1Author's Note: credit to Angelic Prophecy for taking the offer to make the video I asked about last chapter. Can't wait to see it Angel! You rock! R&R!

Chapter 6

Riley once again awoke to the sound of a door opening. He was once again grabbed up by the arms and chained to the wall. But he noticed he was facing the wall and his back was facing Christian.

"What are you doing?" Riley asked weakly.

"You'll find out," Christian smiled.

Riley immediately tensed up when he heard a familiar crack. He looked back behind him and saw what Christian had in his hand. He gasped when he realized what Christian was going to do. He was going to whip him. Riley heard the whip crack again as he faced the wall.

"Just break open his hoodie," Christian ordered.

Riley struggled with the little strength he had, but it was no use. Daniel and Seth broke open his jacket a little bit and stood back. Riley tensed up waiting for the first. When the whip hit his back for the first time, Riley screamed loudly in pain and agony. The chains held him up right as he leaned forward. The whip came back again hitting his lower back. As the whip hit him more and more, he prayed this would stop. After the 20th time, Christian told Daniel and Seth to let Riley down. Riley leaned on to the wall for support.

"Well Riley, you ready to give up?" Christian asked getting next to Riley.

"Never," Riley groaned.

Christian punched Riley in the face giving him a black eye. Riley fell to the ground careful to land on his side.

"When will you learn?" Christian asked kicking Riley in the stomach a few times.

"Never because I know Ben will come and save me," Riley moaned.

"Well, that's not going to happen this time. You see, he's dead," Christian told Riley.

"You're lying," Riley growled.

"No I'm not. See for yourself," Christian stated throwing down a newspaper.

Riley squinted to see. He gasped when he saw the headline.

'Gates Mansion Goes Up In Flames. No Survivors.'

Riley couldn't believe it. It just wasn't possible. Christian and his men left. Riley lay there his back on fire and tears of sadness and pain rolling down his face.

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Ben sat in his study waiting for the FBI to return. They had gotten a lead that could lead them to Riley. They finally returned.

"Well?" Ben asked.

"We didn't find him or the kidnappers," Agent Sandusky made known.

Ben's face fell. It had been a week now since Riley had been taken, and all the FBI did was chase around leads that lead no where. Ben hadn't slept at all and just sat in his study most of the time. Ben turned when Abigail put a hand on his shoulder.

"Don't worry Ben. We'll keep trying," she assured.

Ben stormed off upstairs. Abigail sadly watched him go. Ever since Riley had been kidnaped, Ben hadn't been the same. Abigail took on most of the work load. She had to handle the media a lot when they would call or meet her at work to ask about Riley. It was killing her to see Ben like this. She followed him upstairs and found him sitting on the edge of their bed.

"Ben why do you keep storming off like that?" she asked.

"Because it has been a week and we still haven't found him. No one is even doing anything," Ben told her.

"Ben the FBI is doing all they can," Abigail assured.

Ben stood up.

"No they're not! All they're doing is chasing around false leads! That is not bringing Riley back! God only knows what Christian is doing to him! He's probably out on the street some where hurt badly!" Ben yelled.

"Would you just stop!" Abigail suddenly yelled, "you think that this will help bring Riley back?! All you do is sit in your study and wallow in self pity! I don't even know you anymore! And I am getting really tired of doing all the work around her, while I watch my family fall apart!"

Abigail now had tears streaming down her face. Ben went over and hugged her.

"I'm sorry Abigail. I'm so sorry," he apologized.

He just held her and let her cry.