Chapter 21

Darkness. Inside and outside. He blinked several times but the darkness never disappeared. He had no idea where he was and he'd lost all sense of time. All he knew was pain and it was all focused mainly in his shoulder. Who was he? As he lay there in the darkness he pondered who he was. "Don," he called out. Was he Don? No Don was someone else, someone important.

Wriggling slightly he began to move, sluggishly at first and then he got into a rhythm and sped up. Nevertheless the bonds around his hands didn't extend far, halting the slightest progress he made. In intense pain he swung his leg out to feel a sharp edge, probably followed by a great fall.

Rolling onto his back, he panted heavily from the effort. His shoulder hurt even more now. Charlie! He suddenly heard shouted in his head. Charlie! He thought again, followed by a large bang. Who's Charlie? he thought sadly. You're Charlie…a small voice told him quietly. "Charlie." He wanted to say aloud as if to check it sounded right. But instead all he could manage was a slight rasp before subsiding into a coughing fit. His throat burned from the effort. Water…he thought silently. Charlie needs water! He shouted internally, however, it just faded away to a slight echo. No response came.

Hours…and hours…passed in total darkness. He couldn't think about much except the deep throbbing in his shoulder. The pain seemed to increase at the slightest movement so Charlie just lay there…not moving. Breathing in…breathing out. In, out. Darkness inside and out. He blinked hard as if this time something might change. He didn't know how long he'd been here. In the darkness, breathing in and out. "One" He tried to say aloud but ended up spluttering as hairs from the sack over his head went in his mouth and tickled his nose.

One…he thought silently…two…three…four…five…six…seven…eight…nine… breaking off Charlie swore he heard the creaking of a door, but when no other sound followed Charlie returned to his counting. Where had I gotten to? He asked himself confused but got distracted by his legs getting wet. Is it raining in here? He asked him self but he didn't think so. No you peed yourself… the small voice told him sarcastically.

"Don?" He tried again. But the room was silent. For hours it stayed silent except for Charlie's heavy breathing. He thought he was dreaming when at last a door squeaked and footsteps made their way slowly closer. "Don?" He called out again.

"I'm afraid not." A slick voice replied. A voice he really thought he should recognise. Roughly the sack was removed from over his face and Charlie found himself face to face with Robert Warrenton.

Robert…it all came flooding back. "Water," Charlie croaked.

"Here," grabbing Charlie roughly by the shoulders, Robert pulled a screaming Charlie into a sitting position.

Looking around him properly for the first time Charlie noticed that he was actually lying in quite a light room. The great fall he thought he'd felt was just the edge of a small platform that he was tied to. There were only two windows, both too high to see out of.

Reaching into a small bag Robert pulled out a small flask. At first Charlie resisted but he really was thirsty. So when Robert held it to Charlie's chapped lips Charlie opened his mouth and swallowed gratefully as water trickled down his burning throat. "Where are we?" He just about managed to croak. "When are we?" Charlie asked noticing for the first time that if it was day light he'd been here for at least a night.

"We are in a remote place where your brother won't find you." Robert looked smugly at Charlie. "As for when…you've been out cold for two days. Don't worry I have attended to your dressing." Robert added pointing at Charlie's bandaged shoulder.

"You bastard." Charlie spat at him.

For a moment Roberts face screwed up in anger. Slapping Charlie hard across the face Robert raised his hand to slap him again. He seemed to think better of it, however, and pulled a chair over to sit on instead. "I wouldn't say things like that to the only person who stands between you living and dying." Robert told him stonily, all lines of anger now under control.

"Ah, but you wont kill me. You need Don to come."

"They always did say you were the clever one of the family." Robert replied after a moment's hesitation. "Fine, I'm what is standing between you staying here for a few days in excruciating agony and you getting food and water constantly. But no, you are right. I need you to get to Don. The fear and worry that must be running through him right now. No word about where you are…If you're alive."

"Leave Don alone!" Charlie shouted angrily but Robert merely laughed at his poor attempt to work himself free from his bonds.

"Now Charlie, honestly, why would I do that?" Robert asked crossing his legs.

"Because you have me. You couldn't wish to put him through more pain than living with the fact that you killed me. A brother for a brother…"

"What do you know about my brother?" Robert shouted angrily.

"Nothing except that you and Don alike blame him for Alex's death." Charlie grimaced as he tried getting up.

"No, right now I think I'll stick to my original plan."

"Which is?"

"Is this the bit where I am meant to reveal everything because foolishly I underestimate you and then you get away and warn Don? I don't think so. All I'll tell you is that Don will suffer…a great deal. And so long as I have you, well he'll do what ever I ask of him. However…extreme it may seem." Robert smiled manically at the last bit, filling Charlie with dread.

"Don't hurt Don…" Charlie quietly pleaded. "Please…Don't hurt him. Just take me."

"Brother for a brother. Why do you think that you should sacrifice yourself?" Robert asked curiously. "Why is his life more important?"

"Because he's…my brother. I love him." Charlie panted slightly from exertion.

"I think you're deluded. He doesn't' love you. He never did. He was jealous of you. He hated you. He only bothers with you now because you can do something for him. You solve cases. Without him he's nothing and he knows it. You know I'm a great admirer of your work. That book was inspired and was what helped me grease my way to a position where I could finally seek justice for my brother."

"You're sick!" Charlie shouted disgusted at the lively animation of the psychopath in front of him. The malice and glimmer in his eyes as he looked at Charlie Scared Charlie immensely.

"Don't you see? Before your book I was content in the knowledge that at least Don and his brother hated one another. But when you published it they ran an article and Don claimed that you were now friends. Well that made me angry. So I read your book and it was quite insightful. I used it to manoeuvre my position so that I was in a place where I could freely kill everyone who let my brother down. But Don…no he was special. I couldn't just kill the betrayer of my brother. I had to make him feel and understand the pain and fear of having no brother. He didn't deserve you. He didn't deserve your friendship. Don't you see? Your book spoke to me. He doesn't deserve you! But I do. Look what I have done for my brother. I killed for him like he killed for me. I am better than Don!" Robert finished manically and looked at Charlie with both admiration and pity.

Charlie, however, was speechless. "Was this all because of my book?" he asked after some time. "Would you have left us alone if you'd never seen that article??" Charlie asked both angry and scared.

"You don't get it. But you will." Robert stated pulling a mobile out of his suit pocket. "Let's get Don to join our little party? Hmmm?"

"No! Please! Your right we can be brothers with out Don but I wont…I'll hate you forever if you hurt him!" Charlie shouted desperately.

"No you're saying that to trick me, But you'll see the second Don is dead you'll know I did you a favour. He uses you Charlie and I'm going to put a stop to it. Then I will show you. I appreciate you more…hello? Don! I have your brother and I think its time you joined us….proof? Charlie, tell Don you're alive."

"Don! It's a trap! DON'T COME!"

"Of course he'll come silly." Robert walked out the room laughing hysterically into the receiver.

I have to get out of here! Charlie thought desperately. Ignoring the pain in his shoulder Charlie struggled for what seemed like ages until at last he found a slight snag in the wall and hastily began to cut the ropes tying his hands together. Finally freed Charlie took a moment to rub his sore wrists. But he didn't linger long and climbing off the small platform Charlie headed over to a hatched door he'd seen earlier. The top half was the only part unlocked so with great difficulty and in great pain Charlie climbed over the door and half ran half stumbled off into the desert, unsure which was the right direction he should really be taking.

He carried on like this for hours but no matter which direction he went he came no closer to civilization. Robert had had him locked up in some shack in the middle of the desert and now Charlie was lost. He didn't know which was worse but the fear that Robert might not be far behind kept Charlie moving forwards.

The accumulation of heat and pain in Charlie Shoulder caused him to have to rest constantly and it wasn't long before Charlie ran out of gas full stop. He was sore and dirty and lost and Charlie wanted nothing more than to sleep. His better judgement was against it but the second he sat down he knew he wouldn't be getting up again. Maybe Don had listened and wasn't coming. He didn't know whether to be glad his brother was safe or despondent that he would die. Amita! Suddenly popped into his head. Dad and Don would take care of her. He needn't worry he thought sleepily. He needn't worry was the last thing he thought before passing out.