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Firstly, this chapter is dedicated to Aeroja, because he deserves it and he's awesome. :)
Behind The Lens
Chapter Seventeen; The Cards Have Been Flipped.
The group was met by the funny looks of Sylvia, whose face quickly lit up when she noticed the timid and broken looking Latino in the middle, surrounded by his friends. But as quick as her happiness came, so did the instant sadness.
"Car, sweetie, are you okay?" Sylvia asked in a high voice laced with worry.
Rather than replying, Carlos walked straight into the house past her, ignoring her words and the comforting hand that she tried to give him. Turning back to the group, Sylvia forced on a polite and warm smile, stepping to the side so that the teenagers could enter the house, each one looking cold and unresponsive. Frowning, Sylvia closed the door, moving into the living area where the teenagers congregated.
"Look, I'm not here to put the family back together," Carlos jeered as he stood in the middle of the room, watching the Scooby Gang take to the couches. "I'm here because my Logan, the only fucking person who can properly love me, has been kidnapped!"
"Car, calm dow-" Sylvia soothed, hands in the air defensively.
"I will not calm down!" Carlos shouted, his eyes peppering with tears.
"Carlos, she's right, you need to take a breather." Kendall said.
Pinching the bridge of his nose, Carlos took in a deep and long breath, releasing it shakily. "Look, all I want to know, is why the creep that kidnapped Logan, told me to come here."
"I wouldn't know, sweetie," Sylvia replied. "I-I had no idea.."
"Come on, Sylvia," Carlos grew angry again. "There must have been some reason!"
"I-I-I don't know!" Sylvia argued back.
Kendall looked on worried as his hand snaked along the edge of the couch he was sat on, his fingers wrapping around James'. His eyes connected with the brunette, a small twinkle in his eyes from the possible oncoming tears. Then, his eyes flitted to Carlos, noticing the Latino was now shaking violently, as if ready to break down once more and burst into tears. Slowly, Kendall climbed out of his seat, moving over to Carlos and wrapping an arm around his shoulder, trying to control him.
"Look, Carlos, if I had any idea where Logan was, I would have said," Sylvia said calmly, despite a thickness in her voice. "I wish I could help."
"You can," Carlos replied, anger dripping in his voice. "You can tell me where Roberto is so I can find my real family!"
"He's not here."
Everyone's head turned to the doorway, noticing the rather large and burly man stood there, arms crossed over his suited belly. Underneath his hand, Kendall could feel Carlos shaking even more now and for a moment, his eyes dropped to look at Carlos' hands, noticing the knuckles turning white from where they were clenched so tight.
"That's right, Carlos, Roberto isn't here." Sylvia confirmed.
Carlos' eyes were full of fury as he switched his gaze between the man and woman he used to call his parents. Sabrina and Drew looked on awkwardly, completely not understanding what was about to happen at all, whereas Lucy, she seemed to have a faint understanding.
"Now, if you don't mind, I want you all out of my house immediately." Grant spoke calmly, moving into the room.
"Why should I?" Carlos seethed.
"No Carlos, he's right, we should-." Kendall said softly before being cut off.
"He isn't fucking winning, not again!" Carlos shouted, a flurry of tears breaking free from their confinement. "I want to know where Roberto is! I want answers!"
"I do not want to speak to you," Grant replied. "I just want you out of my house."
"Yeah, I forgot," Carlos dryly laughed. "You hate gays so why do you want to help save one? You're a poor excuse for a man."
"Carlos!" Sylvia exclaimed.
"No, Sylvia, he's right," Grant replied, emotionless. "I do hate gays and I don't want to help save them. However, I will not go down to your level with insults, Carlos."
"Sir, we just want to know why we were told to come here for answers, that's all, we don't want trouble." James interjected quietly, from his seat.
"And I just want to know why you are all still in my house?" Grant replied.
"Forget it, guys," Carlos spat. "He isn't going to tell us anything because he's too far up his own ass to even see daylight."
"Not to mention narrow-minded." Lucy scoofed under her breath.
"What was that, young lady?" Grant quirked an eyebrow in digust.
Lucy rolled her eyes as she shook her head, standing up. "Yeah, you heard me-"
"Lucy, don't." Kendall hissed.
"No, I won't stop," Lucy scoffed again, turning to face Grant. "You, sir, are narrow-minded and spiteful. You think you're such a great man, adopting two broken children into your home because your sperm isn't strong up to help produce children because you are a weakling. When in reality, you will end up in hell because you're an ass."
"How dare you-"
"No, how dare you," Lucy interrupted, pointing her finger in his face, anger flaring on her pale complexion. "All we came for is answers. You were the one to be a complete dickhead and hate on someone you brought up as your son, simply because he didn't fit into the image that you and the good lord had created."
"Now that's enough," Grant scowled, looking at the teenagers. "I want the lot of you out my house before I call the cops. And as for you, Carlos, I never want to see your sickening face again."
"That makes two of us then." Carlos smirked.
Carlos stormed past Grant, making sure as to slam his shoulder blade into the man. Kendall quickly followed, rushing after Carlos as James, Sabrina and Drew left with awkward smirks on their face. Lucy was the last to leave, sadistically smiling at the man as she slowly walked through the room and pass him, making sure that he could full well see the smugness oozing off of her every move. As she passed Sylvia, the woman placed a small and gentle touch onto Lucy's arm, as if a silent thank you.
"Well that didn't go as planned." Kendall deadpanned as he walked down the path back to the cars, hearing Lucy close the door in the distance.
"Yeah, now what?" James asked. "I mean, that was our only clue.."
"I know.." Kendall replied quietly, noticing Carlos down further.
The Latino was slightly ahead of the guys, his arms wrapped round his body as if in an attempt to comfort himself, to mimic the warm touch that Logan would normally give. His eyes were stinging, the real pain dancing on his eyeballs. Logan would make everything better, and yet, he had no clue as to where the model was being held. And more importantly, if he was still alive.
"Carlos, what we gonna do?" Sabrina asked quietly, her arm snaked underneath Drew's.
Carlos' head jerked around, cheeks becoming to grow with the emotions. "I-I-I don't know.."
With that word, the door to the house opened, Sylvia appearing and quickly running down the pavement towards the children, her long dress flowing against the wind. She stopped in front of Carlos, gasping for air as she tried to composure herself once again. Straightening herself out, Sylvia gave a soft, warm yet pitiful smile as she thrusted out her hand, a small white card in her dainty hands.
"What's this?" Carlos asked quietly.
"It's the address where Roberto might be, it's the garage where he works part-time.." Sylvia swallowed a lump in her throat. "H-He didn't come home last night.."
Carlos gave a small nod of his head, glossed over eyes focused on the paper. "Did you call him?"
"His phone was off.." Sylvia replied. "Look, Carlos, I really mean it when I want to be there for you.. And Logan."
"I'm surprised he even let you out the house," Carlos scoffed. "Seeing as he's a control freak."
Sylvia's lips pursed together as she closed her eyes softly, peeling them back in an attempt to hold back the tears. "Please, Carlos.. Y-You have to let me be there for you.. N-No matter what he says.."
A small smile pushed onto Carlos' face, stretching his shiny cheeks. "Okay.. But, I need to know where abouts his address is.. I-I've never heard of it before."
"It's down by Sycamore Lane." Sylvia replied.
Carlos' eyes widened at the mere words that escaped Sylvia's lips. His mind whirled and grew fuzzy, everything blurring together. He hadn't heard from Roberto for days. Carlos called and texted everyday since the incident with Pop Tiger magazine. Not once did Roberto reply. Deep in his mind, Carlos was thinking the worse, assuming that Roberto might have disowned him or even hated him for becoming public with it. But now this? A job on the same lane that Carlos, Logan and Lucy had miraculously moved into only recently.
"Did she say Sycamore Lane?" Lucy asked, stepping into the conversation.
"Yeah." Carlos gulped.
Lucy shot him a worried look before turning to the others, seeing the same look peppering their faces also. Everyone was thinking the same thing and how the coincedence was too freaky to be just a coincedence.
There had to be a connection.
"I hope you find him," Sylvia said as she touched Carlos' arm lightly. "Honestly, sweetheart, I hope he's safe."
Sylvia turned on her heel, quickly walking back up the path that lead to the house. Closing the door, Carlos let out a strangled and breathy cry, unable to contain the feelings anymore, Kendall quickly rushing over to scoop the boy into a hug.
Logan let out a dry cough, the dust in the large room clearly finding it's way down his throat, tickling it. Blinking rapidly, Logan tried to make sense of the room he was, to try and narrow it down to where he was and what kinda of place it was. He was a genius, after all.
It looked big enough to be industrial, but unless it had been stripped bare of equipment, that would be unlikely.
It could be for shipping, where crates and containers come to be taken off. It could even be for car deliveries to local companies and garages to sell.
The gears in his mind began fighting against the fog, trying to work out something reasonable.
The person that had him clearly had to own this building. Unless it was abandoned, which was unlikely in California, then the person had to have loads of money to be able to own a huge place like this where no-one would hear Logan scream or shout.
Plus, that story did fit in with the guy who said he didn't want money, but something else.
The lights on the ceiling began flickering, a bulb on the far side cracking. Despite the distance, Logan could see the flares and sparks from the light fly from the air shortly, making the area seem a bit brighter than when the light was normal. The amber glow managed to light up a sign, but as quick as the sparks broke free, they died. Logan let out a small, dry laugh. Just like the sparks, if he was to break free, he'd no doubt die. This man clearly had people working for him or with him.
Logan dragged his shaky hand across the bottom of the cage, using it as a way to help focus.
He needed to find a way out. He needed to break free, find where he was and run home. Back to his Carlos.
Carlos.
A small, breathy wimper escaped Logan's cracked and chapped lips, reality hitting him like a bullet.
Where was Carlos? What was he thinking? Did he know that Logan's been kidnapped? Was this man playing some sort of sick game with him? Did Carlos think that Logan left him?
His friends.
Lucy, Sabrina, Kendall, Drew, James.. They could all be worried. Out looking for him. Or given up. Cops could be on their way, or, they kept it quiet and decided to move on.
Each thought pounded against Logan's skull repeatedly, knocking more and more negativity into his body. Moving his hand from the floor back up to his head, Logan lightly tapped where the throbbing pain was coming from, tracing his fingers over the gash in his head. It was odd shaped, so, it was from an object. It almost felt like a V.
The back end of a hammer, maybe? Crowbar?
The gears and cogs began to move in his mind, the supercomputer that was his brain kickstarting to life in order to formulate a plan. A plan for safety and survival.
Nobody spoke. The noise that bounced around the inside of the car was the combination of the low hum of the radio in the background, combined with the purr from the car, it's wheels grinding into the asphalt.
"It can't have anything to do with Roberto." Carlos spoke up.
"It probably doesn't." Lucy replied, her voice strong and quiet.
"There's no probably about it," Carlos slightly hissed. "My brother wouldn't do anything like this to me. Ever since my mom's death, it's been us two against the world."
"Come on Carlos," Kendall interjected, craning his head around to the backseat. "Don't you think it's a bit suspicious that the creepy texts told you to come here, and then your mom gives you the address for your brother's work, which is on your road and he hasn't been seen since last night, the same time Logan disappeared."
"He wouldn't do that!" Carlos grew defensive. "It's just.. Odd."
"Carlos is right, y'know," James joined in. "I mean, let's say Roberto is in on this, why would creepy dude instantly get him involved if he's helping? That's just plain stupid."
"Reverse psychology?" Lucy quietly asked.
"No!" Carlos shouted, voice broken. "I refuse to believe it one bit."
Kendall pushed his head back to the front, giving James a worried look. Both boys were trying to be strong, but despite James' confession that Roberto might have nothing to do it, the chances for Carlos' brother were looking slimmer by the second. It was far too coincedental.
The car soon came to a halt, James stopped the wheel outside the garage. It looked upper class, rather than the grease shops you get down in lower California.
"Should I go and speak to them?" James said, turning around in his seat with Kendall.
Carlos simply nodded, biting on his bottom lip as he looked out the window in the opposite direction of the building, unable to bring up enough courage or strength to even look at the garage. Deep down in his mind, despite wanting to fight it, even Carlos was doubting Roberto. After all, he hadn't returned any calls or texts for ages. Everything looked suspicious, for both those who knew the knowledge and for those who simply had an opinion.
"Okay then, Kendall, come with me." James softly smiled, opening the door. His feet hit the pavement, and turning to the right, he noticed Drew and Sabrina pulling up in the other car. Looking over the top of his car, his chocolate eyes met with the striking emerald ones of Kendall. He stared at them for a moment, noticing the faint dullness that smothered the usual twinkle. Sadly smiling, James nodded at Drew and Sabrina through the car, moving over to Kendall and proceeding to the building.
The noises of machinery and banging echoed through the large room, amber sparks flying in the distance, big, burly men with their welders and masks on, pounding away on old cars. Spotting a young-ish man, James and Kendall motioned over, James giving the slightest cough. He had to do the talking, seeing as this was an upper class business and Kendall might be out of his depth.
"Excuse me?" James asked politely.
The man turned around, lifting his large, metal mask from his face. "Yeah?"
"Hi, err, I was wondering whether you knew Roberto Garcia?" James said, awkwardly scratching at the back of his neck.
"Yeah, what's it to ya?" the man replied, his voice husky and deep.
"We're his friends," Kendall warmly smiled. "We were just wondering, that's all."
The man let out a scoff, as if he didn't believe either one of them. "Sure things kids."
"It's important." James replied sternly.
The man looked at James for a split second, seeing his face muscles tense, jaw clenched. He smirked, shrugging his shoulders. "He left last night. I haven't seen him."
"Did he say where he was going or anything?" Kendall asked.
"Look, kids," the man slightly hissed. "I'm not his babysitter. When the hours are done, he's a free man. It's his choice where he goes, he doesn't have to tell me."
James frowned, turning to Kendall. The dirty blonde immediately dropped his hand to James', wrapping his fingers inbetween the brunette's. James let out a contented yet sad sigh, locking eyes with Kendall.
"I guess that's it." James croaked, tears brimming in the corner.
Kendall gave James' hand a tight squeeze, smiling sadly. "Yeah, I guess.."
The boys began to walk away, hands still locked, when the man hollered after them.
"Fine, okay, when he left last night, a strange man walked in here, handing me this," the man handed out a small, white piece of card, identical to the one Sylvia handed Carlos. "Told me that he was a friend of Roberto's and that I should give it to someone who walked in here asking about him."
Furrowing his eyebrows, Kendall collected the piece of paper, his emerald eyes scanning along it.
"What is it?" James asked.
"A link for a website," Kendall confirmed. "But the paper is like the one Sylvia gave Carlos."
"That's all I know." the man shrugged, flipping his mask back down and walking away, a swagger in his step.
Kendall's eyebrows arched even more as he dug for his phone in his pocket, bringing it forth. Quickly, he opened up the cell's internet connecting, typing the website address into the bar at the top. A small, blue circle began to appear, spinning, waiting for something to load. Soon, the screen turned pure white as a play button appeared in bright, neon green. Hovering his finger over the button, a sickening feeling rose in Kendall's stomach, and slowly but surely, he pressed down.
The screen soon turned to black as footsteps echoed against a solid floor. A dim, amber light peered down from the ceiling as the person with the camera moved closer to an object in the distance. Reaching it, the body of a boy was clear, outlined by the light and shadows combined. The camera moved in closer, revealing the boy's face. Kendall and James breathed a collected gasp, James' voice cracking as the collected tears began to stream down his face.
Logan's eyes darted around the room frantically, panic overwhelming him.
He needed to escape. He was imprisoned, just like before, only this time, it wasn't just in his mind.
This time he could die.
A small, breathy wheeze grabbed his attention, and quickly, Logan's eyes moved over to an area of the room that was coated by pure darkness. The wheeze came once again, followed by a crackled cough.
"Who's there?" Logan shouted, voice wavering through solid and faltering.
A light soon flicked on, illuminating another cage, another body sprawled out on the floor, long, dark hair covering their face. They looked up, letting the dirty strands fall to the side.
"Logan?"
"Roberto?"
What is going on, you ask? Roberto's been kidnapped too!
Pssh, I love writing for Lucy, despite actually hating her character. She has fire, man, standing up to Grant like that!
2 more chapters left. God, we're getting close to the finale! What's gonna happen to Logan?