Title: What is it With Girls in Boxes?

Author: Beneficia

Rating: PG

Disclaimer: I'm just borrowing them.

Spoilers: Everything that's aired so far is fair game.

Summary: Prompt 027. Fear

AN: Thank you all so much for reviewing. Your support really does help me get off my ass and write.

"Why in the hell couldn't they have just locked the gorram thing?" Jayne grunted as he and the captain continued to saw on the front of the box, which they had placed facing up.

The box was maybe four feet long, but only about a foot and a half wide and deep. It had two rectangular protrusions extending from its front, one on the lid, another where the lid would close on the box. They had a hole that was designed to fit a padlock through it. These had been welded together, along with a good portion of the front of the box, sealing the lid to the bottom.

"I guess them as put her in there weren't looking for her to get out," Mal answered on the box's other side, holding the other end of the tree saw (one of their 'gifts') that they were currently moving back and forth on the welded seal.

The doc, having been roused from his brief sleep, was off on the other side of the area outside of the infirmary where they had carried the box, and preparing what few medical supplies they had left. He had taken another stimulant and was currently alert enough to perform his duties, though he had warned them it would only last another two or three hours. Taking another dose afterwards was out of the question; his heart was already almost fibrillating.

"At least they didn't seal the whole thing," Simon said, "She would have asphyxiated by now."

"Yeah, 'cause then we would missed out on all this fun," Jayne responded as he and the captain finally got past the padlock extension and down to the weld on the lid.

"It's set up," Kaylee said, as she and Zoe brought out the stretcher from the infirmary to set it on the floor next to Simon.

"Good," he replied, "Has everything been disinfected properly?" he asked, as stood up, gloves and apron donned.

Zoe nodded, "Everything's ready." Kaylee picked up the Simon's tray and stood next to him as Zoe went over to where the captain and Jayne had paused in their sawing.

"Looks like we're almost through," Mal said examining the box, "Zoe," he said looking at her.

She nodded and picked up her shotgun. She moved a few feet off and cocked it, then pointed it at the box.

Mal nodded to Jayne and they resumed their work. A minute later the saw slipped down and inch. They were through.

Mal and Jayne set the saw on the couch and picked up their weapons. Mal nodded to Jayne, and they kicked the lid down.

At first all Mal saw were chains and dried blood. Then he noticed hands, bare feet, and the fact that they were bound together.

He followed the arms bound behind the person up to the red, blood matted hair on the back of a head that was crammed into the corner of the box, the neck at an extreme angle.

"Jayne," Mal said putting his gun away. The bent down and reached inside. The half-inch chains wrapped around the person scraped against the sides as they pulled the girl out, and turned her over.

Kaylee gasped from somewhere behind Mal, but he barely heard her. The girl in front of him looked a good deal worse than most of the reaver victims he had recently seen. Shreds of clothes stuck to her front, plastered brown and red with old and fresh blood. The chains she was wrapped in bit into her arms, legs, and chest. They pressed down on motleys of bruises, and various exposed wounds, most of which seemed to have been caused by knives, though a few by teeth and nails. At least two holes, one in an arm and the other in her side, caused by bullets were sluggishly seeping blood.

He noticed her left arm looked burned, probably from when the box was welded. There were two locks holding the chains together located at her throat, which looked like it had narrowly escaped being completely slit. He checked her pulse as well as he could and noticed her slight breathing. He swiftly ordered Jayne to get the chain cutters, and carefully tilted her head back so Jayne could reach the locks.

He brushed the girl's hair aside as Jayne cut the locks, and finally got a look at the person they had rescued.

And then Mal's blood ran cold as looked down at the face of the one person in the 'verse that had ever truly terrified him.