Chapter 8: Torture

Ryan was walking down the streets towards there they found Dana's wedding ring. He rubbed the back of his neck and let out a sigh. He jumped when his cell-phone went off. "Ryan," he answered.

"Ryan, where are you?" Kelsey asked.

"I'm next to the spot where they found Dana's wedding ring," he replied.

"Ryan! You remember what the kidnappers told Carter."

"She's my sister, Kels."

Ryan then hung up and he stood right next to the spot. "The ring was here…and the old man saw her in the alley right there," he muttered. Ryan rubbed the back of his neck. "Can't be too far from here," he added.

Dana was pacing back and forth in the room. She saw a window and she looked around to find something to stand on. She bit her lip and she rubbed her sore wrists. "DANA!" She heard a voice call. She stopped short.

"Ryan…" she whispered.

Her heart was thumping hard against her chest. "DANA!" She heard him call again.

"Ryan no…" she murmured.

She took the mattress on the floor and she pushed it up against the wall. She stood on the side and she grabbed onto the bars that were on the window. "DANA!" Ryan shouted for a third time. Dana gasped when she saw Ben walking up behind her brother.

"RYAN NO!" She screamed.

Ryan looked around having no idea how close he was. "RYAN NO!" He heard her scream. He turned around and he saw one of the kidnappers there with a knife in his hand. Ryan ducked and he grabbed the kidnapper's arm.

"Where's my sister!?" He demanded.

Just then Mark grabbed onto Ryan's other arm. "Bring him in," Dan ordered.

Dana watched in horror as they dragged her brother inside. "No, no, no!" She gasped. Dan opened the door.

"We have a little visitor," he sneered.

He grabbed Dana's arm and pulled her out of the room.

They forced Ryan to sit down in a chair and they tied his arms behind his back. Dana sat there with her arms tied behind her back. "Dana!" Ryan gasped. Dana bit her lip.

"Are you okay?" She asked.

"I'm fine. You?" He asked.

She nodded her head slowly. "Let her go," Ryan ordered. Dan shook his head.

"I'm afraid I can't do that," Dan answered.

Dana felt tears press against her eyes. "Dan…please don't…" she started. Dan placed a hand on Dana's shoulder.

"You know the rules, Dr. Mitchell," he answered.

Ryan stared at Dana and then he looked at Dan. "Stand him up," Dan ordered. Dana shook her head, but she had to know about her daughter's safety.

"Is Megan safe?" She asked.

Ryan nodded his head. "She's fine, she's with Carter," he replied. Dana felt a lump go up into her throat.

"Enough with the chitchat," Ben snapped.

Mark and Ben held onto his arms. "Just do it and get it done," Ben told Dan. Dana struggled against the ropes that kept her tied to the chair.

"Don't!" Dana objected.

"He knows too much," Dan answered.

Ryan watched in horror when Dan pulled a gun into view. "One too many hostages," he added. Ryan struggled against Mark and Ben, but they kept a grip on his arms.

"RYAN!" Dana screamed.

The gunshot was heard and Ryan went limp. "NO!" Dana shouted. She struggled against the ropes.

"Take him outside," Dan ordered.

Dana watched as they dragged Ryan out of the building. Dan undid the ropes and he pulled Dana to her feet. Dana spun around and she scratched Dan in the face. "YOU KILLED HIM!" She screamed. Dan held onto her arms but she fought against him. "YOU KILLED MY BROTHER!" She shouted. Dan grabbed onto her arm and he pushed her back into the room. He slammed the door closed and he locked it. Dana sat down on the cold floor and she cried.

(Mariner Bay Docks)

A man was walking towards his boat when he saw something or someone behind a bunch of crates. "What the…" he trailed off. He pushed the crates back and he stood back in disbelief. "CRAIG! CALL 911!" He shouted. His friend ran to call for help while his wife ran over to him. "Miranda I need you to put pressure on the wound," he instructed. Miranda nodded and she pressed her hand against Ryan's chest. "See if we can find some ID on him," he muttered.

(Mariner Bay Hospital)

Carter walked through the doors to find Captain Mitchell and Kelsey there. "Any news?" He asked. Captain Mitchell shook his head.

"Nothing yet," Captain Mitchell replied.

Carter let out a frustrated sigh and he rubbed the back of his neck. "Damn it," he cursed.

"How could this happen?" Kelsey asked.

She stood up with the fear and tears in her eyes. "First Dana and now Ryan?" She asked. Carter stood there for a minute.

"Ryan must've been close," he replied.

"How do you know?" Captain Mitchell asked.

Carter leaned against the wall. "Because he wasn't part of the game," Carter replied. Carter looked at Captain Mitchell and Kelsey. "The leader, who called me with the deal, this is a game to him! Ryan wasn't part of the game," Carter replied. Kelsey suddenly felt like she couldn't breathe.

"Captain Mitchell," the doctor called.

They looked up and walked over to him. "Anything?" Carter asked.

"We were able to take the bullet out. Thankfully the shooter had bad aim," the doctor replied.

"Will he be okay?" Kelsey asked.

"He'll be fine, but for now he's unconscious which isn't uncommon with blood loss," he replied.

"Can we see him?" Captain Mitchell asked.

"Yes, but I'd suggest one at a time," he replied.

Carter nudged Kelsey and Captain Mitchell nodded. "You go first," Captain Mitchell told her. Kelsey bit her lip and she went to see Ryan.

(Carter and Rebecca's House)

Carter finally got Megan to go to sleep for the night, but then the phone rang. Carter walked over and picked the phone up. "I thought I explained the rules fairly clearly?" Dan asked. Carter closed his eyes.

"I didn't send Ryan," Carter replied.

"He knew where Dana was."

He felt his heart stop. "You sent that boy," Dan insisted.

"I did no such thing," Carter answered.

Carter rubbed his forehead. "Change of plans, I want the money tomorrow or she's dead," Dan ordered.

"I want to talk to her," Carter answered.

"I don't think…"

"LET ME TALK TO HER!"

He heard Dan sigh on the other end and then the phone was passed over. "Carter?" Dana asked. Carter could tell she had been crying.

"Are you okay?" He asked.

"Yes…"

Carter closed his eyes and let out a sigh of relief. "Is Megan…" she trailed off.

"She's okay, Day," he assured her.

Dana let out a sob. "They…They shot Ryan…" she sobbed.

"We found him, he's okay," he assured her.

"What?"

"Don't say anything at all about this, because they might try something."

Dana let out a small sob. "Carter…" but she was cut off. Just before they hung up, Carter heard words that made his heart stop beating. "I love you!" She called out. Then the line went dead.