Thanks to all reading and reviewing. I am loving the reviews. I'm so glad everyone is enjoying this story.
So apparently the next episode when the series returns is called "the woods" and I wonder if Kevin Williamson is reading my story. The woods was my idea haha. I've heard the show will return next Wednesday! Can't wait for the show to come back on but hopefully this story will work as a slight distraction for other fans of the show until Wednesday night. As I'm in the UK someone please message me and tell me how the episode goes! Fingers crossed Beth will be okay.
Disclaimer: Not mine.
Chapter 8
Ray was in the shower when Perry came upstairs and walked into the bedroom. Perry had to freeze in the doorway when he saw Beth lying there, curled up on her side, as balled up as her beaten body would allow. Her arms were secured to a bed post in the centre of the head-board by a thick leather belt. He wasn't sure if she was crying or shivering, but her body was shaking like a leaf in a breeze.
He slowly walked over to the bed, studying Beth closer from behind. He was a little shocked to see the bruises that covered her torso, and legs. He noticed other marks on her back. Small round marks, it took him a moment to realise what they were. He noticed more of them on her arms, and some on her legs too. Cigarette burns. He reached out and gently ran the tip of his finger over one. His touch acted like an electric shock that jolted Beth awake.
She took in a shaky breath, and then sighed loudly. "Please Ray, just give me a break," she wept.
"It's not Ray," Perry told her quietly. He was shocked by how different she seemed from the fierce character she usually was. He was more shocked when she began to sob.
"If you've come for your turn with me then please just knock me out first, because I can't take anymore!" Beth felt pathetic to make such a statement, but she was in agony, and utterly exhausted, both physically and mentally. Ray had raped her over and over, and hadn't been gentle about it either. Her body had fought him and she felt like she had gone ten rounds in the ring with Mike Tyson. The thought of having someone inside her again only made the pain she felt between her legs worse, if that were even possible.
There was a part of Perry who had wanted to see Beth so broken down like this, but actually seeing her like this made him miss the strong woman who challenged him. He walked to the chest at the bottom of the bed and lifted the lid. He pulled out a soft reindeer fur blanket, but then realising that Beth would probably hate that, opted for a quilted throw. He moved round to be face to face with Beth this time and gently draped the large quilt over her.
Beth glanced up at him through tear filled eyes as he secured the blanket under her chin, completely concealing her body. He then unclipped the belt securing her arms. He helped to gently lower her arms down and tuck them under the quilted throw. He could see moving them caused her pain. Her wrists were bruised and cut from having been bound. He could see the wound he had inflicted on her arm had been bandaged, but that bandaged was now stained in blood.
"I don't know where Ray is." Beth told him as her eyes drifted shut.
Perry couldn't miss that her words were slurred slightly, or the smell of alcohol on her breath. He suddenly noticed the empty bottle of whiskey on the bedside table, and another that was half empty stood beside it. He turned to look at Beth to find she was sleeping again. He reached out and grabbed her chin and lifted it up.
"Ray, I need a break!" she wept.
Perry was about to say something when the door to the bathroom opened. Ray was shocked to see Perry crouched down in front of Beth. Perry stood up and turned to face Ray, who stood there with just a towel wrapped around his waist, his body still wet from his shower. Steam billowed out of the bathroom behind him, making Perry wonder how long he had been in there, and how long Beth had been laying naked and cold on the bed.
"Can I help you with something?" Ray asked him.
"Is she drunk?" Perry asked, looking down at Beth who once more had fallen into a drunk induced sleep.
"That tends to happen when you drink as much alcohol as she has." Ray said as he walked past him and over to a drawer, in which he had discovered some mens clothing.
"Did she have a choice?" Perry asked as he watched Ray rummage through his fathers drawers in search of clothes.
"Yeah she had a choice, it was drink, or a cigarette," Ray told him.
"She doesn't smoke!" Perry growled at him.
"I didn't say that she was smoking cigarettes," Ray said with a sadistic smile. He turned to look at Beth, "Did you cover her up?" he asked.
"It's cold in here, she was naked and shivering,"
"I guess I just need to warm her up again." Ray said as he walked over to the bed.
Perry had to turn away as Ray pulled off his towel and threw it to the floor, before crawling under the throw that covered Beth. Perry watched from the corner of his eyes as Ray grabbed hold of Beth's shoulder and rolled her onto her back. He pushed the throw down a little and Perry watched in disgust as Ray trailed his hand roughly over Beth's breasts before moving it down over her stomach, and then down under the quilt and between her legs. The pain of his touch brought Beth out of her drunken sleep.
She clumsily tried to push Rays hands away but he easily grabbed hold of her wrists in one hand and continued with his assault. Beth whimpered in pain, "Ray, stop, please..." she begged.
"Come on, Ray, just give her a break! My God!" Perry said, "She's completely drunk. She's done. Just let her sleep for a while."
Ray pushed himself off the bed and stormed over to Perry, prodding him hard in the shoulder until Perry backed up into the wall, "Are you seriously telling me not to fucking touch her?!" Ray growled angrily.
"I'm just saying maybe you should give her a break." Perry said sheepishly.
"I just fucking did, while I took a shower!"
"Come downstairs, let her sleep for a few hours," Perry said.
"I'll come downstairs when I'm ready. Now get lost, unless you're a sick little creep who likes watching people fuck!"
"It's not fucking...this is rape!" Perry said.
"You say tomato... Besides, you raped her too."
Perry knew Ray was right. He had raped her, he had hurt her, but he knew if Ray carried on this way he was going to kill her. Yes he had chased her through the woods with a gun, but he never intended to kill her, he just wanted her in his life. He wanted a normal life with her. Wanted to spend time with her, show her how caring he really was. He would buy her anything she wanted, take her anywhere she wanted to go, tell her he loved her everyday. He knew he could make her like him, but not with Ray around not giving him the chance.
He suddenly realised something, if he could get Beth away from Ray, somewhere safe, he knew he would be her hero. He decided he would get her somewhere safe, nurse her back to health. He wanted to cook her good vegetarian food. He knew she would see the real him.
"Fine," he said to Ray, "Just, take care of her."
"Oh I will," Ray said with his earlier sadistic smile.
Perry just shook his head, he hated knowing that Ray was likely going to assault Beth the moment he was out of the room. He barely made it to the foot of the stairs before he heard her pitiful protests for Ray to get off of her. He decided there and then that he would be ready with some way to get her away from Ray before the end of the day.
~0~0~0~0~
Jack was on the phone to Mr Whitley. He was desperately trying to plead with him. It had shocked him that Mr Whitley hadn't hung up on him, like he had with all the other times he had tried to call him. He had decided to ring him on his mobile so he hadn't seen that it was the TAU calling him.
There was something different that he heard in Mr Whitley's voice...desperation. The same thing Jack heard in his own voice.
"Mr Whitley please, if you have a home in the Angeles National forest, I'm begging you to tell me where. Lieutenant Davis is in serious danger now, beyond that even, your son is in serious danger too, and not from this unit. All we want is Beth back safe. The man your son released is...the stuff he has done would make even hardened criminals cringe. He will hurt your son if he thinks he has to compete with him to be with Beth."
"How do I know you won't hurt him?" Mr Whitley asked.
"You have my word. I can assure you that I won't let Perry be harmed. Work with me, and I promise you I will not let your son come to any harm." Jack said. Moments of silence later he sighed, sure Mr Whitley had hung up on him again.
"We have a cabin," Mr Whitley suddenly said, "I'll tell you the address, just promise me you will bring my boy home safe?"
"Done!" Jack said as he stood up from behind his desk, grabbed his jacket and took off running with his cell phone still attached to his ear. Ben, who had been following the conversation jumped up and followed after Jack.
~0~0~0~0~
Perry was sat on one of the huge sofa's that sat either side of a solid oak coffee table, adjacent to a roaring fire. He looked up when Ray walked down the stairs, wearing just a pair of sweats. Perry could see that his body was covered in sweat, his hair was ruffled, his cheeks flushed.
He watched as Ray walked over to the fridge and pulled out a carton of milk, which he quickly drank all of. "Thirsty?" Perry asked him through gritted teeth.
"Thirsty work," Ray told him with a wink.
Perry knew what he had been doing. He had been able to hear Beth begging him to stop, had been able to hear Ray's satisfied groans; had heard the bed creaking beneath Ray's actions. It had gone on for over an hour.
"I think we should talk." Perry said, "Would you like a proper drink?" he asked, pointing to the opened bottle of whiskey on the coffee table. "It's a 63 bottle. One from my fathers special collection. He would kill me for drinking this but I feel its a special occasion."
Ray walked over to Perry and sat on the opposite couch. Perry took hold of one glass, already containing some whiskey and took a sip. Ray poured himself a large glass and then sat back in the couch and brought the glass up to his lips. Perry watched him carefully, waiting for him to take a long sip.
"Is Beth sleeping?" Perry asked.
"I tired her out." Ray told him before he brought the glass to his lips again and took the smallest of sips.
Perry watched Ray rest his head back against the back of the sofa and close his eyes. "Guess I tired myself out too," Ray said before he took another little sip.
Perry continued to watch him for a moment. Watched as his breathing fell into a slow and steady rhythm. He had added the same drug he had given Beth to the bottle of whiskey, after having poured his own. It had shocked him that Ray had so easily took the drink and drank it.
He got up and put his own drink down on the coffee table. He walked over to Ray and whispered his name as he leant over him. When he got no response he said it louder, still nothing. He pulled the drink from his hand and put it down on the coffee table. "RAY!" he shouted, still no response.
A smirk spread across his face as his next test came to mind. He slapped Ray across the face, still nothing. "That's better," Perry said before he headed off upstairs.
He had already packed his things. His bag was ready in the car, he just needed to get Beth in there now too. He came to a stop when he got to the bedroom doorway. He was shocked, stunned. He took a deep breath and walked in, he made his way over to Beth, wandering why she lay so still. She lay, naked, on her stomach, her head turned to the left on a pillow. He couldn't be sure he had even seen her body move from breathing since he had stepped into the doorway.
He crouched down beside the bed, coming face to face with Beth. He had to put his hand over his mouth to see her face. If it was even possible she looked even worse than she had an hour ago, he really hadn't thought she could have gotten worse, but she was. She looked so weak, her eyes were so vacant when she lifted them to meet his own gaze. Her eyelashes were drenched in tears, her face stained from them. There was duct tape over her mouth.
He quickly scanned her body. She was covered in even more bruises, cuts and burns. He saw blood on her thighs. He knew he had raped her, but Ray had taken it so much further. She was a mess and Perry couldn't help but feel beyond guilty for putting her in this position. He had wanted Beth, had hoped she would fall for him if she got to know the real him. "I'm so sorry I left you with him," he said to her as he carefully peeled the tape off her mouth.
He had wondered why her begging Ray to stop had ended, the tape told him why. Ray had silenced her. She was tied to the bed by her wrists and ankles, so he quickly began untying her.
All Beth could think was the men had decided to swap turns with her, and the thought of being assaulted again made tears fall. "If you're here to rape me again now, then please just kill me, because I really really can't take anymore," she said weakly as tears rolled down her face.
"I'm not going to hurt you," Perry told her as he brushed her hair off her face. "I've drugged Ray, I'm going to get you out of here, so you and I can be alone again. I can see now that it was better that way." he said.
Beth wanted to feel relieved that she would at least be free of Ray, but she knew she couldn't trust Perry not to hurt her. As soon as they were alone again he would hurt her, rape her again probably, and she truly couldn't take another assault, physically or emotionally.
She felt her limbs finally free, she watched with vision blurred from tears as Perry walked over to the wardrobe and pulled out a pair of sweats, and a large woolen jumper. A moment later he was back by the bed, gently helping Beth to sit up. She was weak, her body limp. Perry quickly began dressing her, first the black sweat pants and then the baby blue woolen jumper. Perry could tell this simple task of dressing her caused her great pain, but he had to carry on acting quickly.
"You need to walk," Perry told her as he hooked his arm under her arm and around her back, bringing his hand to rest on her hip. He pulled her sideways off the bed, not really giving her the option. She yelped in pain the minute both her feet touched the floor and her weight came to rest on them. Her legs gave in on her but Perry managed to hold her up by hooking her arm over his shoulder.
"Come on, I don't know how much time we have!" he said as he made his way over to the door with her. Beth was just about able to hop along on her injured leg and foot, but her foot that had been nailed was far too painful to use.
It was a struggle but Perry managed to get Beth downstairs. Perry cast a quick glance at Ray who sat sleeping still.
"What did you do to him?" Beth asked, she too glancing over at Ray.
"I drugged him with the same stuff I gave you. He should be out for hours."
"How can you be so sure?" Beth asked him.
"I gave him twice as much as I gave you, look how long you were out for." Perry replied.
Perry pulled open the front door and stepped out onto the porch.
He got her down the stairs and started heading towards the car. "Perry, where are you taking me?" Beth asked him.
"Somewhere safe, a motel for now."
"I need to go to a hospital."
"I can't take you to a hospital." Perry told her.
"Please Perry. If you get me to one, get me back to my team, I will make sure you are treated fairly. I will tell my team that you saved me." Beth pleaded.
Perry stopped and looked down at her. "We won't be able to be together then," he said.
"We can arrange something where we can still see each other. You asked me for help once. If you help me now, I promise that I will help you too." It was a lie, she owed Perry nothing, but she was desperate, and lying was her best option right now.
"I don't think that will be possible!"
Both Perry and Beth turned their heads to see Ray standing in the doorway. "You really think I would drink something you gave me!" he said before he threw the glass and its liquid contents to the floor.
Perry quickly hooked his arm tight around Beth's waist and lifted her off her feet and began scurrying towards the car. He hoped to get them both in the car, lock it, and drive off. He had barely got near the car when Ray charged into both of them, knocking them both down like a bowling ball slamming into skittles.
Perry rolled over onto his back. He tried to kick Ray, wanted to hit him and get Beth away, have her to himself again, but Ray's fist slammed into his stomach, over and over. Between punches he called out to Beth "Run!"
Beth had already tried to push herself up but her body was too weak. She was able to crawl along, barely, on her hands and knees. Each movement causing some part of her body pain. She turned to look back, knowing she should help Perry. She closed her eyes from the sight of Ray straddling Perry as he punched his face over and over. The sickening crunch of bones echoed around them in the silent woods.
Part of Beth knew it was already to late. Perry lay lifeless underneath Ray. She continued moving towards the car. She got to it and managed to reach up and grab the door handle. She used it to heave her body up off the floor. She cried out in pain when she had to stand on both feet. The pain was excruciating but adrenaline forced her to step upright.
She the handle, and was relieved to hear it click. It was unlocked. However, she never got the door open as Ray's hand slammed hard against the door, slamming it shut tight again. "Where do you think you're going, Michelle?" Ray asked.
Beth turned to face him, and with as much power in her voice as she could gather said, "My name is Beth Davis. It will never be Michelle again, no matter what you do to me!"
"As of tonight, Beth Davis is dead." Ray replied before he grabbed hold of the back of her head and slammed her head against the car.
Beth fell to the floor, lying in a crumped pile beside the car. Her body was still...lifeless.
~0~0~0~0~
Jack had been warned by Mr Whitley to look out for the boulder that marked the dirt track that the cabin was on. He had spotted it and was now speeding down the dirt track so fast that he risked losing control of the car, but they were so close to getting Beth back now.
Finally they came to a stop outside the cabin. The engine was still running as Jack and Ben jumped out of the car. They had their guns out and ready by the time they ran up onto the porch. The front door was wide open, so both men ran inside. They split up, Ben searching downstairs whilst Jack headed upstairs to search there.
He moved slowly down the corridor. Truly expecting to find the worst. He turned when he came to an open door. Immediately he felt his heart sink upon the things he saw inside the room.
He knew now the house was empty. He lowered his gun as he walked over to the bed. He couldn't turn his eyes away from the bed. He saw blood, crumpled sheets. There was rope tied around the bedposts, her knew they had been used as restraints. There were cigarette stumps on the floor, empty bottles of whiskey sat on the side. Jack turned and saw the part of a bloodied foot print on the bed post at the foot of the bed.
"What the hell have they been doing to you, Beth" he thought out loud.
"Jack!" Came Ben's voice.
Jack turned on his heels and followed the sound of Ben voice, right out of the cabin. He saw Ben standing at the far corner of the cabin. He couldn't help but notice a look of horror on the younger mans face. He quickly joined him. "What is it?"
Ben just pointed out ahead of him, down the side of the cabin. Jack turned to look where Ben was pointing. Upon seeing what Ben had found he suddenly felt sick to the pit of his stomach, felt like the wind had been completely knocked out of him.
"This rescue mission just became a body recovery." Jack said, unable to pull his eyes away from a mound of earth...a grave.
TBC
Who is in the grave?
Thanks for reading. Please review and let me know what you think! I will try and post again before the next episode airs on Wednesday.
