Ahh, here it is at last. Not the easiest chapter to write, let me tell you. Pacey is in a very dark place right now… A place that is quite disturbing for me to visit… But this part of it is done. I hope that you like the chapter!
Thanks for the replies meli dav, Anonymous;), MadScientistGirl, Tiff, Wonder and xxoJenxoo!
Snowie
Chapter Eight: Accustomed to Pain
Pacey was running.
His breath came in short painful gasps.
Her screams echoed in his ears.
Not again.
Not again!
Too late.
Why was he always too damn late?
He could see her up ahead.
Red hair shining brightly in the sun…
Hair that suddenly became a long, shining wave of golden brown…
He called out for her, but was somehow unable to make a sound. Unable to warn her of the danger that he knew was coming. The danger that would steal her from him… take her away again…
Pacey pushed himself to his limit, trying desperately to catch up with her. To be there to protect her, but somehow, the faster he ran, the farther away she was. "Joey," he called desperately. She turned slowly towards him as two figures stepped out of the shadows.
"JOEY!" Pacey screamed as a man reached out and grabbed her, one arm around her waist, the other covering her mouth. Pacey cried out as her eyes widened in horror and fear... As her eyes begged him to save her.
The second figure turned towards Pacey, a mocking smile spreading slowly across her face. "Too late Sonny Boy," she cackled. She turned to the man and nodded.
He smiled in pleasure and brought a knife to Joey's neck. He raised his head slightly, meeting Pacey's eyes. Pacey shook his head in denial. "Larry?" He murmured, his eyes widening in horror, knowing deep down what was about to happen. "No!"
Larry winked slowly, his eyes sparkling like black diamonds. Then, in one swift motion, he slashed Joey's throat.
"No!" Pacey screamed, throwing himself forward, his eyes never leaving Joey's face. He saw the life slowly fade from her eyes as she fell limp in Larry's arms. He made it to her side in time to catch her as Larry let her fall.
Pacey sank slowly to the ground. "No Jo!" He exclaimed, running his hands over her face, willing her to wake up. Willing her to be all right. "Oh God!" He murmured, looking down at his hands, which were now covered with her blood. His eyes widened in horror and his gaze flew back to her face. Her eyes stared up at him blankly, a silent accusation. "I'm sorry Joey!" Pacey cried, his body convulsing in sobs as he pulled her close to his chest. "I'm so sorry! I never meant..."
"What you meant doesn't matter Sonny," Mama said, glaring down at him. Pacey slowly raised his head and met her gaze, his eyes filled with pain and hatred... Mama Sal just smiled. "You should have known that you couldn't get away from me. You'll never get away from me."
"NO!" Pacey screamed… and suddenly he was awake.
He sat in the driver's seat of his brother's jeep, shaking uncontrollably for what seemed like hours.
The dream was always the same. He could never overcome them there… they always won.
Just as they'd won when they took first Meg and then Joey from him.
Pacey took a deep breath and clenched his fists, forcing the shaking in his limbs to stop through pure will.
But not this time!
They weren't going to win this time!
He glanced at his watch. Five am. Time to get moving again.
He was in the back parking lot of a rest station somewhere in New York State. He'd had to stop, fearing that otherwise he'd pass out at the wheel… And it seemed that three hours was all the sleep his psyche would allow.
It was Tuesday. Less than four days before Mama would be calling Bobby for an update. Less than four days in which to turn Mama's game against her.
He had a lot to do.
He stepped out of the Jeep and walked around to the back, stretching as he went. He opened the tailgate and uncovered Bobby's head. The man looked up, his terrified gaze meeting Pacey's.
"Hello Bobby," Pacey said softly. "Do you have an address for me?"
"1512 Cyprus Lane," Bobby said without hesitation…
Pacey smiled coldly. "Thank you Bobby. I knew we'd be able to work together… once you figured out the rules."
Bobby shuddered. Yeah, Mama had certainly done a number on this one.
And Doc…
Bobby shuddered again.
He didn't even want to think about what Doc had done to Pacey during his time with Mama… But he had a feeling that Doc would soon learn to regret it.
"Now, do I have to drug you again, or are you going to behave yourself?"
"I won't say a word," Bobby said quickly. "Swear!"
Pacey studied him carefully for a moment and then reached into the bag beside him, pulling out the same vial he'd used earlier. Bobby was no idiot. He was an opportunist and a rat. He'd abandon ship as soon as he was able. He would see anyone from a toll attendant to a police officer as a life preserver. Pacey couldn't take that chance.
"What are you doing?" Bobby asked, a hint of panic in his voice. Pacey ignored him as he drew up the dose into a syringe. Once it was ready he turned to Bobby with a somber look on his face.
"Gotta say, Bobby… I just don't trust you. Not to worry though, I researched dosages carefully. Besides, you woke up fine last time…" Ignoring Bobby's sputtered protests he jammed the needle into the other man's arm and depressed the plunger. "Sorry." He shrugged slightly and covered Bobby's head with the blanket again.
Pacey shut the tailgate to the Jeep and walked around to the driver's seat. He leaned his head in and pulled out the New York map he'd bought at the service station. He opened it up and quickly located Sanford. Not too much further to go. He'd probably get there by midmorning…
Sanford New York, 9 pm…
A day of watching had finally paid off. Pacey had arrived in Sanford midmorning as expected. It hadn't taken much time after that for him to find 1512 Cyprus Lane. But the wait to ensure that Doc was in the house alone had taken him into the early hours of night. It was better that way. Darkness could only help…
The house was perfect for an infiltration. It was set back from the road and there were trees lining it on three sides, a wall of shrubs forming a wall in front. Doc obviously liked his privacy… all the better.
When the traffic on the street had slowed to a trickle, Pacey pulled the jeep into the driveway. He pulled on a baseball cap, making sure it was low, shading his eyes from view. He then grabbed a few things from the back of the Jeep and approached the side door. He rang the bell and waited for Doc to answer, his trusty shotgun in hand.
He could hear someone moving around inside and tensed as the door opened.
"Yes?"
That pleasant, melancholy voice…
Pacey snarled and launched the butt of the rifle into Doc's face before the other man had the presence of mind to react.
And Pacey smiled, a feeling of cold satisfaction spreading through him as the sadist hit the floor with a dull thump.
He looked around cautiously before stepping into the house, careful to step on Doc as he went. He pulled the man further into the hallway and then shut the door.
There was no doubt in Pacey's mind that the guy was out for the count, but he knew that he had to work fast. There was no telling just how long Doc would be out… and the room Pacey was sure existed somewhere in that house wouldn't necessarily be easy to find… or more so, to open.
"Basement," Pacey muttered, looking around for the right door. "They always put those damn things in the basement…"
It took four tries for him to find the correct door. He flipped on the light and jogged down the stairs, aware that every moment was precious. Based on the dimensions of the house and of the basement, Pacey was sure that his first instinct had been right. Somewhere along the south wall, there had to be a door.
It was incredibly easy to find, as the man had apparently recently left it, not taking the time to ensure that it was closed. It was a simple matter of finding the slight opening and prying it open. He stepped into the room and looked around. He smiled slightly. Everything that he would ever need to get information out of Doc… and then some. He exited the room and jogged back up the stairs.
Pacey moved quickly to Doc's side and picked him up, throwing him over his shoulder carelessly. He then went back down the stairs to the room. There was a metal chair in the corner, complete with manacles. Pacey dropped Doc into the chair and secured him to it. He then found a roll of duct tape and taped his mouth shut. Once convinced that the man was securely bound, he went out to get Bobby. Before long, both unconscious men were in the little room in the basement.
Pacey looked from Bobby to Doc and then shrugged. Might as well do some research while he waited for them to wake up…
He begin with the journals in the corner, having an idea of what they'd contain… But even that knowledge didn't prepare him for the words he would read. The man was truly a sadist. His 'experiments' in human pain were disgusting and beyond doubt immensely illegal.
Pacey grabbed a box from the corner and dumped all of the journals into it. He then continued his search of the room. He hit the mother load in a set of steel cabinets in the corner.
Videotapes.
He tossed a number of them into the box as well. He turned towards Doc as a faint noise caught his attention. He was coming around…
Pacey grabbed the chair from the desk and placed it in front of Doc backwards. He sat down, resting his forearms on the back of the chair. He watched silently as the man regained consciousness. He smiled as Doc's eyes focused on him… and widened in surprise… and fear.
"Hello Doc," Pacey said softly. "Miss me?"
He was answered by silence… but, of course, the other man was still gagged.
"It's been a long time, hasn't it?" Pacey continued. "But I know that I didn't miss you. In fact, I'm quite annoyed at having to be here right now. I never wanted to see your ugly face again. Thought I'd put all this behind me. But you just couldn't let me be, could you? Couldn't let me go. And then you went and attacked my girl."
"Not the brightest thing to do Doc… not that I think any of you truly realized that. Are you starting to understand now? I think you are." He nodded in the direction of Bobby, who was also awake now, staring at the scene with trepidation. "Bobby figured it out real quick."
"I was home. I was happy. I was alive. I'd let it all go, let you go. Even though I knew you were still out there, I'd come to terms with the reality that there was nothing that I could do to find and stop you. I'd told my family and friends as little as I could about what had happened, knowing that they were in no way prepared for hearing about filth like you."
"Oh, they said they wanted to know. Everything. But they didn't. Not really. I could see it in their eyes. They wanted me to think that they could hear all of it, but they prayed that I wouldn't tell them. Prayed… So I gave them enough. All that they needed to put Mama and Larry away forever." Pacey laughed humorlessly. "Forever. How stupidly naïve. The only way to exact justice on that bitch and her bastard son is to put them down like the dogs they are."
"But I never told anyone about you… It would have been too much, knowing about that and not being able to do anything about you. 'Cause the truth is, all I knew about you was that you're a sadistic bastard and Mama called you Doc. Not a hell of a lot to go on really. And the FBI and the police… well, I guess you could say they frown on things like death threats and torture being used to get information out of people."
"I, on the other hand, no longer feel subject to such constraints."
"So are you going to talk, or do I have to get down to business?" Pacey looked at the man again, his eyes narrowing… and laughed. "How silly of me. Guess I should remove the gag first…" He reached over and yanked on the duct tape covering Doc's mouth… hard. It was easy to see that the man was tempted to scream… but he didn't.
"Good," Pacey said. "'Cause if you holler for help, you will regret it." Pacey looked around the room they were in. "Not that they'd hear you. Torture isn't the same to you if you can't hear them scream, now is it? Bet you soundproofed this place but good."
Doc glared at him, but nodded slightly in acknowledgement.
"So tell me Doc… Where's Mama keeping my girl?"
Doc laughed slightly. "You didn't honestly think that it would be that easy, did you? That you would just walk in here, shoot off a few threats and I'd tell you everything?"
"No," Pacey said. "But I'd hoped you'd show a bit of intelligence and understand your position. You're not going to win this one, Doc. I'm holding all the cards… and all the tools. Do you want to find out just how much I learned from you?" He smiled as Doc remained silent. "I guess I'll take that as a yes."
He turned his attention to the table next to him and lit the Bunsen burner in the corner. He could feel Doc's worried gaze on him, but he ignored him.
Pacey reached for a small tray of long, thin needles and picked one up. He looked at it silently for a moment. "I suppose we should start small. It always amazed me how much pain could come from something so insignificant." Pacey held the needle over the flame, watching as it went from a cool silver to an intense orange-red. He glanced over at Doc. "This is your last chance to avoid the pain…" Doc didn't respond. "No? Didn't think so." Pacey pulled the needle out of the flame and shifted closer to Doc. He looked the other man in the eyes for a moment and then turned his attention to the monster's right hand.
And without hesitation, slipped the red-hot point of the needle under the nail of his middle finger.
The scream that followed echoed and died in the confinement of the room.
Pacey looked at the needle emotionlessly for a moment and then glanced at Doc's pain-filled face… before reaching for another needle.
He felt no desire to repeat his question just yet. There would be plenty of time for that later.
After the needles…
A while later…
Pacey picked up a towel and wiped the blood from his hands, his face expressionless. Just as he'd long imagined, Doc was unable to withstand much of the kind of torture he liked to inflict. He'd endured the needles with some measure of decorum, but had lost consciousness not long after Pacey had made the first cut into his skin.
It had likely been the sight of his own blood that did him in.
Some people just couldn't handle such things.
Pacey had long since become immune to the horror of watching his blood spill on the ground. There were only so many times that you could experience such a thing before it lost all novelty.
He waited patiently for Doc to come around, knowing that it wouldn't take that long. When the other man's eyes finally blinked open, Pacey sighed. "Are you ready to talk now?"
"The commune in Pennsylvania," Doc whispered hoarsely, his eyes jumping around the room, as if looking for some avenue of escape… and finding none.
Pacey nodded once and then turned to his other prisoner. "Bobby?"
"No," Bobby said quickly. "It wouldn't be the place in Pennsylvania. Too close to civilization. Too much chance that someone would see one of them."
Doc's eyes suddenly focused in a glare at the younger man. His eyes were dark and accusing. "You would betray us all? After all that we have done for you?"
Bobby was silent for a moment, staring at the doctor incredulously. "I'm no idiot Doc. Look in his eyes. Ain't nothin' left there. Mama did that to him. She made him what he is and she's the one that's going to have to deal with the fallout. What do you want me to do? Die for her? We both know she wouldn't bother for me."
Pacey grinned coldly. "Ya see, Bobby here is smart. He knows that his chances for survival increase the more he helps me. And I just might let him live. But you…"
Doc shrugged. "I have to assume that you're going to kill me anyway."
"Yes," Pacey said simply. "I am. That's not in question. The question is how long I can keep you alive… and how much pain you'll feel during that time. I still have ten days in which to find Joey. I'm sure I can spare a couple to spend with you. And I have a few goodies in my bag that we haven't explored yet. Burning cigarettes were always a favorite of Mama's men. We can see if you enjoy them as much as I did."
As Pacey was speaking, Doc took Bobby's advice and looked into his eyes. He shuddered slightly, for the first time in his life seeing something to fear. There wasn't anything left there. Nothing but the girl and the desire for vengeance. Pacey would not stop until he found the girl… And did not care what he'd have to do in order to get the information he needed.
Pacey no longer cared if his soul survived the hell of Mama's making. All he cared about was making sure the girl did.
There was nothing that Doc could do to prevent his own end… Or Mama Sal's.
It was over.
He was over.
"They're at the commune in Maine…" He said slowly, all life gone from his voice. "Back to where it all began."
Pacey looked at Bobby, who nodded. The first place Pacey had been brought after the kidnapping. The state where Mama had lost him…
Fitting.
Pacey had seen awareness rise in Doc's eyes. Had felt the truth of his words. Bobby seemed to agree that Maine was a likely prospect… and Pacey had the feeling that Doc was beyond lying to him now…
Pacey looked around the room wordlessly, taking in everything around him. He shrugged and reached out a hand for the table next to him.
But just in case…