A/N Sorry for the delay that thing called reality got in the way again! And of course, many thanks to darkin520 for being my beta and being awesome

Chapter 25

"I've found her!" shouted Tim. Ben had been on the verge of closing his eyes as everything had begun to merge into one. He moved over to Tim and looked at the screen where Tim was enhancing the section.

"See, there!" Tim was pointing.

Ben looked very closely, "Where? I can't see anything… Oh, yes, now I see."

Ben could just make out a portion of a forest green t-shirt and a flash of rainbow close to Lucas before they were taken.

"But look, she is not in the back of the car with them. I managed to isolate a couple of milliseconds of footage before the vehicle fell off surveillance. You can see Lucas and Mrs Bridger, but no Freya; she must be somewhere else."

"I think we better let the Captain know," suggested Ben. And both young men went off to find Nathan.

Lucas couldn't understand what had happened to Cara at first, as she had suddenly sat bolt upright.

"What is it?"

"Freya's somewhere near!"

"What! She can't be!"

"Hold on to my hand and concentrate."

'Freya, where are you?'

'I'm in the boot of the car you got into.'Lucas almost jumped when he heard Freya's thoughts, and nodded to show Cara that he could hear.

'How?'

'When the car came up and the man shot Dad and took Kit, I wanted to be with you. Then, the other car came and bundled you and Lucas in. You didn't see, but one of the men was Edward Curtis. I did some research on him from the Internex. I wanted to tell someone, but everyone was involved with Kit's disappearance, I only had a spit second, so I opened the boot and got in. I heard you and Lucas, and then I smelt something and I've just woken up. Mum, are you alright? Is Lucas with you? What shall I do? I've tried to switch on my PAL, but it's not working.'

Cara had to think quickly.

'Don't get out of the car yet; I want to make sure that Curtis or Wolenczak are not outside. Lucas is with me, and we can hear what you are saying. You must listen, Freya; only get out when I tell you. Then be very careful; get as far away from here as possible. Do not come near the house, Freya. Please do not come.' Cara was frantic at the thought of Freya getting caught by Wolenczak.

'Freya,' Lucas had taken over, 'Please, if you want to help us, you need to get away and find a place to set off your PAL. If you stay near the house, you will get caught, and then…' He couldn't think of what to say to finish the 'or else…'.

'Just trust us, Freya,' added Cara.

'I will, Mum, but I'm scared.'

'I know, sweetheart, but if we are all very careful, you can get away and raise the alarm. If the boot lid is not open, just concentrate and imagine it opening, and it should. If you are not successful the first time, don't worry; just try again.'

Lucas, added,' Switch your PAL on as soon as you are clear of the driveway of the house. Then, keep it switched on. When there is a signal, it will beep and automatically transmit your co-ordinates to the seaQuest.'

'I understand, Lucas; keep safe and take care of Mum.'

'I will.'

'You know, she has a great deal of common sense," comforted Lucas.

"I know, but… Lucas… if Wolenczak or Curtis find her…"

"They won't because we are going to have to make sure their attention is focused on us and not outside."

Cara nodded. It was left unsaid that in order for them to make sure the way for Freya to escape was left clear, it would mean that they would have to endure extra attention from their captors.

They didn't have to wait long. The door opened, and Wolenczak came in.

"Kneel up." They obeyed. "Listen very carefully. You will remember that when you had your encounter with our paying clients, they made some suggestions as to how your service to them could be improved." He looked from one to the other and smiled. "We are now going to implement some of those suggestions, and we are going to do this rapidly because of the time we have lost by your disobedience. The first thing we are going to do is to give you both a new look."

"No!" gasped Cara.

"Did I ask for any comments?"

"No, Mr Wolenczak."

"Good, but you will receive a punishment for that. You must learn complete compliance."

"Lucas, go upstairs; Curtis is waiting for you."

Lucas looked at him, then looked at Cara.

"Now, and I will not repeat myself."

Lucas got up slowly. He didn't want to leave Cara because he knew his father was going to punish her, and he couldn't bear the thought of that. He walked towards the door. Before he put his hand on the door handle, he stopped and turned around.

"Please, don't."

He didn't have a chance to say anymore. The door swung open, and Curtis walked in.

"I wondered what was taking you so long, Lou. Any problems?"

"Plenty. Take Lucas; if he so much as murmurs, remind him about obedience."

Wolenczak turned back to Cara.

"Where were we? Oh yes, you need a reminder of what obedience means as well. Come here, Mrs Bridger."

Nathan was looking at the footage of Cara and Lucas in the back of the car.

"Wolenczak's instructions were to take Kit or Kit and Freya, so he can't have intended to take Freya with Cara and Lucas."

Jonathan was looking as well. "So, where is she?"

Nathan looked again. She was nowhere to be seen after the car had gone.

"She must have gone with them."

"How?"

"Freya is a very inventive young lady. I think that she got in the boot and went with them to try and help."

"What could she do?"

"I've no idea," sighed Nathan, "But I hope to God she is safe."

"Now, Freya, go now." Cara told Freya.

"You have got to realise, Mrs Bridger, that you belong to me." As Wolenczak was talking to Cara, who was standing in front of him, he was undoing her top and slowly unlacing it. He put the top to one side and then undid the buckle that kept her skirt on and put that on the floor. She was naked.

"You have goosebumps? Are you afraid of me?"

"Yes, Mr. Wolenczak."

"Are you afraid of what I am going to do?"

"Yes, Mr. Wolenczak." She was, however, more afraid of what was happening to Freya and if her daughter would be able to escape from wherever they were being held.

Out of his pocket, he produced a small leather strap.

"Lean over and put your hands on the edge of the table and spread out your legs."

Lucas was now standing in the kitchen.

"Take your costume off; we don't want to get it marked, do we?"

Lucas could not imagine what was going to happen. His mind was racing. Where was Freya? What was his father doing to Cara, and lastly, what was going to happen to him? He was totally surprised when Curtis came towards him with a pair of scissors. He backed away, his eyes darting around him to see if he could run.

"Don't even try it. You know what your pa said I could do if you were a nuisance, and believe me, you don't want me to have to take my belt to you. Did your pa tell you what I did when I was in prison?"

Lucas shook his head.

"Well, I learned me a fancy trade, which the guards said I was real good at. Do you know what that was?"

Lucas wanted to say, being a professional hit man or mindless muscle, but he knew he couldn't, so he just shook his head again.

"I learned me how to be a hairdresser."

Lucas looked at Curtis, and without thinking, involuntarily laughed. Instantaneously, however, he knew that he would regret it.

"So, you think it's funny, do you?"

"No, I'm sorry; it's just that I wasn't expecting you to say that. It was a surprise."

"Well if it wasn't for the fact that your pa wants me to cut your hair now, I'd take my belt off to you and tan your hide good. You understand?"

"Yes, Mr. Curtis."

Curtis seemed to like being called mister and being shown some respect.

"Well, that's better. Come and sit here and don't move a muscle, or I'll snip your ear off."

Lucas went and sat down on the chair Curtis was pointing to. It was by the sink. Curtis set about washing Lucas's hair. He was very gentle, which made Lucas even more surprised. When Lucas had had his hair towel dried, Curtis set about cutting it. Lucas stiffened as he saw his hair falling down around him. It was as though he was in some strange dream. In the middle of all the terror and hurt, he was sitting, having his hair cut by a convict as though everything was perfectly normal. It was as if his past life, that of being part of the Bridger family, was being erased with every lock of his hair that was falling. Lucas couldn't take it in.

Curtis kept on stopping and looking and cutting. After what seemed like ages, Curtis went to get a box. As he brought it over, Lucas could see that it was black hair dye. He was powerless to resist and just closed his eyes. From somewhere in the house, he heard Cara call out. Lucas stood up, but Curtis pushed him back down roughly.

"That little lady has to learn obedience: Just like you have to. Understand? If you do what your pa says, you will not be punished."

Lucas sat down again; he felt so helpless. He closed his eyes and concentrated.

"Freya, can you hear me? Where are you? Are you alright?"

There was silence, and then he tried again and again. He was beginning to think that he wouldn't be able to speak to her, or that something had happened when….

"Lucas, yes, sorry. I was concentrating, trying to get the boot open. It took some time, but I managed it. I'm in the garden in some trees. My whole body is stiff because I was curled up in the boot. I can see the house you are in."

"Don't come near, please."

"No, I won't. I'm going to go down the driveway and see where that leads. Where's Mum? I can't contact her."

Lucas couldn't think of what to say, so he told her the truth.

"She's with my father."

"Oh." She paused. "Does that mean…?"

"I'm sorry, Freya."

"So, I need to find a place where my PAL will work as soon as I can." Freya sounded determined.

"Yes, but take care. Do not speak to anyone you meet around here. Try and keep out of sight and just find a place where there is some reception for the PAL."

"I will do, Lucas. I'm going now. Wait, there's a car coming. Let me go back into the trees, I can't see who it is. It's stopping. Tell Mum, I love her. I'll get help."

"All done. Look." Lucas felt a hand around his arm and being guided across the room. He was concentrating so much in talking to Freya that he had forgotten what was happening to him.

A person with his face was looking back at him from the mirror. But that's where the resemblance stopped. This Lucas had black, spiky hair that was cut so that the spikes surrounded the shape of his face and disappeared into his neck. The hair reminded him of an elf. He couldn't decide if he looked older or younger. He was just shocked at how different it was.

At that moment, Cara appeared in the kitchen with Wolenczak behind her. Lucas could tell that she had been crying. He hated his father so much. He just wanted all this to stop and to ensure his father never hurt Cara again. The doorbell rang, which made Lucas jump. This must be the owner of the car Freya saw.

Wolenczak pushed Cara to Curtis, "You know what to do." Curtis nodded.

Wolenczak turned to Lucas, "You, with me."

Lucas stayed still; he wanted to go to Cara to see if she was alright. He wanted to tell her about Freya. He wanted to escape.

"Now, boy. This is why our visitor is here. She is going to show you what instant obedience is, and the consequences of hesitation and resistance." Wolenczak strode over to Lucas, grabbed his ear, and marched off with him. They went into the hallway, and Wolenczak opened the door with his left hand whilst still holding onto Lucas's ear with his right. Standing in doorway was the scariest woman Lucas had ever seen.