Author's note - Sorry, i fell asleep for half the day, so this chapter's short, I just wanted to get on in today.

"You're Balthazar?" Jackson asked loudly, lurching forward as far as the cage would allow. "Rodney," he growled. "You knew I was here all along and fed them with these lies of how you'll --"

"Do not speak to Balthazar in such respect," Rodney interrupted. "I think some punishment is finally in order." Rodney nodded towards the chief. "Chief," he murmured.

The chief strode forward and unlocked the cage but as soon as he'd stepped back Jackson sprang forward, tackling Rodney to the ground. Jackson got off a few punches before the closest tribesmen could pull him roughly to his feet. Rodney was helped to his feet as well and given a towel to wipe his bloody nose.

"Son of a bitch," Rodney shouted, dabbing delicately at his nose. "Take off your shirt, Cody," Rodney commanded.

Jackson almost felt obligated to comply, too used to his brother's demanding voice. But he stopped himself. "I'm not making this easier for you, Rodney," Jackson murmured softly.

A sly grin passed briefly over Rodney's features. He reached forward and roughly turned Jackson around, shoving his arms forward, so they would clutching the cage bars. Two tribesmen held Jackson's hands tightly to the bar and Rodney proceeded to tear the shirt roughly from Jackson's back. He dropped the ruined cloth off to the side.

"This is something the old man should've done to you years ago, before you got out of control," Rodney told Jackson taking a thick whip from the chief. With the grin in place, he lifted his whip and brought it down hard across Jackson's back.

Jackson had experienced a wide range of pain, but he'd never been whipped with an actual whip before, and never with such force. Rodney was relentless. Jackson didn't attempt to hide his pain and a loud cry escaped him, but the tribesmen continued to hold his arms, forcing him against the cage.

Rodney's grin widened as he cocked back his arm and swung hard again. Another cry was torn from Jackson and he swallowed tears. The wind was harsh against the fresh cuts that now splayed across his back, Rodney lent forward, massaging Jackson's should with his free hand. "Remember this, Cody. Remember I hold the whip." He then backed up and took another hit at Jackson's back. Jackson's throat had gone raw with his screams but now tears were edging at the sides of his eyes.

With two more swings at Jackson's back Rodney was done and he handed the whip back to the chief. "He will make his sacrifice to me in private, faithful follower. He will reap the sorrow of disbelief."

The chief nodded and stepped aside. Rodney grabbed Jackson hard and pratically dragged him out of the camp. Directly outside the camp Rodney was met with three fellow men and they had someone in between them. Jackson glanced up, using excessive strength to raise his eyes from the ground and then he felt like collapsing. The men had Melissa.

"I'm sorry," she mouthed, knowing that a little bit of his sacrifice had become suddenly useless.

"And who is this, Cody?" Rodney asked, pulling Jackson into an upright position.

"Go to hell," Jackson mumbled. Rodney pushed him hard and he landed hard on his kness, hunched over on the ground. Melissa immediately rushed to his side. "I'm sorry," Jackson whispered to Melissa.

"For what?" Melissa asked quietly.

"This is my fault," Jackson admitted.

"What do you mean?" Melissa asked.

"He stole my money," Rodney answered her. "That's what he means. Your death will be his fault."