Soooo… Long time no see? Ha. Understatement.

As I said in the last chapter, writing torture is hard e.e so I don't even know if it's any good, but if it is…

Don't make me say it, you make me feel needy. -.-

Enjoy…

The torture…

You sadistic motherfuckers.

Love!

It had been two months.

Two months since I was stupid enough to agree with that daft girl, that same daft girl who's no doubt being tortured to within an inch of her life right fucking now.

By now, almost everyone knew about Valkyrie's 'disappearance', and you'd never believe the amount of girls who have approached me with offers to 'take my mind off it'. How pathetic can you get?

As of now, I'm sat in Val's car, listening to her shitty music, and wishing that she were here to complain to.

"How can you like this guy? He wears makeup!"

"Dude, I swear, you knock Andy Biersack one more feckin' time I'm kicking you out. Fecking eejit."

"Whatever. What other CD's do you have?"
"Glove compartment."

I opened the glove compartment, where I remember her other disks to be hidden.

"Asking Alexandria, Black Veil Brides, A Day To Remember, My Chemical Romance… Falling In Reverse, what a shit name for a band."

"Your face is a shit name for a band!" She laughed.

"Hey, for all we know, there's a musical protégée out there with a dream of calling his future band 'Your Face'. Don't crush his dream, Val. Think of the kittens!"

"You're an idiot!" She giggled.

Dragging a hand over my tired face, I shoved the CD's onto the passenger seat and started up the beasty car. The engine purred and started the console lighting up like little stars on the dash. I shifted it into reverse, and pulled out the drive. Tanith watched from the doorway.

I drove randomly and aimlessly. I couldn't help but feel like this entire situation was horribly my fault.

From the depths of hell,

So far I fell,

A deal made with the devil,

After all the dust had settled.

The fucker Lake and his stupid bimbo Sian had moved states. Apparently so had some weirdo girl on the other half of the year, but I really don't give a fuck if I'm being perfectly honest.

There's an hourglass of time,
Counting down all of the lies,
And with every grain of sand,
Time is slipping through my hands.

I miss her so fucking much. She gave herself up for China, who's just lounging around at the house bossing people about. I've gone with the others to look for Davina, but I just can't be bothered any more. There's no sign of that whore, anyway.

I just wanna see her again.

~/~

I'm bound by fear of being trapped,
I'm falling faster, fade to black,
Something's standing in my way,
Hoping for better days.

"Valkyrie… Wake up."

I rolled onto my side, wincing as pain flared through my stomach and shoulders.

"Wake up now. I will kick you."

I groaned and curled up.

"Get the fuck up!" I felt a solid kick to my back, and quickly straightened out, muffling a cry.

Slowly opening my eyes, I was met with one face I definitely did not expect to see.

"You crazy bitch…" I quickly sat up and stood in a crouch, ignoring the pain.

"Now, now, that's so way to treat your host now is it?" Davina grinned from the wooden chair she was seated on. "In fact, I actually only just got here, and here you were… all bruised and beaten. How do you feel?"
"Like shit." I spat at her.

"Oh, that's too bad." She pouted. "I wanted to have some fun with you today."

"Shame." I managed through gritted teeth.

"Oh well! We can still have lots of fun, even if I can't beat the delicious crap out of you." She grinned devilishly, and suddenly… I was very afraid.

"What do you mean."
"Wouldn't want to spoil the surprise." A deep voice thundered from behind me, and a bag was thrown over my head and I let go.

~/~

My head lolled forward, and I felt a thick rag on my face. I was sat in a chair again, hands and legs bound to the arms and legs. The rag smelt vile, like petrol and sulphur.

I tried loosening my hands, but found them bound tight. Sighing, I relaxed my muscles and took the opportunity to try and regain my strength, I doubt even God knew how long I'd be here for.

No matter how hard I tried, though, I couldn't get my mind to shut off, like it was telling me subconsciously to stay awake, stay alert.

And rightly so.

I head a series of thuds, decreasing in pitch, as (I assumed) someone came down the stairs. Once the thudding ceased, the scarping began, like when you drag a heavy box across cement, until it reached me. My breathing had rapidly increased.

I heard someone grunt and then –

Water.

Over my head, down my shoulders, across my front.

I'm drowning.

Fuck I'm drowning!

I felt the water fill my nose and mouth through the cloth, my hands strained against their binds and a muffled scream left my water filled mouth, making it more of a gargle.

My legs kicked involuntarily, causing the chair to jolt and creak. My tears mixed with the water that was slowly draining my energy.

I heard low chuckles and giggles drift through the room and then –

It stopped.

I sucked in a huge lungful of air, licking my lips. The water tasted foul, clean as it was.

My head dropped back as I took in the air, drinking it in like it was gold, and I was a greedy fucker.

I heard a bing.

~/~

After my drive, I lounged in my room. Flicked trough old photo's on my computer like the soppy, depressed teenager that I was.

I had my email inbox open, because… well, I don't know why I had my inbox open. But it's a good thing I did.

You have one new video message.

Unknown sender.

I jumped and ran into the kitchen, screaming and yelling for everyone else to converge there as I went.

The video buffered and loaded as we all crowded around the small laptop.

"Hurry the fuck up!" I yelled, smashing my hands down on the kitchen table.

"Calm down, Fletcher, it's loading." Tanith patted my arm soothingly, and I gave her an apologetic smile.

Just then, the little triangle in a box popped up on the screen, indicating that the video had successfully loaded. I scrambled for the chair and hunched down before hesitantly pressing the space key.

"Is it on?"

"Yes, Ronnie. Go get the stuff and let me do the speeches."

That bastard Lake.

"Hello Skulduggery! How are you? Me? Oh, I'm fine, sitting in a shitty little cellar with nothing to do…oh wait, yeah I do!"

"Davina Marr, that's where she is," Breathed Skulduggery.

Yeah no shit old man.

"You see, we kinda need her awake for this…" Marr stepped to the side, showing a figure with a rag over their face tied to a chair.

Valkyrie!

Finally, she stirred, moving her head, trying to tug her hands free from their ropes, shuffling to try and move her feet but was granted no movement. Eventually, she relaxed.

I watched as the camera turned, showing as Lake/Ronnie lugged what looked to be a water butt down the stairs. The shot followed him as he dragged it across the floor and in front of her.

I could see her breathing increase as he got closer.

Then he lifted the butt and poured it all over her.

I saw her struggle, try to breathe. Fail. Flail. Twist her hands to get free. Remain trapped. I heard her screams. Her cries. She thought she was drowning.

This is torture.

Not only that, but I could see the cuts, and the tears and the wounds on her skin. Skin caked with blood and grime and sweat.

I let this happen to her.

How could I ever forgive myself knowing that I let her be taken?

China stifled a sob behind me. As did Tanith. This was their friend, our friend.

And I did this to her.

I fucking did this.

Fuck.