi had an idea what was happening.. It made him sick. He only hoped they weren't to do anything too drastic to him whilst recording... Michael knew he had to do what they wanted, or Fi would get something sent to her that'd drop her to her knees in fright. He knew she couldn't handle it, for once.. she isn't able to save him. It was the same thing for Sam, but he started to wonder if Sam knew? Did Fi keep it all to herself? Try to save him herself. He lowered his head, hoping she hadn't taken all of this in by herself...

The leader smirked and picked out a folded piece of paper out of his back pocket and unfolding it, licking his lips. He cracked a smirk and started towards Michael, shouting over his shoulder..

"Action"...

Author's Note:

Thank you all VERY much for the reviews! I'm very pleased to hear you're all interested on what is happening and are eager to find out what happens next, Please keep those reviews coming! They made me update much sooner than usual! I do hope this doesn't disappoint!