RATED R for adult themes and violence.
"It's so good to see you again," the voice continued, as she pressed the talk button on Jimmy's radio. Roughly hands jerked her around to face him, as she locked the button into place. "Look at me!"
Max's fear gave way to anger, as she stared up at him. He pointed his gun at her, and stroked the trigger playfully. Leering he yanked her to her feet, and poked the butt of the gun against her chest. "Nothing to say?" He asked mockingly. "I'm so disappointed and angry with you. You're mine, you know that? You've always been mine, but you're just confused. Let me help you." He reached out to stroke her hair, still holding the gun against her chest.
"Don't touch me!" she yelled, pushing his hand away, wanting to run, but knowing that he would kill Jimmy if she did. Shielding his body with hers, she prayed that someone was hearing this transmission, and was coming. "Pleas,e Danny, don't do this."
He grabbed her wrist and yanked her up against his chest. "Don't fight me. You want me, you need , Max. I escaped that place so we could be together, like we should have been before. I know you didn't want to put me in there, they made you. Shh, don't fight me. I know what is best."
"Why?" she asked, her voice a ragged whisper. "Why did you kill all those woman?"
He twisted his mouth into a warped smile. "For you. I wanted your attention, and now I have it."
"Bastard! You sick, fucking bastard," Max yelled, hoping someone would hear her. "They would good people Danny! You want to kill someone? C'mon, let's end this right now."
Chuckling, he smashed his mouth against hers before replying. "I'm not going to kill you. I just want to be with you."
Wiping her mouth, the revulsion of feeling him on her, she glanced at Jimmy's comatose form on the ground.
"Oh, he'll be fine," Danny replied. "Just like we're going to be."
That was the last thing Max heard, before he held a soaked rag to her face, and she passed out.
888888888888888
"Shit," Kenny said flatly, as he paced across Jimmy's office later. Jimmy had woken up an hour after he was shot by Danny's syringe. The office was buzzing with activity at this late hour, and they had listened to the recording of Max and Danny's confrontation. She was so strong, Kenny thought, feeling proud of her for that. She didn't back down once, and he prayed that she was okay and Danny hadn't hurt her. His heart felt like a stone in his chest, and the idea of losing Max after just getting her back, Kenny thought he would rather be dead than that. "Shit."
Jimmy, still feeling a bit groggy, watched him seeing the panic he was trying to keep hidden.
"I knew I should have stayed," Kenny continued. "Damn it, Max."
He understood in that moment the way Max had felt about these murders. That overlaying guilt of being part of the reason why they were happening, and the over burdening responsibility to fix it.
"You can't blame yourself," Jimmy replied stoically. "She wouldn't want you to do that. The squad car got here three minutes after the transmission broke off, that gives us an edge on this one."
Kenny collapsed onto the couch, and hearing Max's words in that transmission.
"You want to kill someone? C'mon, let's end this right now."
"I'm not going to kill you. I just want to be with you."
"She never said anything? About feeling watched?" Jimmy asked interrupting Kenny's thoughts.
"She knew he was still out there," Kenny replied, still feeling numb. "And that he was waiting for her. Max wanted to get him, before he got her."
"He's not going to hurt her," Jimmy said, but not quite believing it himself. "We won't let him."
888888888888888
"Howard," Max said, knowing that she must be asleep. "I haven't seen you in awhile."
He smiled sadly at her. "I'm here because you need some help. The past is back, remember?"
He waved his hand, and a picture filled in the air. Max's mouth dropped in horror, as she saw Danny behind the wheel and her limp body in the seat behind him. The whole scene came rushing back, and Max just stared at Howard.
He took her hand. "I told you that some bad stuff was going to happen if you went back."
"Is he going to kill me?" Max asked breathlessly. "He …didn't do it already?"
"You're still very much alive, but you're going to have to fight him. You need to wake up now. I'm here with you all the way," Howard said serenely. "You have a lot of people pulling for you down there. Don't let them down."
Max nodded, as he faded away.
"Oh, I've waited so long to touch you again," Danny breathed in her ear. "You have to remember what we had!"
Max stared bleary eyed at him, not responding. Just glaring at him, not giving into her fear. How am I supposed to fight him, seeing that her hands were handcuffed to the metal bedposts?
"Remember how it used to be? I could make you scream," Danny whispered. "We didn't need anyone else. You're not like Karen."
"Karen?" Max croaked.
"She thought she could see other people besides me. I knew she was going to leave me, so I stopped her. You'll never leave me…."
"Danny, please," Max pleaded, hating the sound of it. "Just let me go. You don't want to do this."
"No!" he yelled. "You're not leaving me! Your mine! MINE!"
Danny jammed his hands against her bare shoulders, and had his faces inches from hers. Max felt his ragged breath, and saw that wild light come into his eyes. He ran his fingers down her bare body, and she tried not to shudder as he stroked her breasts. Danny traced the outline of her bullet scar, before bringing them lower.
"Mine," he repeated softly, pulling away. Turning off the light, he walked out of the room, leaving her in the dark. Max let a deep breath that she didn't even know that she was holding.
888888888888888
"Fred Mullen saw a dark sedan pull out of here in that time frame," Skeeter informed Jimmy and Kenny. "It turned left, and then he lost sight of it. We have cars going every possible route looking for it."
Skeeter turned to his friend, and wanted to offer some comfort, but Kenny's current demeanor didn't call for comfort. He didn't want to break, and Skeeter could tell that might push him over the edge.
"Is that all?" Kenny asked. "We should do something else!"
"We're doing this by the book," Jimmy said, keeping his voice calm. "No slip ups."
"Even if he kills her before we find him?" Kenny retorted. "Jimmy."
Jimmy saw the desperation plain on his face, and thought back to when his ex partner had kidnapped Kimberly, and Jimmy would have fought to get her back come hell or high water. Jimmy knew it would destroy his young friend if they found Max like they found the others, and it wouldn't be too easy on himself either.
"Max is tough and smart. If anyone can survive until we find her, I'd bet on her," Jimmy replied. "Hold on to that."
Max flinched as Danny flipped the light back on. She had lost track of the time in the darkness, but he hands hurt from pulling against the metal. She had come to the conclusion that there was no way to break through it. The bed frame was sturdy, and she had accomplished was bruising her hands.
She looked up and met Danny's hungry eyes. Max didn't know what he saw when he looked at her, but it made her feel used and dirty. She knew it was a matter of time before he raped her, and after that she wasn't sure what he would do. The other women weren't even dead before he started carving them up.
"You're not going to break out of them," Danny said indicating to the handcuffs. "They used them at Cornerstones when they wanted to punish us."
So I'll find another way, Max thought switching to Plan B. Weakly, she nodded at him. "Okay."
"Good," he replied, sitting beside her again and stroking her hair. "We have a lot to talk about."
The words echoed familiar to her, didn't Kenny and I say the same thing not so long ago, Max wondered.
"I told you, he just wanted to make you another conquest," Danny continued. "Why'd you let him do it? How could you let him touch you? He doesn't love you, not the way you should be. You're just another notch on his bedpost."
Max fought the urge to argue with him. Agree, she thought. Let him think he's winning, maybe then he'll uncuff you, so she numbly replied. "Kenny?"
"Of course Kenny! He thinks you're weak! Why else would he have been protecting you from me? He knows that you belong with me, and not with him! He knows that I could convince you of that, so he had to protect you! He didn't trust you to make your own decision!"
Max flashed back to all of her and Kenny's good and bad times, and she knew in her heart that he never thought all those things about her. She could tell just by looking at him, and even when they fought Max knew that nothing would ever change that. It took all of her strength not to defend the man that she loved, she replied. "I know. He wanted to be with me, and he… he told me he loved me. I just wanted someone to love me."
"I've always loved you," Danny whispered, and Max could see the excitement building in his eyes. She was saying all the right things to him, the things she knew from experience would make a sociopath like him happy. "All those people who pretend to care about you! All they want to do is keep you from being happy."
Bastard, Max thought. How many people did you do this too? Did Karen have to suffer through this? I hate you, for the way you treated me. Making me turn against the people I treasure having in my life. Blocking out her thoughts, she stammered out a truthful response. "I was confused. I didn't know what I wanted then."
"You want me," Danny insisted. "They made you send me away."
Max nodded again, not trusting her voice. Oh, Kenny, she thought. I'm so sorry, please forgive me for this. I love you, please don't ever forget that. "I want to touch you," Max gasped. "Please Danny let me touch you. I've waited two years for this moment."
His hands trailed down her body, and he stared mesmerized by her breasts again. before he sneered, "You think I'm pretty stupid, don't you? If I uncuff you now, you're going to run. Leave me."
"I'm not going to leave," Max cried, trying to hide her desperation. "I promise."
"That's what Karen said," Danny replied coldly. "I'll be back soon."
"Damn it," Max whispered to herself after he left. "Damn it."
888888888888888
"We found a car matching the description of Danny's" Skeeter said at the same time Max was trying to convince Danny to untie her. "Out by Millers Road, and then there was a scooter track leading into the woods."
"Impound it," Jimmy said. "I want it torn apart for anything linking it to Max and Danny."
Skeeter agreed, and signed off the radio.
"I need to do something," Kenny said. "I can't just sit here while everyone else is out there looking for her."
"Then start thinking like a cop, and not the boyfriend," Jimmy replied. "Because we're going out there and following those tracks into the woods.
888888888888888
Max let her eyes adjust to the darkness, and carefully sliding her cuffed, numb, hands down the metal bed rail. There was a table less then a foot away, maybe, she thought, there was something there that she could use to pick the lock. Or stab Danny with, Max wasn't feeling too picky at the moment. Her fingers grazed the edge of the table, and Max twisted her body, her muscles screaming, and she swore that she would take up yoga when she got out of this. Gazing at the table, all she saw was a pen. One normal Bic pen. Squinting she could make out her clothes in the chair across the room, and that's when the inspiration struck. Slowly she twisted onto her back again, and ran her fingers through her hair, looking for either the barrette or bobby pin she had used to secure back the fly away pieces of her growing out hair style.
Please, she thought, someone give me a break here. I don't know if I can pick a handcuff lock, but please God if you're up there let me try. She listened for any signs of life in the other rooms, and in hearing only silence; she slid a pin from her hair. Giving herself a silent cheer, Max felt victorious for the first time in that endless night.
Grasping the pin in her hand, she heard heavy footsteps treading down the hall towards the room. The lights blinked on again, and Danny stood in the doorway once more. Max tightened her grip, and tried not to be afraid of the expression on Danny's face.
"I thought you might want to know about what I did to your friends," he said slowly. "So if you get any ideas of escaping, you'll know what to expect."
He sauntered in slowly, a manila envelope clasped in his hands. He stroked her face lovingly, as he settled in the chair by the bed.
Does he know? Can he be watching me somehow?
"Rebecca," Danny drawled. "I met her right after I got out of the hospital. She gave me a ride after I told her my car broke down. And when I found out she worked for the mayor, I figured you knew her. She didn't see it coming Max, I stabbed her and she didn't even fight me. The look on her face when she fell to the floor…"
"Stop please," Max begged, not wanting to picture Rebecca's death.
Danny continued like he didn't even hear her. "It was like a game. I wanted her to bleed. You know I hadn't had sex since I went into the hospital? But I wanted her to be you. I couldn't picture you while looking at her face, so it had to go."
Max fought the urge to vomit, the image of Danny doing that to Rebecca made her want to cry. She tuned him out as he started talking about Sue, and how he knew she was Carter's girlfriend.
"She was a virgin," Danny reveled. "It was like you giving your virginity to me."
Sue, she thought, you deserved better than this. I'll make it up to you and to Carter, somehow, I promise.
"Joey fought me, and I didn't realize she tore of my bracelet," Danny continued. "Even when I cut her, she fought. She didn't know I was in control! She scratched me, until I slit her throat. She died screaming."
Max just stared at him, as he continued. "And Rachel. You remember Rachel Harris? God, I hated that bitch. Didn't Kenny sleep with her too? Any piece of ass he could get I suppose. She remembered me though, and she almost got away too. I stopped her though. She won't bother us again."
Rachel, Max's mind screamed. He's going to kill me too, I know that. I'm so sorry, Max thought, as she remembered the people that Danny had killed.
"So don't go anywhere, Max," Danny said slowly. "I don't want to have to hurt you."
888888888888888
Jimmy and Kenny stared at the tracks leading into the woods. Looking into the car, they had found some reddish hairs on the backseat. Kenny was feeling anxious, but trying to do what Jimmy said. Treat it as any other case. It's an abduction, follow the logical steps. He refused to believe that Max would die. The two of them had too much to live for.
Flipping on the industrial sized flashlights, he followed Jimmy into the woods. He could hear the others going off in different directions. Kenny swore if Max came out of this alright, he'd ask her to marry him. No more wasted time, he thought, as they walked through the woods, we're going to do this right. I love this woman, and I need her in my life. I want to have a life with her.
He glanced up at the lightening sky, and prayed that they would find her soon.
888888888888888
"I told you I would stay," Max replied shakily. "Please don't tell me anymore. They were my friends."
"No they weren't!" Danny bellowed. "They didn't want what was best for you!"
"I know," Max agreed, and hating herself for it. "But they didn't deserve to be killed like that."
"It was a tribute," Danny insisted, as Max's revulsion grew. He stood up, and gazed down at her again, and reaching for his envelope. He carefully pulled out a photograph, and she recoiled in horror. It showed one of the bodies, and as he flipped through the pictures, Max saw that he had photographed each murder, each little detail preserved on film. She shut her eyes to block out the intruding images, as she heard him laugh.
"I'm going to cook breakfast," Danny said. "I hope you're hungry."
Sick, she thought. Fucking sick bastard. She heard his footsteps trail off, and she began working at picking the lock.
888888888888888
"Mom," Matthew asked, as they watched the news that morning. "Is Danny Shreve really doing this?"
Jill paused before replying, thinking about her dead friends, and her missing one. "It seems that way."
"Is he going to kill Max?" Zach asked. "Like he did to the other ones?"
Jill didn't know how to respond to that because she honestly didn't know. "I hope not. Your father, Kenny, and everyone else are doing their best to prevent that."
The boys nodded sullenly, and the three of them turned back towards the morning news cast.
888888888888888
The lock popped to Max's astonishment. She pulled her wrists out slowly and tried to rub away some of their numbness. Sliding off the bed she walked as quietly as possible towards her clothes in the corner. Thank you, she thought, thank you! Max tugged her tee-shirt over her head, and quickly buttoned her jeans. Not finding her shoes, she crept towards the door, and cautiously peered out. The hallway was dim, but she could make out light coming from the right. The aroma of eggs and bacon came from down there as well, so Max headed off towards her left, and hopefully away from Danny.
She stayed close to the wall, and towards the end of the hall she came to a big window. Looking down, she was relieved to see that they were on the first floor of some building. Glancing behind over her shoulder again, Max shoved the window up and winced at the creak that it made. Looking back again, and hearing nothing, she shoved it up another six inches, and crawled out as she heard footsteps pounding down the hall. Ducking her head, she ran into the shadows as Danny's scream came from the bedroom. Looking back one more time she saw him coming through the window.
"Shit," Max said, as she started to run. "I knew it couldn't be that easy."
She pumped her legs as fast as they would go, but she could hear Danny behind her. He had her by a good half foot and 75 pounds, so she knew he was stronger and faster.
"You lying bitch!" he screamed, as he tackled her to the ground. "You said that you would stay!"
His face twisted into an ugly parody of itself, as his nails dug into her skin. "Get off of me! I hate you for what you've done!"
"You're mine," he yelled for what seemed like the hundredth time to her. "I'm going to make you mine!"
Max felt him rip at her shirt, and she shoved and clawed at him, but he kept pushing her down. His hands cupped her breasts, and he buried his face in them.
She screamed. "You're not human! You're some inhuman monster!"
He continued to paw at her, and try to shove her pants down. Max smashed him in the head, but he slapped her. "Lie still!"
"Fuck you!" she yelled back, bringing her knee to his crotch.
888888888888888
Kenny and Jimmy exchanged a glance as they heard the screams, and they began to run. Max's voice pierced the air again, and Jimmy radioed for back up.
888888888888888
Danny sucked in his breath at contact, and Max sprung back to her feet. Running and pulling her shirt down at the same down, she sprinted for the trees.
"No!" Danny yelled, lunging after her. Max dodged his grasp, and barely missed running into a tree. She ducked under the branches, and pushed through the woods. Danny was behind her, and she felt him upon her again. They crashed into a small bush, and Max screamed and shoved her fist in his face.
"Bitch!" he hissed, as blood dripped down his face. One hand holding her by the neck, he pulled a kitchen knife from his pocket. "I told you what would happen if you tried to leave."
He yanked her out of the bush, and tossed her on the ground. Coughing and sputtering Max glared up at him. She scrambled to her feet, as he advanced closer.
"Try to run," he said lowly. "You're not going anywhere."
He crept closer, and Max continued to stumble backwards. They were in a thick grove of trees, and she knew that there was nowhere to run. Danny would be on her in an instant. Her eyes darted around, searching for any possible escape route. Fight, Max thought, I have to get the knife away from him. She held Danny's gaze, as he paused five feet from her.
"Oh, I'm going to enjoy this," he breathed. "You're just like all the others… you don't care about me."
"You disgust me," she spat, before she thought better of it, and with those words Max ran at him, and they fell to the ground in a heap. Grasping his hand that was holding the knife, she twisted his wrist so it fell to the ground. She balled her hands into fists, and landed one solid punch before he flipped her onto her back.
"Stop fighting me," he demanded. He had her legs pinned down, so she couldn't get to his crotch again. She could see the knife off to her left, but there was no way she could reach it in her present position. "No one will even miss you when you're gone."
Danny ripped her shirt open, as she smashed him in the face again. Max continued to hit and fight him, as he attacked her body. Max fought the urge to cry as he shoved her pants down. His hands were groping and tearing at her, and she could feel the excitement in his body. To be in control of her. She closed her eyes, as he rammed into her. Danny let out an excited moan of release as he entered her, as she screamed. She twisted her body, but he was just too strong. His hands were like metal chains holding her to the ground, and no matter how hard she fought him, she couldn't get away. She screamed again in frustration, and at the vague hope that someone was nearby.
Danny paused in his pleasure at her screams, and Max felt his weight lift from her body momentarily. Last chance, she thought, as she shoved him and dove for the knife. Danny lunged after her, and she felt his hand grasp her ankle.
"No, damn it!" she screamed, twisting back to face him as Jimmy and Kenny came crashing into the clearing. As Danny flew at her again, she raised the knife.
Jimmy and Kenny watched in amazement as he crumpled to the ground in a pool of blood.