So, here's a quick story update: The rating will now be changed to M for language and violence and I changed the description. This chapter does contain very strong, possibly graphic scenes of torture and because of it I feel more comfortable pushing up the rating. However, this story is still sex free, so no fears.

With that being said, buckle your seat belts, Children. This one's rough. Let's begin with a quote that I think describes this chapter well.

Hell is empty

And all the devils are here

-William Shakespeare

Saturday, Day Eight

Waking up I feel stiff, uncomfortable, and my mouth tastes like I've been sucking on pennies. I slowly peel open my dry eyes, flinching at the bright light swinging over me.

"JEEVES, where the hell am I?" Silence follows my question, and now I've finally noticed I'm missing my earpiece. My wrists and ankles are also bound to a metal table with thick strips of leather; my shirts removed and I'm staring at a light overhead that looks like the ones in those doctor shows. Shit, this isn't good.

"Hello?" I call out, memories of before flooding back. Tony yelling, my mom not wanting to see me, Lupe turning me away, and that bitch of a Secretary knocking me out. What a day.

My head is pounding, I'm nauseous, and I'm panicking, straining my wrists against the straps, but it's no use. The straps are thick, at least two inches, and quality leather. I'm not going to be able to rip it or break through, and that leaves me stuck here, exposed.

I hear a shuffle in the corner of the room and roll my head to the side to see what it was, suddenly alert. "Who's there? Which coward is in the shadows?" I snap, head whipping from side to side, but everything not illuminated is dark and I can't see.

"Lue? Is that you?" A small voice calls through the darkness, a voice I would recognize anywhere.

"Marta? Are you okay? Did he hurt you?"

"No," She hesitates to long for it to be true. I feel like I'm going to be sick. "Estás bien?"

"Sí. I just feel a little sick, but I'm ok." I drop my head back onto the cold metal. What now? Does Tony know I'm gone? Are they looking for me? I hope so because as much as I hate to admit it, I'm freaked out.

I'm scared.

I'm terrified.

I'm literally shaking.

I know something isn't right – if I was just kidnapped than I wouldn't be strapped down to a steel table. I would be handcuffed to a pipe like my sister. It's alright, as long as he doesn't touch her. I've carried my family's pain and burdens before, and I can do it again. This time it's just going to be a helluva a lot scarier because Charlie Joplin is a sadistic bastard.

If he wants to kill me, he'll kill me, but he'll drag it out and he'll make every moment count. "Where are you?" I ask Marta to distract myself from my fear. I need to be strong for both of us.

"In the corner, I think. I can't really see because there's a pillowcase over my head; I can't move 'cause my hands are tied to this pipe thing." Her voice is small, scared. "What about you?"

"My hands are tied to a pipe thing too." I say immediately, hoping the lie isn't obvious. It'll be no good to freak her out anymore now. "It's really good to hear you, Marta. We've missed you."

"Yo también te extrañé," She replies before becoming silent once again. "Where is dad?" She asks finally. I swallow thickly, staring into the light before dots appear in front of my eyes.

"He died." I can't tell her another like full of false hope. I'm not feeling very hopeful myself right now.

"Ok," Marta replies after a moment. Her voice sounds casual, betraying no emotion.

"You don't sound sad," I state, glancing towards where her voice is coming from.

"I am a little sad, but dad… He gave me to that man." Her voice cracks, "He left me here alone with him a-and I d-don't understand why." I can hear the soft sobs echoing through the dark, muffled slightly by the pillow case.

"I know, but it's ok. We're going to be okay now; I'll find a way to get us out of here, don't worry." I assure, but the statements sound hollow. I can't tell her I killed Manny, I can't do it. Not now. I will have to eventually, but not now when so much is happening and when there's so much fear in the room.

I hear a door somewhere in the room open, light shining from a hallway before it disappears again and I find myself flinching. The click of shoes as someone approaches, the sound of the squeaky wheels on an old cart following.

"Well, well, Luis, how do you find our accommodations?" Charlie's voice rings out before his grinning face comes into view. A glance behind him and see the cart behind him, full of sharp polished knives, a two big clear bottles that look like they're full of water.

"Fuck you," I spit, snarling as I glare up at him.

He tsks, shaking his head a turning behind him to pull on a pair of white leather gloves. "How rude." He shakes his head, "I should just kill you, but, I would like to have a little bit of fun before I do. I wouldn't want this to be a total waste."

"They're going to find you. Tony. The Avengers, and when they do, you're going to be screwed." I state simply, using cockiness to hide the fear.

"They won't find me in time, and if they do you'll be dead, my improved Chitauri will be running lose through Time Square, and the little bird will become my next experiment." Charlie's voice is even more arrogant than mine.

He picks up a wicked looking blade, runs a finger along the length and a smile spreads across his lips. He turns the finger towards me to show me the leather's been split perfectly. That's one sharp knife.

"I won't be one of those villains you see in movie's who tell they're whole plan before the fun. Life isn't like the movies and I'm not in the mood for talking." His eyes glint wickedly. "But I'll keep your sisters pillowcase on her head – I want to leave her in suspense. I want her to hear you scream, but not know why."

"You're disgusting."

"I know," He replies easily. He bends the knife forward pressing the knife deep into my flesh, right below the shoulder and dragging it down my chest in a perfect line.

And it hurts.

Having my flesh split open deep, through my skin, but not deep enough to kill me or split any arteries. As deep as he can go without killing me. I grit my teeth and squeeze my eyes shut, arms straining against the straps, whole body tensed. I can't scream. I won't, no matter how much it hurts.

He lifts the blade after cutting about five inches of flesh. "Goes through like I'm cutting butter." He states gleefully, starting in on the skin next to the first gash, faster this time and I can feel the warmth of my blood as it leaves my body.

"Is that the worst you can do?" I grit out.

He laughs, loud and genuine, "Oh, I'm just getting started."

Tony's POV

Tony was tired, the meeting ran late and the tracker didn't find a thing. It's like Charlie Joplin just dropped off of the face of the world. Not only that, but now that they had no idea where this asshole was hiding they needed to be ready for the attack in time square that's supposed to happen tomorrow.

Steve suggested clearing out the area, but Fury disagreed, saying that it would only cause panic and that they couldn't manage that in this short period of time. And then there was that thing with Luis. Tony's gut twists at the memory of Luis' outraged face.

It struck him when they were sitting around the table and he seen those pictures of the disfigured Manny. As he seen Luis sitting there with agents of S.H.I.E.L.D and Avengers; he realized Luis didn't belong there. It had nothing to do with age or bravery, but the fact that Tony was endangering his own son.

Hours before he was apologizing for endangering his life, only to encourage him to endanger him by treating him like a hero. By treating him like someone with experience, someone who's been in a battle or a war. He wasn't treating him like his son; he was treating him like he was just a co-worker.

"Pepper?" He called, walking into their apartment. She was sitting on the couch, tablet resting on her lap as she looked up at him.

"There you are, I've been looking all over for you. Where've you been?" She asked, raising up her head to look at her.

"S.H.I.E.L.D meeting," He replied, collapsing next to her.

"Sounds fun. Did Luis get his mother's stuff?"

"Yea, and then all this shit happened when we went to his old apartment. Long story short we have to find Charlie Joplin before he tried to destroy time square with re-built Chitauri and Luis is mad at me because I said he couldn't come."

Pepper froze at the name, "And you're just sitting here? Shouldn't you be looking for him?" she turned, setting the tablet down so she can face him.

"We're running a scan. It's no use looking ourselves, especially when it's dark." Tony said, getting up and walking to the bar.

"Okay, then what about apologizing to Luis?"

"Apologizing for what? Keeping him safe? Telling the truth, that he isn't a hero? I won't apologize for the truth."

Pepper shook her head, "I can't believe you. He's too involved to be taken out of all this, especially with his sister missing."

"He's only fifteen," Tony pointed out as he poured himself a drink.

"Age is just a number, Tony. I see where you're coming from because a lot of times I want you to be safe and give up on the suits." She folded her hands in her lap and hung her head, "But the suit is a part of you that I could never take away. Maybe it's a part of Luis too. I can't tell you what to do if you and you wouldn't listen even if I tried. Luis is a lot like you in that way."

"I guess you're right, but I don't know. I'm not the best at this dad thing, if you couldn't tell before."

"You're gonna be the perfect father, Tony; it's just going to take some time. You're already doing pretty well."

"I suppose," He replied, taking a sip out of his glass. "Where is he anyway? Have you seen him?"

The other woman shook her head once again, "I thought he was with his mom?"

"JARVIS, where's Luis?" Tony asked, directing his question to the ceiling.

"He's no longer in the building, sir. I've been running a scan, but I cannot locate him."

"What do you mean you can't locate him?" Tony paused moment. "Where is he?"

"I do not know, his tracker has been disabled. I've been running scans for the last hour." The machine replied calm as ever.

"Why didn't you tell me an hour ago then?" Tony asked, voice starting to rise as he sets his drink down on the table.

"Mr. Enriquez had requested I not tell you everywhere he went. I apologize, sir."

Tony ran a hand down the side of his face, panic and worry and anger all mixing to form some sort of dark emotion. He couldn't be mad at JARVIS for not telling, the system didn't know any better and Tony knew that.

"I'll have to find him. Jesus Christ, this kid's going to be the -." He wasn't able to finish his sentence as the giant television flickered to life, fuzz turning into a slightly blurry picture, as though it was being recorded on a camera or a self phone.

Joplin's face looked back at them gleefully, and if Tony was still holding his glass he was sure he would've dropped it. "Hello, Tony! I have been having the time of my life with your kid, I really have. He's a fun person."

Joplin turned the camera to show Luis lying on a table, blood smeared all over his chest, two gashes cut into his skin. Luis glanced at the camera, eyes glazed somewhat before gritting his teeth and lolling his head over to the other side, away from the camera.

"He must be camera shy, although, he seemed pretty friendly at that press-conference. Why aren't you talking Luis? I thought you liked the attention." The camera was set down onto some sort of surface, still facing Luis.

"Turn it off JARVIS," Tony said loudly, his voice shook and his hands trembled violently.

"I'm sorry, Sir. My systems are being overridden. This video is currently being broadcasted all over the tower and SHIELD head quarters."

"Here we go," Charlie cried happily, as he screwed the cap off of a jug full of clear liquid. "Luis has been very quiet. Too quiet. Should we make him yell?" And just like that Charlie doused the liquid all over Luis' body. The gashes foam a brilliant white and the boys fingers clenched, a loud groan escaping him as the wounds sizzle.

"That's pure hydrogen peroxide. Think of how that stings on a paper cut and then multiply it by one hundred." He laughed loudly before moving out of frame again.

"JARVIS! Track where this is coming from and disable it!" Tony shouted suddenly, turning away from the laughter and the pain. Almost doubling over from how sick he suddenly felt.

"I can disable the feed. Shall I do it, sir?" He asked.

"Yes!" And just like that the screen erupts into a flurry of colors before turning black. Silence before wailing is heard from down the hall. The color drained from Tony's face at the memory of Luis' mother in her room with a television. She seen the whole thing, and that meant Lupe probably did too. Tony barely had enough time to make it to the silver trash can before he was retching up the contents of his stomach.

Pepper sat silently, hand covering her mouth and tears flowing down her cheeks. "Tony," She began softly. But he was already to his feet, wiping a hand across his mouth and marching toward the elevator that opened to reveal the other residents of the tower.

"I'm going after him; JARVIS has the location and I need to get there before Charlie -." Kills him. But he couldn't say those words. He wouldn't let himself say them.

"I'll go with you," Natasha offered, already in her black cat suit. Tony barely acknowledged her words, just nodding once.

"What about the rest of us? We can't just wait around here and do nothing." Clint replied, voice full of anger and eyes full of fire.

"The rest of you have to stay here and get ready for tomorrow," Tony pushed past them into the elevator.

"But -,"

"No buts, Tony's right. We can't just abandon our previous mission. We'll take care of the Chitauri; we all know you're more than capable of handling finding Luis." Steve said.

They all looked scared; even Nat's eyes betrayed her emotion. They'd all grown to like Luis, and it only grew more obvious at their reactions to the situation. Thor looked ready to rush off into battle, to fight his way through swarms of men. Clint looked pissed, fingers twitching for his bow; Steve looked angry in a way that Tony had ever seen few times before.

Bruce was looking antsy, angry, but trying to conceal it for the sake of all of them. "I'll go deal with Valentina. God knows she must be taking this hard." He said finally, giving Tony a parting nod before walking out of the room. Natasha quickly slipped into the elevator beside Tony as before the doors slid shut.

"We'll find him," She assured, but this only scared Tony more – Natasha lied for a living, but she didn't lie to them. She didn't tell them everything, she withheld information, but she never lied to them. The few times she did they were assurances, empty promises that fell from broken lips.

Tony was only vaguely aware that he was trembling so bad his teeth were chattering.

Luis' POV

Pain.

Pain.

Pain.

Igniting my veins and burning my blood. I'm losing too much blood. Losing too much. Too much. I can feel it leaving me. I should be dead. Why am I not dead? Kill me. Kill me. Kill me.

Everything hurts.

"It's because you didn't scream!" Charlie shouted when the camera cut off. He grabbed my face between his gloved, bloody hands and made me look at him. At his crazed blue eyes and his twisted face.

"That's alright, we'll fix that. I'm finished with playing around." His voice went away after that, only things were clicking around and the pain was there, but he was gone.

Then he came back.

Came back with a syringe full of clear liquid and stuck it in my unscathed left arm. That was when I screamed, screamed until my throat was raw and until I could hear my sister crying. She sounds far away now. Everything is far away.

"The hydrogen peroxide stung, huh? How does it feel shot directly into your blood? Can you feel your blood boiling and dissolving? Don't worry I didn't give you enough to kill you."

I'm still writhing, shouting because I want it gone.

It hurts

So

Bad.

It's boiling, my skin must be gone it has to be gone. Get it off. Get it out. Make it stop.

A rag is placed over my face and I barely notice it. I try knocking it off, but I can't focus on it that much. I feel like I'm going to pass out. I hope I do.

"Don't fall asleep on me now. You need to wake up, Luis." Charlie says before dumping what must be gallons of water on top of the rag.

Water boarding. I thought this only happened in the movies.

I choke on the water, coughing and spluttering it back up only to have I be trapped in the towel and forced back down my throat. I try to close my mouth but the pain is too much. It's all too much. I can't be strong anymore because this pain is not for my family, it's for me. They're not the ones going through this. I think I have a right to yell. The water stops, and I'm choking it up, coughing, and trying to dispel it from my already raw lungs.

"Enough," I croak, "Stop. Stop, just kill me. Please kill me." I say, blood dissolving slowly and half drowned. My body is on fire and I can't even breathe right.

"Luis, no!" I hear Marta shout, her voice sounds raw from crying.

"I'm so sorry," I reply, not knowing if she can hear me. Am I crying too? I can't tell, but I think I am. "I'm so so sorry." The words only come out as a whisper.

I hear Charlie scoff, "I thought you were better than this." He sounds disappointed. I don't care. "Begging for death is disgusting. It only makes me want to kill you less."

"No, no -." I'm cut off as more water is dumped over the rag and I'm choking.

Once again I am thrust back into my own personal Hell.

I want to die.

I'm sorry, there I said it.

This was really hard to write and I'm horrible to Luis, I know. This chapter has been in my head for so long, I've been perfecting these scenes for so long that I hope they came out alright. Luis has gone though a lot, I know, and it's horrible to right the sarcastic fifteen year old to someone who can barely formulate whole sentences.

Question of the day: Who do you think had it worse? Luis with Charlie or Tony when he was kidnapped in Afghanistan? Also, do you like the new description or should I go back to the old one? Review because I would love to hear your thoughts on this chapter. Reviews also make me very happy! Review, Review, Review!