Ok, chap3 is up. Ps, disclaimer: I don't own Conspiracy 365, but I do own the 2 characters Harry and Viper, as well as my mind… well, I think I own that… :/

Chapter 3 – Oh crap.

"He'll what?" asked Winter. But I couldn't answer. I was frozen stiff with fear. He walked into the cell, and ordered me to hand over the phone.

"Cal? What will he do?" Sligo took the phone, and put it on speaker. "Cal! Answer me!"

"Haha, well, well, well! The answer was… Cal, finish for me?"

"Sh-shoot me."

"Spot on."

"Sligo! What do you want with him?" But it was too late, Sligo had already hung up.

"So… thought you could call her and tell her everything? You thought wrong!" I flinched at his booming voice. "She isn't going to call the cops… is she?"

I didn't answer. I was paralysed by his deadly glare.

"Answer me Cal!"

"No, she won't. She knows it's you, she wouldn't even consider it… I hope."

"Yeah, you'd better hope so! I came down to get the phone, after realising I forgot it, but instead of finding you lying about in pain, with the phone on the edge of the bed, I find YOU talking on the phone to you girlfriend."

"How much of the conversation did you hear?"

"I heard you tell her you had to get out of here and fast, and then you told her my plans on capturing her!"

"Look, I'm really sorry, but I just can't let you take her!"

"Darn right you're sorry! Or at least you're gonna be!"

"No! Please no!" He reloaded the gun, aiming it at my face once more, but this time it wasn't going to be a threat. He meant this.

"Before I kill you… what more does she know?"

"She knows it's you, and that Three-o is dead! She knows about your plan to get her, but that's pretty much it!"

"She doesn't know where you are?"

"No."

"Good." He fixed his aim once more, smiled, and…

"Wait!"

"What now?"

"I can still help you!"

"How? She thinks I'm gonna kill you, that's what she's expecting!"

"Exactly!" He raised a curious eyebrow at me. "If she thinks I'm dead, she'll be so much happier when she sees me! She'd pretty much do anything I'd say!"

"How would I know you aren't lying again?"

"Again? I haven't lied to you yet!" He didn't look convinced. "You can take my phone, strap me up with a wire, and we can do your plan."

"She knows about that plan, idiot!"

"I know, which is why I'm not an idiot. She would think that because I told her the plan, and you heard me tell her, that you wouldn't do it. She'd think you'd come up with something better."

"And you think this will work?"

"I'm almost certain." He lowered the gun, and I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding. Suddenly he raised the gun again.

"But my god, if you're lying…" He shot the ceiling above my head, and bits of plaster rained down on me. "I promise you, you will never see Winter, your best friend, or your family ever again! Do you understand, Cal?"

"Yes, Sligo."

"Oh, one more thing… you call me 'boss' from now on." He smiled meanly at me, before getting up and leaving, this time with my phone in his pocket. As soon as he left, I flopped back down on the newly-stained-red bed, relieved he didn't kill me as planned, but worried for Winter. My hand continued to throb painfully, but I tried to ignore it.

I bent down and struggled with the ropes at my feet, but they were too tight, and it was too hard with one hand. Eventually, I gave up, and awkwardly climbed off the bed. I slid toward where my bag was lying in the corner, and propped myself up against the wall. I began the mad search for something to cure my boredom, and was relieved to find my Nintendo DS that Boges returned to me the other day.

And yet mum scolds me for not emptying my bag regularly! I began with playing Mario Cart, and within an hour and a half, I was pretty good at playing one-handed. But by then I was starving, and couldn't think straight enough to play properly.

"Sligo! I mean… Hey Boss!" I never thought I'd call him to me, but desperate hunger pains calls for desperate measures! Plus, I was pretty sure I had lost a lot of blood, and was a bit light-headed. I heard footsteps descending the stairs, and I returned my Nintendo DS to its original position in my bag.

"What now, Cal?"

"Umm, I was wondering if I could get something to eat… and maybe go to the bathroom?"

"Uhh… I guess so… but no tricks!"

"Yes boss." He unlocked the door and came up to me, cutting the ropes from my ankles with his knife. I got a good look at it. It had a black handle, with a silver and red flaming skull and cross-bones at the end of it. The blade was silver, but it had a red tint to it, as if it had been used for something other than cutting ropes…

"Nice blade," I said, nodding in the direction of it as Sligo helped me stand.

"Just don't make me use it," he warned.

"I don't intend to." He grabbed my good arm, the one that hadn't been shot, and led me out of the cell and up the stairs. He led me toward a closed door, and pushed it open.

"Bathroom. Knock when you're done." He shoved me inside, and then locked the door from the outside. I looked around. There were 2 windows at the far side, but they were up high, near the roof, too small for me, and were barred shut. I used the toilet, and as I was washing my hands, I took a peek at the bullet wound.

It was bloody and gross, so I washed it off, and re-bandaged it. I flushed the toilet, and before I knew it, the door swung open, and Sligo grabbed my arm again, leading me somewhere else within the house.

"What took you so long in there?"

"I was washing out my hand. Sorry." He pulled me into another room. It was a massive kitchen and dining room, which lead into the master living room. I took it all in, whistling appreciatively. I saw Harry and Viper sitting on Sligo's expensive leather couch, eating chips and dip, drinking beer, watching a show I didn't recognise on a massive plasma screen TV.

"Haha, like it?" asked Sligo.

"Beats my place!" I said. Viper and Harry turned at the sound of my voice, but because Sligo had a firm grip on my arm, they were distracted by an explosion on the screen.

"How 'bout a deal, Cal?"

"What sort of deal?"

"You help me out with my Winter problem, and I'll let you stay up here, with us three?"

"Umm, yeah ok," I said. I figured that if I was gonna get stuck turning Winter in anyway, I may as well get something for it.

"Alrighty then. Here's you dinner for tonight, and tomorrow night you can stay up here." He passed me a loaf of bread, before leading me back downstairs. I didn't really care what I was given to eat, as long as it was edible, and not past its use-by date. This bread at least lookedfresh, and I hoped it was.

Back in the cell felt weird, especially after seeing the rest of the house. But I didn't mind, because I just thought of tomorrow night, when I'd get to sleep in a clean bed, with access to a shower and toilet. But it didn't take me long to realise the cost. Winter would hate me! She'd never forgive me!

Then I started wondering what Sligo had in plan for her, and felt even worse. But I had a reason for my actions. My own life was at stake.

After polishing off the entire loaf of bread, I lay down to try and get some sleep.

… 8:25am…

"Get up Cal! Today's the big day!" I groaned and rolled over, straight onto my injured hand. I sat up straight, swearing at the pain. I tried to shake it off, as Sligo handed me a small black box, and some electrical tape.

"What's this?"

"That's the wire you'll be wearing. I'll help you get it on. Shirt off!" I struggled out of my shirt, as Sligo taped the wire to my back, just below my neck.

"Won't she be able to see it boss?"

"Not if you're wearing this jacket!" He held up a brand new leather jacket, and helped me get it on.

"Why, you're being exceptionally nice today… what's going on?"

"You're gonna catch that stupid Winter Frey for me, that's what. Now, is there a certain path she takes? A morning walk? Or did she make that up with me so she could sneak out?"

"No, she has a morning walk."

"Anywhere near the clock tower?

"Yeah, she walks right by it. Why?"

"Because that will be where you'll get her, ok? Pretend you've been running, and you ran away from me. When we get there, I'll wet you with a water bottle; make it look like you're sweating."

"Ok."

"Any questions before we hit the road?"

"Yeah, just one. Where will you be watching from?"

"That isn't important, what is important, is that you don't mess up, ok? Because otherwise I WILL shoot you. Understood?"

"Yes boss."

"Haha, looks like you've already got the hang of calling me boss, too!"

"I just… uh, didn't like being shot that first time."

"Good. Means you'll be less likely to stuff up."

"Do I seriously have to go through with this?"

"No…" he said, reloading his gun. "Why, are you having second thoughts?"

"No, never mind." I took in a long, sad breath. "Please promise me one thing?"

"What's that?" he asked, lifting an eyebrow at me.

"Don't shoot her."

"Haha… no promises. C'mon, let's get to work, hey? Before we miss our chance."

"Sure thing boss." I may sound like this was no big deal, but inside, I was screaming at myself. But I couldn't back down now. The only this worse than Sligo shooting me and killing me, other than turning Winter in and her hating me, was him shooting me and not killing me, leaving me in excruciating pain. Plus, even if I did resist, and take the bullet, I knew he'd find a way to get her anyway.

"Good, come with me."

"Wait. I should take my bag, I left with it, I should return with it." Sligo thought about this for a minute, before nodding.

"Ok, but it has to be empty, not even your phone. I'm not so sure what you're up to…"

"I'm not 'up to' anything. I was just trying to make it seem more believable. Plus, Winter gave it to me for my birthday, and she'd be happy if I returned with it safely. I don't care whether it's full or empty."

"Ok then." He upturned my bag, and my things landed in a scattered pile. "Here." He threw it back to me and I caught it. I zipped it up, swinging it over my shoulder.

"It'll also hide the wire a bit better."

"Good idea Cal. Maybe you aren't so stupid after all…"

"Hey! Never judge a guy before you get to know him!" I joked, trying to take my mind off the unbearable task ahead.

"You know, if this goes well, we would make a pretty good team, you and I."

"You think so?" I asked, wondering what angle he was working from, or if he was serious.

"Yeah, with your brains, and my ability to get whatever I want, as well as having muscle-packed thugs at my disposal, we're pretty much unstoppable. Except for the cops. Then it's every crim for himself!"

"I don't think the other guys would like you calling them 'thugs', nor saying they're at your 'disposal'."

"Yeah, but they'll never know… understood?"

"Yes Sir!" I said, saluting him. He laughed, and it felt good knowing he was happy. Him being in a good mood means less likely for the use of guns…

"C'mon, time to go." He grabbed my arm, pushing me out of the cell in front of him.

"Wow, you're very trusting."

"What's that s'posed to mean?"

"Well, it's not like you're gripping me tight, not at all even, and my wrists aren't bound, my feet aren't tied."

"What do I have to worry? Your attitude is exceptional lately, since I shot you, and threatened your death. Plus, if you do anything out of line…" He whipped out his gun, shoving it into my side. "Bang!" He laughed like it was the funniest thing he'd ever heard.

We got outside, and as I got ready to hop in the back seat, between Viper and Harry, Sligo grabbed my arm.

"Front seat's reserved for you, Cal."

"Oh, thanks boss."

"'Boss'? Haha! Sucking up there are ya Cal?" said Viper, laughing.

"Yeah, but you shouldn't be so judgemental, just 'coz you never thought of it!" He shut up immediately, and glared at me instead. Raising an eyebrow mockingly at him, he whipped out a gun.

But before he even had time to aim, Sligo whipped out his own gun and shot Viper's away from him. My eyes went wide, and my mouth dropped open. Viper was staring at his empty hand in disbelief, and Harry pretended he saw nothing.

"It's all about speed and accuracy," said Sligo, blowing the 'smoke' from the barrel of his gun like in the movies.