AUTHOR'S NOTE: There seems to be some slight confusion surrounding in the last chapter. Andrew is the boy that stabbed Victoria in the alley, currently in a mental institution because everyone thinks he's crazy. Jack Merchant is the leader of a cult seeking to construct the Elysium Configuration, thus destroying the cenobite's world. Jack's been seeking out the Lament Configuration and after hearing about the incident with Victoria (news coverage and such) he thinks he's found a lead. He breaks Andrew out of the institute (which is in fact the Channard Institute) after questioning him and discovering that Victoria was in possession of the box before her disappearance. Merchant himself did not stab Victoria (even though that would've been an interesting plot twist). Another thing that seems to be causing some confusion is the Order of the Gash. The Order of the Gash consists of the cenobites. It's not used in the movies; it's from "The Hellbound Heart." In moments they would be here- the ones Kircher had called the Cenobites, theologians of the Order of the Gash (The Hellbound Heart, Chapter 1). Dimitri refers to them by this title on several occasions. It's a more formal title. Jack Merchant's group is, as of now, nameless. Sorry about any confusion.
Chapter 4: Taken
Andrew shuffled his feet nervously under the table, looking down into his lap. Jack sat across from him, surrounded by a trio of women.
"There's no need to be so nervous," Jack said. "We're all on your side here. Allow me to introduce you to these fine ladies. This is Kirsty Cotton. She's come face to face with these creatures on several occasions and escaped them each time. They've pretty much torn her family to shreds." He indicated a middle-aged, dark haired woman to his right.
"The quiet girl is Tiffany," he said, referring to a younger blonde girl sitting beside Kirsty. "Dr. Channard, the very man who founded the institute we've just liberated you from, had her solve the box without knowing its true purpose while she was his patient. He has since been killed by the very creatures he so longed to meet. And last but not least, this is Joey Summerskill. She had a very interesting encounter with the human half of their leader, a creature that's referred to as Pinhead."
Andrew's breath caught in his throat. He didn't know the monster's name, but it had to be him.
"I've seen him," he said. "He was in the alley and he stepped in when we were beating up that faggot."
"You've encountered them in places besides the alley?" Jack seemed puzzled.
"Yeah, they showed up every time we threatened her or her friend. One minute we'd be going at it and then those damn things would show up and stop us. That Pinhead guy always seemed to make Victoria his top priority. He was pissed when he saw her in that alley."
Jack's eyes widened.
"He was protecting her?"
"It sure looked like it," Andrew replied.
"Interesting," Jack said, more to himself than anyone. "So what's become of her?"
Andrew shrugged.
"Who's this friend of hers you keep mentioning? Where is he?" Jack asked.
"Adrian Jakobs. He's this gay guy she was always with. The two were inseparable," Andrew replied. "He went to college somewhere."
Jack turned to Kirsty.
"Find him. Get him to talk."
She nodded and left the table, Tiffany in tow.
"He won't talk," Andrew said. "He's a feisty son of a bitch."
A menacing smile played across Jack's countenance.
"My friend, we'll find a way to make him talk."
~[ ]~
"I don't understand all this freaky cenobite shit, Tor! I love you and everything, but you're starting to creep me the fuck out, no offense."
Adrian was sitting beside Dimitri in the latter's living room. Victoria and Pinhead were standing opposite them, having just conveyed Leviathan's warning to the couple.
"Leviathan's warning should be taken seriously," Pinhead said. "He has never steered us wrong before."
Adrian felt threatened. He was already uneasy about Victoria's new home and to have its patron deity tell him he was in danger had sent him over the edge.
"It's a floating box, dammit! Just a giant replica of this fucking thing!" He held up the Lament Configuration, shaking it vigorously. "How can it possibly know this shit?"
"There are some things that will never be fully understood," Pinhead replied, remaining surprisingly calm. "We just have to trust our instincts. I believe it would be a good idea to remain on guard."
Dimitri nodded.
"It won't hurt to be careful, my love."
Adrian turned to Dimitri, a pout forming on his lips.
"That's final, Adrian," Dimitri said. "Don't give me that look. These are our friends."
"Fine," Adrian sighed. "Just don't leave that dog thing with me."
~[ ]~
Dimitri lay awake, staring at the ceiling. The lack of a familiar body beside him was making him restless; Adrian's half of the bed was empty. The younger man usually stayed with Dimitri at night, but had decided to remain on campus the past few nights. He said he had studying to do, but Dimitri suspected Adrian was still mad. He was still skeptical about Leviathan's supposed warning from the previous week and Dimitri's refusal to side with him was making him irritable.
Dimitri rolled over toward the space Adrian would normally occupy. He buried his face in the pillow. Adrian's familiar scent still clung to the fabric.
"Oh, Adrian, so damn stubborn," he murmured to the empty room.
The sudden sound of breaking glass made him get out of bed. He stuck his head out of the bedroom, greeted by nothing but darkness and silence. He cautiously crept down the hall and downstairs. He peered into the kitchen and saw that a pane of the sliding glass door had been smashed. As he turned toward the counter to pick up the phone, a cloth covered his nose. A sweet small filled his nostrils before he lost consciousness.
~[ ]~
Adrian came tearing out of the mist, tears streaming down his face. He fell to his knees in front of Pinhead. Chatterer, who stood at Pinhead's side, turned to his superior.
"Leave us," Pinhead commanded.
Chatterer turned and disappeared down the corridor. Pinhead turned to the hysterical young man at his feet.
"Get up, Adrian," he said gently. "What is wrong?"
His eyes widened in alarm at Adrian's response.
"Come with me," Pinhead said.
He led Adrian through the winding corridors to the room Victoria currently sat in, humming softly and running her hands along her belly. Adrian collapsed on the bed beside her, sobbing into the black satin. Victoria looked up questioningly at Pinhead as she ran a soothing hand up and down Adrian's back.
"Your friend is missing."
ENDNOTE: Consider this my late(ish) Christmas gift to you all. Hope everyone had a pleasant holiday and have a happy New Year. :) So previous Hellraiser heroines have made an appearance as members of Merchant's group. They've all got a bone to pick with our lead cenobite. I enjoy role reversal, so previous heroes become our villains. And the plot thickens…
