Author's note: Hi everyone! I don't know if anyone of you have noticed, but I have updated my profile picture! (And my whole profile) Go check it out, and give a big thank to OinBed for her absolutely fantastic help! Without her, I would still have a boring, sordid profile ;-)

Disclaimer for my disclaimer (!): This is the LAST time I am going to say: I don't own them. Every time you read a new chapter, just let your already brainwashed brain tell you: "She doesn't own them, she doesn't own them, she doesn't own them…" – in a Norwegian accent, of course ;-)

Chapter 21

Deep. Dark. Dangerous.

There was no way back. It was a crazy, foolish thing to do, but there was no way back. He had no proof he would get out alive. The only sensible thing to do was get reinforcements, but after what he had seen… No, it was impossible. He needed to save her before it was too late. Or perhaps it was already? And if it was: Would Frank ever say another word to him?

Joe doubted it. Frank was the most easy-going brother on the planet, but he loved Callie over the planet. If Joe had known she was in danger and not saved her – would he be able to forgive? Not a chance he wanted to take.

His shoes were totally soaked. The water in the bottom of the shaft was ice-cold, as so was he. The creepy atmosphere in the catacomb, or whatever it was, didn't help with the chills down his spine. What most certainly didn't help, was the knowing of that Callie either was inside there with him, or kidnapped.

When Joe had escaped hospital in the nurse-coat, he had realised there was just one thing to do: Get back to the house where he almost had gotten killed. If he was really lucky, Mr. Chuck would still be there. The only problem he had, was he had no car.

In absence of a better solution, he stole one. Or rather: He "borrowed" one from his girlfriend Vanessa, who lived right by the hospital. Thanks to his extra set with keys, he got away without anyone knowing.

The roadtrip to the house hadn't given him any problems. When he arrived, nevertheless, it had been nothing but misery from the first second. One: No Mr. Chuck. Not that he really was surprised, but still, he was disappointed. He had no idea where the man was, and he needed to find him.

Two: The house was locked.

Three: His shoulder, throat, self-confidence, hope, conscience and head hurt a lot more than he cared about telling anyone. Besides, there was no one to tell it to anyway.

And all that was even before he saw Callie's car. Callie, Callie. She and Joe wasn't ecaxtely best friends, but they most certainly were best enemies. Their teasing fights were covering a deep, albeit a little strange kind of friendship. More important, though, was Frank's relationship with Callie. If it was onething in the world Joe was sure Frank wouldn't forgive him, it was hurting her.

Wondering if she was the one to close the doors of the cabin, he tried to open them again. When no one showed up, Joe felt he had no other options than break the door open.

Standing in the middle of a dirty, empty room, Joe saw no sign of Callie. Rushing down the stairs to the basement where he had been held as a captive, he desperately hoped to find her. The sight that met him, was not Callie. But is most certainly was something… and something bad.

A hatch in the floor showed a dark, endless abyss. A ladder led down in the dark, but it was impossible to see how long it was. With a sickening feeling in his stomach, Joe realised this was the place Frank had dumped Mr. Chuck when he came to his rescue. Was this one of the evil man's crazy secrets? An endless catacomb? And was Callie down there? Or had Mr. Chuck kidnapped her? And if it was so, why?

Slowly climbing down the ladder, Joe felt his breathing go faster and faster. Swallowed by the impenetrable dark, an overwhelming feeling of claustrophobia hit him full force. It felt like something, or someone, was strangling him, forcing him to hyperventilate. The dark was so deep and the endlessness so eternal he felt trapped in an impossible nightmare. A claustrophobic endlessness? It didn't make sense. But was claustrophobia sensible in the first way? Not really.

'Breathe, breathe, breathe. You can do it. Just breathe, breathe, breathe, don't let them down…'

Forcing himself to stay as calm as possible, Joe climbed further down in the seemingly endless abyss. He needed to find Callie, lock Mr. Chuck up in the nearest, or rather safest prison, and get Frank out of jail. Not too impossible, huh? Well…

'No need to think too much. If you just breathe, I think that will do for now.'

When Joe had been climbing for what felt like an eternity, more specifically 5 minutes, he was finally down. Placing his foot on the ground, the ice-cold water immediately soaked his shoe.

'Worse things have happened in this world' Joe thought, happy to have something to distract his thoughts with, but not so happy with the icy chills down his spine. After all, you can't always have it both ways.

Suddenly, a noise made him forget both his coldness and his thoughts. It sounded like someone was running. An animal? A person? Mr. Chuck? And if it was him, would he ever get out alive? Not too likely…

F&J F&J F&J F&J F&J

'This is, most certainly, pretty foolish, but I have no choice. If Joe finds out I knew Vanessa was in danger and didn't do anything with it – would he ever forgive me? In the least I don't want to gamble on it.'

When Frank had escaped prison, he had taken Callie's car and headed straight for the little cabin. First, he had explored the wood in case he needed a retreat-rout. When he came back, Vanessa's car was parked by the house. The sight of her red van had given him quite a shock – how on earth did she know? And what was she planning to do?

On his reconnaissance-tour, Frank had seen something looking like the end of a tunnel in the wood. Wondering if that could give him access to the house, he decided to try it out. He knew the house was locked when he came, but perhaps Vanessa had managed to get the key? Not really likely. That left him with one option: She was kidnapped. He needed to act carefully.

Letting himself fall down the tunnel, he landed on a dirty floor. He could stand upright, but just barely. It seemed to be some kind of a catacomb.

Frank started running, anxious about what could have happened to Vanessa. After about five minutes, he felt his heart pound fast and hard. But he couldn't give up. He couldn't. If he did, Vanessa, and Joe as well, would…

Before he could think another thought, something, a hand, slammed against him. Feeling a burning pain in his jaw, Frank staggered backwards. Not seeing who his enemy was, his own hand flew out. Placing a deadly uppercut on what he hoped was his opponents chin, the sound of something heavy hitting the ground made him smile. Victory!

Quickly placing himself on the top of his enemy, he forced his hands down. Expecting to hear a furious threat, he almost got a heart attack when the muffled, but indeed very sarcastic voice of his captive reached his ears: "Really Frank? I am impressed!"

It was Joe.

One important thing before you go: Since both of my books is going towards an end, I am planning some new ones. If someone of you have some thoughts/wishes/ideas for things you want me to write about, please let me know! Every crazy, impossible, stupid, interesting idea is appreciated. If you want to write in the comment felt that is of course okay, if not, feel free to send me a PM. Look forward to hear from you! :-)