Disclaimer- I don't own any of the RH characters.

A/N- Well here's the next chapter. I hope its OK. Please review, so I know that you're interested in the story and want it to continue.

Chapter 2: in Peril

"OW!" was the only suitable thing to utter at this point, as Nigel Bailey finally came to. Pain pulsated from one corner of his head to the other, making it seem like elephants were stampeding across his brain. He wasn't sure opening his eyes was the smart thing to do, but he got the feeling that he needed to be alert right now. The first thing he noticed when he opened his eyes was that he was kneeling on the floor, with his arm tied to metallic chains that protruded from the walls on both sides of a windowless room. That explains the pain in my arms then. Thought Nigel, only now begging to feel conscious enough to be concerned about he predicament. He was obviously kidnapped, that much was certain. That's real new. I wonder who it is this time. Probably one of Sydney's old foes, looking to bait her into carrying out a hunt. Or maybe they're asking for revenge. Could be looking for information about her. Well they aren't going to get it. I'm certainly not putting her in danger if I can help it.

"Mr. Bailey, how kind of you to join us", came a snarl from the door that Nigel had only just noticed. A tall, muscular man with a boney face and an unkept beard, strolled into Nigel's line of sight.

"I'm afraid there's been some kind of a mistake." Nigel pleaded, putting on his best 'innocent puppy' face. "Whom ever you're looking for, I'm not him and I doubt I'd know anything you want to know."

"Oh don't be to sure of that Mr. Bailey. I'm sure you know plenty,"

"No I assure you. I'm quite daft. I can barely remember my own name. I think they call it retrograde amnesia." It was unconvincing even to his own ears, but he hoped that his captor wasn't smart enough to notice.

"Believe me, when we're through here, amnesia will be the least of your worries."

Something in the man's eyes scared Nigel. There was a glint, a hunger for violence that Nigel had seen before in his short career with Sydney. This man was hungry for blood, and Nigel did not want to think about who would be supplying that blood.

"Now Mr. Bailey, lets get down to business. I want you to translate something for me and if you do, then you'll be a free man. However, if you fail to do so, for any reason, the consequences will be very unpleasant."

"t…translate? I don't know any other language aside from English. How can I translate?" He tried to control the tremor in his voice as he said this. He wasn't as good at lying as he might like to be.

"Oh don't make this more difficult than it already is. You work with Sydney Fox, we know all about you. So give up the act." The man replied, barely keeping his temper in check.

"Yes well you've got something wrong, I work with professor Fox, but as a TA. I just mark essays and that sort of thing. No translations needed there."

"Suit yourself." With that, the man stepped aside, letting three hefty men walk past him and stand directly in front of Nigel.

"Here is the deal Mr. Bailey, one of these men has the scroll we need you to translate, the other has a knife, and the third has electric wires. You will choose who you want to address." With that, the man seemingly in charge left the room, leaving Nigel alone with three, entirely too eager to hurt, men.

"Can't we come to some agreement?" squeaked Nigel, hoping to get through to at least on of them. But instead of a positive response, Nigel received a swift kick in his gut as his answer. Stifling back a cry, Nigel stumbled backwards, only to be held in place by his shackles.

"Read!" yelled the man with the scroll, as he shoved it into Nigel's face. Staring at the scrolls, Nigel internally jumped. How did they get these? He had seen these scrolls before, in Dr. Amrol's office.The young History professor had asked Nigel and Sydney to help him in uncovering Asclepios' shrine, which supposedly stored many healing potions, poisons and apparently the elixir of life. There was no way he could let that sort of knowledge get into the wrong hands. If he had learned anything from Sydney, it was that people like these, did not look for relics to hand over to museums, but instead for their own personal gains. Nigel was not going to betray his own sense of morality to help these men get richer, or god forbid, gain imortality.

"Sorry, but I can't read anything. I don't have my glasses." Which was partly true, it was difficult to read without his glasses, but not impossible, But his captives didn't have to know that. "I won't…" Nigel didn't get a chance to explain himself further as another kick in the gut was delivered, followed by a punch to his jaw.

"Enough, let me have a go" said the man with the knife. Nigel's heart skipped a beat at the idea. With a meanicing grin, the bald and unpleasant looking fellow took a step forward and stood directly in front of Nigel's nose. Bringing his Knife up to Nigel's chest he whispered. "Tell us what the scrolls said or I'll skin you alive little man."

"Honestly…" Nigel gulped. "I don't have…ah" Nigel gasped as a sharp pain sprouted from his chest, where "ugly bald guy" stabbed him, creating a deep but not fatal cut. Nigel struggled to get the pain under control, shifting desperately as his hand automatically tried to spring free and clench his wound.

"You were saying? little man? "Nigel just shook his head as he closed his eyes shut, blocking out the terror that was playing out in front of him. Oh God, Syd, where are you? You probably haven't even noticed I'm gone yet. It couldn't have been more than a couple of hours since you left my place. What do I do? Nigel was brought out of his mental retreat whish a sharp pull of his hair, as his head snapped backwards. The third man with the wires sneered at him in disgust. "He's not going to talk like this. He looks tired, lets give him some energy." With that, suddenly Nigel's world became a montage of unimaginable pain as electricity charged through his body, making him involuntarily convulse in pain. A scream escaped his lips before he fell into blessed unconsciousness.

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"Nigel!" Syndey shot up from her bed, stretching her hand out to pull back her unseen companion. Suddenly snapping out of her dream, she lowered her hand. She could feel her heart beating so hard and fast that it seemed like chest was about to explode. She had once again dreamt about Nigel throwing himself into the line of fire of an unknown enemy, and then falling into a dark pit. This reoccurring nightmare had woken Sydney up many a times, and each time it had renewed a sense of forbidding and fear for her best friend.

Knowing that she was not going to get any more sleep, Sydney got out of bed. The son was already rising, so she decided that it would be best to just get ready and head for the University, at least that way she could get more work done. The thought of calling Nigel to make sure that he was okay, crossed her mind several times while getting ready, but she pushed it away, reminding herself that he needed his rest, and her inquiry would only concern him more than anything.

Finally when Sydney reached the Ancient Studies department, she found it strangely deserted. She was not used to being in the office this early in the morning. Usually, Claudia and Nigel were already in the office to greet her, but that was not the case today. Trying not to think about the biting silence around her, Sydney slowly made her way to her office and dropped her sachet on her desk. Not quite in the mood to start working immediately, Sydney decided to grab a cup of coffee from the Strabucks across the hall before getting down to the nitty gritty. Briskly, Sydney retraced her footsteps, out the door of her department, already anticipating the taste of her beloved cup of white chocolate Mocha.

When she returned to her department, a cheerful voice greeted her as it usually did.

"Hey Syd, you're in early!"

"Hey Claudia. Yea, thought I'd get an earl start. Nigel here yet?"

"Nope, he doesn't usually get here till another half hour."

"How come ou're here so early."

"I always get in this early" Clauda replied, sounding offended.

"Really? Since when?" Asked Sydney, skeptically.

"I do!"

"New mailman?"

"Oh he's so cute, you have to see him. Its like he walked out of a dream" claidia piped, lmost jumping up and down with excitement.

"Right, anyway, I'm going to go in and start working on the new Greek rubbings Dr. Amrol sent me. Can you call his office up and ask him about the scrolls. He was supposed to get them authenticated and send them to us."

"Ok, I'll call him." Said Claudai, already dialing the number.

Within a few minutes, a Claudia walked into Sydney's office.

"I called professor Amrol's office, he's not in but his secretary told me that he want to see you in his office and that he'll meet you there in a few minutes."

"Did she say what the meeting was about? "

"No, he didn't."

"He? Wasn't his secretary a girl."

"Yea, that's what I thought, maybe he's new, or a temp or something."

"Maybe." Sydney Shrugged, before getting up, gabbing her bacg and heading for the door.

"Clauda, send Nigel my way when he gets here." Called Sydney as she exited the department.

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What greeted Sydney when she reached professor's Amrol's office, completely shocked and confused her. There, in front of her, lay the lifeless form of the Young professor, with a stab wound in his chest. What was even more shocking was that the murder weapon was her own dagger. However, before she could react or think about what was happening, the doors behind her burst open and a group of armed policemen stormed into the dingy office.

"Hands up!" yelled the man directly in front, pointing the gun to Sydney's chest.

"Wait, I can explain." Cried Sydney, too flustered to think of a way out. But instead of letting her explain any further, one of the policemen grabbed both her hands and hand cuffed her.

"You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say, can be held against you in court." With that, Sydney was dragged out of the building and shoved into the police car. Even though she tried to fight the men, all the way through, there were just too many of them.

In the distance, a man clad fully in black, watched the police car speed into the distance as he dialed his cell phone.

"They've got her." He reported, and then hung up the phone.