From Virgil's best estimate, he and his brothers had been held captive for a little over 72 hours. He had been desperate for communication from John or from his father; from anyone off the island. Not that he didn't want to see his brothers, because he did, especially if they were going to be sold (a notion he was still struggling to deal with).

But he wished desperately for someone, anyone, a friendly face to rush in and save day. After enduring his hour of emotional abuse (because that's what it was), Scott had drifted off to sleep. That had left Virgil the only one awake in a dark, gray area.

Virgil sighed as he hugged his knees to his chest, and gently rested his head on his hands. Really, he hated this whole place, the officers who were corrupt, if they were even able to be officers; the people who had held them captive. He hated that they'd hurt his brothers. He hated that they'd held a gun to Alan's head. The kid was only nineteen, after all; he didn't deserve this. None of them deserved it.

He flashed back, unwillingly, to the verbal abuse Scott had taken only hours before.

Flashback

"Your operation is poorly run," the man taunted. He leaned against the wall, looking Scott directly in the eye. Scott refused to acknowledge the man, but Virgil knew the mans' words were getting to his brother. His jaw was clenched, and he had to rest his hand firmly on the wall to prevent himself from reaching out and striking the man.

Once again, a case of where they probably could have taken the man, but couldn't do it because of the risk it posed to their younger brothers. Virgil's teeth clenched as the insults only increased.

"You're a worthless human being who obviously doesn't have any respect for the laws at hand!" Words of abuse that his brother should have never had to hear.

Virgil must have drifted off to sleep, because the next thing he knew, he was being shaken awake by Scott. "Hey," his brother said. Virgil instantly noticed three things – one, Scott was exhausted; two, they had been moved, three – it was now nighttime. The dark light came from the now windowless room.

"What's wrong?" Virgil asked as Scott sank onto the ground. They were now sitting on a nice, dirt floor. Man, how hard had he napped, and how long had he been out? Obviously, awhile. "Besides the obvious, I mean," he added hastily at Scott's dark look.

Scott exhaled slowly. Virgil got a feeling that he didn't want to know this information, but that he wouldn't have much of a choice. After three minutes, Scott spoke up. "They've sold Alan and Gordon," he said in a husky voice. Virgil had to stop himself from responding verbally, knowing that his brother had more information that he might not share if Virgil launched into him. It seemed that his brother was in a dark space right now, and personally, Virgil didn't blame him. He didn't know if he could have taken the abuse "as well" as Scott had.

"They said we get to say good-bye. They're going to come for us in a few minutes," Scott said. He sighed as he leaned back against the wall.

"Has it really been 96 hours since we've been kidnapped?" Virgil asked, his mouth agape. He hadn't thought that it had been, but who knew?

"I don't think so. I overheard one of them saying that they were selling them early. Apparently, they got a 'really good offer'," Scott replied, using quote marks on the last three words. He looked disgusted, and Virgil felt the same way. "I mean, dear God, Virgil, they're selling human beings!" he let out a frustrated hiss. "I just don't think they understand that," he added helplessly.

"I'm right there with you," Virgil replied, agreeing with his brother wholeheartedly. The uneasy feeling in his gut only grew when he heard what sounded like a key rattling in the door. He forced himself to exhale slowly as the man came in, preparing himself mentally for whatever was about to happen next.

Virgil was sure it would be nothing good.

Gordon Tracy was not happy. He was really, really upset, actually, come to think of it. He sighed as he leaned back against the wall, looking at his younger brother, Alan. Alan looked even less happy than he did. Both boys had just been informed that they'd been sold.

There was an uneasy feeling in Gordon's gut that had settled there and just wouldn't leave him alone. He knew that what was about to happen would be bad. He had been stupid, and he knew it, and he'd been punished for it. His captors, after they'd met with the buyers, had taken him outside of the police station. He'd decided to attempt to escape, and had broken free of one of the police officers' holds.

Gordon had gotten exactly fifteen footsteps of freedom before he'd been recaptured. This time, the bad guys had put handcuffs on him. They'd taken him back to the police station and had beaten him so badly that he had – almost – worried that one of his ribs had been broken. It truly was a classic example of police brutality, Gordon thought. At least they'd patched him up; Gordon now was sporting a classic black brace and was wearing a sling.

"How's your arm?" Alan finally asked after the men had left about fifteen minutes later.

Gordon shrugged. "It hurts, but I'll live," he said. He glanced at his younger brother. "What about you?"

"I'm sore, but I'll live," Alan responded with a shrug. He was still sporting a few bruises from his beating, but he'd managed to heal quickly. "You never told me why they decided to attack you," he added thoughtfully.

It took Gordon a minute before he responded. "They took me outside, and I tried to escape. In retrospect, it was probably stupid. I mean, this is an island, and you all are here. But I couldn't not try."

"How far did you make it?"

"About fifteen steps. These guys aren't just good, Alan, they're damn good." Gordon winced as he rested against the back wall.

"That's okay with me," Alan said with a shrug.

Gordon turned to his brother, looking at him as if he had three heads. "…And why is that?"

"Because that just gives Scott that much more ammunition to hurt them later."

The statement made Gordon chuckle for the first time since he'd been captured, and he had to admit it felt good. At least he would be with one brother when he was sold.

The meeting – the good-bye, really – between brothers was tense. Although Scott displayed no visible bruises, Alan knew something must have happened, because Scott seemed more defeated than usual. Virgil seemed to be no worse for wear other than a new, interestingly colored black eye.

"Scott," Alan said, whispering in his oldest brothers' ear, "I love you." Scott, feeling a sense of relief for the first time since his hour of verbal abuse, breathed a tired sigh as he embraced his younger brother. God, how he hoped for a rescue – an escape plan – anything. Anything to get them out of this desperate situation they were in.

Tense good-byes were exchanged. "I'm sorry," Scott whispered. When he said that, Alan knew his intuition was right - Scott was upset, but about what?

"It's not your fault, Scott." Surprisingly, it was Gordon's turn to speak up. "It's our captors' fault. They're the ones who care about nothing but money."

Scott slowly nodded and embraced Gordon.

Twenty minutes later, the men came back, and escorted Gordon and Alan out of the room, leaving Virgil and Scott alone in the dark room, praying that wherever their brothers were sent, they'd be reunited, and that they wouldn't be treated too badly.

It seemed to be a fleeting prayer, one that had withdrawn, empty hope.

Challenge: Gordon and Alan have been sold... What will happen to Scott and Virgil?

Please R&R! Thanks for those of you who have taken the time to review. I'm sorry I haven't been able to respond to them yet.