Again sorry about the delay, I know I always get annoyed when people take ages to update. I hope all you dedicated readers are enjoying the plot and now I need to think what is going to happen later (I have no idea how to end it!!!!)

The guard, who Alex had seen the day before, disappeared around the corner. He returned with Charlotte who had her hands tied behind her back and a gag in her mouth.

The tear stains were obvious, the salty tracks ran down her cheeks and over the multiple bruises which had already begun to form on her face.

What surprised Alex was that despite the fact that he was totally freaking out, she looked calm and even slightly defiant. She stood straight and looked unwaveringly at the wall behind Alex. He felt a great surge of pride course through him as he though about how brave she was.

'This one has been annoyingly courageous; we even had to gag her when she wouldn't stop shouting obscenities at us.'

From the corner of his eye he even saw Charlotte's eyes crinkle at the sides, and he was sure under the gag she was smiling. It vanished quickly though and the same unemotional mask resumed its examination of the far wall of the cell.

'Shall we begin Mr Rider, or do you want to save your friend the pain and just tell us what you know?'

'I can't tell you anything,' It wasn't a complete lie, he couldn't tell her anything because of the official secrets act sheets he'd signed. But he still felt guilt prodding painfully at his chest.

'Alright then Alex, have it your way, but remember this is your fault. Remove the gag so he can hear her cry out in pain!'

The cloth on her mouth was removed and she spat out the other lump that had been forced into her mouth. Now that her face was completely visible, Alex felt bile rise in his throat as he registered the deep cuts around her mouth, as if someone was trying to make it look like she was smiling. Mr Grin popped into his head then but he pushed those thoughts away when he heard Charlotte shout out in pain.

A deep red mark in the shape of a hand was noticeable on the young girls face. And tears brimmed in her eyes. Alex could see that she was exhausted and realised that while he had been drugged, she had probably been kept mercilessly awake.

The next blow was to her neck where Alex knew several pressure points were. She crumbled to the floor like the strings that had been holding her up, had been dropped and she had fallen with them.

Kicks followed, and the heat rose in Alex. He grew worried when she no longer made any reaction to the physical beating she was receiving. He seemed not to be the only one to notice.

'William, wait!' The guard stopped, and retreated to the corner where he looked impassive, as if he had merely handed his boss a cup of coffee, rather that beat up a kidnapped teenager.

Alex saw Hannah approach the ball on the floor, and she crouched down as she neared. Almost tentatively she rolled the girl out her defensive position and checked her pulse. Alex waited with bated breath.

'She is just unconscious Eleanor, I think she was exhausted.'

Eleanor looked slightly annoyed, and Alex realised that she had lost one of the biggest holds she had on Alex. At least for a little while at least.

'Well that is certainly inconvenient,' she answered through gritted teeth. Alex saw her inhale deeply and watched as all traces of emotion left the unnaturally pale face. She twisted to face her only remaining conscious prisoner.

'I guess this leaves you Alex, we revert back to plan A. You see we never planned on picking up a spare, but I guess after we have finished with you, we can dispose of her.' Her smile made Alex feel sick. He turned away, looking instead towards the frail body of the girl. The mystery girl, she had intrigued him, given him company, and what had he done. Gotten her beaten up, and most likely killed!

'Mother, remove this scum from the cell and make him talk. If he gives you any trouble get William to come and get me.'

Hannah nodded as Alex stared on in shock. Mother???? She was her mother? This wasn't really of any consequence but still some minor part of his brain found this thought amusing.

After watching Alex's reaction to the revelation, Eleanor spun on her heels, her hair fanning out in the air behind her. Then she marched up the stairs haughtily. She didn't look back as she closed the heavy wooden door.

The look in the old woman's eyes, as Alex looked back, shocked him. She looked almost predatory as she unlocked his confined prison. Suddenly the likeness between mother and daughter was clearly identified.

The lock clicked, and slowly the old iron door swung open. Hannah marched in, grabbing Alex's arm in a deadly grip as he tried to struggle away. In actuality he wasn't trying to get away, he was biding his time to make his escape.

It came as he was walking back out of the door of the 'cage'. Hannah's grip loosened minutely as she cackled.

'No point struggling, boy, there isn't anyone who is going to help you.'

Alex took his chance. He lifted his foot, slamming it down again on the old woman's foot. She gasped in pain and he twisted his arm out of her slackened hold. William came forward to defend but Alex cut him of by shoulder charging him back into the wall.

There was a sickening crunch as the guard connected with the stone passageway. He sunk to the floor. The braziers which held candles in them shook and one candle fell—falling onto the stone floor.

Unfortunately for Alex there were wooden skirting boards around the walls and the solvent used in the joining of the brickwork was flammable. Flames leapt up from the point around the candle. The overheated wax burning uncontrollably until it was just a puddle on the floor.

Not pausing to freak out, (Alex knew that seconds meant the difference between life and death) he turned and sprinted to where Charlotte lay. It was the smoke that killed not the flames, so Alex crawled towards the door, dragging the girl behind him as gently as possible.

The smoke was multiplying quickly and it surrounded the teens as they fought to reach the door. Then a shadow appeared.

Alex dodged seconds before a metal pipe crashed down where he had previously been sitting. Hannah stepped out of the fog, grinning insanely and sweating. She grasped a water pipe in her left hand, and her right hung at her side. It looked sprained and Alex guessed she must have fallen.

The pipe swiped again but this time it caught Alex's shoulder as he twisted away. He had had to leave Charlotte on the floor, but he was quite sure that the crazy woman was solely interested in killing him with the blunt instrument. They pivoted around each other both getting some minor hits in.

The smoke was clouding up Alex's lungs and he felt himself slip. Crashing to the ground he saw the cripple loom over him, displaying her teeth in a feral grin.

The pole came crashing down on his leg and he yelled out as pain shot through him. The pole rose again this time aiming for his head. The fatal blow. He tried to move but the pain searing through him left him incapacitated.

The blow never came.

He watched as the woman toppled over almost comically, and Alex was left looking up into Charlotte's eyes as she brandished a similar metal pipe.

She reached out to help Alex up, and together they began fighting through the heat, Alex limping through the pain, trying to find an escape.

It was quite a long chapter, but it had more action in it. I hope you liked it.