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Disclaimer: I do not own Sweep or any of the Sweep characters. I do own Matt though.
Chapter 26 Engulfed
Bree walked down the corridor towards Matt's room. She was unsure what she was going to do. She knew she was going to help Morgan, but how was a complete mystery to her.
She stopped just outside Matt's door. She pressed her ear up against it and could hear Hunter talking.
"If Cal has her…Matt you don't understand what he could be doing." He said.
"I know he tried to kill her before, would he try it again?" Matt asked.
"Yes, if he thinks Morgan won't join him then he'll kill her. Goddess, I have to get out, I have to find her!" Hunter yelled. Bree jumped back from the door as Hunter kicked it from the other side.
"If he's hurt her, if he's even touched her I swear I'll kill him." Hunter threatened.
"I think we know he's touched her Hunter." Matt said.
"Then it looks like I'll be killing him then." Hunter murmured, knowing already that Cal was a dead man. Hunter was going to do whatever it took to make sure Cal couldn't hurt Morgan again.
Bree couldn't take it anymore; just listening to the way Hunter spoke was enough to tell her Hunter really loved Morgan. How could she compete with that? She couldn't, and she knew she wouldn't try. After what she had done to Morgan she knew that if Morgan survived she would let them be together. It would hurt, but she knew Morgan deserved him, more than she ever would.
Bree breathed in a shaky breath and called out, "Hunter?"
Hunter froze mid pace, then rushed to the door. "Bree? Is that you?"
"Yeah, why did you call?"
"We're stuck in here, we need you to let us out. Can you open the door from your side?" He yelled back.
"I'll try." Bree didn't know what spell Cal had placed on the room but she knew that he'd only spelled it from inside. She placed her shoulder against the door and wrapped her hand around the door handle. She pushed down on the handle and simultaneously pushed against the door with the side of her body. The door swung open.
"Yes! It worked!" Matt cried, a smile breaking out on his face.
"Bree, where's Morgan?" Hunter said instantly, grabbing Bree by the arms and practically shaking her.
"I don't know." She lied.
"I left her with you, I told her not to move how can you not know!" Hunter yelled.
"Um, I…" Bree didn't know what to say, she had run out of lies.
"Wait a second. How did you know we were locked in here?" Hunters eyes narrowed suddenly and the grip on Brees arms began to tighten.
"Hunter what are you talking about? We need to find Morgan." Matt said coming closer and standing beside him.
"You didn't try and open the door. When I called you I said 'come to Matt's room' but when you arrived you stayed on that side of the door, as if you knew we couldn't get out." Brees eyes widened. She knew she was caught. "Why didn't you come straight in, why did you yell to us?"
Bree swallowed. "I…I…"
"You knew we were stuck in here. How?" Matt's voice was low as he joined Hunter in the questioning.
"I'm so sorry. I was just angry." Bree blurted.
"You sent me here knowing I wouldn't get out! You planned this! Where's Morgan? What's happened to her?" Hunter yelled tightening his grip even more.
"Cal has her. She went to meet him, to get him to leave her alone but he took her somewhere." Bree said struggling to loosen Hunters hold on her. She looked into his eyes and could see pure anger. And a bit of something else. Hate maybe? She didn't want to think about it.
"Why! Why would you do that? She's your friend how could you let her go to him?" Matt shouted.
"Because I found out that Hunter liked Morgan and not me. I was angry. I know it isn't much of an excuse but…" She turned to Hunter and the look on his face was enough to reduce her to tears. "You hurt me, so I wanted to hurt you back. I didn't think and now Morgan's in trouble."
Hunter let go and pushed a hand through his hair. He couldn't look at Bree; he didn't want to be near her. But he had to know. "Where is she?"
"I think he took her back to his apartment."
"Where's that?"
"I don't know."
Hunter cursed. "And you just watched him take her?"
Bree looked down; she didn't have an answer for him.
Hunter walked out the room with Matt close behind him. Bree followed.
"Unless you have some information that could help us, I think you should stay here." Matt said turning back to look at her.
"But I want to help. It's my fault this is happening I need to try and make it better." She begged.
"Your right, it is your fault. Which is why I think it would be best if you kept away from us, and Morgan." Matt turned to face Hunter to ask where they were going to look next but stopped. Hunter was frowning and looked like he was listening out for something.
"What-" Matt stopped as Hunter cried out, clutching his cheek.
"Hunter? What's wrong?" Matt asked watching as Hunter continued to touch his face as if in pain.
"Morgan!" He yelled. "It's Morgan, she's in pain."
Matt was about to ask how he knew but Hunter answered. "I don't know how I know. But this is Morgan's pain I'm feeling. She's hurt; we have to go to her."
"But we don't know where she is!"
"I do now. I just have to follow her pain. Come on, we might not have much time!" Hunter turned and ran down the corridor, with Matt catching up instantly. Hunter could feel Morgan's pain, her desperation and he swore he would find her and save her. Then he would make Cal pay for hurting her.
XXX
Morgan opened her eyes and looked around the dark room. Her head ached and her face felt stiff. The room seemed tilted and she suddenly realised she was lying on her side. Lifting her head up, it thumped louder as pain shot across her forehead. Trying to get some feeling back into her face she scrunched up her nose only to gasp as more pain covered her cheek. She straightened up and leant against the wall. She couldn't see much as the lights were off and the curtains were drawn. It was dark outside. There was no one else in the flat, Morgan could tell. It seemed Cal had left after she had passed out.
Dried blood stuck to Morgan's cheek as the cut on her face had stopped bleeding. It caused her face to stiffen and the blood cracked with any movement she made. She was glad there was no mirror in the room; she didn't want to know how she looked.
She kept thinking about what Cal had said.
"If he feels your pain, then he'll hurt too. He'll know you're in trouble and come running. He's clever, he'll find away out, and to you. But then it will be too late."
What had he meant? Morgan didn't understand how Hunter would be able to feel her pain. And how would that help him? He had no idea where Morgan was.
But that wasn't the thing that bothered her. It was the 'it will be too late' bit. She could only imagine what Cal was planning to do to her.
Cal walked through the door and the light from the corridor spilled out into the room. But this time he didn't turn the light on he just closed the door and went to the table in the kitchen.
"I see you're awake." It wasn't a question so Morgan didn't answer. "How does your cheek feel?"
"Like someone has sliced it in half." She replied. Cal laughed and opened one of the cabinets.
"Can I have some light please, I tend to get nervous when I'm in an apartment with a mad man and I can't see anything." Morgan was getting tired of being scared so resorted to being sarcastic, it was certainly better than being nice.
"I'm just getting some candles now actually." He ignored her mad man comment.
"Candles? Why can't you just turn on the light?"
"Come on Morgan, you're the one with an affinity for fire. I just think candles would be better." He said sweetly. Morgan didn't believe him for a second.
He walked into the living room carrying 4 candles and a box of matches. He knelt in front of her and arranged them symmetrically around her, all evenly spaced out.
"Actually, I have a better idea. Why don't you light the candles?" Cal asked putting the box of matches to one side.
"Why?"
"No point in wasting perfectly good matches. Come on, I bet you haven't worked magic for awhile."
It was true; Morgan hadn't done much magic since she'd moved to New York, purely because she didn't want to risk it being traced. But she wanted to light the candles, to feel her power kindle the tiny flame on the wick. It had been so long Morgan was almost yearning for it.
She shook her head. "No, you do it" She didn't trust Cal, she didn't want to do anything he asked her to.
"Fine, but I know you want to. I can feel it."
"You don't have a clue how I feel."
Cal laughed again and lit all 4 candles. The flames flickered in the dark room and glowed brightly against his tanned face. Although the room was still fairly dark, Morgan could at least now see properly. She looked at where she had been lying and saw the dark brown stain of blood on the carpet. No wonder it was all over her face.
"Could I wash my face now?" Morgan didn't expect the answer she wanted but she asked anyway.
"No, you need to stay there. Besides it will be a nice little shock for Hunter when he arrives." With that Cal stood up and walked away into the kitchen.
"Are you going to tell me what you have planned?" Morgan called.
"Now why would I do that, my love? It would ruin the surprise." Cal hadn't used 'my love' before and it made Morgan worried. His voice had a sickly sweet tone and he had the smile to match it.
"I'm not your love Cal, don't call me that again."
"As you wish" He said. Morgan was surprised he didn't fight her, but she decided not to dwell on that problem. She needed to get out now.
Morgan had noticed that Cal had put the matches to one side and had forgotten to take them away. If she could bring the box closer to her she could somehow pull out a match and burn the ropes off her hands. The only problem was she needed her hands the get the match out.
Quietly, Morgan shifted her body until her feet reached the box. She put her foot over it and pulled it towards herself. When it was close enough Morgan turned her body around and with her tied up hands she clumsily picked the box up. She quickly moved back into her normal position with the matches behind her back and was about to pull one out when Cal came back in.
"I just have to do one more thing; I'll be back in 5 minutes." Without waiting for a response he left.
Quickly Morgan scrabbled at the box, but without seeing what she was doing she struggled to open it. Finally she managed to pick out a single match and, dropping the box she held it closely to the ropes. She closed her eyes and slowly began to concentrate on the match. She knew she didn't have much time until he got back but she had to relax in order to light it. She breathed in heavily and unclenched her jaw. She was relaxed just enough to picture the match in her mind. Morgan hadn't done it in so long she needed to feel her power before she could use it. Thankfully she felt it stirring and with all the will she had left in her body she lit the flame.
"Yes!" She whispered. She had no idea whether she was holding the flame in the right place but she prayed she was. If she burnt herself it would hurt, but she didn't care as long as she got out. She could feel the ropes becoming slacker on her wrists and eventually they became loose enough for Morgan to pull her hands free. Quickly she brought the match to her face and blew it out. Amazingly enough she hadn't burn herself at all.
Morgan was about to scrambled to her feet when she heard, or felt, Cal coming back. Instead she stayed where she was, keeping her hands behind her back. She didn't want Cal to realise she had freed herself and she didn't want to have to try and take him on.
"I told you I wouldn't be long." He said. "You should trust me"
Morgan let out a short laugh. "Yeah? I think trust is the last thing I will give you."
Cals voice went deeper. "Then what will be the first thing you will give me?"
Morgan blushed and looked away. Still Cal held some power over her that made her feel embarrassed.
"I have to admit, Hunter is taking a lot longer than I expected." Cal moved back into the kitchen again.
Morgan needed a way to get out. She looked around the room to see if she could find something useful, something that might help her. All there was was his suitcase, some candles and a few cardboard boxes.
"Cardboard boxes." Morgan whispered. Ever so slowly Morgan moved to the left where the closest pizza box lay. Reaching out she grabbed it and pulled in back towards her. Quietly she pulled one of the candles closer to the box and held it up to the corner. Quickly the flame licked the box and soon it began to climb its way up. Morgan jumped up and knocked all the candles to the floor and threw down the box on top of them. Suddenly all four candles engulfed the box into flames and Morgan ran to grab more. She threw any boxes she could find and the flames grew taller.
"What are you doing?" Cal screamed from the other side of the flames. He tried to move around them and get to her but it was impossible. The flames had spread across the floor and were now eating anything they could find. Cal was trapped.
"You stupid bitch! Do you realise what you've done!" Morgan couldn't tell if it was the flames or not, but Cal face was red and his eyes were dark. He was angrier than Morgan had ever seen him.
Morgan turned and ran for the door. She pulled at the handle but it didn't open. He had locked it and she hadn't noticed. She could hear Cal laughing at her but she ignored it. Maybe if she concentrated on the lock she could open it. But the flames were moving towards her and she could feel the heat as if it was breathing down her neck.
"Morgan!" She froze and pressed her ear to the door. "Morgan are you in there!" Hunter had come; he was there to save her. She began to pound on the door with her fists.
"Help! Hunter please help me!" She screamed but smoke poured down her throat. She clutched at her neck and began choking. She fell to the ground searching for any clean air she could find. She could hear Hunter trying to kick the door down so she crawled away from it. Cal was still trapped in the kitchen but Morgan was now trapped too.
The door came flying open and Hunter and Matt charged in. Hunter fell to his knees next to Morgan and pulled her face up to his.
"Morgan are you alright?" His eyes shone with concern and Morgan could see the flames reflected in his eyes. She nodded and he pulled her to her feet. In the light he noticed her cheek and softly ran a thumb down the cut. "I'm so sorry." He whispered.
Before she could reply the flames blew bigger and engulfed the room even more.
"Morgan over here!" She noticed Bree standing by the door with Matt and she stayed where she was. For some reason standing in a burning room was better than being near Bree.
"We have to go, come on." He pulled on her hand and moved her closer to the door.
"Morgan!" Cal yelled from behind the fire. She could barely see him over the smoke.
Hunter walked as close as he could get to Cal. "You will never hurt her again." He said and then turned away.
Morgan was standing in the doorway and Hunter was walking towards her. Bree was next to her and Matt was standing behind. Before anyone could move Cal screamed.
"And you will never have her!" He then threw the athame he had used to cut Morgan straight at Hunters back.
Morgan screamed and Hunter froze. His eyes widened and he turned to look to the side of him. Bree stood there clutching her stomach. The athame was stuck just below her chest and she slowly fell to the floor. It had missed Hunter and hit Bree.
"Goddess, Bree?" Morgan cried. She ran over to her sinking body and fell to her side. They were still in the apartment and the flames were creeping closer. "Bree?" Morgan was crying now. Bree had closed her eyes and was struggling to breathe.
"Mor-Morgan?" She whispered.
"Hunter please, you have to help her." Morgan cried. Her tears where falling onto Brees T-shirt and Hunter just stood behind her. She looked up at him for help but he didn't have any. Bree was dying.
"Don't just stand there! Help her!" She screamed. Morgan was clutching Brees hand and she could feel her grip loosening. "Bree please, open your eyes" She whispered brushing Brees hair from her face.
"I'm so sorry." Bree breathed. Her hand fell still and loose in Morgan's hand. Morgan shook her to wake her up.
"Bree? Bree! Bree please wake up. I forgive you, please I forgive you!"
"Morgan we need to get out of here." Hunter said placing his hand on her shoulder. Morgan ignored him and fell against Brees body, crying uncontrollably.
Matt came forward and tried to pull Morgan away but she clung on. Hunter pulled her other arm and together they moved her out of the apartment. Morgan's knees were buckling under her so Hunter and Matt had to carry her. Cal had grown quiet long ago but Morgan didn't care. She had to watch as she was pulled away from her best friend.
It wasn't fair. She knew now why she hated Cal.
Well hope you all enjoy that very long chapter. Please review, this story should be finished soon!