A/N - I am sooo sooo sorry for taking forever with this! I've had a really rough month and didn't really want to write for awhile. I'm doing better now though so here is a pretty long chapter for you guys. I hope you're still with me. Special thanks to saiken2009 for not only being my beta, but being a great friend. Love ya!
27 weeks pregnant
Mike paced around the small room as he had every day since they had been taken. Their captor had yet to do anything with them. They hadn't even been able to see who was holding them captive. They knew it was James, but they were sure someone had to be helping him, this was far too complicated for him to have come up with alone. But the only time they saw anyone it was a small girl who would bring them a bit of food. She never even spoke a word to them, even when they tried to talk to her. It was more frustrating then Mike could bear. If he wasn't pacing he was looking for a way out, which unfortunately after 20+ times seemed like a waste of time.
"Mike," Lea said watching him. "Please sit down. You're making me dizzy."
"I can't help it," Mike said as he sat down next to her. "This is driving me crazy. They kidnap us and just leave us here. I don't get it."
"They're mind fucking us," Peter said calmly from Lea's other side. Mike and Lea turned to look at him, shocked that he would use such a word. "Well they are!"
"What exactly do you mean 'mind fucking us'?" Mike asked.
"There's no better way to say it," Peter replied. "They're fucking with our minds. They're not doing anything on purpose to freak us out. And it's working."
"Peter has a point, Mike," Lea agreed.
"Yeah, I know," Mike said. "But it doesn't make it any easier. I just want some answers."
"We should count ourselves lucky that we are all ok," Peter replied. "I'd rather have that then answers while one of us is hurt."
"How can you stay so positive?" Mike asked.
"There's no other way to be," Peter said with a smile. "You have to look on the bright side no matter how dull it may seem. That's the only way to survive something like this. Keep positive."
"You're a wonder to me, Pete," Mike said, but it brought a small smile to his face.
"I'm glad you're here, Peter," Lea started. "You know, I'm not happy that you got kidnapped with us or anything, but I'm glad that you're with us at the same time. Does that make any sense?"
"It makes a lot of sense," Peter said wrapping an arm around Lea's shoulder. "I'm glad we're all together and that none of us have to go through this alone. We'll figure a way out of this; I'm sure of it."
"I just hope Micky, Davy and Sam are doing ok," Lea said sadly.
"They're fine," Mike said. "I'm sure of it. If I know them, they're out there searching for us right now."
"But what if they…" Lea started.
"Shh, no buts," Mike interrupted. "I know they're safe. And I know they will do everything they can to get us out of here." Mike wrapped his arms around Lea and guided her to lay her head on his chest. "Just relax, babe. Stressing out is only gonna make it worse. You need to rest. If not for you then for our baby." At the mention of their little one Lea closed her eyes and did her best to calm herself down. She wouldn't let this affect their child's health if she could help it.
While Mike and Lea fell asleep together, Peter was wide awake. He was determined to keep them all safe, especially Lea and the baby. To do that he would have to keep everyone as calm as possible, much as that seemed an impossible task. He was aware he was with two of the most stubborn and hot headed people he knew and he was determined to get them through it. He just hoped that Mike was right and that Sammy, Micky and Davy would find them soon.
Sammy, Micky and Davy were at a loss for what to do. They hadn't heard anything from or about their friends in three weeks. They had gone to the police station the day that they disappeared, but the cops said they couldn't do anything for 48 hours because Lea, Mike and Peter were all adults. Even once the cops did take a missing persons report they told Sammy, Micky and Davy that it was a waste of time and that their friends had probably just gone away and didn't want to be found. However, they knew Mike, Peter and Lea wouldn't have just up and left. Especially since they left all of their belongings behind.
It wasn't that Micky, Sam and Davy hadn't tried to look for their friends as well, but they only had small bits of information to go on. The cops had told them to stay out of the investigation after Micky told them that if the cops weren't going to do anything about it he would. They had threatened to arrest him if they saw him snooping around. So they waited and waited, but nothing happened. Micky was at his wits end.
"Those cops aren't even trying!" Micky fumed as he paced the living room. He'd been doing the same thing every day and Davy and Sammy had given up on trying to calm him because it just seemed to make his mood worse.
"Micky," Davy said. "Will you sit down please? Pacing around the room like that isn't going to help anything."
"I know that," Micky snapped, then instantly felt bad. "I'm sorry, Davy. I just can't help it. We'll never find them this way. I'm tired of sitting here and doing nothing. If the cops aren't going to help then we need to come up with a plan whether that means getting arrested or not."
"We've been through this before," Sammy said. "We've gone through every possibility and came up with nothing. How can we form a plan if we don't even know where to start?"
"Well we need to think harder," Micky said sadly. "Or we're never going to see them again."
"Don't say that, Mate," Davy said, placing a hand on Micky's shoulder. "They're gonna be alright. We'll figure it out just like always."
"Yeah," Micky said wryly. "But it's usually Mike that come up with all the ideas."
"That's not true," Davy argued. "There have been plenty of times we've had to go without Mike!"
"Like what?" Micky asked dejectedly.
"What about when we were on that ship and he got seasick?" Davy asked.
"What about it?" Micky replied.
"You're the one who came up the the idea to imitate the captain's parrot, and incite the men and stage a mutiny," Davy said.
"Yeah and it didn't pan out the way I planned," Micky argued. "We almost walked the plank!"
"But we didn't, did we?" Davy asked. "Our plans never go the way we think they will. But they always have a way of working out in the end. You have to get yourself together. We'll figure out a way to find them."
"Davy, you're right," Micky said, finally perking up a bit. "There has to be something we're missing."
"Right!" Davy cheered. "Now let's think. They were taken from the grocery store and the cops said no one saw anything, right."
"Right…" Micky said. "We've been over this before."
"I know," Davy replied. "But we've just been going by what they said this whole time. What if someone did see something?"
"Oh," Sammy said, jumping up. She had stayed quiet through Davy's pep talk, she knew that it was what Micky needed to hear. And he needed it to come from someone other than her for it to make a real impact. "What if someone was just uncomfortable talking to the cops? Maybe they would talk to us instead!"
"But how are we going to find anyone to talk to us?" Micky asked. "Anyone could have been at that grocery store."
"That's why we start with the employees," Sammy said.
"Exactly," Davy agreed. "It's a little late coming, but it's better than nothing..."
"Let's go," Micky said, racing out the door so fast Sammy could have sworn his shoes caught fire.
The sound of the heavy metal door slamming open tore Mike, Peter and Lea from their sleep. They looked toward the noise, but only saw two shadowy figures moving towards them. Mike felt Lea clutch his arm and instinctively pulled her closer to him. He knew what she was thinking. One of these two was most definitely James.
As they walked into the light Mike recognized James immediately. His heart dropped when he saw who the other figure was.
"Mr. Zero!" Peter cried. Mike saw the color drain from his face. He didn't blame his friend knowing what happened last time they encountered the conniving pawn shop owner.
"That's right, Peter," the Devil chuckled. "Surprised to see me?" He turned his attention to Mike and Lea. "Ahh, Mr. Nesmith. Still holding on to your Power of Love? It won't do you any good here. Oh no, we will break you and all of your souls will belong to me. All four of them." His eyes twinkled at he looked Lea over. "And this one is the one I'm most looking forward to. Nothing quite like a pure soul." He reached out to touch her stomach and Lea spat at him.
"Lea, don't," Mike whispered.
"Ahh, feisty," Zero sneered. "I like that. It will be very enjoyable breaking you."
"When do I get my part?" James asked, speaking for the first time during the entire interaction.
"Patience, James," Zero said with a smile. "You'll get to play with her. But first we must show her just what she's dealing with." Zero snapped his fingers and suddenly Lea was sitting on the floor alone and Mike and Peter were chained to the wall opposite of her. They pulled against the chains, desperately trying to free themselves, but it was no use. They only succeeded in bruising and scratching the skin on their wrists. Mike had even bled a little. He didn't want anything to happen to Lea and now he had no way of protecting her.
"Watch and learn you little bitch," James whispered in Lea's ear as he sat next to her. Mike cringed, knowing that this was going to be bad. He looked to Peter and gave him a stern look. Peter seemed to know that this was bad as well, but Mike tried to convey to his friend that they would get through this, together, no matter what. He hoped.
"Don't hurt him!" Lea cried. She tried to get up, but James grabbed her by the wrist and forced her to sit back down.
"There's nothing you can do to save him now," James sneered. "I gave you that chance last time. But you went back to him anyway and got me thrown in jail. Now you get to watch him suffer."
"No," Lea whispered, placing her head in her hands.
"Watch," James said as he lifted her head forcefully.
"Lea, don't," Mike said, but Zero had already stepped in front of him and he could no longer see her.
"I've been waiting a long time to get my hands on you, Mr. Nesmith," Zero taunted. "And now not only do I get you, but I get the soul you stole from me and your pretty little pregnant wife as well. You should have just left well enough alone. I'm going to show you just how sweet revenge can be." He smiled a twisted, maniacal grin and Mike knew he and Peter were in for it. And he knew he shouldn't test Zero's patience, but he couldn't help it.
"You're still pissed off about that?" Mike bit back. "Man, you just don't know when to quit, do you?"
"Shut up," Zero said, slapping Mike hard across the face. "Oh I'm going to enjoy this." He snapped his fingers and a long black whip appeared in his hand. One more snap and Mike was now facing the wall without his shirt.
Mike heard the whip crack before he felt the sharp sting across his back. He bit back a cry of pain hoping that Lea wouldn't hear. He felt the whip across his back four more times and with each strike it was harder and harder to remain quite. He braced himself for the next assault, but all he heard was some rustling and Lea quietly pleading 'no'.
The whip came down on Mike again, but this time something sharp bit into his skin and he couldn't hold back his cry. He figured Zero had added some sort of sharp metal piece to the end. The next few blows confirmed that for him as his back felt like it was being torn apart. He felt the warm, wetness of his blood dripping down his back and heard his own strangled cries; though they sounded foreign and far away to him.
Zero snapped once more, turning Mike to face them once again. Mike saw the end of the whip had a small hook at the end that was now dripping with blood. He did his best to hide the pain he felt; he didn't want to give Zero the satisfaction of seeing his misery.
"Oh, you took that like a champ, Mr. Nesmith," Zero chided. "I'll just have to wait and see how much it takes to finally break you, but have no fear. I will." He turned his attention to Peter. "Ah, my dear friend, Peter. It's your turn now." Peter glanced at the whip, mentally preparing himself for what was to come. Zero smiled at this. "Oh don't you worry," Zero snapped his fingers and the whip disappeared. "I've got something entirely different planned for you. James, it's your turn." James grinned as he left Lea sitting alone on the floor. Silent tears ran down her cheeks as James closed in on Peter.
"I've been waiting for this," James said as he reached into his pocket and brought out a nasty looking hunting knife. Peter stood his ground and stared blankly at the wall as James pressed the cold steel against his cheek. James smiled wickedly as he traced the edge down Peter's cheek to his throat and then finally to his chest. "I hope you're ready."
"No!" Lea cried. "James, you don't have anything against him. He has nothing to do with this!"
"Lea," Mike said looking at her and trying to plead through his eyes for her to stay quiet. He watched as Zero sat beside her and winked at him. He struggled again to get free, to save his wife, but it was still no use. Zero laughed at he tucked Lea's hair behind her ear and kissed her lightly on the cheek before slapping her too across the face.
"You think distracting him will save your friends?" Zero asked her. "It will only make it worse for them. So I suggest you keep your pretty, little mouth shut."
Mike's attention was brought back to Peter, who gasped as James slashed at his abdomen; tearing both his shirt and his flesh in the process. Peter grit his teeth as more of his skin was unceremoniously slashed open. He felt nauseous as the warm blood trickled down his body, but he refused to let James know that.
"Tough guy, huh?" James asked. "I gotta admit, I pegged you for a wimp. Let's see how you like this."
"Hey," Mike yelled, tearing James' attention from Peter for the moment. "I'm the one you've got the gripe with, not him. Come over here."
"Nah," James replied. "I got something special planned for you later."
"Too much of a coward to face the man who stole your woman?" Mike asked tauntingly. He knew it was a stupid idea, but he needed to keep James' attention off of Peter.
"Mike, don't," Peter said.
"Peter," Mike said looking desperately at his friend. "Shut up. Come on you piece of shit. I'm the one you really want."
"Mike!" Lea cried. "Peter!" She broke down, not able to watch anymore.
"See what they're doing for you?" Zero whispered in her ear. "They're trying to protect you. You're little sweetheart there thinks he can take all the pain for everyone and come out on top." Zero grabbed a lock of Lea's hair and twirled it between his fingers. "He thinks that love will save you all again." He pulled hard on her hair, causing her to gasp loudly. "He's wrong. James, stop letting Nesmith distract you and get on with it!"
"Like I said," James said turning his attention back to Peter. "I've got something real special planned for you later. Peter scrunched his face up as he felt the blade carve deeper into his skin. The cuts up until this point had been superficial. This time James meant business. He carved a small, but deep X into Peters chest, right above his heart. "That's what I'm going to take from you."
"Wasn't that fun?" Zero asked as he handed James a towel to wipe Peter's blood off of the knife. He snapped his fingers and Peter and Mike were crumbled in a heap by Lea's feet. Fresh blood was still dripping from both of them. Zero leaned down to them, but looked Lea directly in the eyes. "We must have the quaint Mrs. Nesmith join us next time." He laughed callously and Mike and Peter's hearts simultaneously fell.
"See, Lea," James said teasingly as he kneeled next to her. He leaned in close to her so he could whisper in her ear. "This is all your fault. They wouldn't be hurt if it weren't for you. All you had to do was come back to me. Now you get to watch the 'love of your life' and your little puppy dog of a friend be tortured. Hope it was worth it." He winked at her as he stood up and followed Zero out of the room and let the door slam shut behind him.