A/n: Hey there, my loyal readers. :) Ok, so if you didn't notice, we totally have a next day update going on here...that is for two reasons!!

One: I just hit over two hundred reviews....TWO HUNDRED!! Agh, gosh you guys are utterly awesome and I can not tell you how much I enjoy your reviews, it makes my day when I get one and you are just so awesome for taking the time to actually tell me what you think of my story. I can not describe how great a feeling it is to have people enjoy your work, and the best part is how enthusiastic a lot you are...you seem to get really involved with the story, sending me numerous death threats for my evil characters, and some for Shane as well. Ha ha, I just love you all!

Two: I CAN READ MY REVIEWS AGAIN!! Wooo! I was so happy when I checked earlier today and they had all suddenly appeared, I had so much fun reading through all of them, and once again...I love you guys. I really can not thankyou enough!!!

So I'm rewarding you with a quick update!! I warn you though, it's not the best and it's quite short, it's kind of a filler chapter, but it has some important stuff going on too. Oh and I've already written the next chapter, so when I update depends on how many reviews I get!

Ok, I'll stop talking now. Please enjoy! :D

All Just A Lie.

Chapter Ten: Brave.

Mitchie drearily attempted to open her eyes, the heavy, tired feeling that captured her eyes lids making it almost impossible. She groaned slightly as she felt an agonising feeling throb throughout her skull. She finally forced her eyes open wearily, wincing at the light that fell upon her pupils.

She attempted to move, her hands struggling from where they had been tied behind the chair that she had been placed in. Mitchie looked around the apartment, quickly identifying and remembering where she was, and why she was there.

To protect her friends.

Mitchie Torres had never been the brave one, she has always struggled with bullies and ran from the first signs of danger. She was a coward, she would openly admit that, but now, it seemed that the tables had turned. Mitchie had bravely thrown herself into the line of fire, sacrificing herself for the well being of her friends.

She titled her head back slightly, letting the strange pain course through her, it wasn't the pain of release, or the pain of having your heart torn apart, it was pure, sheer pain that pulsated through her cheek and over her head. He had knocked her out sometime ago when she refused to oblige to his demands, she wasn't sure when exactly that was, she wasn't sure how long she had been asleep, but she didn't really care any more.

Yes, because Mitchie Torres was brave.

She scoffed at this thought.

Was she really brave, or merely suicidal?

She knew she hadn't wanted to live anymore, this could end her pain, end her suffering and at the same time prevent her friend from enduring injuries.

It wasn't like she had anything else to live for.

After all, everything she loved was gone now.

Caitlyn, and most likely Nate, would now despise her for her own stupid, self-harming actions.

And Shane, well Shane just didn't love her anymore, probably never did. He was with Ruby now, happy and discussing wedding bells. He had moved on from her, with ease. Mitchie felt a tear slide down her cheek as her heart swelled at the thought of him. Despite everything, right now, she would give anything just to tell him that she loved him one last time.

But it was too late now, she doubted if she would ever see him again. Mitchie couldn't help but wonder if her would miss her. If he would cry when he found out she was dead.

Part of her hoped he would.

But the majority of her hoped he wouldn't, she didn't want him to be sad, she didn't want him to shed another tear. She found herself glad that he didn't love her anymore….he wouldn't be bothered by her loss.

And in a sick way, she found some pleasure from that.

Mitchie's breath hitched in her throat as she heard something move in the bathroom, she suddenly remembered Alex's presence, and felt her heart speed up in an unhealthy manner, her breaths short and sharp as he appeared from the bathroom door, a twisted smirk upon his face.

"Oh, you're finally awake, I swear one little hit and you're out for days." Alex laughed, he was always laughing.

"D-days?" She whispered, stunned. Her voice was hoarse from the lack of water.

"Nearly two." He said looking down at his watch. "I'll remember not to hit you so hard next time…..or perhaps a little harder." He teased stalking forward and perching himself on the bed, staring at Mitchie who was less than a metre away from him. "So Caitlyn…" He began as he stretched out his arms and his spine.

"What?" Mitchie hissed at him.

"Now, now, let's be nice to the man who olds your life in his hands." He replied bitterly. Mitchie remained silent. "Are you willing to tell me where your sister is yet?"

"Go to hell." Mitchie snapped at him, her eyes narrowed as she looked over his still smiling form.

"One day, baby, one day." He said to her, leaning forward and stroking a strand of knotted hair from her face, Mitchie tried to recoil, but found it impossible. "You're beautiful, you know that?" Mitchie once again stayed silent, pressing her lips into a hard line as she refrained from vomiting.

"Get off of me." She finally shouted, as his thumb gazed over her lips, her neck twisted as much as her body would allow, but it still wasn't enough.

"OK, ok, just tell me where she is." Alex said, holding his hands up in defence.

"I'm never going to tell you." Mitchie said through gritted teeth. Alex stared at her, his jaw twitching with anger and any trace of a smile gone.

"Tell me now!" He shouted rising up and towering over Mitchie's shivering body. "She's pregnant with my child for gods sake, I have a right to know!" He bellowed.

"You gave away your rights when you beat her!" Mitchie shouted back, staring up at him with wide, challenging eyes. He snarled at her before bringing his fist down against the side of her face, she groaned, fighting back tears as pain stabbed through her face. Alex stared at her, clearly satisfied before he pulled his phone from his back pocket.

"It's time." He whispered wavering the phone in front of her face, before he dialled some numbers, pressing the phone up to his ear. "Oh shocker, she ignored my call." He chuckled, leaning down so his face was inches away from Mitchie's, his breath tickling her cheek. "Oh hey there, sweetie." He began, emphasising the last word. "Guess what, Julie? I have a guest….can you take a stab at who it is….before I do anyway?" He laughed at his own twist humour.

"Hmmm, have you guessed yet?" Alex after a slight pause. "I'll give you another clue, I picked her up just outside of Stonefield apartments." Mitchie merely sat there, utterly petrified, yet slightly amused, after all, no one would come, Caitlyn would probably be with her as they heard the message. And he was making this all too easy for Mitchie now, he had just informed the Gellars that he knew where Caitlyn lived, they would run instantly. Mitchie refrained from smiling.

"Well if you havn't guessed already, it's your big sister, Caitlyn. Oh dear, I guess that puts a stopper in your plans of cutting me out of the picture." He laughed again, this time it dripped with even more spite and malicious intent than she had ever thought possible.

"You thought you could run from me, you thought you could leave me!? He shouted. "Well you were wrong! If you don't come to the old Epson warehouse at midnight tonight, I swear to god I will peel the skin from her bones. Are you scared little Julie!?! Did you really think you could get away from me?" He cackled.

"I haven't hurt her too bad yet, Jules, but, if you're so much as a minute late, she will die!" He warned. "And we don't want that do we?" And then he was bringing the phone towards Mitchie. "Say hello to your little sister, Caitlyn." Mitchie shook her head, pressing her lips tighter together, she couldn't speak, the real Caitlyn would recognise her voice.

"Caitlyn." He warned. "Do as I say." Mitchie shook her head again, tears falling from her eyes. "You stupid bitch." He cursed as he slapped her again and then gripped on to her hair tightly, pulling it viciously as he forced her head back and forth, demanding she speak.

"Get off, get off." She sobbed unable to control her tongue. He jolted her head forward once more as she struggled against him, he smirked letting his hand loosen from her hair and graze down her neck.

"I suppose that will have to do." He said with sick amusement as he hit Mitchie once more, her shriek echoing around the hotel room as he hung up the phone.

Nate Black paced around Caitlyn's apartment, his hands working nervously over one another and his heart beat erratically against his chest. He stared at his watch intently before he continued his pacing, he growled, running a hand anxiously through his bouncy curls.

"Nate?" Nate stopped instantly as he turned around to see a timid looking Julie standing in the doorway, one hand resting on her slightly swollen stomach.

"Yeah?" Nate said softly, attempting to sound calm, but failing miserable.

"What's wrong?" They both asked simultaneously, then laughed a little. Julie put her hand out, signalling for him to explain first.

"Caitlyn's still not back." He whispered, shaking his head as his voice quivered.

"She went out!" Julie gasped.

"Yeah, she hasn't been able to get a hold of Mitchie, so she went to see her." Nate mumbled. "I couldn't say no to her anymore, it's her best friend, and to be honest, I'm a little worried myself." Nate concluded, looking at Julie and seeing his sad, fearful eyes mirrored in her own.

"Anyway, what's up with you?" He asked, once again trying to stop his voice from cracking.

"I-er-I got a voicemail from Alex, I didn't want to listen to it alone." Julie murmured, clearly a little embarrassed by her cowardice.

"Oh." Nate murmered, more fear flooding him as he wandered over to the teen and wrapped a comforting arm around her shoulder before leading her to the sofas. "Go ahead." He told her, as they both took a seat next to eachother. Julie nodded as she placed the phone on the coffee table and put it on speaker.

Nate seemed to phase everything out then, his eyes blocking out the world around him, everything going black and Alex's crackling voice the only thing he could heard.

"Oh my god." Julie whispered as Alex told her where to go. "Oh my god." She said again, tears falling from her eyes.

Nate winced as he heard Alex attacking Caitlyn, her sobbing voice telling him to get off of her. She sounded strained, different. Nate leant forward, burying his head in his hands, panic tearing through him as the sound of a slap and shriek protruded from the phone.

What had he done?

He shouldn't have let her go.

He was supposed to be protecting her.

And now she had been kidnapped, she was being threatened and hurt. All because of his own stupidity.

This couldn't be happening, it just couldn't.

Every bone in is body seemed to pulse with a strange pain, his heart lurching at the thought of Caitlyn being hurt.

"This is all my fault." Julie whispered, taking the words from Nate's mouth. "I have to go for her." She murmured her eyes wide, tears flooding them.

"No you can't, Caitlyn wouldn't want that." Nate argued, although he was slightly tempted to agree with her. He wanted his Caitlyn back. But he knew she would hate him for allowing her little sister into the battlefield.

"But I can't just let her die." She whispered voice cracking as she erupted in sobs.

"No, I won't let that happen." He said determinedly, his words thick with emotion; anger, love, fear.

"What can you do?" Julie cried as she leapt up. "I'm going for her."

"NO!" Nate bellowed, jumping up as well. "I'll go, I'm going to get her."

"But he'll kill you." Julie whispered.

"I don't care, I'm getting Caitlyn back." He told her as a tear slid down his face. "I kill him before he touches her again." He said deeply, a muderous look appearing in his eyes as he thought of Alex's hands upon Caitlyn, hitting her, abusing her. He bit back a growl before his eyes left the quivering teenager and fell upon the door, his feet dragging him towards it robotically, he whipped it open with fierce intent, exposing an anxious girl, searching through her bag.

"Caitlyn?" Nate whispered, his heart swelling with warmth and relief.

"I can't find her, there's something wrong….Nate, what's the matter?" Caitlyn questioned, looking up at her tearful boyfriend, his face stretched into sheer horror.

"Caitlyn!" He exclaimed as he leapt forward and engulfed her in a hug, kissing her shoulder repetitively. "Thank god, thank god."

"Nate, calm down." She told him, as she held him, scared by how tightly he was clutching on to her.

"Thank god." He whispered again as he pulled away, his hands now wrapped tightly around her arms, his eyes taking in every inch of her as if scared she might disappear.

"Nate, what's wrong?" Caitlyn asked, Nate merely answered her by kissing her softly.

"Julie just got a message from Alex saying that he'd kidnapped you and that he was going to kill you if she didn't come to him." Nate blurted out as he kissed the top of her head. "I was so scared." Nate whispered, pulling her to him again.

"I'm Ok Nate, I'm safe." Caitlyn whispered sincerely into his ear, letting her lips graze over his cheek, her arms wrapped around him soothingly as she felt him shudder with tears. "I'm Ok." She stated again as she pulled away slightly, kissing his lips. "Hey." Caitlyn whispered as a tearful and stiff Julie appeared behind Nate, clutching her phone tightly. Nate finally let her go, allowing Caitlyn to engulf her teary eyed sister in a hug.

"Do you want to hear it?" Julie asked as they pulled away, holding the phone up to Caitlyn.

"No, he's obviously just trying to scare us." Caitlyn began before uttering the words that could ultimately destroy Mitchie.

"Just delete it."

A/N: And there we have it, another cliff hanger, I'm really sorry about all of those.

OK, so love? Hate it? In between? These are things I need to know. So lets all celebrate the fact I can read my reviews again by.......you guessed it, reviewing!! Ha ha, remember the more reviews, the quicker the update!!! :)

I love you all!

Emma. x

Hold on, I just want to get one more thankyou in.....THANKYOU!!!! x