Chapter 79
Trowa started sorting the bodies from the injured as Duo made the phone call. Heero made his way around to the front doors of the apartment building and swore as he got there just in time to see Chase and his henchmen loading the bodies of Kiri, Quatre, and Wufei into a van.
He dashed back to the surveillance van. "Trowa, turn on Kiri's tracker and get a location on her. Duo, how long until Une's cleanup crew arrives?"
"About five minutes. Why? What's going on?"
"They've taken them all. I don't know if they were just unconscious or if it's worse than that. I suspect they're only unconscious. Chase is twisted enough to want to do something worse to them once he gets them to a more secure location."
Duo swore. "I hope Kiri kept her tracker on."
"It looks like she's still got it," Trowa said from his position at the computer. "They're moving fast."
"Watch that tracker," Heero ordered. "Let me know the instant it stops or disappears. If it wasn't so important to make sure we get these men into custody I'd leave them here to rot and head out now. Call Une back, Duo, and tell her to get the lead out. If my hunch is right, they'll head for a brothel location we haven't found out about yet."
When Quatre came to, he found that he was upright, being held that way by chains around his wrists. He blinked, trying to clear his vision and get his eyes to adjust to the dim light of the room. He looked around. Wufei was suspended by chains next to him. Kiri was on the other side of the room, still unconscious. She looked like she'd just been dumped on the floor like a sack of potatoes. He wondered if she'd been hurt when they brought her in.
Wufei was starting to come around as well.
"Are you okay?" Quatre asked softly. He wasn't sure if they were being watched and didn't want to draw too much attention to the fact that they were awake. They needed every second they could to come up with an escape plan, especially if Kiri didn't wake up soon.
"I think so. Other than a splitting headache. Any idea where we are?"
"No."
"I wonder if the others were able to follow us. It would certainly be nice to have some outside help, seeing as neither of us is in a position to free ourselves."
"I'm not sure if Kiri is actually restrained," Quatre said. "It's too hard to tell from here. If not, she can get us loose and then we can make a break for it."
Wufei frowned. "You're assuming that she'll be functional when she wakes up. She's been out for a while now. There's a chance she'll be out for a while yet."
"You're right. We don't even know what they did to her. She could be hurt worse than we think." Quatre fell silent as he wracked his brains for any plan that would get the three of them away safely. But not knowing where they were made it difficult to form a solid plan. If they were in town somewhere it would be easy to call for backup. But if they'd been hauled out to the countryside, there was no telling how far they'd have to travel to find help. They didn't even know how long they'd been unconscious. They could have been taken anywhere.
The room reminded Quatre of the small room where they'd found Kiri at the chateau. It was a cement room with no furniture; he could only see the shackles and chains that restrained the two of them.
"Good morning, gentlemen."
Quatre and Wufei looked up at Chase's greeting. He came through the door, a slimy smile plastered on his face.
"What, exactly, do you want with us?" Quatre asked. He hoped that being courteous would get some answers and buy them some time. If Kiri still had her tracker bracelet, Heero and the others wouldn't be far behind.
"It's really very simple," Chase answered with a patronizing tone. "You have cost me a lot of time and money so you'll have to pay off your debt. Once you've done that, you will be free to leave, just like all the girls who come through here."
"You kill all the girls who come through here," Wufei accused.
Chase laughed. "You're not as dumb as you look. Sometimes that is the best way to make money off of them. There are many companies out there who will pay good money for healthy organs."
Quatre wanted to vomit. "That's why you take them apart? To literally sell them off piece by piece?"
"Do you know how much money you can make off of a kidney on the black market? Almost as much as selling a girl's virginity. So we simply use the girls to the fullest extent possible. And with as much as their families owe us, they're actually lucky if they earn enough to pay off the debts in full. Amanda over there will be required to work exclusively for the Master for a full three years before being put in regular rotation for another two just to be able to come close to working off her parents' debt. Of course, that's assuming she survives the first three years to begin with."
Quatre swore to himself then and there that he would free Kiri no matter the cost. "What would it cost to buy her freedom and ours?"
Wufei wisely kept his mouth shut but he wasn't planning on negotiating with this terrorist.
Chase chuckled. "I doubt even the mighty Quatre Winner can justify paying the Master's price. Her parents have racked up quite a bill. Besides, the Master has some interesting tastes and may prefer a physical payment over a monetary one."
"And what if we refuse to cooperate?" Wufei asked. He wasn't about to become some sicko's plaything.
Chase considered Wufei before answering. "I really think that you'll learn how to cooperate. After all, if you don't do as you're told, she'll be the one to suffer for it."
Chase went over to Kiri and reached down, taking her bracelet. He looked at it closely before swearing. He snapped it in half, breaking the electronic components inside.
"This will cost all of you," he growled.
"She didn't know about the bracelet," Quatre lied. "She just thought it was pretty. Don't punish her for it. It was our fault, not hers."
Wufei hoped that the others had gotten their coordinates before Chase broke the bracelet. If not, they were truly on their own.
Chase was going to respond but was distracted by Kiri shifting. He smirked. "Ah, looks like she's coming around. I'll finish up her training and then we can start on yours."
The evil look on his face made Wufei want to shudder, but he didn't want to let Chase know that he was affected. He could only guess what Quatre's empathy was picking up. Quatre looked a little green, but the dim room made it hard to tell for sure.
Chase watched Kiri for a few minutes in silence. Quatre wanted to warn her about what she was about to wake up to but he wasn't sure what to say. He supposed he could tell her to make a run for it. He realized it wouldn't have made any difference as soon as she moved her leg. He could hear the chain that she was shackled to.
"Don't bother faking it. I know you're awake."
Quatre could feel Kiri starting to panic. She clearly hadn't expected to wake up to this. He could feel her panic turning to terror. Quatre couldn't do anything to help her and telling her that things would be okay felt too much like a lie.
"Get up."
Kiri slowly got to her feet. Quatre could tell she didn't want to follow the order but she was terrified of Chase and couldn't disobey. She looked around the room. Quatre didn't see any recognition in her eyes, which told him she'd never been here before. Her eyes landed on Quatre and Wufei and she let out a small gasp.
Chase smirked. "That's right. Your friends can't help you now."
"Let them go," Kiri whispered.
"SILENCE!" Chase yelled as he backhanded Kiri.
Kiri almost fell with the force of the blow but managed to keep on her feet. The blow left a mark on her cheek. Wufei wasn't sure if Chase hit her hard enough to bruise and he wanted to curse the poor lighting.
"Leave her alone!" Quatre yelled, unable to keep quiet. If he could keep Chase's attention, Kiri might not be on the receiving end of his temper for once.
Chase moved to Quatre, a sneer on his lips. "Don't you see? It's because of you that I have to punish her. She was quite obedient before you had the audacity to take her away and now she needs to be retrained."
"Only cowards hit women," Quatre retorted with a glare.
Chase smirked. "So you'd prefer I hit you?"
He punched Quatre in the jaw before the blonde had a chance to respond.
"NO!" Kiri cried out before clapping her hands over her mouth.
Wufei didn't have to have Quatre's empathy to be able to tell that she'd reacted without thinking and was now afraid of the consequences that were sure to come.
Chase sauntered over to her, a look that promised pain on his face. "What did I just tell you?"
Kiri looked down, quiet and submissive just like Duo and Quatre found her. Quatre wanted to scream. They hadn't worked so hard to help her talk again just to have Chase undo it all in five minutes!
Chase lifted Kiri's chin, forcing her to look at him.
"That's better." He smirked at Wufei and Quatre before turning his attention back to Kiri. "You'll behave now, won't you?"
Kiri didn't react at all. It was like she'd turned into a statue. Quatre could tell she was trying not to antagonize Chase but Chase was set on antagonizing her.
Chase kissed Kiri, pushing hard against her, forcing her back against the wall. The longer the kiss lasted, the more Quatre could feel Kiri's resolve growing. He wasn't sure what she planned to do, but he knew it would likely get her into trouble. He desperately wanted to warn her against doing whatever she was planning but he knew that there was nothing he could do. There was no telling if backup would come soon or even at all and keeping Kiri from fighting back might not make any difference.
Chase finally broke off the kiss. He looked like he was about to say something when Kiri spit in his face. Chase responded by punching her head, knocking her to the floor where he continued to hit her. He stood up and started kicking her. Kiri tried to curl into a ball to protect her stomach, which only seemed to make Chase even madder. It didn't look like he was pulling any of his blows and the two Preventer agents weren't sure how long Kiri could withstand the onslaught.
Quatre struggled against his bonds, desperately trying to find a weak point to exploit so he could come to her aid. Wufei decided on a more immediate approach.
"THAT'S ENOUGH YOU BASTARD!" Wufei yelled, hoping to distract Chase and keep him from hurting Kiri. Wufei was willing to become Chase's new target if it kept Kiri from being hurt anymore. He knew he could handle a beating but he wasn't sure how much more Kiri could take before she broke.
Chase gave Kiri a particularly vicious kick in the ribs before turning his attention to Wufei.
Quatre wanted to pass out with the pain he was feeling from Kiri. He was certain Chase broke something. Even if they could get free he was sure there was no way Kiri would be able to walk out on her own. They'd have to carry her.
Wufei was expecting the blows that Chase gave him. Chase didn't focus only on Wufei's face. Chase punched his stomach and aimed for his kidneys and other vulnerable areas left wide open because of the chains restraining Wufei. Wufei wondered how long Chase would go before he ran out of steam and took a break. Training against Heero and Trowa meant that Wufei could handle heavy blows for an extended period of time but if Chase realized that it was what Wufei had wanted him to do, he might turn his attention back to Kiri. If that happened, Wufei wasn't sure they'd be able to distract him again because he'd be on to them. So he played along, grunting and acting like he was in pain from the blows. Chase seemed to be enjoying himself.
Quatre was sure that Wufei was putting on an act, but he also knew that if he didn't react to what Chase was doing, he might grow suspicious.
"Stop it! You don't have to do this! Can't we discuss this like reasonable adults?"
Chase paused in his mistreatment of Wufei to backhand Quatre. "Shut up! You'll be next."
The blow bought Quatre an opportunity to check on Kiri. She was pulling her foot against the restraints. Quatre could feel that she was in a lot of pain but she seemed to be ignoring it in favor of her attempt at escape. He only hoped Chase would continue to focus on Wufei long enough for her to succeed. If he realized what she was up to, Quatre could only guess what he would do to her in retaliation.
Quatre kept tabs on Kiri's progress while trying to help Wufei keep Chase's attention. Even if Kiri could manage to get loose, would she be able to run? Quatre wasn't sure she could. But Quatre was more afraid of what Chase would do to Kiri before he could be stopped. He and Wufei were chained up and unless the others got here soon, it might be too late. Kiri would need to take every opportunity to escape that she could.
Quatre had to keep from smiling when he felt her elation. She must have succeeded. Unfortunately, he could feel that she was very hurt, too. He wasn't sure she could get away even if she wasn't chained anymore. He hoped Chase wouldn't notice.
"Maybe that will teach you to shut up," Chase sneered as he gave Wufei one last punch to the face. "Be quiet and maybe I'll consider going easier on you next time."
Chase turned his attention back to Kiri, who was curled up on the floor.
"Are you okay?" Quatre asked quietly.
"I'm fine, he didn't do any serious damage," Wufei answered just as quietly. "But this isn't good for Kiri. I was hoping to distract him long enough for backup to arrive."
"I think she got her foot loose. I could tell she was happy about something but I think she's too hurt to run."
"Damn," Wufei muttered. "I wish the others would hurry the hell up and get here." He pulled again against his restraints but to no avail. They wouldn't be able to get out without help.
They were helpless as Chase forced Kiri onto her back. She tried to curl up but he wasn't having it.
"Oh, no you don't. Your little friends over there have just cost you any chance you had at forgiveness. And Decart is still waiting for me to deliver you. In fact, I now have a deadline to meet." He looked Kiri's quivering form up and down, the disgust evident on his face. "You got fat. Decart won't like that."
Wufei couldn't believe what he was hearing. Kiri was still underweight. He shared a look with Quatre, who was frowning.
"He can't be serious," Quatre muttered.
Wufei didn't like the look Chase was giving Kiri, who was cowering in terror before him.
"You're a dick," Wufei growled. If he could just distract Chase then maybe Kiri would have a chance to get away.
Chase glared at the Preventer agents chained to the wall. "Maybe if I train you in front of them they'll learn to butt out."
He turned his predatory glare to Kiri before lying on top of her and forcing his tongue into her mouth. He'd finish training her whether she liked it or not. By the time he was done with her she'd be obedient or else.
Quatre and Wufei could only watch as Kiri struggled under Chase's weight. He wasn't exactly a small man and Kiri was clearly outmatched. Chase knelt and smirked down at her.
"Struggle all you want. It makes it better for me."
Quatre wanted to vomit with the amount of lust coming from Chase. Kiri was terrified of him and it wasn't helping Quatre to keep his stomach where it belonged. He wondered if vomiting would distract Chase enough to help Kiri get away, but Quatre really didn't like vomiting. It would make him feel sick long after the emotions were gone if he did. But he still had to try to get Chase away from Kiri.
"Why don't you get a clue, asshole?" he yelled. "She doesn't want you to do that to her. Let her go now before you really make me mad."
Wufei wondered just how close to going zero Quatre was. It took a lot to make him that angry but given the circumstances it wasn't exactly a stretch for him to get there. He also wondered if it would be worth it to let Quatre lose control or if they would just regret it later.
Chase didn't know about Quatre's past apparently because he just stood up and glared at Quatre. As he opened his mouth to tell Quatre off, he suddenly lurched forward and whatever he was going to say was lost in the gibberish that escaped as he gasped in pain, clutching his crotch.
Kiri scrambled to get up before he could fall over on her. Quatre could feel how much pain she was in and was certain that it was adrenaline that had her upright and once that rush was gone she would be incapable of moving. He had to convince her to leave before Chase recovered. She would need all the head start she could get.
"Don't worry about us. Run! Get to the others." Quatre looked at Chase. "HURRY! He won't stay down for long!"
Kiri looked like she was going to refuse but she did as Quatre said and moved into the hallway.
"She's hurt really bad," Quatre told Wufei quietly as they both watched Chase retch. "I hope the others find her before Chase catches up to her or she'll be a sitting duck."
Chase managed to get to his feet and pulled out his gun. Wiping the vomit from his lips he growled, "I'm gonna kill that bitch. No more chances."
"Touch her and you'll be sorry," Wufei warned.
Chase responded by backhanding Wufei as he walked past. "Shut up. I'll deal with you next."
He stalked out into the hallway, smirking as he saw how slowly the little bitch was moving. He started after her, swearing when the pain in his groin flared up as he moved. It didn't take much to catch up to the girl and he tackled her to the ground. He'd finish this one way or another.
She fought against his hold, wriggling and flailing as she tried to escape. Chase had to work to keep his grip. He was about to knock her unconscious with the butt of his gun when her elbow caught him in the face. His eyes watered and blood gushed from his nose. It caught him enough by surprise that he lost his grip on her and she escaped, running down the hall again.
Chase wiped the blood from his nose, certain that the little chit had broken it, and grabbed his gun as he rose from the floor. No more Mr. Nice Guy.
He took aim and shot. He didn't aim to kill her just yet. He wanted to scare her first. He wanted her to tremble before him and beg for her life. He hit the wall just above her head. He carefully aimed his next shot to graze her. After all, if she thought he would miss every time she wouldn't learn to fear him.
Chase sneered as the girl kept attempting to run. She wouldn't escape him this time. He aimed the gun again.