Chapter 10 - Tortured

"Stop!" Lucy cries, pleading her captor. "Please stop!"

"I will…" he answers, chuckling at the blonde. "Once you do as I say! Open the gate to the Heavens and I will let you go!"

"No, I can't!" Lucy sobs, her body burning from all the gashes and bruises. "I don't know how!"

"Just do it!" he growled. "I know you were researching it! If you ever want to see your little angels again, I suggest you do it!"

"No!"

"Fine, the hard way it is!" he chuckles, cracking his whip on the ground as he steps closer to Lucy.

"This way! I can smell her!" Natsu yells out to everyone behind him. "She's this way!"

"Mamma!" Luna cries, racing towards the big building they found in the forest. "Mamma's in there! I can smell her too!"

"Luna, be careful!" Nashi calls out to her sister. "We don't know if this place is booby-trapped!"

"Aye, sir!" Happy exclaims as he flies above them. "I will scout out ahead!"

"Thank you, Happy!" Erza calls, grabbing Natsu and Luna. "You two cannot just rush into things. I guess it is like Father like daughter!"

"Miss Erza?" Nashi whispers, tugging on the re-quip mages leg. "Can you teach me to re-quip? I think it is really cool!"

"I would be happy too, Little Nashi!" Erza coos, dropping Natsu and Luna. "Once we find your Mamma, we can go back and I can start teaching you, ok?"

"Yes, ma'am!" Nashi exclaims, saluting to Erza, who in turn, chuckles.

"Mamma!" Luna shouts, using her ultra-sonic voice to shout. "Mamma! Where are you!?"

"Luna!" Nashi cried out, covering her ears. All the others do so too. "Don't use your ultra-sonic voice unless we have the ear things, remember?!"

"S-sorry, Nashi!" Luna cries, tearing up. "I didn't mean too!"

"Luna!" a voice cries out. "Luna! Stay away!"

Happy comes flying back, quickly explaining. "Lushi is on the top floor, but she looks bad!"

"I'm coming, Luce!" Natsu shouts, running towards the entrance.

Was that Natsu? Lucy thinks.

"Oh? It seems your friends are here to save you!" the man said, looking out the window. "Better make sure you're not awake!"

The man leaps forward, cracking his whip against Lucy, making her cry out in pain. He continues doing so until the door bursts open.

"Luce!"

Lucy opens her eyes slightly, her vision blurry. All she sees is a figure, with a familiar mop of pink hair.

"N-natsu…?" she whispers before falling unconscious.