The room was a horrifying place,something someone would see in nightmares,in a horror movie. Every step could be their last,every door could end them.
"We have to be careful,if we pick the wrong door or place to stand it might be our last." Nate spoke to Sophie keeping her protectively behind her as he stepped further into the room.
"I know," She said "But we can't be too careful,other wise we won't make it out of here."
"Okay,alright." He said quietly reaching for the handle of a red wooden door.
The door opened with a loud creaking and squeaking,as if it hadn't been opened in years. Once They stepped inside the door closed quietly behind them,it was dark,hard to see. In the middle of the room a flame lit the darkness revealing a wall full of torture items,another nightmarish dream scape.
"Weapons." Nate said as he grabbed an iron pipe down handing it to her while he grabbed another.
"I don't like this Nate,it feels like he is testing us to see how long we can survive." Sophie spoke as she tightened her grip on iron pipe.
"That's because he about it Soph,rooms full of traps and things that can cause pain and suffering for hours on end."
"I'm trying to not think about where we are."
"Sorry," His voice was soft as he pulled her to him,pulling her into his arms. "We are going to get out of here,I promise."
"Together?" She asks remember their conversation from earlier.
"Together." he confirms to her.
Releasing her from his embrace they walk back out of the torture chamber like room and into an open hallway. A growling noise from a door grabs their attention as they stop in front of it. Nate's blue eyes fall to Sophie's much darker ones. Common sense tells him not to open it but curiosity is taking priority over him right now. Reaching for the handle is squeaks quietly as he slowly opens the door. Standing in the open door way he squints to see through the darkness as a small dark form rushes at the two of them.
"Look out!" Nate yells pulling Sophie out the way and closing the door but not in time. A large Tiger's paw stretches out trying to grab at either one of them.
"Nate,close the door!" Sophie yells pushing against the door with him.
"I'm trying to,there is a paw blocking it." He pushes harder against the door as the paw comes out farther gashing his upper arm deeply. With a final hard shove and a few hits from the iron pipe he finally gets the door closed sliding down to the floor holding on to his arm.
"Nate..." Sophie knells beside him moving his hand seeing the deep gashes. "Give me your button up shirt we can use it's sleeves to wrap your arm.
Slowly and with her help he removes his shirt and hands it to her. "I think...I think after this is over,you and I are going to take a very,very long vacation." He says as she rips a sleeve off wrapping his arm tightly.
"A vacation sounds wonderful love,first we need to get out of here." She smiles placing a light kiss to his forehead.
"I need a few minutes to recuperate here." Nodding she sits next to him as they both catch their breath.
After following Isaac for what felt like hours they finally came to a warehouse that looked like a building Nikolai would use. Getting out the car Eliot shook his head.
"They are not here." He said looking at the others.
"How do you know? Isaac asked looking at the building.
"It's too quiet,no movement,no noise. If he brought them here there would be more movement."
Parker and Jimar were staring out into the open sea when Jimar tugged on Parker's sleeve.
"Parker look." He said pointing off shore. "There is a light over there near the water."
Parker squinted to see but she too saw what the eight year old did. "Isaac,would he use a cave? Or something similar to it?"
Turning to the thief,Isaac thought for a moments."He has in the past,why is it that you ask?"
Pointing to what Jimar had seen they all took note of the light against the dark contrast of a mountain."You said he uses dark and damp places."Eliot said.
"Yes,but it has to be specific,if there is some sort of building or something built into the mountain side then yes,that will work. I would say that is about twenty minutes on a boat to get to that location." Isaac laid everything out on the table.
"Shouldn't be to hard to borrow a boat from the marina." Hardison said with a grin as they rushed back to their cars to head for the marina. Once they acquired a boat they were on the water within minutes heading for the light in the mountain side.
Nikolai sat in his study waiting for some kind of word that his two prisoners had failed already,usually in his custody his prey lasted minutes but these two,they were always a problem. They killed to of his best men a year ago after they failed in trying to capture the Ford's,that little incident told him that they were not ordinary prey. No,these two had fight in them,and that made him mad. Standing he walked to a wall turning on the monitors to see the progress they had made.
"Fight with Cupid,I see." He said watching them struggle with the door to which his Tiger resided. A smirk grew across his face the moment his pet lashed at Nate's arm. "Oh,you've been hit by Cupid Mr Ford,unfortunately for you...there is no time for you to fall in love." He watched as the grifter took care of his wounds.
"Sir?" Ruiz returned looking all the while in pain from his previous encounter with the Ford's.
"Ruiz,you're worthless." Isaac said not turning away from the screen. "But I'm willing to give you a second chance. I want you to turn the heat up on them,make them suffer."
"What would you like me to do sir?" Ruiz said as he came further into the room looking at the screen,an evil grin splayed across his lips.
"I want you to execute the first half of this plan of ours." Nikolai's green eyes brightened with excitement.
"Oh sir,you are to kind to give me the honor to start the suffering process."
"Well,be honored not many men stand where you are now,Isaac was once here but he has failed me. If you fail me Ruiz I will feed you to Cupid."
Ruiz's eyes widened at the thought of becoming Tiger bait."No need to bring Cupid out sir,I will not fail you like Isaac has."
"That name is not to mentioned in this room do you understand me?" Isaac's eyes darkened wit rage.
"Yes sir,I will take my leave to execute the plan." Ruiz left his boss to watch the couple as they began their journey through the Room of Misery again.
Nate was the first one to stand up offering his good hand to Sophie to help he up. "Let's keep going,who knows what staying in one place to long will do." he said as he lead the way down another hall.
"Let's hope the others get here first before something happens."
"Soph,don't think like that,I know in the current situation it's hard but we have to stay positive."
"That's new." she said glancing to her husband.
"What?"
"Oh,just you being mister positive."
Sighing Nate grabbed for another door. "Well,time for some changes,those plans I made a year or so ago,that was part of it,I just haven't acted on it until recently."
"Your big plans?" she asked now fully curious.
"Yes," He said putting his iron pipe down to prevent the door from closing completely. "Those plans,but is this really the time to be talking about it?"
Sighing she shook her head. "Nate,there is never a right time for you to talk about things like that."
"Sophie..." He said in a tone she knew all to well. "Are we really going to do this? Right here,in the middle of nearly being killed."
"Well Nathan,why not get it out before that happens."
Groaning he pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration. "I really think we should focus on getting out of here alive."
"Fine,I had a feeling you were going to say that. Always business when it comes to you."
"Now you know that is not true Sophie. Listen,I just mentioned a vacation didn't I?"
"Yes,but with you,a vacation means you relax for a day or two before you manage to get yourself in some sort of trouble." She sighed in frustration as they searched the room.
"Trouble finds me Sophie,can we not do this right now?" He sighed watching her,he had a feeling that was going to happen the moment he brought it up.
"Fine by me,lets just get out of here." She stopped hearing a rumbling noise. "Do you hear that?" She asked looking to Nate who was already looking around the room.
Nikolai watched the pair almost impatiently as Ruiz came back in the room to see the two arguing. "Sir,what are they doing?" He asked watching the two argue back and forth.
"Lovers quarrel." Nikolai turned to Ruiz with a questioning look.
"Yes sir." He said knowing he wanted to know if he hit the switch or not.
Back in the room Nate kept looking for the source of the rumbling sound. A few pieces of tiny concrete and dust feel on to his shoulder as he looked up and what he saw caused his eyes to widen. "Sophie,run now."
Looking up she too saw the ceiling growing closer and closer and the walls closing in. The two took off running back down the hall,the closer the ceiling got the harder it was to keep the speed. Nearly at a crawl Nate pushed the door open sliding under and turned back grabbing Sophie's hand and pulling out just in time before the room was completely sealed in.
"Are you okay?" He said in breaths.
"I'm fine,but I'm sill mad at you Nathan Ford."
Sighing quietly he shook his head. "I know."
Nikolai was enraged. "The damn pipe! He blocked the damn door." Pacing back and forth he shook his head listening to the grifter. "Typical woman,can't even let something drop after nearly loosing her life. Time to take it to the next level,remove the floor Ruiz!"
"Sir,the floor?" He asked as Nikolai nodded."Yes sir." Ruiz left once again to hit another switch.
Nate stood up once again helping his wife up. "Something has to give."
"Nate..."
"No Sophie not with you I mean-"
"Nate the floor!" She yelled watching as the floor was disappearing one line at a time.
"We don't have much time." he said grabbing her hand and running for a door. "Close your eyes and hope it's the right one."
"I hate when you say that!" She yelled as he opened the door and they both nearly feel through it. "It's the right one!"
Breathing a sigh of relief Nate looked around,they were in a cave of sorts."Okay,the question is,now where are we?"
"Very good question Mr Ford. I see you've had a run in with Cupid,my little pet."
Nate was about to say something but a fed up Sophie beat him to it."Seriously? You named your pet Tiger,Cupid?"
Nikolai grew quiet for a few moments. "It was a spur of the moment name,I was going to change it."
Sophie laughed. "To what? Reginald?"
Ruiz covered his mouth with his hand to hide a laugh. Which earned him a glare from Nikolai.
"Sophie,you shouldn't-" Sophie shot Nate a glare.
"Shouldn't what? Hold in plans that should have been said years ago?"
"Sophie." He said returning her glare.
"Sir,are they having another lovers quarrel?"
Nikolai shook his head. "Can you two stop arguing so I can get on with my plan here."
Nate raised a brow at the now in sight camera. "Please do."
"Well,I had a better introduction in mind but Mrs Ford ruined that." Nikolai stated as Nate shot Sophie a reminded him of the back and forth he had with Sterling during the Ma Mystere painting incident."Anyway,you made it through the Room of Misery,now find your way out of the cave."
"Really,that's what you are going with?" Sophie said shaking her head.
"She has a point,that was pretty uneventful." Nate said after her.
"See this is why I should have killed you both two years ago with your friends...who are still alive." Nikolai was growing frustrated they were reducing him down to a little guy.
"Point proven." Sophie said helping Nate up.
"There was nothing proven!" Nikolai shouted.
"Oh,I think he is mad." Nate said smiling at Sophie.
"I have to agree with you darling,and might I add you look like a beaten down warrior,ready to save his beloved wife from the grips of a mad man."
"Oh really now? I take it you aren't mad?"
"Oh no,I'm still mad at you,you just have this amazing look right now."
Nikolai groaned."I think I'm going to be sick." He said listening to the two of them. Turning to Ruiz he sighed. "Leave it to the Ford's to make a mockery of things."
"You aren't worried they will find their way out?" Ruiz asked.
"Are you insane that place is twists and turns,the more they try the more lost they will get." Nikolai still had an evil grin on his face.
The boat finally arrived at the alcove to the place where Nikolai was keeping the couple. "Alright,Parker you and Hardison stay here with Jimar,Nate would kill us if anything happened to him and keep the boat running,any sign of danger you take off." The two nodded as Parker took Jimar below deck.
"This way Spencer." Isaac said running into the mountain cave followed by Eliot.
"How far in are they?" Eliot asked keeping pace with Isaac.
"I can not tell you that,this place was only a rumor told amongst the men who worked for Nikolai. It was said to not exist,if they made it out of the room then they are within the cave system itself." Isaac explained to which the hitter nodded.
"Okay then,that means they can be anywhere." Eliot said coming up to the center of the cave. "Listen do you hear that?" Eliot said hearing foot steps.
Nate and Sophie had been walking through the cave for a while now,tiring down.
"Soph.."
"Hm?" she said looking to him.
"Those are only half way done,that's why I can't really say anything about them."He offered her a smile.
"See,that wasn't so hard now was it?" She smiled back at him until they heard foot steps and talking. "Nate listen." she said as Nate tightened his grip on the pipe he was holding.
As Eliot and Isaac came around a turn in the cave,Isaac was blind sided by Sophie while Nate swung his pipe at Eliot who stopped it just in time.
"Nate,it's us." Eliot said as Isaac lay on the ground groaning in pain.
"Oh,sorry." Sophie offer helping Isaac up.
"Mrs Ford that is one hell of a swing,what happened to your arm?" Isaac questioned the mastermind.
"I got side swiped by Cupid." He said flatly.
"You got hit by who?" Eliot said laughing.
"Cupid,a tiger." He glared.
"Where's Jimar? Sophie asked looking at the two men.
"On the boat with Hardison and Parker,let's get you two out of here."
The four of them raced to the boat,Nikolai caught this on the screen and sighed. "They make my life that much harder when they run," Turning to Ruiz he smirked. "Go get the boat,the chase has begun."
"Yes sir." Ruiz said leaving his boss to return moments later. "Ready sir."
Wasn't long before they were chasing the boat full of the team. Once on the boat Jimar ran to Nate and Sophie. Isaac started the boat off and sped of into the darkness. "Nate,Sophie! You are okay!" Jimar yelled happy to have his guardians back.
"Yes and now-"
"Boat incoming!" Hardison yelled seeing the second boat gaining fast. A hail of bullets rained on the boat the team was in an before anyone had time to react,blood dripped down onto the deck of the boat slowly gaining in size,shots were mumbled among them as they tried to duck for cover and find out who was hit.
[A/N:Dunn dunn dunnnnnn cliffhanger lol. I tried to add a little humor to this chapter so I hoped you enjoyed it! Thank you for all the reviews and so on,it's keeps me writing the next chapters!]
