Soo... Sorry it's so short and that I haven't updated in a long time, but I have school you see, and since I'm in college, everything just comes at us week to week. I'm finally on break for about a week and a half. I'm gonna try my hardest to update within this time. I've had this chapter for the longest time half written, but I didn't have time to continue. I know it's less than half of what I normally write, but I didn't want to leave you guys hanging any longer. VERY SORRY again, and hope you enjoy this for now.

Joe groaned inwardly as he was forced to continue his trek towards a never ending hike towards nowhere.

Every step felt like an eternity because his body was starting to feel the extent of the physical exertion he was straining on his body. It eventually became an effort just to lift one leg out of the snow and move forward, and his physical condition wasn't helping him much.

Joe's head was pounding in sync with his heart, and the more he stressed his body, the harder his head throbbed.

His stomach wasn't helping the tirade of throbs since his stomach was in a midst of conflict over being hungry and nausea. His midsection was telling him he was hungry, but every time the thought of food came to his mind, a rush feeling of bile seemed to eventually make food sound like the most repelling substance on earth.

Mainly, he just wanted to get warm. Joe wanted to stop walking, and let his muscles melt into some warmth, but the pistol wedged between him and the madman, with the deadly end drilling into his back made him move for the sake of his life, and the hope that help would be near.

Joe withdrew into his mind, using all his energy to keep moving.

Left…. Right….. Left….. Right…

While withdrawn in mind for the reason of willpower, Joe was suddenly snapped out of his tempo when he was suddenly pushed forward and dragged behind a large boulder.

"Say one word, or make one move and you will sourly regret it." Steve said menacingly as he grabbed a knotted load of rope from the pack he was carrying and tied Joe's arms behind him.

Joe was disoriented because Steve moved much more smoothly and quickly than the age he appeared to be, hurriedly bounding Joe's wrists together, and the sudden foul taste of garbage nearly made Joe throw up as a tainted handkerchief was shoved into Joe's mouth.

With the grace of a wrestler, Joe was lifted off the ground and between a large bush and the boulder, hidden from plain sight.

Before the madman left though, Joe felt a warm, hissing breath on his ear, taunting him.

"You do anything… I mean anything stupid… and you will be pleasantly surprised at how good my aim is." Steve said threateningly, lifting open his jacket fort Joe to see that the madman had more than one gun.

Joe's eyes never stopped glaring, at least he hoped, because he felt very scared, but he would rather not show it.

When Steve finally left him alone in the bushes, Joe breathed a sigh of relief because the man's empty eyes brought chills to his being, and just being able to sit down brought relief to his whole body. The only problem was that he can't have relief. He had to get out of there, and fast.

If it were any other situation, Frank would've loved being in the mountains. The fresh smell of pine against his nose, and the icy, breathtaking air that felt like he was chewing a fresh piece of spearmint gum, but one that lasted for more than a mere 10 minutes.

" Frank. Look." Chet said, snapping Frank out of his train of thought. "We've reached the top and I think I see some movement down there."

Both boys crouched down until all that could be seen was their heads. They peered over the ledge they were on, both looking at each other once they realized that they had reached their goal.

From the distance, both boys could see two figures walking towards a single figure.

"We have to get down there, but we can't be spotted." Frank said softly to Chet with fire in his eyes.

The wind picked up, whipping the two with loose dirt and pine needles.

"How are we going to do this? We're above them, and once we get up from the ledge, we're pretty much in the open." Chet gathered as he peered down at the figures below them, but noticed something strange. His brow furrowed as he watched the two figures get closer to the single figure. "Frank?"

"Yeah?" Frank said as he kept looking forward, but was obviously moving forward to find a safe route down from where they stood.

"Those two figures are obviously your dad and Biff, but if that's the guy who might have taken Joe, where is Joe?" Chet asked as he squinted to see clearer, considering that the figures were some distance away. Their clothes were visible, but their faces for hard to distinguish.

"That is very odd." Frank said as he also looked to see why there was a lone figure, but no Joe.

The figures were getting closer and closer, and the more closer they got, Frank started to feel an irking feeling in the pit of his stomach.

"We have to get down there now." Frank said as he unceremoniously rushed and fell to a roll down a part of the incline.

"Frank!" Chet said in alarm as he rushed towards Frank with a little more caution.

"I'm alright." Frank said as he brushed the snow out of his hair, but the feeling was still there, spreading towards his heart, gripping it with vengeance. "We have to get down there. I don't know why, but this is just too strange that there is a lone guy standing there waiting for Dad and Biff to reach him.

"Oo..Okay." Chet said, still very worried about the way Frank was acting. Normally, Frank was right, and Frank's intuitions might sound weird, but Chet trusted Frank.

Together, they hastily slid down the slope, a little more careful to avoid slipping, because every second counted.

Yeah... Like I said, too short :( I'll try to update by... tomorrow? Hopefully... I kinda have a semi-job too for my short break :P I'll try my hardest to update. For my avid readers, very sorry, and you can yell at me in the reviews XD I really don't care. I deserve it after my last promise. Bye and really!! I'll start on Chapter 9 tonight and get it out very soon.

Love,

Lgbabyblu