It was around three in the morning and their cell was quiet. The only sound that could be heard echoing of the walls was the steady breathing of the two companions who had retreated to the corner of the room. Each breath matched the others as they lay curled together on the floor. Under normal circumstances, this would have been a cherished moment between lovers, but nothing was ordinary about where they were. There were smears of blood on the wall, pools of water on the floor, and the distinct smell of death seemed to flow in through the air vents. However, that is not what had disrupted the stillness of the small room, but rather the sharp intake of breath that had come from Michael Vaughn. He sat upright almost as soon as he had opened his eyes, but still could not rid himself of the vision that was assaulting his memory. He had been running after Sydney, down what seemed like a never-ending hallway. Every time he turned a corner, he would catch a fleeting vision of her hair before she disappeared again. There was nothing standing in his way but walls this time...no guards, no Lauren, no Sloane, but somehow he could never catch her. He tried to call out to her hoping she would stop at the sound of his voice, but if she had heard him, she made no indication of it. His voice had long since become hoarse and Vaughn was about to give up when he turned another corner and slammed into a door. It was a cold steel with the number 47 clearly engraved into the center. He knew that number, and he knew that it was never a good omen. Vaughn had every intention of turning around and running back through the cruel maze he had just completed, but he knew Sydney was on the other side of that door and he couldn't leave without finding her. Somehow he realized that she was depending on him and he couldn't disappoint her again. He cautiously turned the knob and stepped through the threshold of the door only to find that the room he had stepped into was pitch-black. He groped blindly for a light switch along the wall and was relieved about three seconds later when he found one. However turning the light on was one of the worst choices he had ever made. What he saw when the room was illuminated brought him to his knees. Sydney, his Sydney, was dangling from rusted shackles in the center of the room, lifeless. Her wrists sagged heavily on the cuffs and her once powerful legs no longer held her own weight. Lauren stood to her right side clutching onto a knife that was deeply imbedded in Sydney's ribcage. The woman didn't even acknowledge his presence, just continued to stare blankly at the blood that seeped over her hand. Vaughn warily moved towards Sydney, but could not bring himself to get closer than a few feet to her. This wasn't the woman he had fallen in love with, it was merely the shell of the fierce, passionate person that he once knew. Her cheeks were stained with sickeningly red tears and her mouth was still open in shock and pain. Before Vaughn knew how to react, the room once again fell into darkness and he felt himself jerk awake terrified, only to realize that he was back in the same dank cell that he had occupied before the horrible nightmare. It wasn't exactly where he wanted to find himself after such an agonizing dream, but it was better than the dream itself because Sydney was still alive, and she was lying right next to him. He had hoped that his sudden movements hadn't woken the sleeping angel beside him, but no such luck. She was stirring and her eyes gradually fluttered open. Vaughn watched as Sydney's eyes went wide trying to determine where she was, but he wrapped her in a tender embrace before she became too alarmed. "Sssshhhhhhh Syd, it's just me. We're still in the cell, but we're okay." Her eyes had eventually focused on Vaughn and she pulled herself closer to him, breathing in his scent. "Sorry, I just wanted to make sure you're still really here." "I'm not going anywhere, don't worry. Whatever it is these people have planned for us, we'll make it out together. And I'm sure that by now your father has realized you've gone missing and is probably threatening to kill Kendall if he doesn't send a team out as soon as possible." That got him a small laugh. They sat like that for a while; speaking words of love and reassurance to each other while they lay entwined on the floor. Eventually, a loud scrape was heard from across the room as the door was briskly forced open to reveal Lauren looking too smug to be safe. Something was up and both Sydney and Vaughn knew it. They arose when her shoes made a loud, smacking sound on the floor as she approached them. When she was about five feet away she stopped and looked them up and down. Their hands were still interlocked, keeping each other strong. When Lauren spoke, she had an air of superiority in her voice. "Well, I would ask you two to..."get a room" as it is so commonly put, but I'm afraid you won't be needing one much longer. It seems that the Covenant has decided that they no longer have any use for either of you. I have been instructed by my superiors to extract as much information as possible from you on anything and everything involving the CIA and your dear friend Rambaldi and afterwards I will be allowed have my way with you. And I do promise...Sydney, that when I am finished with you you'll be very sorry that you ever opened your mouth and called me a whore." Sydney had moved forward prepared to kill Lauren with her bare hands if need be, but was stopped by Vaughn's hand on her wrist, "Not yet." "Well well, it seems dear Sydney can't wait to see what I have in store for her, but don't worry, you won't need your patience for long. The fact is, I really don't care if you won't divulge all of your dirty little secrets to me. I'm not even going to attempt to interrogate you." By this time Lauren had gotten even closer. "All I want, is to see suffer. By the time I'm done, you'll both be begging for the sweet relief of death." As quickly as Lauren had gotten in Sydney's face, she turned on her heel and walked to the door. She was gone for no more than thirty seconds before she returned, wielding six guards and a tray of what appeared to be surgical tools...it was anyone's guess as to whether or not they were sterile. Sydney and Vaughn had put up a worthy fight, but the uneven odds allowed the guards to eventually restrain the two. Vaughn was relentlessly trying to free himself from the grip of two men, but it was useless. One of the guards who was currently unoccupied had brandished a taser and was approaching Vaughn.
Sydney cut in, "No...Vaughn! You bastards he hasn't done anything...take me!"
"Sydney no! Don't worry I'll be fine all right? Stay calm."
Vaughn tried to get a high kick in to send the taser flying, but to no avail. The man quickly shocked him right in the stomach and holding him quickly put shackles around his wrist and feet. By the time he had regained his composure, they were preparing to do the same thing to Sydney. She too tried to injury the oncoming guard, but again he stunned. She fought to remain standing, but the guards shoved her down in order to shackle her as well. After a few moments they were restrained against chains connected to the wall and were forced to stand to alleviate the pain that was caused in their wrists. Lauren spoke to the guards under her breath and they in turn left the room with a lingering slam to the door. She approached with a predatory glint in her eyes. "Now normally, being a feminist myself, I would begin something like this by first starting on the man. However I don't like being insulted by those who aren't smart enough to bite their tongues in certain situations...and of course, I did promise Sydney that she wouldn't have to wait too long. Therefore..." She moved towards the tray of items and then approached Sydney while twirling a scalpel in her hands, but then stopped and turned her head towards Vaughn. "Michael. It's Michael isn't it? I hope you don't mind if I'm too forward, but I was wondering if there's any part of Sydney that you're rather fond of...maybe something that you would like be to try and avoid during my ministrations." "Go to hell you fucking bitch. I promise you that when we get out of here you are going to burn for this." "Hmm, I guess that's a no then? Well alright, looks like I'll just have to decide what I would like to do first." Lauren glanced at Sydney for a few moments before she smiled in satisfaction. "Sydney, if you would be so kind as to turn around and face the wall please." "I hate to sound redundant here...but GO TO HELL!" "Now really, that's not necessary, it's a simple request and unless you would like me to start with your dear, sweet boyfriend, I suggest you obey." Lauren obviously knew Sydney's weakness, she would do anything to save Vaughn from suffering so she reluctantly turned away from Lauren. He turned to her"Syd, don't do this, let her take me, I'll be all right. You're still recovering." "I love you Vaughn, but I can't let her hurt you, I can't. I'm sorry." Vaughn and Sydney had completely forgotten that Lauren was still in the room as they spoke. But all Vaughn could get out was, "I love you Sydney, I love---" before a whipped cracked down and Sydney's pained scream filled the air.