Chapter Eight
A/N: My turn (ninewood)! You're going to need hankies!
Adam looked up at Alan and Rose when he felt a hand on his shoulder and turned, looking into his wife's eyes. He knew what it was like to feel lost without his brother but there was something in air, something that echoed through his soul and made him shiver.
"This is bad, Sunshine," Adam whispered and Marion brushed the hair from his eyes.
"We'll find them," Marion said but Adam shook his head.
"This isn't like what happened with my brother. True, we didn't know if he was dead or alive for a year but this is different."
"Maybe we should talk to the elders. Maybe the council can…"
"NO!" Adam shouted and she heard the anger in his voice. Like Alan, it was his turn on the council but this was a family matter and should be handled by the family.
"Adam David Storm, don't you take that tone with me!" Adam saw a look Jackie had given him many times over the years he had lived with her and he sighed.
"Look, Sunshine, what I'm feeling is like…it's like when…"
"What? What are you trying to say?"
"Never mind," Adam said as he walked away and half ran to the stairs then up the stairs. He stopped as Rose and Alan looked at him and Alan let go of Rose, walking toward Adam.
"What's wrong?" Alan asked and Adam looked down at his feet.
"It's growing dark," Adam whispered, making Alan look at the sky.
"No, it's not."
"I mean inside my head. Like something really bad is happening and it scares me." Large tears filled Adam's eyes as the tears rolled down his face and Alan walked closer, wrapping his arms around his brother. Marion ran up the stairs but Rose stopped her and they stood there, watching the two brothers standing perfectly still with their eyes closed.
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"Doctor, where are you?" Jamie walked up the ramp while he looked around the control room but Theta was nowhere to be seen. Walking down the hallway, he reached out with his mind when he turned down a side hallway and stood in front of a doorway. Inside the room was the hydroponic lab and he looked at the rows of tables with plants on them and the incubators stood against the walls.
"What are you doing?"
Jamie blinked as he saw himself walking toward the incubator to his left and his friend, Zoe Herriot, had a tray of newly potted plants in her hands. This was the day that he accidentally put his hand through the glass door to the incubator after Zoe opened the door too fast and nearly severed the middle finger of his right hand. Theta was able to reattach Jamie's finger but Zoe didn't talk to, or go near, Jamie for months until he talked to her and told her that he didn't blame her for what happened. Flexing the fingers on his right, Jamie blinked then turned and headed down the hallway.
After a few minutes, he came to the gallery as he walked inside and looked at the portraits and painting that hung on the walls. He walked by an odd looking statue when he saw Theta standing by a large photograph and it stretched from one end of the wall to the other. The photograph was a group photo of the entire neighborhood. The Doctor, Theta, John, Alan and Adam were at the center of the group and all five of them smiled wide smiles. Jamie walked to the photograph when he heard a low sigh and turned, seeing Theta sitting on a bench behind him. Walking to the bench, Jamie sat next to him and looked at the portrait.
"I should have gone with them," Theta finally said, balling his hands into fists. After sharing seats on the council with the Doctor, Theta had spent most of his time with the repairs on the loom and that was what he was doing when the Doctor, Rain and Tara vanished.
"You didnae ken that…"
"FOR FUCK SAKE, SPEAK PROPERLY!" Theta shouted and Jamie fell off the bench, landing hard on his bottom. In all the years he had known Theta, Theta had reminded him to talk properly but he never swore at him before.
"Doctor, I'm…" Jamie looked at Theta when Theta slid off the bench onto the floor and curled his body into a tight ball. His body started shaking while he started sobbing and the tears rolled freely from his eyes. Kneeling down, Jamie started brushing the hair out of Theta's eyes and sent love into his mind. Neither said a word as Theta's sobs echoed in the room and the lights slowly dimmed, a lone light shining on the smiling faces of the Doctor, Alan, Adam, John and Theta.
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Rain opened her eyes as the cold air brushed against her skin and her nipples ached. Looking down, she saw that they had become swollen and discolored. She noticed that some of the torches had gone out as the shadows came closer and she swore something was whispering in the darkness. Suddenly she heard the sounds of laughter and voices as she looked at the door and a slot opened in the door.
"Looks like you're about to get company!" Sonov said as she heard the sound of the door being unlocked and her hearts thudded in her chest. The door opened as the light from the hallway came into the room and she squinted, trying to see who was coming into the room. Sonov walked to the alter when he patted the top of her head and she glared at him. "She's awake."
"Latara!" the Doctor shouted as she heard him shout to be let go then screamed and someone laughed.
"I told you this would happen if you didn't behave! You really must want to watch while we rape your daughter, eh, Duckie?" Rath asked and Rain's hearts leapt inside her chest.
"LAY ONE HAND ON MY DAUGHTER AND I SWEAR I'LL KILL YOU!" Rain shouted as Rath walked to the alter and looked down at her.
"Ooooooooooooooooooooo, I was right, you ARE a tigress! Anyway, Sweetie, it's not your daughter you should be worrying about," Rath said when he pulled on the leash and the Doctor stumbled to the alter, looking down at her.
"Oh, Latara, no!" the Doctor thought as he looked at her bruised and bloody nipples and reached out to touch her.
"Ah, no touchie!" Rath said as he slapped the Doctor's hand away and the Doctor growled at him.
"Mommy!" Tara shouted as she ran to the alter and the Doctor took hold of her. She placed her face against the Doctor's chest as she started crying and the Doctor rubber her back. "You son of a…"
"Be nice or Daddy gets another 1000 volts shot to his system!" Rath said as he pointed to the collar around the Doctor's neck and she reached up, gently touching the collar.
"Don't worry, Star, I can take it," the Doctor whispered, sending love into her mind.
"Hey, Rath, this is nice and all but shouldn't we take the kid back to the box?" asked Drake.
"What is he talking about?!" Rain demanded as she fought against the shackles and Rath smiled.
"Let's just say she knows what a roast chicken feels like," Sonov teased and Tara growled at him.
"Nah, shackle her to the wall over there!" Rath said as Drake and Marius grabbed hold of Tara and she screamed.
"LEAVE HER ALONE!" Rain shouted as the men shackled Tara hand and foot to the wall and the Doctor growled.
"Easy, Puppy, or I'll zap ya!" Rath teased then pulled on the leash and the Doctor coughed loudly, feeling his throat tightening. "Well, visiting hours are over. Say bye-bye because this might be the last time you see them!"
The Doctor looked at Rain as she sadly smiled at him and he mouthed that he loved her and Rath pulled on the leash. They left the room as the door slammed and she sighed, listening to the footsteps fading.
"Mommy, don't worry. Daddy will find a way to rescue us," Tara whispered as Rain looked at the ceiling and fresh tears rolled down her cheeks.
