*~Cage~*
"What did you say, Marty?" Todd asked in disgust.
"I love Victor. I love him, but I love you, too," she stated. "I love BOTH of you, and I cannot bear to lose either one of you..."
"...but in light of all that has happened, I understand if you must cast me aside," she said sadly. "But I hope that you will not. I love you, Todd... and pray that you will come to forgive me in time. Please try to understand."
"You want me to understand that you willingly FUCKED my brother and gave him what is mine?" Todd sneered. "I will never understand that, Marty. And someone is going to pay. Someone will pay DEARLY for what you have done."
With those words, Todd turned on his heel and left Marty in the bedroom. Tears ran down her cheeks from Todd's harsh, punishing words. He didn't hate her, but he was furious with her. She really couldn't blame him, because she had broken their vows. She had given herself to Victor... but he had part of her heart now, too.
"I'm sorry, Todd," she sobbed softly. "I love you... but I love Victor, too. And I can't let you hurt him. I have to go to him."
Marty cautiously walked over to the door, finding it to be unlocked. She was surprised that Todd hadn't shut her in like a prisoner. She glanced down the hallway, but saw no sign of Todd. With careful steps, she made her way down the maze of corridors. She was unfamiliar with the underground lair, but she heard some guards talking and they were discussing Victor's whereabouts. It wasn't long until she found the chamber where he was being held in a large cage with chains upon his feet.
"Ohhh Victor, I'm so sorry," she cried as she peered at him through the bars. "It's my fault this happened to you. It's my fault Todd has locked you in this awful cage."
"It's not your fault, Marty," Victor spoke as he gazed at the woman he loved. "I took you from Todd, and this is how he retaliated. He took the one thing that meant the most to him... and now he's going to make me suffer..."
"You should not be here," Victor warned. "He will find you... and you'll be punished."
"I want to help you... but I don't know how to find the key," she said sadly. She reached through the bars and grabbed hold of Victor's hand. She longed to hold him and kiss him, but she could not.
"I will find a way to help you," she whispered. "I love you, Victor."
"I love you, too... but be careful, Marty. Todd will be angry if he knows you came to see me and that you are trying to help me. He might hurt you."
"Todd won't hurt me... he loves me," Marty tried to deny.
Just then, Todd walked into the chamber, finding Marty holding hands with Victor beside his cage. A look of fury contorted Todd's face as he took deliberate, angry steps toward Marty.
"Don't hurt her, Todd!" Victor called out as he had seen that look of rage in his brother's eyes before. Always it ended with destructive and violent consequences.
Marty let out a fearful little squeak as Todd caught her in his rough embrace. "You're going to pay for that, Marty," he whispered harshly in her ear. "I'm going to make you sooo sorry."
As Victor watched helplessly, Todd dragged Marty away to punish her.