Tommy drove Randy and Matt to Raven's house. The others had wanted to come but Tommy believed that Raven would be more helpful with the two people that cared about Jeff the most. "Now I'll try to make him be cooperative but I can't make any promises."

Matt nodded. He had a dark expression on his face. "I know. I've met Raven before. I know what he's like."

"I'm mostly saying this for Randy's benefit."

Randy knocked on the door as hard as he could. He had heard rumors about Raven before. He didn't come up in a lot of conversations, but there was a general agreement about him being a pretty sick and twisted individual. Randy didn't care though. If going to Raven was how he was going to find Jeff, then that was what he was going to do.

When Raven finally answered the door, he only looked mildly surprised to see them. "What do you want Dreamer?" he asked.

"We need to find X," Tommy answered. "You remember your old buddy X, don't you?"

"Of course I do. But why would I tell you where he is?"

"He has my brother," Matt explained. "He took Jeff."

Raven smirked. "Well then, since it's an emergency, I guess I better let you in."

Randy went in first. He did not take his eyes off of Raven for a second. There was something about the older man that he did not like at all. It was hard to put his finger on what exactly it was, but he knew he didn't trust this guy at all.

"So X took poor little Jeff," Raven said as he led them to the living room. "That's really too bad. I kind of liked Jeff." He sat down on the couch. "Of course, I don't see why you're wasting your time with me. I still consider X to be a very loyal member of my flock. Give me one good reason about why I should tell you where he is."

"Jeff's life is in danger," Randy growled. "X tried to kill me and he killed Tomko. Now he has Jeff and God knows what's happening to him."

Raven snorted. "Yeah, especially with X's Mommy Dearest on the anti Jeff Hardy bandwagon."

Matt frowned. "What does X's mom have to do anything?"

"She was Adam's mom too. X and Adam were half brothers. Didn't you know that?"

Randy's heart sank. This whole situation suddenly just got worse, which was something he thought could not happen. "Raven please!" he begged. "I'll do anything you want, just tell us where X is."

Raven studied him carefully. "You really do love Jeff, don't you?"

"More than anything in the world," Randy said with a nod.

Raven got up and left the room for a minute. When he came back, he had a piece of paper in his hand. "That's where you'll find him. Consider this a favor, since I'm going to give you what you want first. But remember one thing Randy Orton: I always cash in on my favors. Don't you ever forget that for a second."

Randy nodded. Normally he would worry about what the hell that meant, but there was no time for that. He had to save Jeff.

XXXXXXX

Jeff was in agony. Every square inch of his body hurt. Mrs. Copeland wouldn't relent with her torture. First there had been the branding iron. Then there had been the knife. Now she had a bullwhip. No wonder Adam and X had both turned out to be total nutcases. With a mother like her, there was no way any of her kids had a chance.

"Did he scream like you?" Mrs. Copeland asked. She cracked the whip across Jeff's back, making him yelp. "Did my Adam scream as you murdered him?"

Jeff shook his head. "It wasn't murder," he protested. "Self defense is not murder."

She hit him in the face with the whip. "Liar!" she hissed. "Anything my Adam did to you was because you deserved it! You murdered him and you know it!"

"Momma stop it," X growled. He looked like he was torn between fear and rage for his own mother.

Mrs. Copeland turned around and hit him with the whip. "Shut up, you worthless piece of trash! God, I don't know why I put up with you! Even Christian was a better son than you and he was only my worthless piece of shit's husband!"

X's face darkened and Jeff found himself wanting to back away in fear. X looked positively deranged when he was angry. Mrs. Copeland must have realized she had gone too far, because she immediately started to do damage control. "Alex, sweetheart, I'm sorry, you know I didn't mean it."

It was too late to make things better though. X grabbed his mom by the throat and started to strangle her. Jeff closed his eyes so he wouldn't have to watch, but he couldn't block out the choking and gasping noises she made as she died. Oh God, please help me, he thought desperately. Please let somebody come and save me from this psycho.

"It's okay Jeff," X said quietly. He stroked Jeff's face with his fingertips, either not noticing or caring about how Jeff flinched at his touch. "She's gone now Jeff. You can open your eyes now."

Jeff opened his eyes reluctantly. Just looking at X scared him. "Please let me go," he begged. "I just want to go home."

X frowned. "This IS your home now Jeff. Can't you see that? We belong together. You're mine, always and forever."

Jeff burst into tears. "I'm not yours!" he protested. "I'm Randy's! Please, I love Randy."

X didn't say anything for a minute. He just let Jeff cry a little bit. "I think I know what the real problem is," he finally said. He let Jeff out of the chains and started carrying him upstairs. "You're scared of our first time together. But don't worry doll--we'll change that."

Jeff's eyes widened. Oh no, he groaned internally. He knew exactly what X wanted to do now. Randy, if you ever are going to find me, now would be the time to do it. I can't put up with this pain all over again.