The Captive: Chapter Three

A/N: Much thanks to ladybugg for reviewing both chapters with encouraging words. :D And to everyone else, come on, if you read it make sure you review it!

----

Tony was waiting for him at the top of the stairs as soon as he came out of the basement, a scowl on his face. He froze as he saw him, embaressed that he had been seen.

Tony grabbed him roughly. "What the hell do you think you're doing? Why'd you go into her room when I told you that we would have no contact with her!"

Trunks brushed Tony's hand away and shrugged, looking away. "So what if I did? You're acting like I asked her out on a goddamn date."

He took the ski mask off his face and tossed it aside. Then he turned to face Tony again, who stood smirking at him, his arms crossed over his chest.

"You don't look like no killer," was all Tony said with a dry laugh. "You look more like someone who ought to be on TV." He shook his head.

Trunks felt his jaw tighten, but was surprised at the comment. He reached out to touch his face absently. Someone who ought to be on TV. What a joke. His short lavender hair and deep blue eyes were enough to turn heads, that was true, but right now Tony's comment seemed like crude mockery than anything else.

"Because I'm not a killer, Tony," he replied wearily. "Look, we need to sit down and discuss what the hell we're going to do next. The old man's body must have been discovered by now, and theres probably loads of cops looking for us right this minute." He paused. "And then there's the girl."

Tony shrugged and lit a cigarette absently. He took a long puff before answering. "You worry too much," he said. "If you don't know how to handle this stuff, then listen to me. Kill the girl, and then get on the next plane outta here. That it. End of discussion."

Trunks felt anger seethe through him again. "We can't kill the goddamn girl! What part about that do you not understand?"

Tony lit out his cigarette and grabbed him by the collar. "I make the rules around here, not you," he said icily. "And what's your problem, anyway? You got a crush on her or something?" He smirked at him again.

Trunks pushed him back. "Don't fuck with me, Tony," he said. "I'm not in the mood."

"Yeah, yeah, you're never in the 'mood'," Tony mimicked as he lit another cigarette. "But you make a good point, Romeo. If not anything, fuck the girl." He laughed.

Trunks looked at him in disgust. "You do that, Tony," he said, struggling to remain calm. "And I'm gonna lose all the remaining respect I have for you. Which has, trust me, come down to about this much." He shook his head and left the room, hearing Tony's annoying laughter erupt once again.

-----

The girl could hear the two men arguing outside. She tried to make out what they were saying. TV…cops…kill the girl.

She shuddered. The one with the beard was absolutely terrifying; she had seen him only twice but just the way he looked at her sent shivers down her spine. His dark black eyes were like those of a predator, merciless.

And then there was Blue Eyes. What had he said his name was? Trunks. Of the two, Trunks seemed to be younger, but Black Beard was surely the one in charge. She frowned. Was Trunks someone she could trust? No, she couldn't make such a quick judgement based on his two-minute sympathy. But she did know one thing for certain: she would rather confront Trunks than Black Beard any day …

------

Night fell; another day came to an end. Trunks lay awake in bed, unable to fall asleep. He checked the clock by his bedside: Two a.m.

The events of the past day continued to trouble him; he lay awake trying to think of all the possible solutions to the huge mess he had gotten himself into. Problem number one had become Tony: he just didn't trust the man anymore. There was no telling what he could do. He had thought Tony was his friend, but the way Tony talked sometimes, he felt as if he had become a different person.

And that meant there was no telling what he would do with the girl.

He shook his head. He couldn't figure out himself why he had suddenly started defending the girl. After all, he was the one who had brought her here in the first place. He could have just let her go, but …no, he couldn't have exactly done that either.

There was an odd chill in the room. He got up to close the window in his room ...and that was when he heard it.

The ever slightest creak of a doorknob turning.

He became alert immediately: was it the girl? Had she somehow unlocked her door? Or was it someone else? His thoughts raced, and he glanced over at Tony, who lay asleep of the couch. Before he had any time to think, however, there was a loud pounding on his door.

"What the—"

And then everything happened at once. Gunshots rang, breaking the silence, and chaos ensued. Trunks felt a hard blow to his head and fell on his knees, gasping, trying to locate his revolver. What the fuck was happening? Tony was swearing, and dimly Trunks could see the two figures that stood over him, delivering blow after blow.

They thought he was out cold. Seizing the oppurtunity, Trunks inched his way across the room and managed to crawl out of his bedroom, his head feeling as if it would burst and blood gushing out of it freely. He found his gun and grabbed it firmly, making his way down the stairs in utter darkness.

He had a sudden thought: the girl. Holy shit!

He ran down the basement stairs, gun in hand, taking the steps two at a time. A feeling of dread washed over him as he heard her screams echoing throughout the hallway.

The scene in the basement was like something out of a horror movie. A man stood less than two inches away from her, knife in hand. Had Trunks been two seconds late he would have slit her throat. The girl stood trembling with fear, and the man turned around to face him as Trunks came in.

He aimed his gun at the man from the doorway. "Drop the knife and get away from the girl. Now!"

The man refused to do so, but remained where he was. Trunks stepped towards them, keeping his gun focused. "Come here," he said to the girl. "He won't harm you. I'll shoot him if he tries anything."

The girl hesitantly took two steps in his direction.

And then a shot rang, hitting the man with the knife squarely in the chest. The girl screamed, staring at Trunks, who looked equally confused. He slowly turned around.

At the top of the basement stairs stood another man, his gun aimed right at Trunks.

-----

A/N: Ok, I know you have no clue what's happening right now, but this will be explained more in the next chapter.