Here comes the next chapter. It's not overly long but don't worry, the next one will be longer again:)

I want to thank you all for those kind reviews and all the fav's and follows! My motivation is high thanks to you guys;)

Now let's start with the chapter:)

Disclaimer: Blacklist is not mine (for details, see prologue)


Chapter 2

The world was still black when Red regained consciousness. Even after prying his eyes open, he couldn't see anything and that made him nervous. A quick inventory of his body told him that he was sore but not overly injured. No broken bones, no gunshot wounds, not big cuts and no inner bleedings. Good. Trying to lift his head, Red felt the world title and make a swing back to the other side. Nausea came suddenly in waves and bile rose up in his throat. Swallowing hard a few times and squeezing his eyes shut, he was happy to find out that after a few moments it helped and the twisting and turning in his head stopped, albeit leaving him exhausted and tired.

I do might suffer from a slight concussion though, he thought to himself and rubbed a hand over his head in hope it would lessen the pain of a beginning of a headache.

Lifting his head again after a few minutes, he tried to look around, but still there was only darkness to see and he let go of the idea to find his way around with help of his eyes. Slowly he turned onto his back, groaned when his head started to throb in earnest and paused for a minute to gather his strength and thoughts.

Lizzie

The thought bore itself into his brain and it almost took his breath away. They have taken her. Ripped her out of his arms. He hadn't been able to protect her. His stomach clenched painfully and he felt the nausea come back full force. As fast as his aching head allowed, Red turned onto his belly and rose up on his hands and knees, crawling a few inches and got sick. Mostly rocked by dry-heaves, he felt tears stinging his eyes but held them back. They wouldn't be of any use. They wouldn't bring back his Lizzie or help her in any way.

Letting himself fall back, his back collided with a wall and he gratefully leaned against it.

Just when he thought his eyes were starting to adjust to the darkness, a bright light blinded him suddenly. His eyes picked up the screeching of a metal door and he winced at the effect on his headache.

"Raymond!"

Russian accent, deep voice, never heard before. Red's mind was working on overtime, trying to memorize and categorize every single aspect of this man.

"I see you have woken up. What a pleasure to finally meet you face to face."

"I can imagine it is a pleasure for you, but for me?" Red squinted, to make his eyes focus, but it didn't work yet. "Not so much. At least until now." He chuckled humorlessly. "You could change that, though, you know?"

He could hear heavy footsteps coming closer and his body wanted to recoil, to stiffen but his trained brain told his body not to do so. Do not show any fear. Instead of stiffening, Red relaxed, straightened and looked in the direction of the man.

"And how and why would I do that? You are my prisoner."

Red's eyes were finally starting to adjust to the light change and a black form of a man was visible right before him. He looked up and grinned.

"Where is she?"

"You didn't answer my question." The man crouched down in front of him, obviously being aware of the fact that Red was in no condition to attack him right now.

"You know my answer to that question."

The features of the man were getting clearer and Red could see a wide, angular face with a bushy beard and gray hair. "But I will help you out, since I am not as rude as you seem to be." Red smirked at the man. "If you don't tell me where the girl is and how she is, I will haunt you down until one of us or we both are dead. If by any chance she has not survived this little…charade of yours…then help you god, but you won't be safe even after your death."

"Your threats don't touch me at all." The man spat at him but Red could see his face getting taut and stressed. "You are only alive because I still need you alive."

He straightened and looked down at Red with a grin. He huffed and started to walk away, but Red held him back.

"Who are you?"

The chuckle leaving the man could only be described as evil.

"I guess…your biggest nightmare."

The door closed and Red was left alone with a deep frown on his face. Liz couldn't be dead. This man would have taunted him, gloated with the fact that he had taken her from him if that were the case. Red wanted to believe that. Not only for Lizzie's sake but also for his own. The hollow feeling that was spreading through his soul when the thought of her being dead entered his mind, was something he was scared of. Red let the back of his head fall back against the wall with a thud. Liz' scared eyes haunted him. Her warm blood on his hands was as vivid before his eyes as it had been the moment it had spilled from her body. When sleep claimed him again, he didn't fight it. Maybe he would be able to dream about Lizzie and the happy days in her life-when he had been watching from afar.

Three hours later…

The screeching of the opening door woke Red from a dream he instantly forgot when the first spots of light shone into his bleary eyes.

"Now, now. So rude of you to sleep when I bring you a gift."

"I don't know if your gift is going to be that healthy for me."

The mocking laugh rang in his ears and he glanced towards the door, not able to see a lot more than the man's silhouette and a few more people behind him, but he was happy to notice that his eyes were now a lot more cooperative than the first time had woken up in this hellhole.

"I actually agree." The man huffed, but Red could hear him shuffling closer. He stopped about two meters away from Red and fell silent, regarding his prisoner carefully.

"I have to tell you, Reddington, I am a fan of you. My boss wants me to kill you, but honestly? I would like to give you a chance. At least a chance to make peace with your world before I kill you."

Red laughed hoarsely, stretching his legs out on the floor.

"A bit presumptuous, aren't we?"

"No." the clear and heavy accented answer surprised Red slightly but he didn't have a lot of time to think about this before the Russian man in front of him gestured to one of the other shadows standing nearby. He came closer and Red wondered why his steps were that heavy and why his silhouette was so out of proportion. His questions were answered when the man bent down and a dull thud sounded and Red's eyes caught a glimpse of pale flesh.

"I hope you'll enjoy. I'll leave you something to patch up your pet."

Red was stunned for a second, when the men retreated and left a small window open in the door, but only seconds later his gaze returned to the still form lying in front of him.

"Oh god, Lizzie."

tbc...


Let me know what ya think:) I am always like jumping up and down when I see someone reviewed:)

oh and I forgot to mention that I still have no beta, so please dont hate me for mistakes. I do my best to re-read and correct but what can I say?...things slip by sometimes;)