Chapter Two: Got Teeth, Will Play
The aroma of burning flesh and hair filled the atmosphere causing those in attendance to gasp for clean air. It was a thick and heavy scent that none of them could escape and the fact that they could still hear the crackling of the flames devouring her body did nothing to ease their unsettled stomachs. But as time passed and no sign of unpolluted air was bring into being those very same people found themselves trying desperately not to gag or faint from the trauma of what they had just been made witness to. A woman that they all knew and loved had just been burned alive and although they did observe this malicious act of violence there was a part of their minds and souls that slept and found bliss in its self made ignorance.
This small part of themselves was made to feel numb and held no pictures of the event that had just occurred nor did it take notice of its grisly surroundings. There, in this fantasy world they were all in their favorite hang out spots, sitting together laughing and talking, simply enjoying one another's company as they had on so many days and nights before. It was a sense of utopia in a way. Everything was perfect and nothing seemed a mist or tainted. It was their world and their lives just as they had always lived them. It was a nice little flight of the imagination they were allowing themselves to partake in but a loud shrill cry rang out in the background bringing them back to reality. Back to the cold, cruel and unforgiving real world. The one where evil, sadistic men could kidnap them and those they loved just to torture them and force them into situations with impossible odds just for the hell of it.
The source of the voice was of course Nathan Scott. The poor boy that had just watched his mother burn alive and had no choice but to listen to her agonizing screams as she pleaded with death to come forth and claim her soul.
At the moment his heart was breaking in two and it was becoming increasingly harder for him to breathe as each intake of air seemed to become lodged in his throat, determined not to go any further. His wife, Haley stood off to the side willing her feet to move forward and comfort the man she loved but yet she couldn't.
As much as she wanted to the young woman just couldn't muster the courage to step into that room where only moments ago she had encouraged her husband's mother to enter the chamber of death while giving her directions on how to stay alive.
She considered herself a smart girl on most days but today she was faced with the harsh reality that even the smartest people can make the most stupid mistakes. This monster that she and her friends found themselves at the mercy of was twisted and brutal beyond even her comprehension and with this knowledge being so blatantly obvious she should have known that this was just some sort of trick and that his little challenge was nothing like what it had appeared to be but yet she had encouraged the woman to forge ahead. She now felt guilty as hell and didn't feel worthy of supporting and comforting her spouse because she was partially to blame for the pain he was experiencing.
"Mom"
It came out as a whisper but they all heard it, especially her but that didn't change the fact that she had no right to sit beside him or feel his flesh beneath her finger tips.
"Ha…Haley" he now said looking in the girls direction with reddened eyes and a hoarse tone. He was pleading with her, begging for her to come to him, to be his wife and sustain him, to give him strength as all hope seemed lost.
With his eyes boring into hers she could no longer resist or deny him. Slowly and shakily the girl moved to the boy's side, removing him from his father's arms and embracing him in her own. She tried her best to focus on him but she couldn't.
There was now hysterical crying coming from everyone in the background as she heard the sound of someone vomiting, finally losing control of themselves, something she was fighting so hard not to do. This whole situation was really screwed up and she found herself becoming more and more angry and frightened, knowing that someone else was going to die soon. She just hoped with all her heart and soul that it wasn't going to be Nathan.
"We have to keep moving" a small voice called out to the group as Peyton and Jake steadied a weak Brooke. Everyone looked at the person who spoke shocked by their insensitive outburst.
"You can't be serious Karen. Deb just died and if we continue playing this psychopathic killer's game then we'll be next"
"I understand that Keith but I can't just stop either. Don't get me wrong I am sorry that Deb is gone. She was my friend and business partner so trust me I am feeling this more then any of you know but I can not let my son die. I won't"
"Who's to say that wasn't his plan all along?" Peyton spoke up angry and surprised by the woman's outburst. "How do we know that he's not sitting back watching us kill ourselves one by one and when all's said and done he won't just kill Lucas for the hell of it? I mean he already said that if we fail Lucas dies anyway so…"
"So what Peyton? So you all are just willing to bet my son's life on what ifs? Please tell me that's not what you're saying"
"I hate to say it Karen but she may be right" replied Jake as he laid a comforting hand on the woman's shoulder before she roughly brushed it away.
"No, she isn't and I can not believe that you would agree with her" the woman screamed in a fit of rage.
"Listen Ms. Roe I know this is hurting you and trust me we'll be sad if Luke dies but…"
"But what Skills?"
The boy took a deep breath before continuing, doing his best to say just the right thing. "But we can't go through with this. I'm sorry but it doesn't make sense for all of keep playing these games and killing ourselves if he gonna kill Luke anyway"
"Wow. With friends like you who needs enemies?" the voice returned with dark laughter.
"We're done playing your game! You hear me, we're done"
"Really? Well then I guess I have no choice but to kill the little golden boy but don't worry. Just because you're not in the room with him doesn't mean that you don't get to watch"
Suddenly a small TV pushed forward from a hidden door in the wall peaking the curiosity of each one of the remaining captives. On the screen was a live shot of the boy in question who was now very much awake and seemed to be looking around the room with eyes that were wide and frozen open with horror.
"SOMEBODY HELP ME!" he shouted at the top of his lungs.
"Luke?" questioned Nathan as the sound of his brother's voice brought him out of his trance.
"There on the screen" replied Haley as they both got to their feet and walked over to join the rest of the group.
In front of spectators Karen stood holding her hand up to the screen and caressing the picture of her son's face just as she would if he had been standing in front of her. Warm drops of water streamed down her face as her eyes revealed how helpless and scared she felt in that moment. Her baby was at the mercy of some lunatic and she couldn't do a damn thing to stop what was about to happen to him. She silently cursed those around her and wanted nothing more than to lash out at each and every one of them for turning their backs on Lucas. But all she had the strength to do was stand by powerlessly and look into his terror filled eyes and panicked gaze. He was scared. More so then she had ever seen him in his life and the thought brought about sharp pains in her chest and she would have collapsed if it had not been for the stronger arms that supported her.
Behind her stood Dan, as he too watched his son's fearful eyes grow wider as the sound of his voice echoed louder and louder as he surveyed the room around him and everything therein. It must have been like opening his eyes from a deep slumber to find out that he was trapped inside of some nightmare with no way out. He suddenly found himself regretting not being a major part of his son's life. He felt the hole in his heart grow larger as he wondered what it would have been like to hold the boy in his arms as he awoke from a nightmare. Calming him, being his protector and shooing the big hairy monsters away. Oh how he wished he could do this for his son right now. Find the source of his fear and kill him for hurting his son and killing the mother of his younger sibling. But he couldn't. For the first time in his life Dan Scott wasn't the one in control and couldn't rush in to save the day and play hero the one time his son so desperately needed him.
"Lucas" a dark haired form said as she roughly pushed him aside and starred at the theatrics before her. Her eye lids were heavily weighed down by soaked lashes as her mind raced, filling with images that were surely going to haunt her for the rest of her days, if she survived. Pictures of Deb slowly walking to her death, the sound of her screams, the look on her face as the skin that protected her features melted away. She was scare of what events now lay before her. She found her self wondering what this demon from hell was going to do next. And more importantly why did he have to do it to Lucas?
"I hate to see that it has come to this" the voice returned with a slightly saddened tone. "All I wanted to do was help you all learn valuable lessons and teach you about what life should be about. To help you let go of all your guilt, self loathing, envy, greed and obsessions. But now, sadly I have to punish dear sweet Lucas or as I like to call him, a modern day Christ, for all of your sins. So loving and generous, always willing to forgive your acts of betrayal and cruel words, he really is a good kid" the man sighed "Hey Nathan I know you're still grieving over the lost of your mother and all but I would like you to share in some of the memories of your soon to be dearly departed brother with me." He said gaining the boy's full attention. "Remember the time you, Peyton and Lucas had to describe each other using only one word?" the man questioned as he snickered almost as if he were recalling a childhood memory with old friends.
"You called him a bastard, remember that Nathan?"
"Shut up!" the boy yelled feeling guilt wash over him at his earlier treatment of his brother.
"Oh I have an even better one" the raspy voice continued "Remember that night when you and your bastard brother attended the same party. Of course we both know why he was invited, don't we Nate? You wanted him there so you could humiliate him. What was the name of that delightful little game you played? Oh yeah, I never. Yes and what was it that you said? Oh the words are right on the tip of my tongue…" the man trailed off as a wave of nausea came over the younger Scott. He knew where this was going and he didn't like it one bit.
"Oh right" the man laughed. "I never, and these are your exact words, I never had a father who wished that I were just a stain on the bed sheets. Oh that was exceptional"
Nathan said nothing in response to his abductor, but instead held is head low and averted his eyes so that he wouldn't have to meet Karen's horrified gaze, Haley's look of disappointment or his father's heated stare of anger. He knew what he had said was wrong but at the time it felt right. He was angry with Lucas back then. He hated the fact that his brother existed and held a strong hold on their father's heart even though the elder Scott would never admit it but he didn't feel that way now and although he and Luke had long since made up that one moment in time will always be the one thing that he wished with all his might he could take back.
"Nathan. Oh my God. Was that why Luke was so angry?" questioned Haley now fully understanding why her best friend had been so distraught that night.
"And the fun didn't stop there did it Nathan? I know you retain the information of what happened next. Does a certain video tape ring any bells for you my dear boy? You know the one of Karen and Dan at their formal?"
"Nathan you didn't" said Dan in a state of disbelief. He didn't even know his son knew the tape existed, let alone know where to find it.
"He didn't do what Dan, exactly what you taught him to? It's a shame really. But I'm afraid that the time for talking is over and now you will all have to watch the next great picture show. It's title: Got Teeth?"
The instant that the invisible man finished his words silence rang out again forcing them to turn their attention back to the boy behind the clear walls. A figure wearing a clown mask and dressed in all black entered the room. Everyone watched closely trying to catch even the slightest glimpse of his face, something, anything that could give away this monsters true identity. Unfortunately they found none. Instead they had to watch as the man danced around the boy who was watching him just as intently as they were.
"Who are you? What am I doing here?" he questioned as the man playfully shrugged before opening the cage.
"What's he doing?" a frantic Brooke asked to no one in particular.
"I don't know" replied Keith as he too watched the man as he pulled something from underneath his black cloak.
He held his hand up to the camera and showed them just what he had in them. It was a pair of pliers. Then he pulled out something else. It was some sort of metal piece. He then continued by prying open the boy's mouth and pulling back his lips, giving the man full access to the boy's teeth.
"Oh please don't" cried Karen, already knowing full well what the monster intended to do with his weapon.
"Welcome to the second lesson of the day boys and girls. Today we will be taking a crash course in the art of reconstructive dentistry. Here we have our second patient of the day Mr. Lucas Scott. He is normally a very polite little boy and on most occasions he would give you a smile and greet you with warm words but today he's going to be helping me out so forgive him for the lack of manners."
"This special demonstration will show you what will happen if you eat too much candy and do not brush your teeth at least twice a day. Besides we all know just how ugly those little pearly whites can become if you don't practice proper dental hygiene. Here in my hands I hold the answer to your questions. Let's start with the two front teeth, you know the ones that always come out first when you lose your baby teeth" the man spoke as he advanced on a petrified Lucas. The man cocked his head to one side as he positioned the cold steal just right. Then in one swift motion the man pulled back with all his might, snatching the tooth from its place and pulling out part of its root with it.
They saw it all. All the blood as it came rushing out of the boy's mouth and spattered all over the man standing in front of him. They heard his cries of excruciating pain as his body buckled wildly as unprotected nerve endings met with cold air.
"Ahhhh!" screamed Brooke as she hid her face in Peyton's arms unable to look on any more.
"Oh my God! Nooooo!" cried Karen as she fell to the ground as Dan and Keith stood motionless, with their eyes glued to the screen. Neither could articulate a single word or sound. They were too shocked to do anything more then observe.
Bevin covered her ears and buried her face in her boyfriend's chest as Skills breathed heavily while fear captured and paralyzed his body. He couldn't move, he couldn't hold her, he couldn't turn away all he could do was stare straight ahead into nothingness.
"Ok it's time to go in again. This time we're going for tooth one's next door neighbor tooth number two" he said while once again repeating his earlier motion. Only this time when he pull the tooth only came partially loose and hung from the boy's mouth by three nerves. "I hate it when that happens" the man proclaimed before pulling out a pair of scissors. He proceeded to free the hanging bone fragment by cutting each nerve one by one.
"STOP IT!" yelled Peyton as she sunk down to the floor with a hysterical Brooke in her arms.
"God please make him stop, please" added Haley as she tightened her grip on her husband's hand.
In the back ground you could hear Lucas scream as a river of blood oozed down his chest and formed a puddle at his feet. He was shaking violently now and his lips were a mixture of purple and red.
"We'll play" a voice said quietly almost as if he were in a daze. "Just stop, please just stop" Nathan said a little louder. "Please just leave my brother alone"
"See all you had to do was ask nicely" the man said towards the camera before turning back to Lucas and hitting him hard over the head. "I think he would much rather prefer being unconscious then to remaining awake. Don't you agree? Now get back to the game ladies and gents, time is running out"
The screen no longer held any images and as the voice commanded the group collected themselves as best they could before re-entering the dark, damp hallway. Directly across the hall was a door that held the number two and the title HEAD SHOT.
The picture on the door was none Other than Nathan Scott's.
