Chapter 9
Reunion
Jean-Jacques Rousseau said, "Man is born free and everywhere he is in chains."
He drove around the back of the building and into the undergrowth. There had been no sound from the back of the car, and he thought maybe Emily was still unconscious. He got out of the car and hurried around the back. He was very excited, and needed the man that was lying in the basement. He would have liked to have Emily, but a promise is a promise.
Soon, she would realise how good he was for her, and she would want him. He smiled as he opened the boot of the car.
She was awake, and staring straight up at him. He thought she had learned defiance off the man, but he would soon knock that out of her.
He unfastened the cuff off the hinge, and pulled Emily so that she was sitting in the boot. He pulled her arms behind her and cuffed her hands together.
"Ok, get out." he said, stepping back.
She still felt dizzy after he strangled her unconscious, and she still had the feeling of his hands on her throat. It wasn't easy to get out, with her hands behind her, and she fell at the last moment, and crashed down onto the ground. Gently, he bent down beside her.
"I am sorry, Love." he said, his hands under her elbows, he lifted her to her feet. He combed his fingers through her hair, brushing it off her face. He took a hankie from his pocket and wiped the dried blood from her face. He touched the bruises on her neck.
"I really am sorry." he said. "I never want to hurt you." His hand moved to the back of her neck and pulled her face towards him. Her eyes didn't waver from the defiant stare as she pulled away. "But sometimes, it's necessary."
"You are right, of course. But this isn't the place to consummate our love."
He stroked her cheek with the back of his fingers. "Come on inside. There is something I want you to see."
Emily walked in front of him towards the door. He was holding the hand cuffs, pushing her gently. Her mind was in a turmoil. What was this he wanted to show her? Was it Hotch? Was he being held here?
Was he going to show her his body?
They went through the door into a dark damp smelling lobby. He clicked on a torch and shone the beam on one of several doors.
"Through there, Emily. Open the door for me Darling."
Emily hesitated, and he twisted the cuffs, digging them into her already cut wrists. She really didn't want to know what he had on the other side of the door. She felt a terrible apprehension that it was going to be Hotchner's dead body. With a deep sick feeling, she pushed open the door.
"Be careful, Sweetheart. Let me switch a light on."
A feeble glow lit up a vast vaulted room. Brick built, and cold and damp, pillars and arches held the ceiling up. She surveyed the room from the top of a flight of stone stairs.
"Down we go, Honey. Just take care; the steps may be slippery."
She cautiously took the steps, leaning on the wall to keep her balance, all the time, her eyes looking for any signs that Hotch had been there. The light was dim at the peripherals of the room, and she couldn't see everything.
When they reached the bottom of the flight, she was led towards the darkened edges of the room. He pushed her against a pillar.
"I have a gun here." he said. "I don't want to use it, but I am going to undo the cuffs, and if you run, I will shoot you." He ran his fingers through the back of her hair. Emily stiffened at his touch. She heard the gun cock, and the cuff loosen on one wrist. She allowed him to cuff her hands around the pillar.
"I couldn't bear to lose you now." he said. He kissed her fingers. She wanted to be sick. When he walked away, she watched him.
"Where is Agent Hotchner?" she said. "I need to know."
"He's here." he said. The lamp was still on the floor where he had left it. He bent down to turn it on.
Hotch hadn't moved, and for a moment, he thought he was dead. Then his chest rose as he took a ragged breath.
"Oh god! Hotch!" Emily breathed.
He unfastened Aaron's handcuffs and released him. His arms fell away, and he pulled the man away from the pillar into the light, where Emily could see him. Partially dressed, beaten and covered with blood, she could only guess the torture he had been subjected to. She saw the smashed legs and the blood on his back. The man lifted Hotch's head so that Emily could get a good look. Holding his head up by hair matted and stiffened with dry blood, his swollen bruised eyes closed, his lips slightly open and smeared with blood, Emily turned away.
"Please," she said. "I'll do whatever you want. Don't hurt him any more. Don't kill him." Tears were falling as she realised what this animal had done to him. "Why have you done this?"
"I saw the way he looked at you, Sweetheart. He has no right to look at you like that!" He dropped Aaron back down, and she heard his head crack on the hard floor. He went back to Emily and turned her face towards him. "I love you. He doesn't. I will protect you from predators like him."
Seeing his captive lying helpless was exciting him. He really wanted Emily, but he could wait. In the meantime...
He lifted Hotch with his arms around his waist, and carried him to a darkened corner of the vast room. He didn't really want Emily to see what he was going to do. He turned Aaron onto his back. First he had to wake him.
He shook him, gently at first, then more violently. Hotch groaned, and turned his head to the side. He raised his hand, a feeble attempt to push his tormentor away. He pulled his head back
"Look at me!"
Hotch couldn't open his eyes. He expected that he would get another beating, but again he was helpless.
He forced his eyes open. Looking up at him, he said a single word.
"No"
Hotch felt as if he was wrapped in pain. He didn't know where he was hurt, every part of him cried out. Aaron screamed when the blood on his legs that had dried and stuck to the fabric was torn away as the man removed more of his clothes. He knelt between Aaron's legs and pulled his shirt apart so that he could touch his muscular cold flesh. Aaron cried and whimpered as the man abused him again. He tried so hard not to scream when the pain took him again. He had heard Emily. He knew she was there and didn't want her to know. And it encouraged his attacker. He tried not to, but he did anyway, when his legs were moved. He passed out with a soft sigh.
Emily knew. She heard him cry and whimper, and she heard the screams. She also knew it was down to her. She had to make this UnSub let her go. She rested her face on pillar and waited for him to come back. When she heard his footsteps, she looked up at him. He was sweating, his hair stuck to his forehead. He was carrying a chain.
"Hey!" she said, forcing a smile.
He smiled back at her. He crossed the room and dropped the chain. He touched her face with his hands. "I had to do that." he said, kissing her lightly.
"So when do I get to have some fun?" She cringed inside as she spoke, but somehow, she had to make him think that she wouldn't try to escape. She leaned towards him and closed her eyes. He kissed her again, and this time she kissed him back.
"I want to hold you!" she breathed.
"It's him you want, isn't it!" he said, backing away. She blinked at him.
"When it's you and me," she said, "It must be perfect. Not here."
He nodded. "I understand." he said.
"Can I see him?" she asked.
He smiled at her. "I don't see why not." he said. "Remember though, I have a gun."
"Don't you trust me?" Emily said.
He held her jaw and held it tight until she yelped. "No My Babe. I don't."
He undid the handcuffs, and fastened her hands in front of her. He threaded the chain through the cuffs and fastened the ends together around the pillar. He pointed the gun at her as she limped across to where Hotch was lying in a growing pool of blood, dragging the length of chain with her. It looked to Emily as if Hotch had been beaten again. His arms stretched out, and his legs bent awkwardly at the knees. His clothes were ripped and blood stained. Emily wanted to run to him, cover him, hold his hand. In stead she stood and looked down on him. She whispered his name, hoping he would hear her.
Slowly he opened his eyes and blinked at her. Ever so slightly he tipped his head towards his right leg.
He still had his gun!
"Do you still want to screw it?"
She turned and looked at the man. "Why should you have all the fun?" she said. "But in private, if you don't mind."
"Ha! I don't think so!" he shouted, grabbing her arm. "Why should I allow that?"
"It's only sex." she said. "When it's us, it must be new. I don't want to ruin the anticipation."
"I thought this might happen." he said. "There you are, Darling. Do as you want to it. Just don't kill it." he said, pulling her close. "I am going now, but I have left you a coat and blankets for you." He tilted his hear towards Hotchner. "Enjoy yourself!"
As he left, he switched on a tiny camera that he had set up. The screen was set up in a trailer a few miles away.
He was going to enjoy this!
