~oOo~

Lucas didn't need visual confirmation to know what was happening by the river. The dream, which had never been anything more to him than a nightmare, had transformed into a vision and, in turn, had become a prophecy of things to come. Incacha had told him to believe in the power of the dream; with Blair's life at stake, that's exactly what he intended to do.

Struggling to maintain his balance as he lumbered down the dirt path, Lucas was already breathing too hard, and his body was protesting far too loudly at the level of exertion he was placing upon it. His head injury, combined with the lingering effects of the heroin and sleeping pills as they slowly expunged their way from his system, were proving to be formidable enemies, and it gave him pause to wonder how he was actually going to find the will to stand up and protect Blair.

The youngster's voice rang out, not only shattering the early morning harmony of blue jays and woodpeckers as they went about their business high in the trees above, but also acting as a catalyst for Lucas to ignore the laments of his body. Picking up speed, he rounded the last bend in the track to see his vision coming to life.

Although struggling hard and protesting with every ounce of strength in his body, Blair was losing the battle against the hands that were clawing at his clothes. A hard slap rained down on his backside and a large hand grabbed roughly at the back of his head. Preparing himself for what was coming next, Blair gulped in a large breath of air, just seconds before his face was level with the swirling waters of the river.

Physically still too far away to prevent his uncle from shoving Blair under the water, Lucas desperately sought anything that would put a stop to what Robert was about to do. Spotting a rock lying beside the trail, he picked it up and, without a second thought, pitched it in Robert's direction. The heavy weighted stone hurled through the air, but missed its targeted mark of his uncle's head, instead slamming with a forceful thud into the large man's shoulder.

The look of surprise that graced Robert's face didn't last long, and neither did his inaction. His shoulder stung with the heat of the stone's impact and, for a very brief moment, his heart bled with an outpouring of grief. There'd be no turning back this time. Lucas had literally cast the last stone and the deed was as good as done. Deep in his heart, Wilder understood that Lucas's defiant and insolent ways would never be quashed, not completely. He could beat the boy to within an inch of his life, he could humiliate, degrade and strip him of every facet of his dignity, and he could even attempt to turn him into what his father had become. But an attempt was all it would ever be. Lucas would fight him in some form or other until the day he died, and perhaps it would be easier for all involved if that day came around sooner rather than later. His nephew's suffering and his brother's guilt would be brought to end, and his own failing at not being able to control the boy would no longer be something he'd have to wrestle with.

With his decision made, Robert released the hold he had on the child and waded from the knee-deep water. It was time to start anew. It was time for Lucas to die.

~oOo~

His life had always been a series of challenges, and the challenge that confronted Lucas this time was one from which he had no intention of backing down. Robert came at him as he always did, hands clenched in authoritative fists and his eyes ablaze with narcissistic power. There were no words spoken as the pair came together, just man and youth fortifying themselves for the task ahead.

Robert, taller and heavier set, moved upon his nephew with a feeling of slight remorse. He did and had loved the boy in every sense of the word, and it gnawed on him that he'd never been able to convince Lucas how truly wonderful that love could be. If Lucas had just given him a chance, then he would have come to realise how perfect their family could have been. Robert was certain that love in any form was never wrong; he controlled the family for their own good, out of love, and they should willingly give him what he wanted and needed, for that same love. But Lucas had defiled its sanctity and its purity and corrupted their family with his hate and, in doing so, had also tried to shift the balance of power. It was time for all that stop. There was nothing more glorifying than the power of control and now, his control would no longer be under threat.

Lucas didn't flinch as his uncle approached. At the tender age of nine he had entered the school of hard knocks and, although more lessons than not had been learned with a volley of bruises and broken bones, he'd proven over time to be a more than capable student. With every defeat he'd grown, taken note and gained the knowledge he needed to graduate with honours. Speed, agility and his ability to anticipate were his 'A grade' subjects but, in his current condition, Lucas realised he'd be struggling to even make the class. But none of that mattered; he'd resigned himself to a fight and would call upon every single trick he had learned, no matter how down and dirty it was. When you were fighting for your life and the life of your brother, fair didn't even enter the contest.

Seconds before the first punch impacted his body, Lucas looked over to see Blair clambering out of the water. As the punches bandied back and forth, he yelled at the boy to run, but soon realised he may as well have saved his breath. Blair obviously had no intention of going anywhere. Even more terrifying to Lucas than Blair's stationary stance, was his unmistakable intention to help. Dripping wet, with his big blue eyes staring out from behind saturated bangs, Blair stood with a large stone in his hand, waiting for the right time to throw it in Robert's direction. As much as Lucas's heart wanted to swell with pride at Blair's courage, life's lessons had taught him what the child's audacity would ultimately mean if he didn't win this fight for them both. Blair must have been scared out of his wits, but his actions told Lucas that if he were strong enough to take on Robert in a situation like this, then it would be unlikely that he'd ever become the man's puppet. The little boy who had wormed his way into his heart was more similar to himself that he had ever thought possible. They were like two peas in a pod in so many ways; the more he got to know Blair, the more he saw of himself. Looking at Blair was like staring into a mirror.

Unbridled anger, combined with being scared shitless for Blair's life, was, for the moment, sustaining Lucas in the fight. But it was a condition that couldn't last forever. The lingering poison still pumping though his veins and the fact he hadn't eaten in over two days were taking their toll. As the clock ticked, his fists were connecting less and less with their mark and Robert's were attacking with more force. Lucas's stance was shifting from the offensive to the defensive.

Surviving to fight another day was one of the very first lessons Lucas had learned, and it had served him well on several occasions. Robert was large and he was strong and healthy. Although Lucas had never been seen as the runt of the litter, the other two qualities were fast flushing down the toilet. If he could just lay Robert flat long enough to get Blair out of here, then their chances of survival would be looking up. Incacha had told him that Jim was alive and that meant that the sentinel would be moving mountains to get back to Blair. All he needed to do now was what Jim had asked of him from the very beginning – hightail it into the scrub and keep Blair safe. He had no idea if this was the strategy he was meant to employ to pass the test but, in his mind, keeping his brother alive was the greatest test he could ever hope to pass.

Moving quickly out of the way of an incoming fist, Lucas retaliated with everything he had. He kicked out, catching Robert in the groin and, as the man instinctively hunched over, he landed a hard, fast and near bone-cracking fist to Robert's jaw. The look on his uncle's face was one of sheer beauty to the teenager, but he had no time to revel in it. Breathing hard and taking advantage of the opportunity he'd made, he landed a solid kick to Robert's midsection.

Stunned, severely winded and in a fair amount of pain, Robert floundered, and Lucas took off. He headed toward Blair and grabbed the child by the arm. With no time to assess Blair to see if he was injured, he pushed him roughly in front of him and urged him to get moving.

The measly space of approximately five yards was the only advantage gained before Lucas was tackled to the ground, brought down by a crashing force that not only took him completely by surprise, but also sent them all catapulting back toward the river's edge. Blair screamed his name and Lucas lifted his arm to protect himself from the fists that bore down on him in a flurry of uncontrollable rage. Despite his best efforts, both physically and mentally, Lucas could feel himself losing the battle. His grip on consciousness was tenuous, his grasp on Blair slipping away.

"No!" Blair screamed. Tiny fists emulated those of the black-eyed man and Blair hit out with all his might.

"I have just about had a fucking 'nough of both of you," Robert yelled, pushing Blair backward with a rough shove. Staggering to his feet, he roughly swiped at the blood pouring from his split lip and winced at the pain radiating from his groin. He pierced the air savagely with his finger. "Enough, understand?" he yelled again in the child's direction. Breathing hard and struggling though the pain, Robert turned his attention back to Lucas. Any remorse he may have had for what he was about to do was negated by his throbbing scrotum and his bruised pride. The kid had entered the ring severely hindered, but still had managed to put up one hell of a fight. Lucas had just become dangerous, but it was a danger that was about to be snuffed out.

Hooking Lucas's wrist in his large hand, he dragged the semi-conscious boy into the water until the depth was suitable for his next move.

The cold water sloshing around his body roused Lucas's mental state to a level where he knew what was happening. He blinked, trying to clear his vision, the result giving him a clear view of his uncle's dark eyes as they smiled dispassionately down at him. "You're mine Lucas," Robert leaned down and whispered into his ear. "You've always belonged to me and you always will."

"No," Lucas rasped weakly, but his breath was cut off. Robert plunged his tongue into his mouth, kissing him deeply. He choked on the kiss as it cut off his airway. His heart pounded and his chest burned. He couldn't breathe. He was dying. It was just like his dream, but this time there was no one around to wake him from the nightmare. This time, death would be inevitable.

But Lucas was wrong. Blair was still there and he was not giving up on his brother. He lunged forward, clawing at Robert's face and digging his fingernails into any part of tender flesh he could reach, desperate to make the black-eyed man let go of Lucas.

His plan worked. Robert immediately let go of Lucas and grabbed at the corner of his injured eye. It took a few moments for him to figure out what had happened but, when he did, his anger was insurmountable. In a fit of pure and unadulterated rage, he grabbed Blair by his shirtfront and lifted him high into the air before shot-putting him out into the middle of the river. Blair went under once, before resurfacing with a splutter. By the way the kid thrashed around with panic and uncoordinated movements, it was obvious to Wilder that he couldn't swim. But he didn't care; he'd moved beyond caring. One more loose end to tie up and he'd be done. A flash of movement caught his attention and Robert acted accordingly. Lashing out, his foot came crashing down upon Lucas's chest, trapping him under the water. "Drown, the both of you!" he screamed, with raw anger. "You took what I had and you made me kill to keep it." He pressed harder on Lucas's chest, making it impossible for Lucas to dislodge him. "You made me kill your brother, and because of you, another child will soon be dead.

"Your time to die has come, Lucas!" he yelled, screaming like a madman ranting to his flock. "Your time has come to an end!"

~oOo~