Paige had no idea how long she had been in this room, a day, a week, a month, it was all the same in this place. She tried to orb for the billionth time, she knew it was useless but she tried anyway. And when that didn't work, she screamed, tried to get someone, anyone, she just wanted to see another human face, to hear another human voice. She had known pain, known fear, but nothing was as bad as this, this emptiness, this lost feeling. She was going crazy. The Elders were the 'good' guys, they didn't want to kill her, because no matter how mush they hated her, causing her physical pain was against their rules. So they tortured her mind instead, leaving her to stare at the same blank walls, breathe the same sentless air, hear nothing but her own voice, and to be alone, never again to taste a cup of coffee, or a bite of ice-cream. She was alone, totally alone and it was killing her, slowly and painfully.
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It had been three weeks sense the Elders had taken Paige, and they had found nothing. It was past midnight, and Prue was up searching the book of shadows, hoping that this time something might catch her eye. But of course, nothing ever did.
Piper came up the stairs followed by Phoebe. "Prue, you have to get some rest," Piper said "We've been through their a hundred times and nothings ever changes."
"So you're just going to give up? Forget about Paige?" Prue almost yelled.
"Of course not Prue, we just need to find a different approach. Paige is our sister and we're not going to let the Elders keep her. We'll get her back." Phoebe said with more conviction than she felt.
"But how do we go up against the Elders?" Prue asked.
"You won't have to." A voice said behind them. They knew that voice. Phoebe gritted her teeth before turning around. "Hello Cole, how nice of you to drop by." She said in an icy tone.
"Hi Phoebe, I can help you, I can get Paige back. You know I can, I am all powerful after all."
"Drop dead Cole."
"Been there, done that." Was his response.
Phoebe started to turn her back to him when a thought struck her. Turning back around she asked, "How do you know about Paige?"
"Oh you know, a little eavesdropping never did anyone any harm." Cole said. "Think about my offer, I think it's the only way." He grinned and shimmered away.
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It had been three days since Cole had dropped by and the sisters were getting more and more desperate. No one wanted to voice the opinion that Cole might be right, he might be the only one able to save Paige.
Prue walked over to Phoebe, she had become increasingly distant, trying, hoping to find something instead of Cole. All of them knew that if they asked Cole, if would be Phoebe's discussion, and she would only use him as a last resort, a resort that seemed to be coming closer and closer every second.
"You ok?" Prue asked, "We're all really worried about you. You haven't slept in two days."
"I'm fine Prue, it's just, Cole, he keeps popping into my head, and then I remember everything Paige told us. I don't know what to do, I don't know what to say."
"It's okay Phoebe," Piper said, coming up behind Prue. "We'll find a way."
"No we won't and you know it." Phoebe said bluntly. "But we can't just forget about Paige either. I'm calling Cole. He was right, it is the only way."