Chapter 12

Deek, Sonny and Brad carried the unconscious cop from the ceremonial cave into the smaller adjoining one. Starsky's head lolled forward, his chin on his chest as Deek and Sonny sat him down, holding him upright as Brad tied his wrists behind his back with a wicked thin leather thong. Letting the brunet go, his limp body fell back against the rock and he slept a dreamless sleep as the blood from the incisions on his chest soaked into the front of his robe.

He dreamed he was floating above the old civic zoo, looking down on his body as Gail stood by his side, weeping. And his dreams were painful, the pull on the incisions and the bruises he'd accumulated pulling at his consciousness, stopping him from resting fully.

An hour later, while Deek kept watch over the cop who was showing signs of life again, Gail came back into the small cave. She crossed to the bound man and knelt by his side, her hand resting protectively on his hip as she felt the involuntary shivers running through his body. Her presence seemed to rouse him more from his stupor and slowly his eyes fluttered open to focus on her. The previous drug had left his system now and although he felt tired and sticky and dirty he had no recollection of the past few hours. The last thing he could fully remember was being in the cave with Deek trying to spear him with the flaming torch. As to the orgy, the drugs and the mad blond man cutting into his chest, he had no recollection, although he wondered why he felt so sore down the front of his body. He looked down at the delicate young girl and tried to smile to reassure her that everything would be ok, although he wasn't sure it would be.

His lips were white and cracked, and as he smiled he felt them split, licking at the salty fluid as it trickled down the side of his mouth. The burn on his face stood out lividly against the paler skin of his normally tanned features, all colour now being leached away by the exhaustion and pain of the previous 18 hours. Slowly the girl knelt up and held out a tin cup filled with cool water, placing it t his lips.

Starsky coughed, a hacking, dry cough, the pains rattling through his stomach and chest muscles from the beating and from the lacerations on his stomach. He tried to bring his knees up to his chest to ease the pressure, but in his weakened state he couldn't manage and instead allowed the girl to feed the water to him, drinking noisily from the cup. She took it away from him, scared he'd become sick if he drank too much all at once. Exhausted by the simple effort of drinking, his chin rested on his chest, eyes downcast as he contemplated the end of his life. Because at that moment that was how the brunet felt – as though his 29 short years would be ended in this airless, musty cave.

The water felt cool on his parched tongue and left a trail of liquid heaven down his dry, raw throat and for a moment he savoured the tiny luxury. Gail sat in front of him, looking adoringly into his face.

'Better?' she asked solicitously.

He had no strength to look at her, his breath whistling through his teeth.

'Oh yeah' he managed to pant, his voice a raw parody of its usual self. 'T'riffic, lets send out…..for pizza'

Just as he began to relax, letting the water revive him a little, he felt the first tendrils of pain snake through his gut. He leaned forward, protectively, feeling the cuts on his chest pull as he managed to bring his knees up to his chest. He pulled wildly at the thongs of leather holding his wrists behind his back as the pains took hold of him and shook him like a dog.

Gail looked up in alarm, questioning Deek with her eyes. 'What's the matter?' she asked the tall man, who stared down at the couple impassively. She turned her attention back to the panting cop.

'Please……tell me what's wrong'.

Starsky fought down the panic. Was this it? Was this his last breath? It sure felt that way, the pains in his stomach like lightening bolts through his gut as he tried to find the strength to pant the words

'I …..dunno' he gasped around another bolt of pain. 'M..maybe the water?' He tried to curl himself into a ball, but the pains were persistent and he closed his eyes to shut out the world and concentrate on breathing and enduring.

Gal looked at the cup in disbelief, throwing it away as though it would bite her. Kneeling up she challenged the Satanist.

'You put something in the water and didn't tell me. Why must it always be so cruel?'

Deek stared at the girl, jealous that she was so protective of the cop and feeling as though, by her feelings and her attraction, she was somehow being disloyal to Si-mon. He drew back his hand and struck her across the face, flinging her back so that she landed across Starsky's lap.

The brunet seemed hardly to notice, the flames entwining his gut now taking all his attention. It took every ounce of strength to remain conscious but he was afraid to pass out for fear of what they may do to him next. The girl sobbed into his lap as Deek knelt beside her, reaching out to stroke her hair, the tenderness in stark contrast to the blow he'd just delivered.

'Si-mon dreamed you would stay with us. He dreamed it could be the way it was, when we first took you'.

'No, no…..no….no more dr dreaming' Gail moaned softly, her big eyes slowly closing as she clung to Starsky's knee, trembling and submitted to the caresses of Deek's hand on her long, pale brown hair.

'Dream that all over again' Deek said softly as she relaxed against his touch. 'Dream….'

'Si-mon….Si-mon' Gail mumbled softly under her breath.

The hand continued to stroke her hair rhythmically and tenderly as her trembling subsided. 'Dream…..' Deek said again, low and tender and she moaned Si-mon's name one more time.

As the girl started to descend into her hypnotic state, Deek reached up and grasped a handful of the brunet's curls, jerking Starsky's head violently up so that he could stare into the drugged, pained indigo eyes.

'And you dream too pig' he hissed. 'Dream and make it good, for at sunrise, the dream is ending, and so is your life. You're going to die'

And at that point Starsky almost wanted to follow the Satanist's invitation. His body ached, the whole of his chest and back seemingly on fire. His arms and legs felt cramped and he felt weary beyond words. And yet there was still the primeval drive to continue, to battle the pains and live.

Starsky wondered where Hutch was. Had he gotten any clue as to where he was being held? Had he set about searching for him? Hutch wouldn't let this go until he'd found his partner, but time was running out. What time was it now? Deek had said he had until sunrise, but in the dark confines of the cave he had no idea what time it was or how long he still had before they killed him.

Deek stood, letting Starsky's hair go and slamming his head back against the rocky wall behind him. The brunet felt his teeth rattle in his head and groaned at the added pain. He looked down at the young girl still curled up in his lap and as he watched Deek leave the two of them alone, he set to work on the girl.

'Gail?'

She stopped her low chanting, but didn't move.

'Gail, look at me, honey' he panted through the pains.

Slowly she raised herself up and wiped the tears from her eyes.

'I'm sorry' she whispered. 'I didn't know. Si-mon didn't dream this. He didn't want you to hurt afterwards. Not til….'

The brunet's mind didn't take in what she was saying fully. 'After what? Till what? Gail…..help me'.

She reached up and touched his face gently. 'I can't'.

'Gail….ungh…..I can…..get us outa here…..just untie me'.

'Sssh' she laid her fingers on his cracked lips. 'Don't say more. Just rest'.

Starsky's patience snapped. He'd been beaten, burned, poisoned and he was pissed. 'GAIL' he spat. 'Enough with Simon. He's a no good piece o' low life. He don't care about ya. He don't care about anyone 'cept himself. Just untie me an' I'll get us both outa here huh?' he pleaded.

But Gail shrank back from him, shocked at his angry tone. 'Si-mon dreamed you'd die before the White Knight came' she said softly.

'White knight? Who's the…..wait. Ya mean Hutch! Hutch is here? Or is he coming here? Gail, tell me, it's important'.

'Si-mon dreamed the White Knight would die too, but he'd find you first………too late. I'm sorry. Too late' she sighed.

'No, Gail, its never too late. C'mon honey, listen to me'. The brunet tried again, wishing he could get through the programming to the young girl. He was about to try again when Deek and Brad appeared at the entrance to the cave.

'You won't win. She belongs to Si-mon'. Deek grinned.

'She's a human being. She don't belong to no-one' Starsky ground out, looking hard at Gail, silently willing her to stand up to the two men and cut him free. 'Gail, honey' he started.

But Brad had had enough and he rushed across the small cave, his fist raised as Starsky pushed himself back against the rocky wall. He braced himself for the punch, but it was still hard when it came, adding to the fire in his belly and he wretched, unable to stop the meagre contents of his stomach making a re-appearance. Brad wrenched his head back as he gasped for breath and jammed a cloth into his mouth, fastening it in place with a piece of rope.

The material threatened to cut off the brunet's airway and he tried desperately to breathe through his nose, slow and steady as his eyes teared. He stared defiantly at the young blond man who looked contemptuously back.

'I told ya to shuddup' the Satanist spat. 'Now be quiet and wait. Not long now then we can shut you up for good. Then we can take that gag out and we can hear ya scream your last moments away' he grinned.

Turning he took hold of Gail by her arm and yanked her to her feet. 'You may be the chosen one, but it don't stop Si-mon punishing you. What did ya think you were doin' talking to him? We got what we needed from him, now leave him alone huh?'

Gail glanced back at the weary cop, apology in her eyes as Brad dragged her away, leaving Starsky alone in the cave.

For the first time since this had started he was alone and he allowed himself a moment to gather his breath and his thoughts. He felt dirty and sticky and vulnerable and the gag leached all moisture from his mouth. He still felt sick to his stomach, but concentrated on breathing past it. With the gag in place he was more than likely to choke if he was to vomit now.

Starsky leaned his head back against the wall and closed his eyes, weariness overtaking him. He sent another silent message out to Hutch to come find him, although Marcus' "dreams" seemed to have all come true so far. Would this one come true too?