To drumboy100, I didn't change my plotline for you. From the start, I intended for Sofia to be evil and emotionally manipulative and also sorry for bursting your bubble about Annabel. Thank you to everyone who reviewed my story. You guys encourage me ti keep going when I'm stuck. I still can't believe I got sixteen(at the moment) reviews for my first story. It means a lot
Joe's shoulders ached with a high intensity. He was blindfolded again and the recording of the creaking door was making his injuries worse. With his sight deprived, he felt as if someone was physically there opening and closing the door. "Don't do this, Jay." He pleaded. "My arms can't take anymore. what have I ever done to you." The despondent issue is that no one was there except him. When a recording of a door being slammed open, Joe jumped out of his skin. The recording was messing with his sensory perception. He was kneeling on the floor and Joe was led to believe that his arms were being painfully stretched by the opening and closing of the door. His arms were being stretched by having his arms tied behind his back onto the door but unknowingly Joe was making it worse by fidgeting and squirming. Unbeknownst to him, he was being recorded.
HBHBHBHB
Fenton had gone to speak to the nurse at the hospital. It was the only lead that they had. Fenton had insisted that Frank would take care of Callie and the kids. "We need to visit Sofia. She could spread light on why she masqueraded as Vanessa's cousin and deceived my brother."
"You've answered your own question, Frank." Callie commented. She knew how much Joe loved Vanessa so masquerading as Vanessa's cousin caused Joe to be manipulated and caused them to have foothold in his life.
The doorbell rang. Frank went to answer to and he was shocked. Vanessa was there, alive.
Frank and Callie skipped the questions they had for her at the moment and hugged her.
"Vanessa, where were you?" Frank asked as he brought Vanessa inside.
"That bitch Sofia kidnapped me after I gave birth and told Joe that I had died in childbirth." She turned to Frank. "Frank, I would never hurt Joe. I love him. I escaped Sofia's brother clutches when I found out about Joe."
Frank placed a hand on her shoulder and said. "I promise you that these bastards will pay but first you need to rest" . Frank guided Vanessa inside and led her to the couch.
"Vanessa. None of these is your fault." Frank reassured his sister-in-law. He said, "I'll make you a hot chocolate and get you something to eat."
After ten minutes, Frank came back with the stuff and handed it over to her.
"Could you tell me what happened." Frank asked her.
"Frank. She just came back after..." Callie protested.
"Don't worry. Cal, I'm ready to lock their asses in jail. Frank, I understand that you want to find Joe. As do I. So please, I know I don't deserve to be kept in the loop but please update me whenever you can. I need to make Joe forgive me."
"Forgive you?" Frank said incredulously. "Joe's going to be mad for sure, but its not your fault,Van."
Changing the subject she asked, "You want me to tell you the full story from the time I gave birth to now." Vanessa asked taking a sip of her hot chocolate.
Frank waited patiently for Vanessa to start speaking. He didn't pressed or pushed. Far from it.
Vanessa explained about everything that happened in that two month time frame and she had to stop a few times to collect her breath.
"Her brother made me a servant. He touched me and kissed me. Thankfully he didn't rape me. If you know what I mean.
Frank and Callie stared at her. They've felt immense hatred. "Sofia's brother tried to instill a lesson that my brother in law hates me and convinced Joe not to find me. I'm sorry Frank. For awhile, I believed that. Please don't hate me."
Frank stared at her and grew increasingly angry at Sofia's brother. He didn't fault Vanessa.
"Hate you?" Frank asked incredulously. Vanessa, I don't hate you."
Vanessa continued, she was ashamed to mention it before but being around people who trust her unconditionally gave her courage. "Sofia and her brother told me that she died in childbirth. They told me that it was my fault. That I'm terrible mother If I don't know what happened to my own child" Vanessa choked back a sob.
Frank clenched his fists. How could they hurt another human being? Neither Frank nor Callie would believe that someone would be so heartless to manipulate a grieving mother.
Quiet sobs racked her body. "I'm sorry. I'm just overwhelmed at the news."
"Don't apologise Vanessa. You've being through so much." Callie said, hugging her sister-in-law. Vanessa wrapped her hands around her and sobbed.
"We're going to get Joe back. I promise." Frank told them.
"Would you like to see your daughter" Frank asked.
"N-no. She wouldn't recognize me."
"Don't worry about that, Van. she'll be happy that her mother is back."
Callie quietly stood up and went to pick up Erica and brought her over. Erica saw Vanessa and started to cry. Mummy... Vanessa stood up and made her way over to her. Erica tripped over a toy and fell to the ground. She started to cry. Immediately Vanessa was by her side, she picked her up. Its alright, Erica. Mummy's here. She soothed her baby. She missed this. She missed her first steps and a lot of firsts.
She went over to the couch and sat down with Erica on the lap. "Erica, what does Joe do when you fall down?"
"Daddy picks me up and tells me stories of his childhood. He tells me that girls and even boys are allowed to cry and not to feel ashamed of my tears."
The adults stared at Erica as she explained about Joe. For the first time, they've realised what an exceptional person and father Joe raised his kid.
"Callie, could you please take Erica. I need to ask Van something". She took Erica from her.
"Vanessa is there anything about Joe's location that might be able to help me."
"Nothing. I'm sorry, Frank. I'll do whatever I can to help you." Vanessa reassured her brother-in-law.
"Callie will look after you, Vanessa" Frank told her. He wrapped his hand around her shoulder and said, "don't worry,Van. You're safe now. Neither Callie or I will let you face them alone. You can count on it."
"Thank you". Vanessa smiled at them. "If you guys don't mind, I'll take a nap now. But please, keep me informed."
"I will." Frank promised. Truthfully he didn't want to do so because she could relapse and have another flashback and she has suffered a great ordeal. Frank would never lie to her in regards to Joe. He knew that if the roles were reversed, that Joe nor Vanessa would never like it.
Vanessa was taken to Joe's bedroom
HBHBHBHB
At 5:00, Joe was still tied to the door and his wrists had lost feeling a long time ago. The door creaked open and his sore wrists were being painfully stretched apart.
Eric removed the blindfold.
Joe stared at him and there was a twinge in his back from being bent over.
"As promised, you can eat." Eric said, shoving the cake into his mouth.
Joe nearly cried with joy as he said those words but he didn't want his privileges to be taken away.
"This is for shifting purposes. You're going to get itinerated every week."
He tied a blindfold around his eyes and secured his wrists tightly. He put a new tune to the recording. So instead of creaking noises, there was driving noises and traffic noises and honking and pre recorded dialogue. He played the recording and he opened the door and quietly made his way out.
After a while, Joe asked "where are you taking me? Answer me... I can't do this anymore."
After the duration of the "journey" , Eric came inside and removed the blindfold.
HBHBHBHB
After a nap, Vanessa trashed around and managed to cut herself. Callie and Frank came rushing inside as she heard the commotion. Frank knew from personal experience that he should never leave someone who suffered a great deal especially when the kids are concerned. Frank knew, without a shadow of a doubt that if the roles were reversed, any one of them would take care of the other. But one thing's changed; the kids will feel petrified.
"Van, you're safe." Callie said gently.
Frank moved closer to Vanessa. "Van,you're in Joe's room. You aren't in any kind of danger. We'll protect you."
The intruders burst in and cocked a gun at Callie's head. Looks like the tracking device worked.
Frank mentally berated himself but he couldn't blame Vanessa, but the logical rational side of him was contemplating his true feelings but Frank swallowed the negative feelings. He already made that mistake and nearly lost his brother because of that. He wasn't going to make the same mistake and lose his sister-in-law as well. Now was he willing to lose Callie.
"Let my wife go." Frank shouted.
"Actually. Lets make it fun, Callie. You're going to choose who will come with us. Frank, your husband or your sister-in-law."
"That's barbaric." The intruder 1 smacked Frank and narrowed his dark grey eyes at Callie. Choose Callie.
"Callie, I won't blame you for your choice." Frank reassured his wife.
Neither will I. Vanessa said.
"Its hard to think when a gun is cocked on your head." Callie said ,her voice shaky.
"My apologies" intruder 1 said.
"I choose a third option. I choose myself."
"Mummy, are you alright?" Erica asked, coming into the doorway. The intruder smirked and cocked a gun at her.
"Leave the kids alone!" Callie yelled. "Take me instead but leave them alone. Please. All i ask is that you don't make the kid watch." Erica ran to Frank who hugged his trouser leg.
"Put your hands out in front of you." Callie did so and didn't resist as handcuffs were placed on her and her ankles.
The intruder pulled Callie by her hair and Frank was forced to watch as they dragged his wife out. How could he stop them when they've got a baby involved as well.
Callie was dragged by her handcuffs and taken to the sedan. They drove off...
HBHBHBHB
Joe was still inside the cell and his arms and shoulders were aching. His sense of time was slowly being stripped away. Piece by piece. He didn't know how much time has passed but he knew one thing; it had been hours since he ate his first meal.
The door was pushed open and Joe whimpered as his aching arms were being pushed back
"I brought food for you." Jay said, holding Joe's meal in his hands. "But first, beg me for the food and you can eat." He removed the blindfold and smirked at the look of despair written in Joe's eyes.
"Please don't. My arms can't take it anymore." Joe protested. He took a basin of water and Eric and Jay grabbed hold of it and splashed it all over Joe's body. Joe's numerous injuries screamed loudly in protest. Joe spat out a mouthful of water he had accidentally inhaled.
"I'll do whatever you want." Joe begged, not wishing to be splashed again with water.
Joe bowed down and grazed his forehead against the floor. "Please feed me. I beg of you." He begged.
"Your last meal was at 5pm Wednesday evening. Its Thursday 5pm."
Joe stared. He had been locked up in here for twenty four hours.
He lifted his head using the tip of his boot. "I accept your begging so I will allow you to eat. You're a pitiful sight."
Eric was on the other side of the door and he opened the door as far back as it would allow. Joe's wrists got painfully pulled until Eric shoved a girl inside.
She was blindfolded, gagged and bound.
Joe's blindfold was removed and he stared and uttered one word out. "Callie".
"Why did you bring Callie out here?" Joe demanded.
"Leverage!" Eric smirked.
"He already has me so why does he want her? No way. When Frank comes to rescue me, he's going to make him choose: Me or his wife."
"One thing's for certain. No matter what, I'm not going to let them hurt her." Joe thought fiercely as his passion and determination was reignited because he couldn't bear it if Callie got injured.
"Let the games begin!" Eric stated and for the first time since he was captured,Joe was visibly shaken. Callie's blindfold was removed and she stared.
"Joe". Her voice came out raspy.
"We're going to play games"
Joe and Callie stared at them as they exchanged a knowing glance. What kind of sick games is he going to play?
Eric turned to Callie and ordered. "Callie, kiss Joe. If you don't, Frank will be hurt."
Callie sighed. She had no choice. Kiss Joe or Frank doesn't pay the price or not kiss Joe and Frank would pay the price. Either option, Frank would still be hurt and betrayed by the ramifications of her kissing Frank's younger brother. He glanced at Joe's face. She couldn't lose the two people she cared about the most, make that three people. Vanessa included. She knew exactly what she needed to do in order to protect Frank. She just hoped that Frank would understand that she had no choice.
She kissed Joe's cheek.
"Nice try, slut. Do it like you mean it?"
Callie visibly tensed up.
"Callie, its alright." Joe reassured his sister-in-law." I promise that the three of us are going to be fine."
Callie sent a silent apology to Frank. She gave an apologetic look at Joe as she bent down and kissed him passionately. Joe didn't resist. He knew what would happen if they don't do what he says. She pulled back and left them.
"Joe. I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to. They forced me..."
"Cal, don't you dare apologize to me for what they've made you do. We need to tell Frank about it cal. I don't like betraying him anymore that you do, but it will devastate him if it comes from these bastards."
"Remember the promise I made to you when you married Frank that I will always protect you whenever Frank's not around to do. I intend to keep that promise. Cal. No matter what happens, we're in this together. Always."
"Joe, that's something you should know."
Callie took a deep breath before continuing softly "Vanessa's alive" . She explained to Joe everything that happened.
Joe was horrified and speechless.
"I'm telling you this because we need to bring these people down. With or without the others. Joe, I'm sick of their mind games. Im sure you are too."
"Callie. I can't..." Joe's heart-breaking plea was too soft to hear.
"Why?"
"They told me that if I ever escape, they'll ruin my career. However, things changed. I'll rather lose my career than stay here and watch you get hurt. Cal, listen. If you have a chance to escape, I'll distract them for as long as I can. We can't take them down if we're stuck here."
"I can't leave you behind, Joe." Callie protested.
They grabbed Callie by her blonde hair and yanked hard. Joe tackled the guy and said "keep your grimy paws off my sister."
"Joe. I want you to take this knife and stab it in Callie's abdomen. If you don't, you'll be punished severely."
Joe shook his head. " I would never hurt her. If keeping her safe means punishment, then that's the price I'm willing to make."
Callie stared at Joe's answer. She wanted to say something... anything. But no words formed. Joe braced himself for punishment.
They tied Callie to the chair so she wouldn't be in the way.
"I think ten lashes will be sufficient to curb your attitude."
Jay grabbed a belt and whipped Joe's back hard until the skin broke. Joe didn't make a sound. He bit his lip to keep from screaming so hard that he broke the skin. Joe's back had painful red welts on them.
After he received ten lashes, "you didn't think it was over did you? I did say you were going to be punished severely and I meant it."
Eric put Joe under headlock while Jay started to blindside him with a volley of punches
After half an hour, they stopped. Joe was battered and bruised.
"Had enough Joe. Or are you going to do what I ask?"
"If that involves hurting Callie in any shape and form then you're out of luck Nothing you can do to me will ever change my answer."
"Lets see if I can change your answer." Eric stated.
"Go ahead. I assure you that it won't work." Joe replied coldly. He couldn't protect Iola but he had a chance to protect Callie and he was going to. No matter what.
Hope you guys like this chapter. As usual, please review and comment. I thought I should change my tactics slightly.