The Price of Desire

Disclaimer: I do not own Victorious

A/N: Early update for this reason, KARATE QUEEN, A RESPONSE TO YOU: JASON SIKOWITZ IS NOT AN OC, AGAIN, HE IS NOT AN OC! He is in "Sleepover with Sikowitz", Sikowitz's nephew that comes down the stairs, making Cat break character. I've explained this to you through the chapter a while back, but I don't think you got that, unfortunately. So again: JASON AND CHRISTY ARE NOT OC CHARACTERS, THEY ARE ACTUAL MINOR CHARACTERS ON THE SHOW.

Now, enjoy chapter 16.

Chapter 16 (Hostage Trapped)

"Why are we still here?" Warren asked. Michael scanned the back rooms with his eyes, the blood along the walls indicated a definite warzone. Though strangely enough, almost every single body they found, the person was alive and well, just wounded in some non-vital part of their body. The back doors had been locked tight and the police arrived with enough time to not only hand Venus off to the paramedics, but to keep anyone from escaping. Christy was definitely doing a good job not killing anyone with that sword of hers. "Didn't Trina's note indicate that there was nothing more here?"

"Yes, and it's a shame we'll have to close down a perfectly good salon. My wife used to come here a lot, Venus was her hairstylist, and a good one at that." He couldn't shake the feeling that there was something missing. In Trina's note, she indicated that her own life had been put at risk, so adrenaline fueling everyone involved, Christy wouldn't have had time to stop and think. "All the bodies are gone, right?"

"Yes." Well if his head wasn't pounding, something was. Only it was so faint that he couldn't hear it with Warren talking. He put his finger to his lips and motioned to his ear. Warren nodded and started looking around. There it was again, something tapping on a wall. Warren's brow furrowed and he looked to Michael, pointing off to the opposite side. "Do you hear that?"

"It's coming from the back bathroom!" Michael turned and ran for the restroom, Warren followed close behind. The Chief tore the bathroom door open and stopped moving once Michael entered. They kept quiet and listened, the tapping was now at its loudest. When he looked to the far right wall, he saw something strange. The wall was made of white bricks, but there was one large rectangle board, painted white, that was bolted to the wall. He nudged Warren and pointed. "Okay, fifty bucks says the tapping's coming from there." Warren raised an eyebrow and nodded his head.

"I'm not betting against you, I'll lose." Warren rushed forward and started tapping against the wood. "Hello? Is anyone in there?" He turned his head to Michael and blinked once. "Do I look crazy talking to a board?"

"Yes." He walked up and listened as he heard muffled shouting. He was gutted by the fear and realization that there was someone inside! "Shit, call for backup Warren, let's get them back here!" Warren already had the radio in his hand.

"A step ahead of you." Michael nodded as Warren called the backup. His stomach turned inside and he clenched his fists with anger. Was that their plan? Leaving hostages behind to die should their bases be discovered? What if they didn't find this person, what if this person died?

"Listen, stay calm, we've called for help." He heard the hostage try to speak, but his voice was very muffled and very confused. "Don't be scared. I'm the Assistant Chief of Police, Michael…we're going to get you out of here." He felt of the top of the board. There was just enough space that the person would have been getting air, but not a whole lot of air, he had maybe an hour or two left before his body would have started shutting down. Maybe not even that long. "Warren, how soon is help?"

"The nearest squad car is about ten minutes away, the paramedics are also on their way. Can we get this board off here?" Michael tried pulling on the board, it wasn't thin at all, so it couldn't just be torn away. Unfortunately. "Trina is not going to like knowing she missed a hostage."

"It wasn't her fault, Mercury had her pinned and Christy didn't know there was anyone back here."

"True." They heard another grunt of confusion from the hostage, it sounded as if he was questioning the mention of Trina. He reached around his waist and gasped, he'd forgotten about his police baton. Thinking fast, he whipped his baton from his belt and started to jam it in between the space between the wall and board.

"Warren help me out! I'm going to try pushing this board off with the baton, start pulling the board. Maybe together we can get this thing off!"

"Right!" Warren started pulling at the top as Michael started pushing, grunting with effort. The hostage let out a muffled yelp, but the two men continued on. The board started bending and weakening. "It's working! Keep at it!" Michael nodded and continued the strain until the board cracked enough that the board split right down the middle. They couldn't pull the board off, due to the bolts, however.

"Okay, we've broken the board, how can we get this thing to open?" He studied the split and followed the board to the sides. If they were to split the vertical boards across horizontally, they could probably spin the boards around with the bolts. "Take your baton, shove it under the right board and try to break it. I'll do the same with this one." The two men shoved their batons through the crack and out the side of the board, than started pulling with all their might. As they let out a shout of effort, the boards split and tore with the batons. The two men pushed the boards up, sliding them around the bolts and revealing a large cubbyhole.

Sitting there in the dark, his eyes wide, Andre had tears streaming his face. His hands were tied behind his back and his legs were bent Indian style, tucked underneath him. His hair had been completely shaved off and a white washcloth was tied in his mouth and around his face. Warren reached in and carefully pulled him from the hole. He the rag from Andre's mouth as Michael caught his legs.

Andre's legs felt heavy and limp, they were not moving an inch, even though Andre was moving his upper body. Michael's eyes widened as he lifted his gaze to Warren. "Come on, let's get him out of here."

The two men carried Andre through the halls as the youth continued to cry. His entire body was soaked with sweat and quivering, almost as though he were going into shock. "I can't move my legs!" Andre screamed.

"It's okay, help is on the way." When they made it out into the front area, Andre stared in shock at the damage, it was almost as if someone plowed through the front doors with a car! Blood was pooled in two places.

"W-What happened? I heard shouting earlier…" The two carried him out and laid him down on the grass. They could hear the sirens of the police and paramedics whirling through the streets.

"Your friend Trina happened." The boy's eyes widened as Michael looked into the distance. He was growing impatient, what was taking the paramedics so long? "She and her friends helped take out this sector of the gang that took you. Here's her note…" Michael showed Andre the note. Andre closed his eyes and started weeping.

"Why would she…where's my family?"

"Not entirely sure, Trina told them to leave town until it was safe. Hell, we don't even know where Trina is. Do you understand, though, you're safe now." Andre slowly nodded and brought his hands to his head.

"That man cut off my hair!" Michael was tapping Andre's knees, but the boy hadn't even noticed it yet. His face fell and Warren slowly closed his eyes. At least he was safe and alive, but unfortunately the gang left him with a lasting memory. One more lasting than his hair situation, that could grow back.

"Andre, I know it's hard, but I need you to answer one question. We'll get your statement more after a while, but right now…how long have you been unable to walk?" Andre closed his eyes and whimpered.

"Since the gang took us from the Vegas. They stabbed me somewhere in the back, the wound's healed I think…they've carried me everywhere. Am I going to be able to walk again?" Michael closed his eyes and breathed out slowly. If the gang destroyed Andre's sciatic nerve, then there was a chance he would never walk again, "Don't sugarcoat it!" Andre's eyes widened fearfully, his eyes glazed with tears.

"I don't know son, the paramedics will let you know that. Trina probably would want you safe with your family and not in a hospital where the gang could find you, but until we can find your family, we'll have to take you to a safe house."

"Trina? Is she okay? Do you know?"

"Knowing her, she's resilient as she is determined, I imagine she's just fine. This war against the Assassins will probably lead us into some more people taken out tomorrow." Michael was still wanting to reach Trina before the next body he found was hers.

"When can I see my family? When?"

"Soon." The paramedics and a police squad car pulled onto the street at the same time. Andre winced at the ear-piercing sirens. Warren quickly motioned for the police and ambulance to kill the sirens, they did as told. Andre whimpered and brought his hands to his face.

"Oh god the others! They're still with the gang! The Vegas, Beck, Robbie, Cat, Jade…" Warren glanced down and Michael's face softened. Maybe if Andre could contact the Shapiro family or his own family to pick him up, that would be great. Though, chances were he didn't have his cell phone any longer.

"Do you have your phone?"

"No sir, the gang destroyed all our phones."

"I see. Andre, Robbie is safe." Andre gasped and pulled his hands away, staring up in confusion.

"S-Safe? Robbie's safe?"

"Yes, Trina and her friends found him at the Gorilla Club." He chuckled through his tears and smiled as Andre's eyes started to fill with hope. "You should have seen the decimation left behind. I swear it was in worse shape than this salon!" A chuckle left Andre's lips as the paramedics started to lift him up onto the stretcher. "You're going to be just fine Andre, you're safe now."

"Thank you sir…if you do manage to find Trina, let her know, I'm thanking her so much right now…" Michael nodded and glanced at Warren, who was rubbing the back of his head.

"What are we going to do?" Warren asked with a shaky voice. "The hospital is not safe. We don't know how many gang members would likely be there. Even if we put him under watch, it's dangerous. There's no way to contact Trina or Andre's family."

"I know, I'm wondering the same thing. The paramedics will probably clear him after they're done, so tomorrow he'd be free to leave, whoever claims him." Andre didn't have any present wounds that they saw, just one large gash on his back which had been sewn up and bandaged. Michael wanted to find Trina or Andre's family, so they could take him safely from the hospital.

"We'll tell the paramedics to put him under strict surveillance until we can locate his family." As they were talking, an older man started making his way towards them from his brown sedan. Michael recognized him as Dr. Richards.

"What's going on here?" Dr. Richards asked while glancing over at the paramedics. "I was driving down the street when I saw them zipping past me, I thought everything had been cleared?"

"Yes," Michael replied with a soft tone. "We just found Andre Harris trapped inside. Apparently the police missed him earlier." The good doctor was surprised and relieved by this news. He eyed the paramedics and rubbed his chin.

"Can you direct them towards my home? I would like to treat him for his injuries. I think I can get in touch with his family." Michael and Warren exchanged glances and lifted their shoulders. What else did they have to lose? They knew the doctor had everything at his disposal and would likely be safer than the hospital.

"All right, let us know what happens. If you need anything, call us."

"I will."

After the journey was made and Andre was asleep at Dr. Richard's home, all his wounds patched up, the good doctor called up the number for Trina. He knew that Trina had told each and every family not to accept any calls from anyone that was calling from a number besides hers. Right now, she was the only one that anyone could trust.

Once Trina answered, her voice groggy and tired, she practically snapped at him for waking her at one in the morning. "What is it Dr. Richards?"

"You need to get to my place as soon as you can. Andre Harris has been found."

Let me know what you thought, at least Andre's alive. The next chapter's going to be pretty intense, so stick around. I had to update quickly. And another reminder for anyone that is still doubtful: Jason Sikowitz and Christy Vicarious are NOT OCs, they are actual minor characters on the show.